Issue 106, Volume 79 by The Cougar

SPORTS

GOLF

FITNESS

UH brings a solid team into American Athletic Conference championships, which start April 27.

The UH Campus Wellness and Recreation Center will offer several activities throughout the summer for members of the UH community. SEE PAGE 9

Prepping for postseason SEE PAGE 6

Rec to keep Coogs active

APRIL

CALENDAR CHECK: 20

Easter. You still have time to find that perfect Sunday dress you don’t mind staining with chocolate.

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

O F

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Issue 106, Volume 79

H O U S T O N

S I N C E

1 9 3 4

ONLINE EXCLUSIVES AT THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Senate passes Josephine Tittsworth Act Bill promoting rights for LGBT community gains approval by SGA Nora Olabi Assistant news editor

While students go through a typical first day of the semester, a professor goes down a roster to mark off students in attendance. A student in the back shifts in his seat anxiously awaiting his name, waiting to be called upon, unsure of whether to respond because he wasn’t born a male. He was born a female, and raising his hand would out him as a transgender man. As part of one of the most diverse universities in the country, the Student

Government Association passed the Josephine Tittsworth Act, a University bill, in an attempt to address the safety concerns of the transgender community on campus, especially in regards to those who have not formally changed their names and gender markers to match their discerned gender identities. The University’s goals include creating “an environment in which student success can be ensured.” Coauthor of the bill SGA Senator James Lee said he believes protecting students’ privacy by not unintentionally outing transgender students will create a safe environment for them and also LGBT continues on page 3

The Josphine Tittsworth Act will allow transgender students to update their identification with their selected name, title and gender. The Student Government Association passed the legislation Wednesday night. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar

VETERANS

SVA president marches toward potential national recognition Reid Ritter Contributing writer

Wednesday’s Houston Battalion Army ROTC award ceremony was a chance for family members and leaders of the many awarded cadets to recognize their hard work. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar

ROTC

Cadets commemorate hard work Reid Ritter Contributing writer

The Houston Battalion Army ROTC program’s annual awards ceremony highlighted several cadets within the program by acknowledging their outstanding achievement

and accomplishments throughout the past year. For the entire cadre, the chance to award the cadets was also a chance to honor the representatives and donors of the organizations that began the tradition of giving the awards.

About 250 cadets, family members and key guests came to celebrate at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the UH Alumni Center. “Today is about honoring the ROTC continues on page 11

The UH Student Veteran Association, in its first semester of being a student-run organization, has drawn more veterans to the cause and has seen new leadership in its ranks. For student veterans, SVA is an outlet to achieve their goals alongside fellow motivators and gives them a chance to connect, build relationships and enjoy themselves on campus. SVA, in collaboration with each veteran’s mission, provides a touchstone for guidance and career assistance. Electrical engineering senior Artemio Villarreal, 30, a 7-and-a-halfyear Army veteran, will become SVA president May 1 and said he has many goals for the organization, including bringing SVA to national recognition. “Basically, we’re trying to get the ball rolling,” Villarreal said. “We’re trying to move toward being recognized by the national chapter of the SVA.” SVA encourages camaraderie and communication among veterans within their college setting, and the organization’s officers want to bring in

as many veterans as they can in order to give them a setting similar to what they experienced in the military. The UH chapter has grown to about 20 active members, but Villarreal said he sees that number growing with the help of promotion and group events. “We plan to get more incoming veterans into the SVA by collaborating with the orientation process of new students,” Villarreal said. “Also, we are going to try to hold more events geared toward veterans to allow for them to socialize and meet new people.” On a national scale, SVA’s mission is to provide a resource for student veterans, general support and advocacy in the mission of graduating and beginning a career. The Student Veterans Office on campus holds weekly SVA meetings that include members, various representatives and counselors, but it hopes to send its leadership to the annual SVA conference and to national SVA leadership training. Becoming nationally recognized VETERANS continues on page 3

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THE DAILY COUGAR

CALENDAR Today Art: Graduate students in the School of Art will host a gallery talk about their exhibited work from noon to 1 p.m. in the Blaffer Art Museum in the Fine Arts Building. Reception: A gathering to honor retiring lecturer Jim Wortman will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Hilton UH’s Flamingo Ballroom. Art: Two Masters of Fine Arts students, Aaron Bielish and Lauren Moya Ford, will perform their thesis exhibition performances from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Blaffer Art Museum of the University’s Fine Arts Building. Baseball: The Cougars will compete against the University of South Florida from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Cougar Field.

Friday Workshop: Learn how to operate Blackboard Learn from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Classroom and Business Building, Room 212. Softball: The Cougars will face off against the University of South Florida from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Stadium.

Ceremony: Military and patriot cords will be given to veterans and military graduates during a graduate ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m. at Melcher Hall so they be worn during the Spring Commencement ceremonies. Baseball: The Cougars will compete against the University of South Florida from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Cougar Field. Theater: The School of Theatre and Dance will put on a production of “The Philadelphia Story” from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Wortham Theater. Student tickets are $10.

Saturday Softball: The Cougars will take on the University of South Florida from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Stadium. Baseball: The Cougars will challenge the University of South Florida from 2 to 3 p.m. at Cougar Field.

