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Issue 8, Volume 80
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NEWS
Khator attacks UH's unique hurdles | PG 2
Failure to launch
As delays begin to mount for the displaced students who signed leases with The Vue, most are wondering who to blame after living out of a suitcase for over a month. | PG 5
ARTS
Age doesn't slow Simon's pace | PG 13
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2 | Wednesday, October 8, 2014
NEWS
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Contact The Cougar
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Kelly Schafler
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opinion@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/opinion
NEWS EDITOR
LIFE & ARTS EDITOR Paulina Rojas
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Meeting needs of a new generation Khator's 'State of the University' addresses UH's evolving student body and correcting the issues that hold it back CARA SMITH
EDITOR IN CHIEF @CARA_SMITH5
Redefinition doesn’t come easy. In today’s conversations about UH, there aren't too many people who mention a university with the environment of a glorified high school, or one where most of its students show up for class and leave. But that was the story of UH just six years ago, before President and Chancellor Renu Khator made the University what it is today – the house that innovation built. Innovation was the underlying theme of the President’s “State of the University” Fall Address, which took place on Oct. 1 in the Moores Opera House. Khator came to UH in January 2008; in
Fall 2009, UH had an undergraduate enrollment of just over 28,000 students. Six years later, the University has increased that number by almost 12 percent, boasting an undergraduate enrollment of almost 32,000 students.
A changing student body The trend is continuing. Since Khator’s arrival, the University has only experienced one annual dip in undergraduate enrollment, a drop of around 900 students between 2012 and 2013 to which Khator attributed “recent changes, including new admissions standards." Between 2013 and 2014, UH experienced a four percent increase in undergraduate enrollment. Undergraduate enrollment
Graduation rates: still work to be done National University Statistics
71% 59% 48% 41.8%
Public Tier 1 Universities National Public Universities Texas Emerging Research Universities Public Tier 1 Universities
2008 Source US News Academic Insights, 2015
2009
2010
48.2%
2011
2012
2013
2014 Infographic by A.Tomic
isn’t the only growing number. There was a 5 percent increase in the number of semester credit hours students have registered for between 2013 and 2014, a larger growth trend than undergraduate enrollment. UH’s tightened admission standards welcomed a new breed of student, one that’s more likely to enroll full time. “(UH students) understand the value of completing on time and getting into the workforce early,” Khator said.
Struggle on a national scale The increase can also be attributed to UHin4, one of Khator’s most vocally-supported initiatives, where students sign up for a fixed four-year tuition rate and graduation plan that guarantees open availability of courses they need in order to graduate. It’s an effort to combat the University’s sub-par graduation rate. Currently, UH’s six-year graduation rate stands at 48.2 percent, well below the 71 percent average of public Tier One universities. The University’s graduation rate has risen over six percent since Khator’s arrival, but the number was still addressed as “a work in progress.” “Even if nothing else were to change, the UHin4 program — the fixed 4-year tuition and completion plan — alone will move the graduation rate above the national average,” Khator said. Nearly half of the Class of 2018 has enrolled in UHin4, surpassing
UNIVERSITY
Continues on page 6
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Sean Alder
Cara Smith
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ANALYSIS
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Sara Samora
713-743-5360
President and Chancellor Renu Khator (left) always takes time to connect with members of the UH community, like alumna Sawsan Shatleh, but her 'State of the University' touched on hard-hitting issues. | Cara Smith/The Cougar
OPINION EDITOR
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ABOUT CSM The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar, Student Video Network and CoogRadio. Part of the Student Life portfolio in the Division of Student Affairs, the CSM is concerned with the development of students, focusing on critical thinking, leadership, ethics, collaboration, intercultural competence, goal-setting and ultimately, degree attainment. While our students are engaged in producing and promoting media channels and content, our goal is to ensure they are learning to become better thinkers and leaders in the process. The second goal of the CSM is to manage the revenue-generating activities — advertising and media services — that can be used to grow our student media programs and provide richer experiences to the students involved.
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4 | Wednesday, October 8, 2014
CALENDAR
Sports | Campus events | City events | See more upcoming events at thedailycougar.com/calendar TODAY
MVP Volunteer Fair:
Revolution of Heroes
The Metropolitan Volunteer Program will host many of Houston's top volunteer and non-profit organizations to provide students with information about service opportunities in the Greater Houston Area at 12 p.m. at Butler Plaza.
Neil HIlborn The Council of Ethnic Organizations will host College National Poetry Slam Champion Neil Hilborn from 12 to 1 p.m. in the U.C. Satellite.
City Hall Farmers Market Houston will host a farmers market from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on both sides of City Hall's reflection pool, with a variety of fresh and prepared food at the heart of the city.
THURSDAY, OCT. 9
Fall 2014 Career and
Internship Fair
University Career Services will host a career fair open to all academic majors and hosting 48 employers ranging from
education to the oil and gas industry from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Conrad Ballroom of the Hilton UH. Students may register for the event through Cougar Pathway via AccessUH.
child-like games to raise awareness about Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at 5 p.m. at Lynn Eusan Park.
Reality Bytes
The Cougars will play against UConn at 7 p.m. at Carl Lewis Field.
