LIFE+ARTS
MUSIC
BASEBALL
Local band tunes in to country-folk
Real season begins
Second Lovers will perform on Friday at Fitzgerald’s. SEE PAGE 8
UH leads the American Athletic Conference but will face its first opponent Friday against Memphis. SEE PAGE 11
CALENDAR CHECK:
APRIL
1
Cougar Games. The Cougar Games have been moved because of bad weather.
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
O F
T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Issue 94, Volume 80
O F
H O U S T O N
PHILANTHROPY
Comm class featured in Houston hospitals
Appeals unmerited Complaints against SGA president-elect were struck down by the Court of Appeals
Zoe Quezada Contributing writer
Nora Olabi
house a football program that hopes to be taken seriously. The aesthetically unappealing facilities affected the Cougars’ competitiveness on the field, said head
As part of a new project for the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication’s provider-patient communication class, professor Jill Yamasaki and her eight graduate students participated in a photography contest to provide artwork for 10 new clinics in the local Harris Health System, and their submissions are now on display at Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson hospitals. With a goal to humanize the health care system, Yamasaki’s class studies the relationships between patient and provider and learns ways to create effective communication between the two. Yamasaki said she proposed the idea to the students as a way to implement the theories they had learned in class into a real-world situation. “Humanizing health care is really important, and with Texas Medical Center being right here, we are really fortunate to be able to see this in action,” Yamasaki said. “Having photos on the wall and being able to (capture a) normal moment of dialogue between patients, families and providers that isn’t medical-related helps calm the patients. It helps them feel valued.” Her students said they were just as
STADIUM continues on page 6
HOSPITALS continues on page 3
Assistant news editor
COURT continues on page 3
1 9 3 4
ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
SGA
A month after Student Government Association President-elect Charles Haston was exonerated of allegations of a Class A violation, Haston has found himself in the clear again. A request for a writ of certiorari was wholly denied by the SGA Court of Appeals Tuesday evening. The appeal that was filed with the Court requested a review of S G A A t t o rney General David Ghably’s de cision on a complaint regarding an expletive HasHaston ton shouted at the chief elections commissioner, according to court documents. “It was a conversation that was not for public consumption,” Haston said. “It was a private conversation in an office with the door closed, and unfortunately, somebody heard about it, and it happened to be a political candidate trying to exploit it.” The original complaint was filed by vice presidential candidate of The “We” Party Roberto Martinez III, and Ghably found it to be unmerited. Dissatisfied with the decision, Martinez and his presidential candidate, Naeem Abdullah, jointly filed the writ in the SGA Court. The appeal pointed to violations in the Student Code of Conduct in regards to standards, harassment, disruption and obstruction, University
S I N C E
Before Robertson Stadium was demolished to give way to UH’s new $120 million football stadium, head coach Tony Levine would intentionally avoid the Cougars’ football facility when wooing recruits. He said the new stadium, which opens in August, has already helped UH in its recruiting endeavors. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar
PROGRAM BUILDING
UH gets concrete makeover Athletics Department takes steps to improve facilities in order to become a nationally relevant presence across all controlled teams Cara Smith Contributing writer
UH has a lot of renovation in its future. At 45 years old, Hofheinz Pavilion is staged to undergo a $40 to $70 million renovation. Robertson
Stadium, now reduced to rubble to make way for UH’s $120 million football stadium, boasted a rich history of catering to UH, the Oilers and Jack Yates High School. But Robertson, which stood for 60 years, didn’t have the capacity to
NATION
The need-to-know on health coverage Erica Forero Staff writer
As the March 31 deadline to sign up for an insurance policy through the Affordable Care Act approaches, college students must make some important decisions about their plan
of action, or face a teax penalty. Prior to the opening of the health insurance marketplace on October 1, 2013, college students had limited insurance coverage options. For instance, they could stay on their parent’s plan only as long as they
were enrolled as full-time students. However, if they were injured in a car wreck or became too ill to continue in school, they were dropped from coverage. Another way to go was just to go without coverage completely. “Colleges offered some limited
coverage plans, but many students simply went without health insurance coverage and hoped for the best,” said Patricia Grey, professor at the UH Law Center and director of research at the HEALTH continues on page 2
2 \\ Thursday, March 27, 2014
THE DAILY COUGAR
NEWS iness f Bus ness ege o l l usi o B C auer om & C.T. B ity Classro rs Unive CBB) ing (U d l i u B
ING T E K MAR + E V ACTI R E T IN
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4 , 201 d r 3 2nd aily April - 4 P.M. d M. 11 A.