Sunday Music: A percussion ensemble will perform under the direction of Blake Wilkins from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Moores Opera House. Student

If you would like to suggest an event for The Daily Cougar calendar, please submit a time, date, location and brief description to calendar@thedailycougar.com. The Cougar calendar runs every Monday and Thursday.

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Issue staff Copy editing

Samantha Wong

Copy chief David Bryant

Closing editors

Natalie Harms, Channler K. Hill

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, April 17, 2014 // 3

THE DAILY COUGAR

NEWS EDITOR

Amanda Hilow

news@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/news

LGBT

continued from page 1

stay true to UH’s goals and the University’s nondiscrimination policy. “When a situation occurs where a student feels unsafe, unwelcome or uncomfortable in a classroom or in that academic advising, that’s something that’s stopping them from receiving the best education they can get,” Lee said. Fifty-three percent of transgender individuals have been “verbally harassed or disrespected in a place of public accommodation, including hotels, restaurants, buses, airports and government agencies,” according to a 2011 report from the National Center for Transgender Equality. The Josephine Tittsworth Act would allow students, faculty and staff “to apply their preferred first name, title and personally discerned gender in all standard forms of documentation or record keeping” in order for students to have their identity and names match so as not to be outed in class or confronted by advisers or students. The bill did not pass unanimously, and controversy has surrounded it. SGA President Charles Haston, who also co-authored the bill, said some senators and students have brought up the issue of Greek life and housing. He said that this will be unaffected by this bill. “Although we talk about being ethnically diverse, that’s not where it stops. ... I’ve learned so much from this school and learned how to respect and work with other people that I wouldn’t normally learn how to work with,” Haston said. “We have a responsibility as student government ... to create an environment that allows you to receive

Business Senator Pooja Magabi said that though the bill may have been vague in its implementation, she had “full faith” in the abilities of the faculty, staff and administration that they will mitigate any concerns if a move toward implementation is made. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar an education here.” Some of the senators who voted in opposition of the bill said they did so out of their senatorial commitments. “I have to vote with my constituents, and they overwhelmingly deny this legislation,” SGA CLASS senator Will Fischer said. Though the bill has had opposition, SGA CLASS senator Clement Agho-Otoghile said dissent is a right and should be a welcome part of a democracy. “We don’t always have to agree, and it doesn’t have to be unanimous,” Agho-Otoghile said. “It doesn’t have to be a shut-out, but we can respect and understand that we can come to a space of understanding.” news@thedailycougar.com

Undergraduate-at-large Senator Alan Garza said that if a trans individual is not officially recognized by the state, then he or she shouldn’t be entitled to privileges of a designated minority. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar

VETERANS continued from page 1

could give SVA the potential to offer grants and scholarships to members. “I would like to see this organization

strive,” Villarreal said. “I would like to leave it one step further than when I took over as president. I want to leave a good foundation and keep it in a steady direction.” news@thedailycougar.com

Roaring about breast cancer Senior Nathan Colbert speaks to freshman Nicky Rankin at Alpha Epsilon Pi’s breast cancer awareness tent by the Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall breezeway on Wednesday. The fraternity will be stationed there again from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today. — Emily S. Chambers/The Daily Cougar

The Student Veterans Office at UH holds weekly Student Veteran Association meetings. | Izmail Glosson/The Daily Cougar

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THE DAILY COUGAR

OPINION EDITOR James Wang EMAIL

opinion@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/opinion

ADMISSIONS

UH offers equal amenities to Ivy League universities

he higher education system in the U.S. is undergoing a painful transformation. The New York Times reported that nationwide college enrollment numbers have dropped for the first time in decades as the system undergoes a contraction. Some smaller private colleges Megan and universities Kallus are being forced to close their doors. However, at the same time, elite universities are posting record application numbers and all-timelow acceptance rates. Stanford University accepted just 5.1 percent of applicants this admissions season from a pool of 42,167 applicants. Acceptance rates of similarly ranked universities fall within a few percentage points of Stanford’s numbers. Harvard and Yale accepted about 6 percent of applicants, and MIT accepted around 8 percent. The University of Chicago has witnessed one of the steepest drops in admission rates. Just a few years ago, the school had an acceptance rate of 40 percent. This admissions season, the University of Chicago accepted only 8.1 percent of applicants. While the New York Daily News reported that Long Island high school student Kwasi Enin was accepted into all eight Ivy League universities, his admissions case is

The University of Houston admission process is transparent and that helps students, families and educators in their navigation.” Jeffery Fuller, on the University’s straightforward approach to student admission.

David Delgado/ The Daily Cougar an extreme outlier. As acceptance rates at private, highly selective universities continue to plummet, the college admissions process is becoming more expensive, complicated and unpredictable. Applications to private universities can cost anywhere from $65 to $85 without fee waivers, and students are applying to more schools. Isaac Madrid — a California prep school student profiled in the New York Times — said he applied to 11 colleges. Madrid was rejected at Stanford but accepted to Yale, which boasts nearly identical rankings and acceptance rates. His approach reflects that of many high-achieving students.