The Women's Resource Center will watch and discuss reality television programming from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the WRC. Free lunch and Cougar trading cards will be provided. This week's program will be "Pretty Wild."
Undergraduate Research Day 2014 More than 150 student researchers from all over UH will showcase their achievements at 4 p.m. in the Rockwell Pavilion and at the Honors College. Ice cream sundaes will be provided.
Red Block Bash
UH Soccer The Shifting Art Object Rescheduled from last week, Rachel Cook and Jacob Mills will discuss the relationship between the art experience and its discussion at 5:30 p.m. in the Honors College Commons.
FRIDAY, OCT. 10
MVP Rock the Campus The Metropolitan Volunteer Program will hold its annual campus clean-up with a variety of service activities, music and food starting at 9 a.m. at Butler Plaza. To sign up, visit uh.edu/mvp.
The UH Arts Initiative and BAMSA will host an evening of music, dancing, food and art activity from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Grove.
UH Volleyball
Phi Mu Field Day
SATURDAY, OCT. 11
The Phi Mu Fraternity will host a field say where students can partake in silly,
Second Annual Oil and Gas Conference and Case
DIGITAL DAILY Trending stories online thedailycougar.com
The Cougars will play against SMU at 7 p.m. in Dallas.
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Competition The Investment Banking Scholars Club will host a conference dedicated to connecting with high-level professionals in all areas of OIl and Gas which will be moderated by Shell Oil former CFO Lane Sloan from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m at the C. T. Bauer College of Business.
Holocaust Museum Trip The Council of Ethnic Organizations will organize a free trip to the Holocaust Museum at 12:15. Students who wish to attend should register by emailing ceoepd@central.uh.edu.
UH Rugby Club
SUNDAY, OCT. 12
UH Soccer The Cougars will play against Temple at 1 p.m. at Carl Lewis Field.
UH Volleyball The Cougars will play against Tulsa at 7 p.m. in Tulsa, Okla.
TUESDAY, OCT. 14
Foreign Film: "Bent
Familia"
The UH Rugby Club will face UNT at 2 p.m. at Houston Sports Park.
UH Football The Cougars, 2-3, will face Memphis at 6 p.m. in Memphis, Tenn.
Silos II: Inter/action and Noche Roja The Houston Art Alliance will host visual artist Allison Hunter's latest video installation, "Inter/action," and choreography featuring FrenetiCore Dance and Solero
facebook.com/thedailycougar
Flamenco from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the Buffalo Bayou Silos at North St. Charles and Kennedy streets.
The Council of Ethnic Organizations will present "Bent Familia," a movie about three Tunis women whose friendship and solidarity help them combat the slanted world around them at 6 p.m. in the U.C. Theatre.
Promote your organization's events by emailing us a description of the event with its place and time: copychief@thedailycougar.com
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We took our favorite photos from Instagram that used #PrimeTimeCoogs in the caption. This week, use the hashtag #CoogStudySpots to be considered for our Digital Daily page.
#INSTACOOG
NEWS New voting restrictions may affect students SPORTS Despite strong performance, Cougars fall to Green Wave L&A CoogRadio celebrates fifth birthday OPINION Afro-Latinos: Fighting for a box in the 2020 census NEWS Students ‘take back the night’ against sexual violence
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Tailgating with my favs. #gocoogs #PrimeTimeCoogs #stayred
Will always be proud to be a Cougar. #PrimeTimeCoogs #TrueWe'llEverBe
Let's go Coogs! #PrimeTimeCoogs
POLL OF THE WEEK Where is your favorite place to grab 'a cup of Joe' on campus? Submit your vote to
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TOP ONLINE COMMENTS “It's amazing how a team returning so many players from last year has actually regressed. Since it is fairly agreed to that this team has talent, my only conclusion is that it does not have the right coaching staff to show it off.”
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“Seriously? State ID is easy to obtain. If folks would stop worrying about how difficult it is going to be to 'stuff the ballot box' and just participate in a fair election, we might truly have a representative government of the people and for the people.” by 'me' on "New voting restrictions may affect students" via thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 5
thedailycougar.com/news
NEWS
news@thedailycougar.com
Sara Samora, EDITOR
CONSTRUCTION
Residents say "Vue" doesn't look so nice Students are angry with delays and incompletion of the new apartments on MacGregor GLISSETTE SANTANA
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @GSANTANA347
Molly Nelson has had enough with inadequate housing. A transfer student from Texas Christian University, the early childhood education junior spent her first year at UH living at Cambridge Oaks. Less than impressed, Nelson chose to sign a lease at The Vue on MacGregor, a privately owned off-campus apartment complex with nearly 350 beds, where she would share a unit with three of her friends. Her original move-in date was scheduled for Aug. 23. After multiple notices from The Vue administration pushing back her move-in date, Nelson moved into her apartment on Saturday, six weeks after she was originally supposed to.