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HEALTH
continued from page 1
Health Law and Policy Institute. Today, options on healthcare. gov are waiting to be shopped for by the nation’s 17.5 million students enrolled in public and private four- and two-year universities. If a student is covered by his or her university, they are considered covered under Obamacare. Even then, students have the option to shop around the marketplace for a policy that suits them. According to the website, individuals younger than 30 years old can apply for a catastrophic health plan, which is coverage that would be used in the event of an accident or an illness that requires hospitalization. Grey said students need to think about their individual needs when considering the type of policy they want to purchase. “If they have no chronic conditions (asthma would be an example) and are relatively healthy, they may save money by having a plan with a higher deductible and higher co-payment requirements,” Grey said. “Individuals under the age of 30 might want to review a plan that only offers catastrophic coverage. All plans have to cover certain essential health benefits, but in looking at whether a plan is right for a particular individual, the individual needs to consider what the premium is, whether he or she is eligible for any tax subsidy which might lower the premium cost, what the deductible is on the plan and what co-payment is required for services offered under the plan.” Student health insurance coordinator at the UH Health Center Robin Taylor said that if someone doesn’t have health coverage in 2014, they
may have to pay a fee. In addition, if they are uninsured, they will also be responsible for shelling out all the cash for their health care. “It is also important to know that this penalty will increase every year going forward,” Taylor said. “So, if you opt out of buying a health insurance policy, it is important to remember that the uninsured person will still be responsible for 100 percent of the cost of their medical care.” International students have options as well. Non-immigrant international students who are carrying credit hours at UH will be automatically enrolled and charged for the UH-endorsed student health insurance each semester to satisfy the University policy on maintaining acceptable health insurGrey ance coverage. Students who need help signing up for health insurance through the federal health insurance marketplace exchange may get it from a licensed insurance broker or from a navigator licensed by the state of Texas. According to Grey, the navigators are based in places like the Neighborhood Centers in Houston. “Students who have no income, are not maintained as dependents on their parents’ tax return and are not required to file an individual income tax return because their income is below the threshold requirement for filing a return, may request a hardship exemption from having to purchase health insurance,” Grey said. “Students who are here on a student visa are eligible to purchase through the health insurance marketplace exchange.” 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
Thursday, March 27, 2014 // 3
THE DAILY COUGAR
NEWS EDITOR
Amanda Hilow
news@thedailycougar.com
ONLINE
thedailycougar.com/news
HOSPITALS continued from page 1
excited about the project. “I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community,” said health communications graduate student Paige Bukowski. “I also believed it would be a great way to provide patients with an escape from their current situation through our photographs.” Yamasaki said her class focuses on narrative medicine and the effectiveness of eliciting patients’ personal stories. “We talk about the importance of making patients feel comfortable, making them feel less like a number and more like a name,” Yamasaki said. “We saw this as a way to do that.” Bukowski said health communication is more than just verbal and nonverbal cues between patients and providers. “This contest allows us to see the importance of hospital aesthetics and patient environment. One major lesson I believe we learned is the impact the hospital environment has on patients. Hopefully our art and photography helps patients and providers alike feel more at home,” she said. The class participated in all four of
Several photographs, such as the one pictured, have been donated from a UH communications course to several local hospitals. | Courtesy of Paige Bukowski the creative categories, which included landscapes, animals, healthy foods and favorite places. Some students submitted photos of places they had gone to with their families or photos from their vacations. The goal was to submit anything they felt would inspire dialogue and ease patients’ minds. “I looked forward to the project since it’s not your usual assignment, especially outside of a photography class,” said health communications graduate student Carmen Galvan. “Knowing my picture could make a difference was very motivational.” Yamasaki said she hopes to engage her students in more community
outreach opportunities in the future and that all UH students will be inspired to get involved with the community — not only as an opportunity to give back but to learn something as well. “I always try to engage my students in some type of community outreach,” Yamasaki said. “I think it’s important for UH students and classes to participate in the Houston community. I think it is an effective way to see how theory can contribute to practice. It’s a lot of fun, and it means a lot for students to make a difference in their community. To see what we learn in class actually applied is great.” news@thedailycougar.com
THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE presents,
COURT
continued from page 1
policies and procedures, and mental or bodily harm, along with a section of the Texas Penal Code that addresses disorderly conduct — each of which are potential Class A violations. But the Court of Appeals found the allegations against Haston to be “irrelevant,” lacking merit or outside of its jurisdiction, SGA chief justice Fatima Syed said. The Court can make rulings only on SGA’s governing documents, which are its constitution, bylaws and election rules and regulations. “If there is some sort of violation, and if the proper authorities actually deem it to be a legitimate violation, then we can take that account into our decision,” Syed said. “But we’re not the body that is able to actually make that decision.” According to the ruling, jurisdiction about the student code of conduct would be made by the dean of students, and either the dean or city officials can determine the validity of the alleged Texas Penal Code infractions. Abdullah was unswayed by the Court’s decision to strike down his appeal and said that he intends to push forward with filing a complaint with the Dean of Students Office. “They’re not students, so we can’t expect them to act like students and
do the honorable thing on behalf of students,” Abdullah said. “But I’m hoping that, as administrators that care about our student process, that they look into the situation with the evidence presented and with the proposal of the court of appeals and move forward with the state of Texas law and the student code of conduct.” Haston said he knew the Court would not take up the appeal, adding that Abdullah had no ground to file the complaint because he neither was there during the original incident nor had standing to present a case on mental harm. He also said this was an effort to undermine the voters’ decision. Haston and running mate Erica Tat beat out The “We” Party presidential slate by 20 percent during the run-off elections. “This was a desperate attempt to try and steal the election because he couldn’t win with the voters,” Haston said. “At some point you just have to accept that, unfortunately, the student body didn’t choose him.” Haston has reached out to former Chief Elections Commissioner Kendrick Alridge to lead a task force on election reform in the coming month. The presidential inauguration will take place Friday news@thedailycougar.com
The Dean’s Award To promote service to the University of Houston by recognizing students for their outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life through service, leadership and spirit. Online applications are available on the Dean of Students website at:
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For more information, call
832.842.6183
CRITERIA INCLUDE: • Demonstrated significant service and/or leadership; enthusiasm • Minimum 2.5 GPA; enrollment in at least 9 hours • Junior or Senior classification at the University of Houston
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4 \\ Thursday, March 27, 2014
THE DAILY COUGAR
OPINION EDITOR James Wang EMAIL
opinion@thedailycougar.com
ONLINE
thedailycougar.com/opinion
Tell me about a time when you experienced
DISCRIMINATION
ABOUT
STUDENTS
Editor’s Note: “Tell me about a time when…” was created by senior staff columnist and print journalism junior Kelly Schafler with the hope of forming a more active and connected student body. On a campus this big and diverse, it’s easy to sometimes feel insignificant. Everyone has a story, and we want to hear them. Once a month, a new prompt will be issued to the student body. One or two students and one Daily Cougar staff member will be featured in this monthly column. Send in an email so that other students can relate to and benefit from your story. Thanks to those who have submitted stories and who may submit stories in the future.