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

This makes one wonder why the admission process has become more competitive. Popular rankings like the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best College Rankings” plays a major role. Factors such as admissions selectivity and peer reputation are weighted heavily in the rankings. Elite universities began to push harder to attract a larger pool of applicants in order to improve their standings. The University of Chicago provides an interesting example of the recent competitive trend. In 2009, UC hired a new admissions officer with the hopes of improving its rankings. UC doubled its admissions staff

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

and embarked on a massive publicity campaign. The admissions team sent out mailings to a huge pool of students and switched to widely accessible online application systems like the Common Application. UC received so many applications that its acceptance rate dropped 26 percent in six years. UC ranks at number five on the U.S. News and World Report list. These tumbling admissions rates are feeding a vicious cycle of competitive admissions. According to The New York Times, admissions directors at many elite institutions claim that they receive a high volume of qualified applicants that causes

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

them to turn down candidates virtually indistinguishable from those who are accepted. Bruce Poch, a former admissions dean at Claremont College, spoke to The New York Times about this growing problem. “Kids see that admit rates are brutal and dropping, and it looks more like a crapshoot,” Poch said. “So they send more apps, which forces colleges to lower their admit rates, which spurs the kids next year to send even more apps.” Fortunately, there is some good news for students intimidated by the increasingly cutthroat college admissions process. ADMISSION continues on page 5

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, April 17, 2014 // 5

THE DAILY COUGAR

OPINION

ADMISSION continued from page 4

The quality of education offered at large public universities has steadily improved during the years. Public colleges like UH offer an attractive alternative to the cutthroat admissions process at private, elite universities. Director of Student Recruitment at the UH Office of Admissions Jeffrey Fuller suggests why the admission process at UH has been successful. “The University of Houston admission process is transparent, and that helps students, families and educators in their navigation,” Fuller said. The University’s admissions practices run counter to increasingly opaque and confusing college admissions practices. “Our process is straight-forth and encourages students to apply and complete their admission early to benefit from priorities essential in the enrollment process — such as new student orientation, housing, enrollment and scholarships and financial aid,” Fuller said. Biology sophomore Patricia de Guzman agrees with Fuller’s assessment. “The UH admissions process was really easy,” de Guzman said. “I was able to use ApplyTexas system to submit my application, and it was never stressful.” Fuller said UH’s admissions philosophy is to attract “academically prepared students” who are interested in “preparing for global opportunities.” UH accepts about 56.2 percent of applicants and hosts top-ranked programs ranging from hotel and restaurant management to entrepreneurship. Another selling point may be the financial edge. PolicyMic ranked UH a top “Bang for your buck” college. UH’s strengths shine with low student debt, high average starting salaries and top programs. In addition, UH offers prospective students the amenities of both STEM-focused research universities and small liberal arts colleges. Compared to UH, elite liberal arts colleges have experienced admission trends more similar to those at Stanford and UC. Pomona, Amherst, Williams and other private liberal arts colleges reported acceptance rates between 10 to 20 percent. UH has its own Honors College, which is similar structurally to liberal arts schools. The Honors College practices a holistic admissions process, offers a variety of humanities courses and seminars and fosters a tight-knit academic community. Pre-nursing sophomore Miriam

Acosta recognizes the amenities UH has to offer. “UH is a large public school, but that means that I’ve had the freedom to challenge myself academically and the opportunity to pursue all kinds of activities,” Acosta said. Prospective applicants should not have to feel intimidated by the college application process. The admissions cycle at Ivy League universities might seem frightening, but there are far more than eight worthwhile colleges in the U.S. “While much attention is often given to who gets in and where,” Fuller said, “the message that continues to ring true is that there is a space for every student ready to transition to college.”

...some say we’re pretty hip.

Opinion columnist Megan Kallus is a prebusiness freshman and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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THE DAILY COUGAR

SPORTS EDITOR

Christopher Shelton

sports@thedailycougar.com

ONLINE

thedailycougar.com/sports

BRIEFS

Ross earns 1st American weekly award The Daily Cougar news services Although rain shortened the Reunion Intercollegiate to 36 holes over two days, senior James Ross fired back-to-back, even-par 72 on the 7,305-yard course at Reunion Golf and Country Club in Madison, Miss., to equal his best finish as a Cougar and was honored Wednesday as the American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week. It is the first weekly award for Ross during his career. However, he became the second Cougar to win the program’s third award after junior Roman Robledo collected similar honors earlier this season. “I just think I’m starting to … come to course with a better attitude. If you try too hard, you can guarantee that it won’t h a p p e n ,” Ross Ross said. “It’s more my approach than actual physical.” Ross ranks second among the Cougars with a 72.04 scoring average and stands third on the team with 14 rounds of par or better. He has posted six top-10 finishes this year and was ranked at No. 9 for Team Europe in the April 2 Palmer Cup rankings. “It’s just been constant improvement — total improvement from the moment that he got here,” Dismuke said. “I’m really proud of him and how his game has developed. He’s reaped the rewards of success lately.” UH makes schedule changes The American Athletic Conference announced date changes for two UH football games to accommodate national television broadcasts. The Cougars open the new Houston Football Stadium against UTSA at 8 p.m. Aug. 29 in a game to be broadcast on ESPNews. UH’s game against Temple, originally scheduled for Oct. 18, will move to 8 p.m. on Oct. 17 in a game televised by ESPNU. The games are the third and fourth games of the season to be designated for national broadcast, as the American on March 17 announced ESPN national TV selections for two UH games — at BYU on Sept. 11 and against Central Florida on Oct. 2. sports@thedailycougar.com

After capturing four team titles this season, the Cougars are preparing for the AAC tournament, which begins on April 27. | Esteban Portillo/The Daily Cougar