The Vue's construction delays have been delayed since late August, and the last wave of students are currently scheduled to move in on or before Oct. 4. | Valli Challa/The Cougar
The Vue on Macgregor has been the victim of multiple construction delays which have displaced the nearly 350 stu-
dents who have already signed leases to live on the property. Residents are being moved in three sections — A, B and C —
which coincide with where they live in the building. On their website, all of the floor plans are shown to be sold out, but less
than half of the complex has occupants. “The administration was extremely unprofessional, undertrained and uncoordinated,” said sophomore political science major Noah Douglas. “They sent out numerous emails, but most of them contained little to no information and mostly every response was just an apology for lateness.” Construction issues have not been the only problems for The Vue. Spotty internet, power outages and fire alarms that at times have lasted over an hour have been constant issues for the students who have moved in. Philosophy sophomore Austin Cumbow has experienced several issues.
MACGREGOR
Continues on page 6
6 | Wednesday, October 8, 2014
NEWS
thedailycougar.com/news
Timeline The Vue on MacGregor Multiple construction delays have plagued The Vue on Macgregor and its nearly 350 residents. After a year, construction still isn’t finished and the final residents are just moving in, some of them six weeks after their original move in date.
Construction Progress June 2013
Construction begins on project
Plans to construct The Vue on Macgregor announced. Estimated to be finished Fall 2014.
Sept 2013 Parking garage complete; residential building not yet upright
Feb 2014 Construction continues; exterior not yet completed
April 2014
Section A residents allowed to move in
Aug 28, 2014
Section B residents allowed to move in
Sept 5, 2014
Section C residents allowed to move in
MACGREGOR
Continued from previous page Construction issues have not been the only problems for The Vue. Spotty internet, power outages and fire alarms that at times have lasted over an hour have been constant issues for the students who have moved in. Philosophy sophomore Austin Cumbow has experienced several issues.
“It is hard to stay optimistic about something that can be compared to 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf.'” Molly Nelson, Early childhood education junior
Original move in date for students before delays
Aug 23, 2014
Oct 4 2014
Infographic by A.Tomic
Source Courtesy of The Vue on Macgregor Facebook page.
news@thedailycougar.com
“So far, every time I have called in (to report a problem) they have told me that the problem is on-site, which is usually a problem with the ongoing construction of the building,” Cumbow said. “The other day the power was out for over five hours, and a lot of residents' food went rotten. The Vue did reach out to them via Facebook to hopefully refund their money for their food, but I’m not sure
Sara Samora, Editor
exactly what happened with that.” Both Nelson and Cumbow have reported their problems to The Vue’s Facebook page, only to have either their comments deleted or their profiles completely blocked, as is the case withCumbow. “I tried to post a review of my own, and when I clicked ‘Write a Review’ it said something like ‘You cannot review this page because you have been blocked by the admin,’ which means that essentially The Vue blocked me,” Cumbow said. “I actually had to have my dad post a review that I wrote that night so that I could leave my opinion along with a nice one-star rating.” Calls to The Vue administration and Stacey Lecocke, the senior vice president of Grand Campus Living, which owns The Vue, went unanswered and unreturned by press time. Even then, after multiple attempts to interact with administration and higher-ups in the company, students like Nelson just want the building to be finished and all of the drama to be over. news@thedailycougar.com
Have you or somebody you know been displaced at The Vue? Let us know your experiences with
@thedailycougar
UNIVERSITY
Continued from page 2 Khator’s initial goal of enrolling 30 percent of the freshman class. She praised the program as “a phenomenal success.” This is the first year of the program’s implementation, so time will tell if UHin4 is as effective as it’s predicted to be. Still, Khator remained vehemently focused on improving the University’s national standings and raising admissions standards without sacrificing institutional access.
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UH’s freshmen class has an average higher SAT score than ever, and 96 percent of freshman are enrolled full-time, meaning that more traditional college students are coming to UH. However, Khator is not interested in diverting attention from the non-traditional students the University has historically catered to. During her Fall Address, Khator maintained that “(providing) access while making the University even more affordable” stands at the helm of her priorities when considering new initiatives for improvement. “I think we as a public institution have a mission to provide education,” Khator said last month at the Texas Tribune Fes-
President Khator spoke at Moores Opera House for her annual State of the University fall address. | Pablo Milanese/The Cougar
tival in Austin. “If you have fire in your belly, come to us, and as long as you are ready, we will help you graduate.” U.S. News & World Report ranked UH 16th in the nation in graduating students with the least amount of debt, and the White House’s “first-ever ratings system” has UH ranked low (on a scale of low, medium and high) in cost, median borrowing and loan default rate. In Fall 2009, UH’s tuition and fees averaged out at $4,163 per semester, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Fixed tuition for students in Fall 2014 not including student fees was $4,750 per semester, a 13 percent increase from 2009’s average.