I
felt discrimination mainly when I was looking for jobs. I was so young that (jobs) didn’t want to hire me because they thought I was inexperienced. A lot of the time it’s not even about race; it’s about age — especially if you’re a woman, too. It’s the same thing with age; if you’re younger, they either feel like you’re inexperienced or they feel like you don’t have the skills necessary to have a job. I was applying for a bunch of different jobs in restaurants around Houston and a lot of time they were like, “She’s too young.” Another time, when I was about 17 years old, I applied to be a waitress, and they felt I was too young to go around and wait tables or be a hostess. I went around to other jobs and
I talked to them and said, “I know how you feel. This is my first job, so I don’t have the same experience.” I didn’t get completely mad at them, because I understood it was lack of work experience, but I did explain to them that if they trained me, I would learn. Another way to look at it is if it’s not working with a certain type of job, you can switch to another field. If you feel discriminated against, keep your options open, because there are people out there who try to keep it equal opportunity. There are organizations that are willing to help people who are discriminated against. Gabriella Davila is a pre-pharmacy freshman.
G
rowing up in my middle school in Utah, there was this teacher I had that, in ways, I could tell that he treated me differently from other students because I was still learning to speak English. Spanish is my first language, and the weird thing was that the teacher spoke Spanish, but he wouldn’t take the time to explain things to me even though he knew he could communicate with me. I was little, and it made me frustrated because my grades were bad because of it. The only way I could deal with it was by talking to my parents and trying to get my teacher changed. (As for the teacher), they brought him into the office, but his excuse was that he felt like if he spoke to me in Spanish that I would never learn. The thing was that I was already taking ESL classes, but I wasn’t at the level I
STAFF
was supposed to be ... he just refused to help me. There are also other (discriminatory) things on a daily basis that aren’t that big of a deal, like when people ... act in a different way toward you because of (your skin tone) or give you dirty looks when you’re speaking Spanish. You have to teach your children to get along with other kids ... if they can hear you treating other people badly, they’re usually going to copy what you do. (Discrimination) will go away, but pretty slowly ... every day it’s encountered. I try not to pay attention too much to it, but I do get frustrated. I just try to move along and not let it bother me. Carlos Gonzalez is a petroleum engineering junior.
NEXT MONTH
A
fter a night out around town, two friends and I decided to stop by a local McDonald’s near campus — like we normally do — but on this particular Saturday night, we were met with a great deal of discrimination by the Houston Police Department. While driving my 1994 Lincoln Derail Town Car with Texada 22 inch chrome rims, I was pulled over by two HPD officers at the corner of Old Spanish Trail and Cullen Boulevard. The first officer approached my front driver’s side door, while the other officer
approached my front passenger door. While I was in mid-conversation with one officer trying to find out the reason behind this traffic stop, the other officer instructed one of my friends to exit the vehicle. My friend did exactly that without hesitation. I was then instructed to give the officer that I was speaking with my driver’s license. He then returned to his vehicle for about five minutes. During this time, my friend was still being questioned outside of my vehicle. As the second officer allowed him to return to the vehicle, the first officer returned to the car and handed me back my license. I once again demanded to know the reason I had been stopped.