GOLF

UH eyes postseason after strong year Christopher Shelton Sports editor

Nearly a year after being nationally recognized, the Cougars are again preparing for the postseason tournament. UH is hoping for a similar result to last season’s sweep of the team and individual titles in the Conference USA tournament, following a third place finish in the regular season finale at the Reunion Intercollegiate on Tuesday. But the lengthy course, possible weather disruption and talented competition will challenge the Cougars when they travel to Palm Harbor, Fla., to tee off at Copperhead Course for the American Athletic Conference Tournament on April 27. None of the current Cougars have competed at the 7,340-foot course, so senior James Ross had his eyes glued to the television in mid-March for the Valspar Championship, which was held at Copperhead. Ross said the Cougars will battle a course that challenges golfers with its length and the prospects of a windy day. But Director of Golf Jonathan Dismuke said the Cougars will put the distractions and challenges into the back of their mind and focus on things they

can change. Though Copperhead can be a difficult course to navigate with a low score, he said his team welcomes the challenge. “When you’ve got good skills, good experience and a history of success, it suits you well on a challenging course. You want a tough course to separate you from other teams,” Dismuke said. The Cougars certainly have had a history of success this season. UH has earned four team titles with as many top-five finishes in 12 tournaments this season while capturing five individual championships this year. The wins helped UH attain the No. 9 ranking in the national Golfweek.com standings. Winning golf tournaments is expected at a school that boasts 16 national titles and eight individual champions. However, Ross said the team doesn’t worry about the expectations and pressure of playing in the postseason. “Golf is a sport where it’s had to win week in and week out, but if you keep doing the same things, you have a pretty good chance,” said Ross, who was named American golfer of the week on Wednesday after tying for second at the Reunion Intercollegiate.

Senior James Ross has emerged as one of the best golfers on the team. He was named AAC golfer of the week on Wednesday. | File photo/The Daily Cougar Dismuke said he’ll make sure the team has plenty of rest, is prepared and gets a good week of practice before the conference tournament begins. He said the team will focus on the little things as it prepares. “Golf’s a complicated game. It’s

hard to point a finger at one thing,” Dismuke said. “But a lot of it is being prepared being able to control emotions and having the focus level to make proper decisions.”. sports@thedailycougar.com

Thursday, April 17, 2014 // 7

THE DAILY COUGAR

SPORTS

UH took down Sam Houston 5-2 in a midweek contest to bounce back after a weekend sweep from top 10 foe Louisville. | Justin Tijerina/The Daily Cougar

BASEBALL

UH has success while on rebound from sweep Harrison Lee

Senior staff writer

UH hopes a midweek win against Sam Houston in Huntsville means its toe-stubbing against Louisville has relegated itself to the past. After getting swept by Louisville last weekend, UH rebounded for a 5-2 win against Sam Houston on Tuesday. Head coach Todd Whitting, who captains a 27-9 ship going into the series with USF, which will start Thursday evening, sported an above-the-clouds attitude toward the arduous nature of the long season. “I like to think we’re going to play really well this weekend,” Whitting said. “The thing about baseball is that the past never equals the future. The last game you played is usually not a dictator of how you’re going to play. All you can do is just prepare your team and be ready.” Standing at 4-5 in American Athletic Conference play, the three-game series against the Bulls (21-5, 7-5) signifies a return to conference play for the No. 12-ranked Cougars. “South Florida is a really good team,” Whitting said. “They’re a contender in our league right now. Last year, they were, to the very end, about to win the Big East. (Head) coach (Lelo) Prado does a really good job over there. They’re not gonna

come in and hand us anything. We’re going to have to play well this weekend.” Friday night starter Aaron Garza, who takes the mound Thursday, voiced enthusiasm for a return to conference play. “We bounced back against Sam, and we’re just excited to get back into conference play and try and get ahead in some of the standings right now,” said Garza, a junior righthander who has been named to the Golden Spikes watch list. Sophomore right fielder Kyle Survance, who sports a .319 batting

average and 19 stolen bases, has seen the quick, spark-like start before. UH leapt to a high-win, low-loss record last year as part of what has been called the Miracle at Cougar Field, but the team struggled down the stretch and didn’t earn an NCAA tournament bid. The swift right fielder said he feels the squad is different than the previous season, which saw a good chunk of the team composed of freshmen and transfers. “I think we kind of know what to expect,” Survance said, “whereas last year, it was our first college season, and we didn’t really know what to

expect. I think this year we have a little bit more experience, and we know what’s gonna happen, and I think we can try and push the envelope a little bit more than we did last year.” Though his game is based Survance on speed, Survance thinks that overall, the game has slowed down for him and the team. “The game is a lot easier this year.

I think that’s how it is with everyone who was a freshman last year,” said Survance, who acknowledged the confidence boost that comes with a season of collegiate baseball under their collective belts. Maturity notwithstanding, the workman-like attitude of the team is evident. “I think we feel pretty confident. We know they’re going to be a good squad, but I think we’ve got a great team and we just gotta play better then they do,” Survance said.

SATURDAY

SUNDAY

sports@thedailycougar.com

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE UH SPORTS EVENTS FROM APRIL 17 TO 20 THURSDAY BASEBALL

FRIDAY vs. USF @ 3 p.m.

SOFTBALL

vs. USF @ 3 p.m.