A breed of its own Khator, referencing national trends, said she knows the University’s mission is an increasingly challenging one. For example, students born in the highest quartile of family income have an 85 percent chance of earning a college degree, while those born in the lowest quartile have an 8 percent chance of earning a degree. Hispanics, who make up more than 25 percent of UH’s student body, are 50 percent less likely to earn a college degree than the general population. “As disturbing as these trends are, they make us relevant to the nation,” Khator said. “Our diversity makes us a prototype.” news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 7
8 | Wednesday, October 8, 2014
BRIEF
Shell grants UH $3.5M THE COUGAR NEWS SERVICES UH’s Multidisciplinary Research and Engineering Building, which broke ground earlier today, has been ensured adequate teaching and physical resources courtesy of a $3.5 million contribution from Shell Oil Company. “Energy is one of our main priorities at UH,” said President Renu Khator. “This latest example of Shell’s unrivaled generosity will allow us to considerably expand our efforts to become the Energy University. We deeply appreciate Shell’s enlightened commitment to community improvement, social responsibility and innovative research.” The new building, set to open in 2016, is just one of several educational initiatives to be funded with the donation. news@thedailycougar.com
CITY
Science and art come together LUIZA BRAGA
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The UH Department of Engineering and Computer Science is performing an experiment at the Menil Collection designed to capture brain waves that show a person’s emotional reaction to an art exhibit. The experiment is done by having people attending a specific art exhibit wear an electroencephalography – or EEG – skullcap that consists of electrodes recording the brain activity over the scalp of the user. Biomedical engineering professor Jose Contreras-Vidal said that his partnership with local artist Dario Robleto began several months ago, when he was visited by Robleto about his brain-machine interface work. “It became clear that his exhibit and my research could work together to address the scientific challenges, while exploring the neural basis of aesthetics and testing the devices themselves," Contreras-Vidal said. The exhibit, called “The Boundary of Life is Quietly Crossed,” will be at the Menil Collection every Saturday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. until Jan. 4, along with UH’s EEG skullcap research experiment for any volunteers willing to attend and participate. news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 9 thedailycougar.com/news 
news@thedailycougar.com 
Sara Samora, Editor
NEWS
Professor of military science and Houston Army ROTC Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Michael J. Smith recites the swear-in oath of enlistment to cadets at last Thursday's Heroes game. The cadets are on their way to be commissioned officers in the United States Army. The contracting ceremony was aired live between the 1st and 2nd quarters. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
Civilian to soldier Cadets from the Houston Battalion Army ROTC made a life-changing decision to swear an oath to support and defend the United States. For more details, visit thedailycougar.com/news.
Cadet Lidia Jaens receives her utility uniform and boots from her sponsor, Cadet Latrice Battle. The giving of the uniform symbolizes the "old waving in the new" to newly contracted cadets. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
Stand by: Cadet David Albert awaits to swear in his oath before Thursday night's game. | Sara Samora/The Cougar
10 | Wednesday, October 8, 2014
OPINION thedailycougar.com/opinion
opinion@thedailycougar.com
Kelly Schafler, EDITOR
SPORTS
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF
Cara Smith
MANAGING EDITOR
Jenae Sitzes
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Christopher Shelton NEWS EDITOR
Sara Samora CHIEF COPY EDITOR
Joshua Cochran SPORTS EDITOR
LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
Paulina Rojas PHOTO EDITOR
Jimmy Moreland OPINION EDITOR
Kelly Schafler ASSISTANT EDITORS
Glissette Santana, Justin Tijerina OVERTIME EDITOR
Andrew Valderas
Sean Alder
STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The 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 Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 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 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.
ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole. The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.
studentpress.org/acp
ESPN favors NFL over freedom of speech KEVIN COOK
COLUMNIST
O
n Sept. 24, ESPN — the self proclaimed “worldwide leader in sports” — suspended Grantland Editor-in-Chief Bill Simmons for three weeks, in the wake of incendiary remarks Simmons made on his podcast, The B.S. Report. The rant that earned Simmons his three-week suspension was directed at NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Simmons criticized the way Goodell handled domestic abuse allegations against Baltimore Ravens running back, Ray Rice. “Goodell, if he (says he) didn’t know what was on that tape, he’s a liar. I’m just saying it. He is lying. I think that dude is lying," Simmons said. "If you put him up on a lie detector test, that guy would fail. For (Goodell) to pretend (he) didn’t know is such (expletive) … And for him to go in that press conference and pretend otherwise, I was so insulted.” Grantland, founded by Simmons in 2011, has since garnered well-deserved attention and acclaim with its emphasis on thoughtful, longform analysis of sports and pop culture. In the wake of Simmons’ suspension, many have questioned ESPN’s motives in punishing Simmons and lobbied ESPN brass on Simmons’ behalf. A Change.org petition to ESPN to end Simmons’s suspension currently has attracted more than 18,000 signatures. Last week, a top-trending Twitter hashtag was #FreeSimmons, with numerous media outlets and individuals decrying an abusive overreach of power by ESPN executives. To accurately analyze the ethical implications of Simmons’s suspen-
Francis Emelogu/The Cougar
sion, one must first analyze not only the nature of ESPN’s association with Grantland, but also the somewhat nebulous relationship ESPN has with the concept — and practice — of “journalism.” ESPN provided the funding and traffic for Grantland’s launch and has retained a significant financial stake in its commercial success. ESPN executives have the authority to suspend Simmons, so they retain some level of control over the content the site disseminates and, therefore, feel that the content reflects on ESPN and its editorial philosophy. The “four-letter network” isn’t boasting when it proclaims itself, “the worldwide leader in sports,” but neither is it promoting itself as a journalistic enterprise. The B.S. Report opens every podcast with a stock disclaimer saying
POPULAR TWEETS FROM #FREESIMMONS movement @tgrant20 Intentionally missing @CollegeGameDay for the first time in years. #BoycottESPN #FreeSimmons