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 Izmail Glosson OPINION EDITOR James Wang ASSISTANT EDITORS Laura Gillespie, Nora Olabi, Justin Tijerina, Andrew Valderas EDITOR IN CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
The first officer responded, “Where is it? If you just tell me, I will let you go.” By this time, I had come to the realization that I had been pulled over simply because of the vehicle I was driving and the neighborhood I was driving that vehicle in. Instead of the officers seeing my vehicle for what it is — which is a vehicle to get me from point A to B while I’m in school — they assumed that I had some sort of drugs in the vehicle. I handled this discrimination by staying calm and doing exactly what the officers had asked of me. However, instead of driving off and never thinking about it again, I noticed the
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
names on the badges of the officers and reported this profiling/discrimination to the HPD. I knew that responding in a negative way during this time of discrimination would only result badly for my friends and me, but I also knew that reporting them and putting my complaint in writing would follow these officers for the rest of their lives. Therefore, in the occasion that someone else reports them, the police department would be forced to take action. Opinion columnist Derail Texada is a broadcast journalism junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com
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 N221, University Center; 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
It’s time to submit your story for a chance to be featured in next month’s edition of “Tell Me About a Time When” in The Daily Cougar. Submissions should be between 300 and 400 words and may be submitted by email to opinion@ thedailycougar.com
APRIL’S PROMPT
Tell me about a time when you dealt with adapting to college life.
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 N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
Thursday, March 27 , 2014 // 5
THE DAILY COUGAR
OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL
SGA: Move on to move forward The Daily Cougar Editorial Board Student leaders and prospectives hoping to assume those positions should always keep the bottom line in mind: the students who are being represented. But when this end goal is lost and disputes become personal, it requires a step back and some serious reevaluation on whether what’s being done serves the student body. On March 3, former The “We” Party presidential candidate Naeem Abdullah and his running mate Roberto Martinez III filed class A violations against Student Government Association President-elect Charles Haston for allegedly causing mental harm under section 3.17 of the Student Code of Conduct, along with other alleged infractions. While the complaints were later found unmerited, Abdullah’s relentless pursuit of SGA President-elect Charles Haston appears questionable and seems to stem from a desire to kick Haston out of office before he can assume it rather than out of a genuine desire for justice to be served. The SGA attorney general and Court of Appeals both found the complaints unmerited, and the students have cast their ballots. Haston and running mate Erica Tat won the largest amount of votes in both the general and run-off elections, beating out The “We” Party presidential slate by more than 20 percent. If Abdullah truly cares about the student body and wishes to support it, he can continue his work with student organizations, which he has and continues to work with, or be involved in SGA in another capacity. Student government is not the only organization on campus that gives back to the students. It’s time for party rivalries and election disputes to die down, so SGA can do what it was created to do: represent, support and empower students. These continued attempts to undermine other candidates and members of SGA only serve to stagnate any student government progress. Change and progress cannot happen if students continue to claw at and fight with each other over a seat. It’s time to bury the hatchet and move on together as one.
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THE DAILY COUGAR
SPORTS EDITOR
Christopher Shelton
sports@thedailycougar.com
STADIUM continued from page 1
football coach Tony Levine. “ W h e n w e ha d Ro b e r t s o n Stadium … and when we’d bring recruits in on visits, we’d tour our athletic facility, we’d tour the campus and we’d tour the city of Houston. We did not bring them to the s t a d i u m ,” Levine said. So UH has taken steps to make its Levine facilities m o re c o m petitive with its peers. By 2015, the majority of the University’s athletic facilities will have been either built or renovated within the previous three years. UH makes a financial commitment On top of Hofheinz’s renovation and the still-unnamed football stadium, the golf program enjoyed an upgrade when the Dave Williams Golf Academy at Redstone Golf Club opened in 2012. Women’s volleyball facilities will benefit from the $20 million basketball practice facility, and UH has partnered with the Zina Garrison Foundation to invest roughly $6 million into designing and building a new on-campus practice facility for the tennis team. Aesthetic appeal aside, such construction is a massive undertaking for the University. With the commitment to improve its facilities, there have been many highcost eggs placed in the basket of UH Athletics — hundreds of millions of dollars, in fact. “From a University perspective, if we stay within our means, college sports can be an effective and efficient way to instill pride, expand
UH has already sold out 22 of its 24 suites in its new $120 million football stadium. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar recognition and support the overall objectives of the University,” said President Renu Khator. Students chip in too In February 2012, a referendum passed in a landslide to increase student fees by $90 annually per student, with the increase in fees being targeted specifically at improving UH’s athletics facilities. Almost 74 percent of the voting student body approved the amendment. A record 9,923 students participated in the poll — whether for or against the referendum, it struck a chord. “There were so many people who said that it won’t happen — ‘You’ll never be able to build a brand new stadium,’ or ‘There’s no way you’ll be able to raise enough money to do that type of project,’” said Athletics
Dave Williams’ Golf Academy The 4,400-square-foot course was built on the Redstone Tournament Course driving range.
COST
$500,000
FEBRUARY 2014
Softball Locker Room Completed renovation of its locker room to fix structural problems and leaks.