SOFTBALL

vs. USF @ NOON

American Athletic Conference Championships (Tampa, Fla.)

vs. USF @ 3 p.m. BASEBALL BASEBALL

WOMEN’S GOLF

vs. USF

vs. USF @ NOON

6:30 p.m.

Cougar Softball Stadium Cougar Field All data gathered from uhcougars.com | Infograph by Jose Cruz

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THE DAILY COUGAR

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Monica Tso

arts@thedailycougar.com

STUDENT LIFE

Spanish students educate school on nutrition Diana Nguyen Senior staff writer

Nutrition, exercise and selfesteem are uncommon topics discussed in an eighth-grade Spanish class. YES Prep teacher Gabriel Barbieri’s eighth-grade Spanish III class was in for a treat when three UH students from the Spanish for the Health Professions course visited several times to discuss health habits, self-esteem and how to achieve goals. Hispanic Studies professor María E. Pérez had students from her Spanish for the Health Professions class — Spanish and business senior Oswaldo Vinueza, Spanish senior Miriam Sanchez and Spanish and French senior Patricia Savala — visit YES Prep Academy to converse with students on health issues that affect the Hispanic community from an adolescent perspective. “When I was first introduced to the opportunity to teach a couple of self-esteem classes to YES Prep, I was a little nervous,” Sanchez said. “Never before had I taught a class, but as soon as I stood up and started teaching, I saw myself perhaps doing this in the future.” Sanchez said she knows that self-esteem can often be a sensitive subject, so she wanted to instill confidence in the students.

Three students from the Spanish for the Health Professions class visited Yes Prep Academy for several weeks to teach eighth graders about nutrition, health and self-esteem. | Diana Nguyen/The Daily Cougar “Self-esteem is a touchy subject at any age, so I wanted to remind these eighth-graders at YES Prep that life is what they make out of it,” Sanchez said. “That with a little confidence in themselves, they can go a long way. Through their facial expressions during my class, I am pretty sure I got through to them.” Sanchez’s thought proved right, as many of the students had positive reactions. Daniela Perez said she thought Sanchez’s lesson was helpful. “This class is an extreme opportunity, because with my dreams, it fits perfectly by helping me be more

outgoing,” Perez said. “I want to be a psychiatrist, and with today’s lesson, I know what I got to do.” Cassandra Gonzalez agreed. “I enjoyed having this opportunity because it has given me some advice that I could use to pursue my goal of working in the medical field,” Gonzalez said. María E. Pérez said her students have done an outstanding job interacting with the students at YES Prep. “The UH students have been very successful in engaging the YES Prep students, and they have also targeted higher education, as they discussed health habits during the

college years, including the infamous ‘freshman 15,’” she said. She hopes to achieve her goal of bridging the gap between school and the community with her Spanish for the Global Professions classes and the YES Prep collaboration. “My aim in these courses has been to breach the gap between academia and the community,” Pérez said. “I hope to continue to do that by expanding our future involvement with YES Prep. We service our Hispanic community and, at the same time, provide an experiential learning opportunity for our students.” Barbieri said he feels YES Prep is a campus inclusive to all students. “We are a campus that is committed to opening the doors of the college experience to all of our students, regardless of background, economic status, social privilege, sexual orientation or ethnic origin,” Barbieri said. Sanchez said she was thankful for the opuurtunity to teach at YES Prep. “I would like to thank professor María Eugenia Pérez for her hard work and dedication to her students and allowing us to have such great experiences at the University of Houston,” Sanchez said. arts@thedailycougar.com

EVENTS

Balancing two cultures at once

Pakistan Student Association to showcase tastes of tradition at upcoming show Janeka Porter Staff writer

The Pakistan Student Association plans to help remind students about the deep roots of Pakistani culture. PSA will host a show packed with skits, dancing, singing and comedy along with a fashion show from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at Cullen Performance Hall. This year’s performances depict Pakistan’s beginning, transition and how it is seen today while showing the four main provinces, its culture and traditions. “In this day and age, it has become increasingly difficult, especially for youth, to stay connected to the roots of their culture,” said supply chain freshman and PSA event coordinator Sindhia Khowaja. “The hardest part is keeping a balance between your culture’s core value

Guest stars Ammar MãsooÐ and Amjad Syed are known for their Vine videos and will provide comedy in the evening. | Courtesy of Sindhia Khowaja and assimilating yourself into mainstream American culture.” The night will consist of comedy

skits by UH students and Pakistani Vines superstars Ammar MãsooÐ and Amjad Syed, Pakistani culture dances

and a fashion show. Two of the DhoomBros, Shehryaar Asif and Hussain Asif, will host the PSA show. The DhoomBros are a group of four brothers that can dance, act, sing and DJ and are known nationally for their talents. The brothers became famous for their YouTube videos such as “Dolly Aunty,” “Blessing of Ramdan” and “The Perfect Money.” Students will get a chance to meet and greet with the DhoomBros after the show. “The purpose of this show is to strive for accurate knowledge of Pakistani traditions and culture throughout our diverse student body in UH,” said chemistry sophomore and PSA president Irfan Syed. arts@thedailycougar.com

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PLAY

Honors College theater club writes original scripts in show Dyllon Braun Contributing writer