@JeffRudberg Asked the guy on the phone at @espninsider cancelling my subscription if he was getting a lot of these calls today. "Oh yeah." #freesimmons
@janelleruns Irony: @BillSimmons' suspension is longer than Rice's initial punishmenth #freesimmons
Tell us your opinion, send an email to opinion@ thedailycougar.com
that "The B.S. Report is a free-flowing conversation that occasionally touches on mature subjects,” and profanity is a frequent occurrence on the podcast. ESPN, to date, has not censured Simmons’ or any other Grantland podcasts specifically for profanity. But Simmons, consumed by righteous indignation, then upped the ante. “I really hope somebody calls me or emails me and says I’m in trouble for anything I say about Roger Goodell,” Simmons said. “Because if one person says that to me, I’m going public. You leave me alone. The commissioner’s a liar and I get to talk about that on my podcast.” Some have characterized Simmons’s bluster as a dare, imploring his employers to punish him. Two days after the podcast aired, ESPN obliged, pulling the podcast from its site and suspending Simmons for three weeks. ESPN, by way of explanation, released only an anonymous, tersely-worded news release. “Every employee must be accountable to ESPN, and those engaged in our editorial operations must also operate within ESPN’s journalistic standards," the news release said. "We have worked hard to ensure that our recent NFL coverage has met that criteria. Bill Simmons did not meet those obligations in a recent podcast, and, as a result, we have suspended him for three weeks.” Simmons’s three-week suspension is considerably longer, by two weeks, than the suspension levied against “ESPN First Take” commen-
tator Stephen A. Smith, who urged viewers to consider what Janay Rice’s role might have been in the assault, implying that she might have been to blame for the brutal assault. Some media outlets have characterized the Simmons suspension as a First Amendment issue, citing Freedom of the Press as a defense of Simmons’ rant. Citing “journalistic standards,” ESPN suspended Simmons three weeks. No mention of journalistic standards was made in the wake of Smith’s suspension. According to The New York Times, ESPN currently holds a contract with the NFL — worth a reported $15.2 billion, or roughly $1.9 billion a year — to broadcast “Monday Night Football,” the highest-rated show on cable television, through 2021. ESPN, itself — in the words of ESPN Inc. President and Chairman John Skipper — is open about what, and to what degree, the NFL contributes to ESPN’s entertainment brand. “The value of the NFL to us is the ubiquity of the sport across our platforms all the time,” Skipper said. “It’s a daily product — we don’t have a day without the NFL. We do not have a more important deal than the NFL.” And therein lies the problem: ESPN has too large a financial stake in the NFL to risk alienating the league with its coverage. Again, while ESPN may be “the worldwide leader in sports,” the
SUSPENSION
Continues on page 11
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 11
thedailycougar.com/opinion
SUSPENSION
Continued from page 10 network makes no claims as to its journalistic integrity, outside of its justification of Simmons’s suspension. Nor should it. ESPN has exhibited zero integrity in its enthusiastic dive into a profound conflict of interest. On one hand, there is money to be made condemning Goodell, but on the other hand, doing so with too much zeal or truth could threaten ESPN’s relationship with its corporate partner, the NFL. ESPN is straddling an ethical fence, and is happy to do so. When it suits ESPN, it fancies itself a paragon of journalistic effort and integrity — such as in the Outside the Lines report Simmons was discussing, which provided strong, circumstancial evidence that Goodell was lying — but the craven network executives demur when the reporting threatens ESPN’s financial well-being. Simmons took a stand when he justly castigated Goodell on his podcast. He was, perhaps, overbold in daring his bosses to punish him, but he did so because he knew what everyone now knows: ESPN takes care of its own, even if “its
opinion@thedailycougar.com
OPINION
Kelly Schafler, EDITOR
own” includes a corrupt NFL commissioner committed to protecting the NFL brand at the expense of abused women. Simmons was insulted by Goodell’s brazen denial of any culpability in the NFL’s investigation of Rice. I am insulted by ESPN’s brazen suspension of Simmons, in the interest of furthering its monetary relationship with the NFL. ESPN’s behavior, ethically speaking, is reprehensible, but stockholders likely don’t take issue with the organization’s stance. It’s clear ESPN holds itself to its supposed “journalistic standards” only when it benefits its bottom line. Even ESPN holds an ethical obligation to speak the truth whether it conveniently brands itself as “journalism” or not. ESPN should not benefit further from its deplorable mishandling of Simmons’s “rant” against Goodell. In the words of influential philosopher John Stuart Mill, “(Evil) men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." Opinion columnist Kevin Cook is a creative writing senior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar. com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Voicing viewpoints on The Vue
W
ith the Student Government Association passing the freshmen housing requirement last week, and the Vue on MacGregor once again delaying the move-in date, housing has been in the news more often than usual. What is not so often heard are the students voicing their complaints — via Facebook, phone calls, emails or pictures. As “tenants,” they do their part in addressing the cracks in the walls, the water leaking from the ceiling and the delays from construction. Students' voices go unheard because UH and its private partners not addressing the real problem. A father of a concerned student contacted The Cougar to discuss multiple delays and an unruly management team. All of the wall posts currently on The Vue's Facebook page make it seem like nothing is wrong, unless you catch a comment that has yet to be deleted. In fact, some employees have
even taken the liberty of posting reviews on Facebook in order to boost the star rating on their page. Deleting valid complaints is not the answer; the problem will not go away. There are not enough beds for the record enrollment population, yet the future Cougars may be required to live on campus. Quality of life standards are not being met. Some say it’s because the speed of construction was too fast, thus leaving the flaws unknown until students moved in. Whereas the slow building of a new apartment complex is making their new tenants pay for their first month’s rent, even though the building is not complete and no one has moved in. How can a future Cougar live on-campus if the quality of life is unlivable? These students pay enough out of their pockets for tuition and books as well as day-to-day necessities. As a whole, students need to be taken care of. Future freshmen are
Grad School Fair
FR EE
Want to change the world? There’s a degree for that.