$225,000
Attracting talented players These renovations also have had a dramatic effect on UH’s recruiting prospects, a needed investment in athletics after UH moved into the American Athletic Conference, which provides higher exposure to the program with more games on ESPN. “Without question, (the improvement of athletics facilities) affects recruiting prospects. The new football stadium … not only has it helped recruiting for our football program, but it’s helped recruiting for the University of Houston in
general,” Levine said. A study conducted by Galain and published by Forbes measured the most important factors considered by a recruit when choosing a university. Recruits ranked the perception of athletics facilities as the fourth most important, mere fractions of a point behind the university’s academic reputation, the student’s parents’ perception about the school and the relationships with assistant coaches. Aesthetics and functionality As UH seeks to become a formidable opponent in athletics, Levine said he believes it’s critical for UH to invest in things that catch a student athlete’s eye — much of which, Levine said, is visually based. “When you understand that a young man that’s coming to the
thedailycougar.com/sports
University of Houston is also going to visit 10 or 12 other schools and seeing their facilities, you want to at least be able to compete in terms of facilities,” Levine said. It’s not just the aesthetics of a facility that’ll keep student athletes coming back. An athletic program’s longevity also depends on the quality of the facility you’re showcasing. Johnathan Dismuke, director of golf for UH’s men’s and women’s programs, testifies to both the visual and functional appeals of his “world-class facility” as having strengthened his world-renowned golf program. “You have to have great facilities. If you want to have a great program, you have to be able to train and develop, and facilities are a huge part of that,” Dismuke said. “College athletics is a cyclical business; you turn players over every four years, so the development aspect over that time is crucial.” Given the ever-evolving nature of the business, athletics programs are faced with a critical task of keeping themselves visually and functionally competitive, all while remaining in a tightly constrained budget. UH’s budget for athletics in 2013 was $43.5 million, according to the Fiscal Year 2013 Plan and Budget. Meanwhile, Louisville earned a $68.8 million athletics budget, and the University of Texas athletics budget skyrocketed to $153.5 million last year. “Look at who we’re competing against ... both in the state of Texas and also in our conference. We need to be on an equal playing field,” Rhoades said. “Right now, we’re not.” “It’s not even a choice (to improve our facilities),” Rhoades said. “It’s a must.” sports@thedailycougar.com
SINCE AUGUST 2012, THE COUGARS HAVE CHISELED AWAY AT THEIR PLAN TO IMPROVE FACILITIES AND IN THE RECENT YEARS HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS
UH LOOKS FOR STADIUM STATUS AUGUST 2012
Director Mack Rhoades. The planned effects of renovations and improvements are increased national visibility, a surge of school pride and national respect.
ONLINE
FEBRUARY 2014
Cougar Field UH adds turf that speeds up runners on the base path. The mound is fitted with red dirt and a UH logo is added into the out field after donations from alumni.
$1.25 Million
MAY 2014
Basketball Practice Facility UH breaks ground on a new basketball practice facility that will include a full court and half court for each team, locker rooms, team lounges, academic/film rooms and coaching office suites.
$20 Million
AUGUST 2014
Football Stadium UH’s new 40,000-seat football stadium opens with a contest against UTSA. The yet-to-be-named stadium features a prominent view of the Houston skyline.
$120 Million
All data gathered from thedailycougar.com | Infograph by Andres Garcia
MAY–AUGUST 2015
Hofheinz Pavilion After 45 years, the facility will undergo a much-needed face lift. The new facility will include a new exterior, 10 suites, a new scoreboard and four additional video boards.
$77 Million
Thursday, March 27, 2014 // 7 THE DAILY COUGAR
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THE DAILY COUGAR
LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
Monica Tso
arts@thedailycougar.com
ONLINE
thedailycougar.com/life-arts
MUSIC
Local band to play country-folk jams Monica Tso Life and arts editor
While strumming guitars and banjos and tapping drums, five musicians are bringing a country twang to their upcoming show Friday evening at Fitzgerald’s. Second Lovers is performing with indie rock band What Made Milwaukee Famous at 9 p.m. Biology senior Thom Truver plays the lead guitar alongside fellow band members Bryan Hoff on the drums, John “Butch Rambo” Maxwell on the mandolin and banjo, Sean Spiller on bass and Nic Morales leading vocals and guitar. Together, the five musicians form Second Lovers, which started in late 2010 as a recording project between Truver and local artist Santiago Paez. “We didn’t think much of it at first until we invited a few others to join in on the recordings,” Truver said. “What you hear and see now are the end results of just finding the right people to work with that have the same vision.” Second Lovers was nominated for a Houston Press award last year under the Folk/Americana category, but because the band name was inspired by “Second Lover’s Song,” a song by native Texan and folk singer, Townes Van Zandt, country-folk influences its shine. “It’s always amusing to see how we are categorized, because we have no clue how to describe it,” Truver
Country-folk band Second Lovers is performing its eccentric tunes at 9 p.m. on Friday at Fitzgerald’s. They were nominated for the Houston Press award last year in Folk/Americana. | Courtesy of Max Burkhalter said. “The best way I would describe us is in the middle between modern folk acts like Mumford and Sons and The Lumineers and ‘90s alternative country like Whiskeytown, Uncle Toledo and The Wallflowers.” Truver emphasized that they aren’t limited to their genre, however. “One of the best things about this band is how much we bring to the table in regards to influence,” Truver said. “We have experimental, punk,
jazz, R&B, folk, noise, rock and alternative. We all really love music.” Day by day, the bandmates produce, record and spend memorable times with each other doing what they love most. Second Lovers’ debut album, “Wishers, Dreamers & Liars,” was released in July 2012 and features 10 catchy tunes. Their second album, “New Mexico,” is a two-track, released in April 2013.