Students from Club Theater have been working hard for its weekend performance of five unique short plays, ranging from 10 to 25 minutes in length. Club Theater was established in 2006 and has about 40 active members. It is run solely by students, most of whom are non-theater majors, said psychology senior and Club Theater producer Sarah Dyer. Members come from all majors and backgrounds, including engineering, biology and pre-medicine. “Club officers choose the directors, and the directors hold the auditions for who will perform,” Dyer said. “So anyone is welcome, so long as they make the audition.” This year the plays will vary between comedy and drama, but leaning more on the comedic side. “We wanted to keep the mood light this year,” Dyer said. All the plays are original material, many by creative writing students.One play was completely improvised, with only a loose outline of a plot. The actors had to create the lines as they went along. “That one is very fun because it will also require audience participation,” Dyer said. “So be ready to interact.” The Honors College will host Club Theater at 2 and 7 p.m. in the Honors Commons on Saturday. The event will be free and open to the public, although donations are encouraged. Light refreshments will also be provided. “We’re really pushing our limits this year,” said John Hounihan, marketing and management sophomore and Club Theater treasurer. “We have a lot of really talented people, and it’s going to be a great show.” arts@thedailycougar.com

WATCH IT Club Theater will perform a series of plays at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday in The Honors College.

Thursday, April 17, 2014 // 9

THE DAILY COUGAR

LIFE+ARTS BLAFFER

Artist delves into silk screen exhibition The Daily Cougar: How is it different explaining your work on its opening day versus at the gallery talk?

Tom So: I guess on opening day, it was a lot of excitement and a lot of not really knowing what’s going to be like. I needed some time to sort of put my thoughts together post-show, and that helped me put my artist talk together. TDC: The last time we spoke, you spoke of what your piece was made of. This time, we learned there is a story involved with the character Franking Cabot. I noticed it went from Franklin Cabot, to Frankie, and then to Francine. Is that the same person? TS: Yes, it’s the same person. So (for) this project, I wanted to explore the narrative possibilities of objects and also exploring silk screening and how I can tell my story and how people can engage with the exhibition. Graduate student Tom So discussed his work in the 36th Annual MFA Thesis exhibition at the Blaffer Art Museum on Wednesday. | Courtney Gregory/The Daily Cougar Sara Samora Senior staff writer

The Blaffer Art Museum held its first MFA Exhibition Gallery Talk on Wednesday, featuring six of the 18 artists from the 36th MFA Thesis exhibition. Graphic design junior Helen Nerio found the galler y talk interesting. “It was pretty interesting just to hear all the artists and to know where the work comes from,” Neiro said.

“Sometimes you see something you don’t understand. It’s pretty interesting to hear their take on it and how they came up with it.” She especially enjoyed third-year graphic design So graduate and professor Tom So’s “Oblivia.”

“I heard about them going through the process, and they seem very intriguing,” Nerio said. “I was kind of excited to see all the things that they did, especially downstairs where everything is silk screen. I’ve done silk screen myself, and I know how hard it could be.” The Daily Cougar sat down with So to discuss his exhibition. arts@thedailycougar.com

So I wanted to create “Oblivia” as a way to display my passion for collecting. My central character would travel to Oblivia and then embody these different personas, so because of that narrative aspect, I was able to collect a different assortment of different images related to the different time periods and then create personas out of those.

TDC: Would you say the collectibles represent memories and experiences? TS: Yeah, because people have different associations with the objects and also the images that were used. I wanted to see how people could connect to images and then also how the narrative possibilities to the images and the objects. — Interview conducted by Sara Samora

FITNESS

Summer recreations to keep Cougars active Dyllon Braun Contributing writer

Students can take advantage of many facilities and activities at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. But for those looking to stay fit and active year-round, looking for a summer camp experience or a birthday party venue for their children — the Recreation Center is a good place to start. “We offer the Cougar Cub Camp, a children’s day camp for kids ages 5 to 12. The camp offers eight weekly sessions,” said associate director of facilities Bob Campbell. “We offer six sessions of swim lessons throughout the summer. Additionally, we receive a number of leisure pool rental requests for kids’ birthday parties.” Ashley James, a mother of two who works in the Medical Center, has nothing but praise for the Cougar Cub Camp. “My kids love it here,” James said. “The staff is always so nice and welcoming, and it’s really convenient since I work close by.”

The Campus Recreation and Wellness Center is offering summer activities for students and the community to participate in. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar The eight weeks provide a series of events that follow themes such as “Secret Agent,” “Sports Extravaganza,” “Super Hero,” “Backyard Camp” and “Texas Adventures.”

Registration for Cougar Cub Camp opened Feb. 1. Fees are $150 for Recreation Center members, $175 for non-members and $200 for the community.

The camp also provides an extended day care for parents who continue their busy work schedules throughout the summer. Students who participate are also

encouraged to give their feedback each year, as changes are made based on it. “Minor modifications regarding the type of camp activities, swim lesson schedules and intramural offerings are made each year based on program evaluations and feedback from participants,” said Campus Recreation Director Kim Clark. Intramural sports is a popular pastime for students, and new sports are usually offered each summer. The Recreation Center currently offers intramural teams for badminton, racquetball, basketball, golf, tennis, table tennis, dodgeball, sand hockey, volleyball and more. However, the list of sports offered for the upcoming summer is still being finalized. Anyone interested in registering can visit the intramural sports page on the Recreation Center’s website for more details. For more information about the Cougar Cub Camp, please visit its website. arts@thedailycougar.com

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CLASSIFIEDS Find a home. Find a job. Find it here.