expected to live on a campus promising statistics of a better GPA, but they will be unable to focus on their studies if building malfunctions distract them. There have to be better living options for students. If a new dormitory is to be built, then taking the time to make sure all the utilities are fully operational before anyone moves in will not only make the students happy, but will also contribute to better focus, putting their attention on where it needs to be: maintaining a good GPA and graduating. However, the question begs answering: what is the reasonable amount of time for a reasonable number of students when it comes to building a new home for the next four years? As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” The sad thing is, the private partners can take as much time as they want, because the ink has already dried on the leases — quality of life not included.
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COMICS & PUZZLES
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PUZZLES
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STAFF SPOTLIGHT
ACROSS 1 Splendid displays 6 Side-by-side figures? 11 Santa ___ (California wind) 14 “SUV” part 15 Wild dog of Australia 16 Senior’s junior 17 Apparently 19 Boy toy? 20 He ran with Ford 21 Kind of acid in proteins 23 Do over, as a manuscript 27 Warsaw’s whereabouts 29 Some daisies 30 Finding abhorrent 31 ___ up (accumulated) 32 Ill-fated liner SS Andrea 33 Dandily dressed dude 36 90-degree angles 37 Column style 38 Word with “sapiens” or “erectus” 39 Tend to hems 40 Smoothing and trimming tools 41 Capacitance measure 42 Did what you were told 44 Like a stuntman’s deeds 45 Waters at the mouth? 46 Bit of haberdashery 47 Evil figure
48 Collapsible shelter 49 Noncommittal response 50 “I don’t get it” 57 Traditional Japanese sash 58 One way to set a clock 59 Broadcast again 60 Winter clock setting in Vt. 61 Draws close to 62 Toys that go around the world DOWN 1 Trident-shaped letter 2 Take one’s pick 3 Cut the grass 4 Golf lesson provider 5 Hit the books 6 Mentally confused 7 Climb the corporate ladder 8 180 deg. from WSW 9 ___ of Reason 10 Horn of Africa country 11 Deserving punishment 12 Ceaselessly 13 ___ Domini 18 A bundle 22 “That’s really something!” 23 Ins and outs, so to speak 24 Deposed leader’s fate 25 Justifiable and
then some 26 Some loaves 27 Home to Notre Dame 28 Relating to the ear 30 Improved an edge 32 Lightly sleeps 34 Yemenite’s neighbor 35 “Hodge” follower 37 Short, peaceful poem (Var.) 38 “___! The Herald Angels Sing” 40 Continuing forever (Var.) 41 Manufacturing plant 43 Long, fluffy scarf 44 Refuse to believe 45 Paints amateurishly 46 More than desires 47 Pump or flat 48 Beam on the slopes 51 It starts many titles 52 “America the Beautiful” ender 53 Prefix with “natal” or “classic” 54 Sere 55 Infamous revolutionary 56 Anne’s double?
FAVORITE THING ABOUT UH? Being able to go to school with a diverse student body FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT ON CAMPUS? McAlister's, because of the tasty, healthy options BEST ON-CAMPUS EVENT YOU'VE BEEN TO? When Lights performed at Frontier Fiesta two years ago WHAT IS YOUR DREAM JOB? Covering Arts for The New Yorker
PAULINA ROJAS - Life and Arts editor TWITTER: @perpetuallypau
AS A SENIOR, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FRESHMEN? Don't stress out too much. Enjoy the moment.
Puzzle answers online
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Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 13
LIFE & ARTS
thedailycougar.com/life-arts
arts@thedailycougar.com
Paulina Rojas, EDITOR
PROFILE
Piano legend proves age is just a number With every note he plays and every lesson he teaches, Abbey Simon is certain the best is yet to come ARIANNE GODDARD
STAFF WRITER @AJGODDARD10
Whether it’s taking the time to chat with students on his way to his studio or participating in the International Piano Festival, Abbey Simon does not let age get in the way of what he loves to do. Having almost a century of experience, Simon, the 92-year old Cullen Distinguished Professor of Music, is regarded as one of the most recorded classical pianists of all time. His recordings include the complete works of Ravel, all of Rachmaninoff ’s concertos and many Chopin pieces.