“I love meeting our fans and getting to hang out with them,” Truver said. “It’s really rewarding to share that more expressive and artistic side with others. We spend so much time on our music in production, rehearsal, gear, maintenance, booking and shows. It really feels great to take a break at shows and chat with fans.” Morales and Maxwell enjoy the time the five artists spend together while Hoff enjoys playing at venues
and learning about the history of Houston’s music scene. “I get to not only hang out but also make music with my best friends,” Morales said. “It’s like fishing, almost. Instead of catching fish, you make songs. The good ones get to be made into dinner — or an album. The others get thrown back into the sea. We’re all in the same boat together. We all enjoy the fruits of our labor.” During the last four years, the band has stunned audiences at events and created unforgettable moments. From shooting music videos at the Saint Arnold’s Brewery to recording at Sugarhill Studios, the quintet is excited for more. “It’s hard to think of just one highlight,” Morales said. “Almost every show is a highlight. Every article, every interview, every time we enter the recording studio ... It’s been an amazing journey so far.” arts@thedailycougar.com
ROCK OUT Folk band Second Lovers is playing on Friday at Fitzgerald’s. Tickets are $10 to 13 and can be purchased online at fitzlivemusic.com. Doors open at 8 p.m.
RELATIONSHIPS
Understanding communication in Cougar couples Evelyn Hurtado Contributing writer
Our lives are so busy that many of us find ourselves having to communicate with others by using social media, text messages and emails. These modern methods of communication may affect our relationships, and our messages may be misinterpreted somewhere between the Facebook and Twitter hemispheres or on our cellphone screens. Public health sophomore Thao Bui has communication problems with her boyfriend and wanted to find a solution to improve her relationship. “My boyfriend and I are so busy that sometimes we have issues when it comes to communicating with one another, and I think that this workshop might help,” Bui said. The Cougar Couples: Communication in Romantic Relationships workshop is one of many offered by the
With social media and texting, couples discuss the power of effective communication in the Cougar Couples: Communication in Romantic Relationships workshop on Wednesday. | Betty Henriquez/The Daily Cougar Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services as part of the Spring 2014 Food for Thought Workshops
that are free for UH students. Predoctoral psychology intern Katie Croft explained that everyone
has a communication style that may be different than their partner’s, and understanding this is effective in improving relationships. “The speaker may not know how to put their feelings into words, and this may affect the process of communicating effectively,” Croft said. Effective communication is a important factor that combines a set of skills including nonverbal communication, attentive listening, the ability to manage stress in the moment and the capacity to recognize and understand ones own emotions and those of the person one is communicating with, according to Healthguide. org. Words can be tricky and ambiguous, which can leave someone frustrated, something that psychology junior Lydia Rockson knows all too well. “I hate the word ‘sure,’” Rockson
said. “When I ask my boyfriend if he wants to join me for dinner, and he texts me ‘sure,’ I don’t know if he really wants to join me or if he responded that because he feels obligated to.” Croft discussed the importance of using words of affirmation that help reassure the other person that they understood the message and interpreted correctly. “Be specific and sincere when responding to the other person you are communicating with so that you are both on the same communication level,” Croft said. Effective communication in romantic relationships is not about who is right and who is wrong; it is about understanding each other’s style of communication and finding a common ground. arts@thedailycougar.com
Thursday, March 27, 2014 // 9
THE DAILY COUGAR
LIFE & ARTS
for summer & fall 2014
Inspirational dance pieces will crowd the stage as the UH Dance Ensemble performs its Dance Ensemble Works Friday through Sunday at the Wortham Theatre. | Courtesy of Theresa Chapman
DANCE
Ensemble to bring energy in choreography Courtney Gregory Staff writer
The UH Dance Ensemble will hit the Wortham stage Friday with its contemporary and modern choreography and energetic performances. The School of Theatre and Dance will host Ensemble Dance Works at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lyndall Finley Wortham Theatre. The Ensemble was formed in 1992 and has offered dancers performance skills under the direction of Teresa Chapman.
“ I f y o u l ov e t o l a u g h o r view aesthetically moving art, then Ensemble Dance Works is for you,” said dance junior Alma White. Multiple choreographers collaborated on the production. “We have dances that range from full-hearted and funny to dramatic and meaningful,” said dance senior Michelle Largent. “The show is full of amazing actors, dancers and choreographers.” Offering a variety of personal messages, the dances are expected to be conveyed in performance,
including a piece from theatre and dance lecturer Melissa Noble inspired by Saint Hildegard von Bingen’s life. “UH students can expect to leave the performance knowing a bit more about what dance is and what the dance department at UH is producing creatively,” Noble said. arts@thedailycougar.com
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $10 for students.