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Please submit resume or contact information to HR at personnel@thebriarclub.com or call 713-622-3667 ext. 2109

MONTESSORI SCHOOL in Museum district. Looking for subs/assts and life guards. Flex hrs. Call 713-520-0738. HELP WANTED!!! MONTESSORI preschool in the Heights. Afternoon caregiver 3-6 pm. Contact 713-8614112. I am looking for a student with advance knowledge on .Net 2.0 Visual Studio 2005-2010. Real Life scenario. Career Mentor opportunity. Email osiris_ mckinney@yahoo.es FIND YOUR NEXT JOB. Read The Daily Cougar classifieds every day — in print or online.

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ACROSS 1 Apology preceder 6 “Leave It to Beaver” smoothtalker 11 Understand, in hippie lingo 14 Narcotic from poppies 15 Dreamy and unaware 16 Elegiac poem 17 Lush tropical area 19 Zero, in soccer 20 Airport info, informally 21 They’re often asked to look 22 Affirmative action 23 Fortified dessert wine 27 False identities 29 Jackie’s “O” 30 Gunky stuff 32 Dull as dishwater 33 Japanese currency 34 Lilies with bellshaped flowers 36 Ladies’ men 39 “The King

41 43 44 46 48 49 51 52 53 56

58 59 60 61 62

68 69 70 71 72 73

and I” heroine Conehatted one “Silent Night,” for one Severely inclined Having regrets Eggs, in bio labs Acting part Roman robe Boy doll Cool cat’s quality Group with no members, in math Nabokov heroine Suit’s bottom or top Myrna of old Hollywood Knight’s honorific What some lotto winners do It may cook your goose Kind of bath salts Princess’ headgear Home for a hog Actions, for a Scout Nail cousin

DOWN 1 Olympus figure 2 “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” beast 3 Bygone auto ornament 4 Largeheaded match 5 Ipecac and others 6 Australian flightless bird 7 Syndicate head 8 Received ideas 9 Away from the water 10 Blight on the landscape 11 Brawls 12 “Eat crow” or “talk turkey” 13 Neuters, as a horse 18 Jolted 23 Noted pyramid builders 24 “You ___ the only one!” 25 Hosted event 26 Predict, as from omens 28 Indian flat bread

Editor’s Note by Samantha Wong

Puzzle answers online: www.thedailycougar.com/puzzles

UC North, Room 221

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31 Pastry with a hole, informally 35 Twig used in grafting 37 Flood embankment 38 What italicized letters do 40 Ages and ages and ages (var.) 42 Totally swamp 45 Begged 47 Big, awkward klutzes 50 Parole alternative 53 Some door fasteners 54 Word said with a head slap 55 Fool’s lack 57 Word in a song 63 Atlantic catch 64 Bad ___ (German spa) 65 Honey holder 66 Metal-inthe-rough 67 Swerve, as a ship

Thursday, April 17, 2014 // 11

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NEWS

HIRE COOGS CAREER 101

JOB OPPORTUNITIES, CAREER ADVICE AND MORE EVERY THURSDAY brought to you by University Career Services

The Importance of Professional Image

Nearly 250 cadets, friends and families gathered in Hofheinz Pavilion for the Houston Battalion Army ROTC’s award ceremony. | Fernando Castaldi/The Daily Cougar

You have less than one minute to make a first impression. In her book “Don’t Take the Last Donut: New Rules of Business Etiquette,” Judith Bowman states, “They look at how you walk into the room, how you carry yourself, what you are wearing, and if you make eye contact or not.” This is certainly true for employers. When employers were given a list of appearance related attributes and asked to rate the degree of influence that each attribute would have on their opinion of a candidate. The results indicated that a candidate’s overall grooming exerted the most influence. Of course your technical abilities are what get you to the interview, but once you are there, your professional image, how you dress and communicate (verbal and non-verbal), and level of confidence make a significant impact.

Projecting confidence fuels a positive image

ROTC

continued from page 1

cadets and the families,” said Battalion Executive Officer Capt. Braswell. “It is very important to the donors as it is to the University, because it does not only honor the students, but it honors the organizations that support military officers and the military as a whole.” Each award given during the ceremony had its own requirements to achieve. Some were given based on academic standing or physical fitness, while some included scholarships to be granted to the cadets who possessed qualities that exceeded expectations and their peers. The scholarships ranged in size from $50 to $2,000 and totaled about $25,000. Some of the awards were in remembrance of fallen soldiers from the far and near past. Of these awards, several were given by descendants of the fallen soldiers as part of the ceremony’s honors. The ceremony was a chance for family members and leaders of the many awarded cadets to recognize their hard work. For some of the upcoming graduates, it was a way to show to the community and their families how dedicated they are to working to become an officer in the U.S. Army. The battalion is made up of students with varying backgrounds and experience levels, some already with military experience. However, they all possess the goal of being an Army officer, a position that holds leadership and military bearing at a high level.