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Cougar Games postponed The first Cougar Games hosted by the Student Program Board has been postponed to Tuesday, April 1 because of inclement weather. The event details remain the same; the Games will start at 2 p.m. at Lynn Eusan Park. Stay tuned for archery, games and a screening of Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
CSI & SPB PRESENTS
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Thursday, March 27, 2014 // 11
THE DAILY COUGAR
SPORTS
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES, CAREER ADVICE AND MORE EVERY THURSDAY brought to you by University Career Services
Company and Industry Research
UH, which has the most wins among American Athletic Conference teams (20) will have to switch its focus after beating Rice and direct it toward Memphis, for its first AAC game of the season on Friday. | Caitlin Hilton/The Daily Cougar
BASEBALL
UH hopes win against No. 10 Rice leads to successful AAC play Sean Alder Staff writer
Coming off their first Silver Glove victory in 14 years, the Cougars expect to improve during their first season in the American Athletic Conference. No. 17 UH made its mark on the college baseball scene with the No. 1 pitching staff in the nation in terms of ERA (1.53). The Cougars have backed up their defense with clutch hitting when facing two strikes and two outs. The Cougars (20-4) are on a five-game winning streak and are looking to last season’s shortcomings during conference play. Head coach Todd Whitting said the win against Rice brought UH more than the Silver Glove. “It is a signature win, but the main thing about this win is it helps our resume,” he said. “As far as building the resume for the NCAA tournament, this is a huge win for our RPI. They were top five in any RPI poll you look at, so it’s a big win for us any way you slice it.” UH opens AAC play at 6:30 p.m. Friday against Memphis for the first of a three-game weekend series. Sophomore infielder Josh Vidales said the 6-2 Silver Glove-clinching win was the right lead into conference play. “We have a lot of confidence
NEXT UP Stretch run begins
UH opens American Athletic Conference play with a contest against Memphis. When: 6:30 p.m. Where: Cougar Field Listen: Hear the game for free at uhcougars.com
going into Memphis, and we don’t expect anything less than a sweep,” Vidales said. “With the hitters we have and the approach we have at the plate, I think we can go down at any point of the game and come back to win.” After improving his record to 3-0 on the year, senior pitcher Tyler Ford was happy with the work his team has put in. “Getting any win is a big deal, but this game showed that our team can beat any team in the nation,” Ford Ford said. “ We j u s t need to keep doing what we’re doing, because we’re playing great baseball.” sports@thedailycougar.com
Researching companies and industries may be the single, biggest secret to a job search success. The two biggest reasons for you to conduct company and industry research are: 1. To make an informed career decision. Determine if the company, the work environment, and the job are a fit with your career interests, skills, values, and goals. 2. Equip yourself for the interview. You can gain a competitive edge if you are able to speak knowledgeably and ask relevant questions about the company during the interview. Employers view research as a critical factor in the evaluation of potential candidates. Candidates
stand out and are more likely to receive a job offer if they: • Thoroughly research the company, and can speak knowledgeably about the company’s products and services during the interview process. • Discuss how their experiences and qualifications are a match for the job and the company’s needs. • Exhibit how they can make an immediate contribution to the company. The UCS website and M.D. Anderson Library features tools and sources for conducting company and industry research such as: • Company and Industry Research Guide (UCS Handout): http://www.uh.edu/ucs/resources/ guides/CompanyandIndustryRe-
searchGuide.pdf • UH M.D. Anderson’s Research Guides by Loretta Wallace includes databases, directories, books, and more: http://guides.lib. uh.edu/profile.php?uid=23149 • Vault’s Career Insider, the world’s leading source of career information: Can make your efforts at researching employers, industries, job/internship search, and career exploration easier and more efficient. • Houston Business Journal: industry and company information • H1visajobs.com: Databases of over 20,000 companies who have recently filed the appropriate paperwork to sponsor an international person.
NOW HIRING Log onto JobBank at www.uh.edu/ucs and search for the ID number Pharmacy Recruiter (53034) We’re always looking for ambitious professionals to join our tenured, high-energy, team-oriented environment as a Pharmacy Recruiter!
Optometric Assistant / Front Office Receptionist (53022) Duties include gathering patient information (medical history and purpose of visit), scheduling patients, quoting fees, verifying and explaining insurance, using equipment to conduct pre-screening exams, and training new contact lens wearers. Project Architect (53194) This position will assist in the general management of the following: store design and layout, review/ approval of technical designs/drawings, and material specifications, writing and presenting reports, proposals, and applications and contracts. Accounting Assistant (53026) Responsible for accounts payable, placing PO’s, filing, data entry, expense reports, and other accounting tasks. Customer Service Representative (53276) Assist members with selecting the best benefit plan options available to them through the enrollment process, including enrollment in specialized care programs.
Bilingual Interpretersall languages (53152) Interpreting in English and native language. Face-toface interpreting and occasional telephonic interpreting. Equity Associate (53245) The Research Associate will support our Senior Equity Analysts in the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production (E&P) sector. Assistant Editor (53274) You will help support our clients through the college application process by reviewing entrance résumés and essays. Project Manager (53162) Individual will manage and coordinate activities of project to ensure progress is on-schedule and within budget. Prepare project reports for management, clients, or others. Maintain quality control on project and manage
the project team from start to completion. Clinician (53072) Responsible for providing mental health assessment and counseling intervention services, as well as continually monitoring and documenting clients’ mental well-being and overall adjustment to the program. Behavior Technician – Helping Children/ Adolescents with Autism (53138) Our Behavior Technicians work in a fast-paced, dynamic, & often intense environment to provide Applied Behavior Analysis treatment to children diagnosed with language, communication, behavioral & developmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Administrative Assistant (53173) Compiles correspondence on behalf of the President of the company, proof read and edit all outgoing correspondence, manage CEO’s scheduling and confirm meetings, perform general office duties. Entry Level Java Developer (53228) The ideal candidate will have prior knowl-
edge of programming languages, have some degree of understanding of OOP/OOA/OOD, and have a Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, or related field. Operations Manager Aquatics (53250) Management an Aquatic Facility- 23 Seasonal Employees, develops schedules, maintains facility and day-to-day operations, provides customer service. IP Paralegal (53266) Assist in a variety of challenging legal assignments, including preparation and filing of patent applications, office actions, information disclosure statements, and other formal documents with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. Systems Analyst (53066) Performs complex to advanced Web- and Windows- based application development, maintenance, and monitoring work.