“The battalion is made up of a wide range of cadets with a wide range of skills, and it is good to acknowledge that with this ceremony,” said Cadet Command Sgt. Major Karis Coe, a political science senior, who was also in the group of awardees. Most of the cadets in attendance were fully dressed in their Class Blue uniforms, a uniform that embraces tradition, the ideal of awarding great acts and the bearing that being a military officer holds. For members of the battalion cadre who were responsible for selecting the cadets to be awarded, a chance to commend the work of their cadets could not have come soon enough. The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthem and an opening remark from Lt. Colonel Michael Smith, battalion commander and chairman of the Department of Military Science. Smith noted the many deeds and accomplishments of the awardees and said the choice to become a military officer is a choice to serve. His message spoke to the cadets in appreciation of not only fulfilling their duties as cadets but of their dedication to become an officer in the Army. After Smith’s opening remarks, Coe led the battalion in reciting the Cadet Creed and Braswell led the presentation of the awards and scholarships, which totaled around 50 awards. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Army Song, a longheld tradition at Army ceremonies. news@thedailycougar.com

• Confidence is all about projecting positive energy and a positive attitude. Confidence comes from within. If your actions are not genuine, you come across as contrived and unnatural. It is imperative you rehearse and master so it becomes part of you.

• Projecting positive energy, confidence and control must be present from minute one in any successful business relationship. The irony is the more you assume “the role” and project a positive attitude, the more you naturally become positive. “I think; therefore, I am” applies.

• Experienced professionals have their radar up for your confidence level from the first handshake. They look at how you carry yourself, what you wear and if you make eye contact. All this speaks volumes about you and sets the tone for the entire relationship.

NOW HIRING Log onto JobBank at www.uh.edu/ucs and search for the ID number Sales & Account Manager (53695) Formulate, direct & coordinate sales activities & policies to promote company’s products & services; analyze sales statistics, use sales forecasting to ensure sales and profitability; address technical, operational, & financial requirements. Integrated Marketing Intern (53698) We are seeking intern candidates to support our client services department who are enthusiastic about learning, have a service mindset and want to help us deliver outstanding results to our clients. Senior Accountant (53700) Perform all of the accounting for three of the company’s subsidiaries including journal entries and account reconciliations. Entry Level Software Developer (53704) Vista Equity Partners is the leading private equity firm with over $7 billion of committed capital focused solely on investing in enterprise application software and software-enabled companies.

Nutrition Specialist (53712) The Nutrition Specialist is responsible for developing and implementing an exemplary innovative nutrition services program in accordance with Head Start Program Performance Standards and other pertinent Federal, State, and Grantee guidelines. Line Cook (53720) Maintains established standards of sanitation, safety and food preparation and storage as set by the local and state health departments; maintains an orderly, sanitary, and safe kitchen. Swim Instructors and/ or Lifeguards (53721) This is a great opportunity for current students and/or graduates seeking flexible scheduling, competitive compensation and a chance to make a difference in children’s’ lives! Marketing Intern (53732) Assist with all marketing, advertising and promotional activities. Assist with website development, maintenance, and update data.

Frame Designer (53742) Eric L. Davis Engineering, Inc. is seeking a Civil Engineering graduate with a focus in structural engineering for a fast paced firm located in Spring, Texas. Summer 2014 Photo Intern (53748) Houston Press photography interns shoot a variety of editorial slideshows and blogs each week. Slideshow subjects include: concerts, art walks, cultural festivals, rallies, conventions and other news events. Communications Specialist (53749) The position works directly under the supervision of the Director of Communications & Community Relations to support and assist with research, planning, communications and evaluation of public relations objectives. Peer Assistant (53758) The Orientation PEER ASSISTANT members serve as members of the New Student Conference staff, assisting new students with their academic transition to the University of Houston.

Driver to deliver smoothies and make smoothies (53772) Friendly person who can make and deliver smoothies in Galleria area within a mile radius. Will train. Room Service Server-Jesse H. Jones Rotary House International (53780) International is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Marriott International does not discriminate on the basis of disability, veteran status or any other basis protected under federal, state or local laws. Area Sales Representative (53787) Progressive is blazing a path at the intersection of Finance and Technology and we have an exciting new opening for Area Sales Representatives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Accounting / Office Manager (53794) This is a part-time (25-30 hours per week) office manager/ accounting position at our corporate facility located in Bellaire.

INTERVIEWS Log onto Campus Recruitment at www.uh.edu/ucs and search for the ID under the Employer Search & Interview Request link • Hertz Branch Manager Trainee League City (#3985) • VSM Abrasives Territory Manager Texas (ID #3978) • RTI-Extrusions Product Design Engineer (ID #3971) • Canon is conducting on-thespot interviews on April 30 for entry-level Records Technicians. Open to Spring 2014 grads and alumni. Register at www.canoninterviewsatucs. eventbrite.com.

WORKSHOPS Thursday, April 17 at 1 pm: The Job Hunt Tuesday, April 22 at 11 am: To Intern or Not to Intern Wednesday, April 23 at 3pm: Rock your Resume

COUNSELOR OF THE WEEK Becky Reiter is the Senior Career Counselor at University Career Services. She is a licensed professional counselor and has over eight years of experience helping students. She can help all students but her focus is students in HRM and Architecture. You can reach her at blreiter@central.uh.edu

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Real respect is open minded and supportive. Real respect is valuing each other’s point of view. And accepting that we can’t always agree. Real respect is giving each other the space to be ourselves. Real respect is building each other up. Not tearing each other down. It’s taking responsibility for safer sex. Explore respect. Talk about it. Respect yourself. Respect your partner.

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