EVENTS Internship and Summer Jobs Career Fair Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Time: 1pm to 4pm Where: Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Multipurpose Activity Court Registration Required: www.ucsjobsforcoogs.eventbrite.com This event is open to all majors, with opportunities for internships, summers jobs (part/full-time), and volunteer work.
Career Workshops Rock Your Resume Thursday 4/3 2pm You’re Hired Monday 4/7 11am The Job Hunt Tuesday 4/8 3pm To Intern or Not to Intern Wednesday 4/9 3pm All workshops are 45 minutes and held at UCS, 106 Student Service Center 1. See website for additional workshops: www.uh.edu/ucs
INTERVIEWS Log onto Campus Recruitment at www.uh.edu/ucs and search for the ID under the Employer Search & Interview Request link Neway Valve International •Technical Marketing/Advertising Intern (ID #3967) Frontier Logistics, LP •Technical Marketing / Advertising Intern RTI-Extrusions •Product Design Engineer
COUNSELOR OF THE WEEK Tiffany Bitting Tiffany Bitting recently joined the University of Houston and serves as the Career Counseling liaison to the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics. She also provides guidance to all students in the areas of major/career exploration, job/ internship search strategies, resume writing techniques and graduate school planning. You may contact her at tbitting@uh.edu
Click www.uh.edu/ucs Visit 106 Student Service Center 1 Call 713-743-5100 Follow us on social media uhcareers
@CoogCareers fb.com/uh.ucs Find us on Google Plus University Career Services at UH
12 \\ Thursday, March 27, 2014
THE DAILY COUGAR
LIFE+ARTS EVENTS
Women in combat serve varying standards Sara Samora Senior staff writer
The Veterans Service Office and the Women’s Resource Center teamed up to shine a spotlight on Women’s History Month during the Women in Combat symposium Tuesday. The panelists included active duty members Col. Allan H. Lancetta and Master Sgt. LaShawn Morris, who work in the Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, and retired Air Force veteran Ralph B. DeVaul. Veterans Service Office program coordinator and Army reservist Lawren Bradberry was the moderator for the event. “Every year, for Women’s Awareness and History Month, the Women’s and LGBT Resource Center and the VSO partner to bring awareness to the UH community issues that affect women in service, and one of the hot-button items are women in combat,” Bradberry said. Harris County is the largest veteran county in the United States, Bradberry said. “Women in combat and women in the military are two different things,” Bradberry said. “Therefore, people’s opinions can be based on women in the military or just women in general versus those who embark on that voyage to combat. We wanted to bring some education and some real-world experience to the UH community.” According to the Service Women’s Action Network, more than 150 women have died in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Women make up of 11.6 percent of OEF and OIF veterans. “I think it was good to have these people on campus. Everybody agreed more or less women should be in the military but for different reasons and with different contingencies,” said kinesiology junior Kiernan Cobb. “I have friends who have been in combat, who are medics, who are not directly in combat roles but are in combat anyway. They are already out fighting.” Cobb also has many family members serving in the Army, Coast Guard, Air Force and National Guard. She feels the sticking points are the various PT standards and how they are different for men and women. “It’s a sort of strange thing,” Cobb said. “I know the military has standards. If you’re going to be a medic, these are your standards; if you’re a pilot, these are your standards. I think that that would make it more inclusive.” Cobb said she is looking into becoming a medic as well as joining
the officer side. Electrical power engineering junior and Army veteran Kevin Filbin was one of the panelists at the symposium. “Women in combat and women in a combat arms unit, direct action combat arms infantry unit or the like are two different things, and my issue with women in combat is that women have different hygienic requirements then men, and it’s simply not practical,” Filbin said. He also believes the entry of women in combat units will also compromise the military’s combat effectiveness. “At some point, soldiers will be out on patrol months at a time and it
just is a problem having to put tampons into the supply line and having to come up with a special latrine and wait for Private Susie to unpack all of her gear and use the restroom,” he said. Bradberry was pleased with the candid honesty and full integrity from the veteran community during the symposium. “For the student body and the deputy’s chiefs of staff from Washington to provide inside and to be willing to just come and entertain a small group touches the heart of what we do in the military,” Bradberry said. “We’re here to serve.” arts@thedailycougar.com
Different points of view about the evolution of women in combat were discussed in the Women in Combat symposium on Tuesday, held by the Women’s Resource Center and the Veterans Service Office. | Courtesy of Tyler Main
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