No stopping now “I recently played in London a couple of weeks ago and someone was talking to me about doing all 32 of Beethoven’s sonatas,” said Simon. “It would be one of the greatest accomplishments imaginable.” Simon has served on the faculty of prestigious music schools such as Indiana University and the Julliard School. He has been teaching at the Moores School of Music since 1977 and has no plans on retiring anytime soon. “I still love teaching and I always have because it’s part of the great tradition,” said Simon. “Bach, Mozart, Haydn and all the other great pianists taught.”
Inspired young Simon’s endeavors into music began at the age of three. When he heard the NBC jingle on the radio for the first time, he rushed over to the piano and re-created the jingle perfectly. From that moment on, Simon knew that he loved the piano. “I was a very lucky child because who knows what they want to be when they are only 3 years old?” said Simon. “I had always known I was a pianist.” One of Simon’s greatest inspirations growing up was Josef Hoffmann. At age 11, Simon began studying with Hoffmann before going on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. “Both Hoffmann and Arthur Rubinstein were great inspirations for me and in a sense they were sort of in a class by themselves,” Simon said.
Cullen distinguished professor Abbey Simon founded the International Piano Festival at the Moores School of Music 31 years ago. | Pablo Milanese/The Cougar
Through his experiences and performances, Simon has become known as a piano legend, just like pianists he grew up admiring. “He is a master of colorful tone and nuanced musicianship,” said Moores Director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts Timothy Hester. “His status as a legendary pianist shall continue forever.” In addition to performing, Simon has enjoyed his time as a faculty member at UH. He believes that Moores has increased its level of quality and is now comparative to schools such as the Curtis Institute and the Julliard School.
Treasured by colleagues “I adore the music department here and I think it is constantly becoming better and better,” said Simon. “If I have any constraints about the school, I’ll say that I think we really need more scholarship money.” Nancy Weems, Madison Endowed Professor of Music, believes that Simon is a wonder-
ful part of Moores because he shares his vast wealth of musical knowledge and experience to students as well as faculty. “Mr. Simon is truly a treasure as one of the greatest pianists of his generation, and we have all been honored to work closely with him in the past several decades to build an internationally recognized piano program at UH,” Weems said. Simon’s students believe that his teaching skills bring something new to the table. Piano performance doctoral student Teng-Kai Yang, who studies under Simon, said that Simon doesn’t limit himself to teaching piano skills; he teaches students to evoke a certain musical spell from within themselves. “If you have watched the movie 'Shawshank Redemption,' you might remember the scene where the protagonist Andy got a chance to broadcast a Mozart aria, and all the prisoners experience mental freedom at that moment,” Yang said.
Simon played in London a few weeks ago. | Pablo Mlianese/The Cougar
“Our lives are like the prison, while Abbey's piano playing is like the Mozart aria, giving us a vent for something beautiful, something ethereal.”
Putting Moores on the map Simon also founded UH’s International Piano Festival in 1984. He said he started the festival to attract a higher quality of students to Moores. “I thought the festival would
be a good idea because there was nothing like it in the Southwest,” Simon said. “I was really just the idea man, and it was really a woman named Miriam Strain who put it all together.” In the 31 years of the festival’s history, Simon has only missed participating once. He plans to perform in the next International Piano Festival in January. arts@thedailycougar.com
14 | Wednesday, October 8, 2014
LIFE & ARTS
thedailycougar.com/life-arts
arts@thedailycougar.com
Paulina Rojas, EDITOR
MUSIC
Symphony aims to make price right for students ALEXANDRA DOYLE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER @ALEXLOVESLEMONS
Enticing students to classical music performance can be a difficult task, but the Houston Symphony is hoping to overcome students' hesitation by making an offer that they simply cannot refuse. “We recognize attending an arts performance is not the cheapest endeavor, but it's something that is so important for people our age,” said 24-year-old Austin Dressman, a marketing and public relations assistant for the Houston Symphony. Students are now able to purchase tickets online for $15 up to a week in advance using the promo code STUDENT. This is a change from previous seasons, when student rush tickets were only available half an hour before each performance at the box office. “Whenever I go to the Houston Symphony, I make sure to purchase student tickets. I cannot recall a time that I paid full price for a
To increase student turnout The Houston Symphony is now offering discounted tickets for students year round. With a simple click, the reasonably priced tickets can be easily obtained. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
ticket since I started college,” said saxophone performance and music education senior Evan Withner. Students can also purchase a $50 Student Pass, which allows them to attend as many as desired of the season’s six “pops," or popular music, concerts and 18 classical
concerts. “The Student Pass in particular is an amazing way to experience everything the Houston Symphony has to offer for one affordable price,” Dressman said. Tickets acquired with the passes may be picked up at will call less
than an hour and a half before the concert begins, but sooner is better — this pass guarantees a ticket for the best available seat in Jones Hall. The symphony also offers the Young Professionals Backstage program, which allows subscribers
to buy ticket packages at discounted rates that include mixers, pre-concert refreshments, after parties, parking privileges and more. YPB includes networking and volunteer opportunities for its members, including social events with symphony musicians. “You get to connect to more than just music; you get to connect to staff, musicians, guest artists and other young professionals like yourself who share that experience,” said special events assistant and UH alumnus Tyler Murphy. The symphony as a whole is focused on engaging more of the Houston community. “One of two goals we are currently pursuing is deeper outreach. Another one is artistic excellence,” said Sasha Potiomkin, clarinetist and bass clarinetist for the symphony. “Besides playing many free concerts, many of us teach pri-
SYMPHONY
Continues on page 16
NOW IS YOUR TIME Look for us on campus to discover, win, and connect. thenextbigthingisU © 2014 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. Samsung is a trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Other company names, product names, and marks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners and may be trademarks or registered trademarks.
Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 15
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LIFE & ARTS
Paulina Rojas, EDITOR
CITY
Son Nam appeals to students' wallets, tastebuds JULIE NGUYEN
SENIOR STAFF WRITER @JULIETYPES
Houston has the third largest Vietnamese population in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center, so dining in a Vietnamese restaurant is not an uncommon experience around here. Dining in a Vietnamese restaurant owned by a UH alumnus is a little less common. Son Nam restaurant, owned by UH alum Trang Le, is located in the Gulfgate Mall shopping plaza and is a 10 minute drive from UH. A stack of The Cougar caught the attention of myself and Life & Arts editor Paulina Rojas as we took our seats, making us feel that Son Nam cares about the UH community. The menu includes dishes like
Son Nam's offerings include staples of Vietnamese cuisine such as pho and rice plates, known as com dia. Served with condensed milk, Thai tea and Vietnamese style coffee are great compliments to dishes that also work as a pick-me-up before or after class. | Paulina Rojas/The Cougar
the traditional Vietnamese broth pho, the egg noodle soup mì, the vermicelli dish bún, a variety of the rice plates com dia and a
personal favorite, bánh mì. Most items on the menu are under $10, and students receive a 15 percent discount.
In addition, Son Nam has a happy hour after 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and all day on the weekends, when small bowls of
pho cost $4.99 and regular bowls
FOOD
Continues on page 16
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Houstonians of all ages congregated on the Buffalo Bayou on Saturday for the first Shrimp Festival. | Corina Carrizales/The Cougar
Feeling the fever for shrimp and art The Buffalo Bayou Shrimp Festival was a huge step for the Shrimp Boat Project, highlighting the work that's been done for years. The project's members continue to catch and sell shrimp, but they also encourage projects that connect with the Houston landscape and culture. The main exhibit of the this festival was the Divine Pelican, a 41-foot steel haul shrimp boat owned by Zach Moser of the Shrimp Boat Project. -Corina Carrizales
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LIFE & ARTS FOOD
Continued from page 15 cost $5.99. We started out with a Thai tea and a cafê sua dá, Vietnamese iced coffee. Having had many imitations before, there was little expectation for the quality of the drinks. But we were proven wrong. The Thai tea is not overly sweet — if it is made from the powder, we couldn't tell. The cafê sua dá is strong and the coffee doesn’t get drowned under the flavor of the condensed milk. So far, so good. We decided to try the pho chin nam gau gân sách, a pho with well-done brisket, flank, fatty brisket, tendon and tripe; the com thit nuong, a rice plate with charcoal-broiled pork; and the bánh mì dac biet, a Vietnamese sandwich special combo with pork, chicken and beef. Anyone who is familiar with the Chinatown area near Bellaire
SYMPHONY
Continued from page 14
JEREMY RENNER IS ELECTRIFYING.”
“
Kristy Puchko, CINEMA BLEND
vately and give classes throughout Houston.” The Houston Symphony is using marketing campaigns like student ticket packages to appeal not only to future musicians, but also to young adults who will one day become regular patrons of the Symphony. “(The Houston Symphony’s new marketing campaign) is at least focusing partially on young adults," Withner said. "I am very satisfied with the opportunities given to students, as money can be tight more often than not." Murphy pointed out the diverse approach to programming that the Houston Symphony’s new music director, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, has taken for the upcoming season. “We offer a little bit of something for everyone," Murphy said. "In this sense, we are both preserving the
Boulevard in Southwest Houston knows that there are several pho restaurants that pepper the street. The pho at Son Nam was a pleasant surprise. The broth is hearty, and there aren’t traces of saltiness in it like what would be found in the restaurants on Bellaire Blvd. Com dia plates are a simple dish; because of that, their ingredients are not usually anything spectacular. However, the pork in our com dia was juicy and worth a second visit to taste again. The meat's seasoning and flavor burst on the tongue. These two small, but important, factors have made the extra money worth it. Finding a good Vietnamese restaurant has been a challenge because the go-to restaurants of before have decreased in quality, but Son Nam has been a treasure of a find, being so close to the UH community and its students. arts@thedailycougar.com
art form, but we also push it and excel it by performing new and contemporary works on major programs, like the premier work by (living composer) Gabriela Lena Frank alongside Beethoven('s Symphony No.) 5 (at our opening weekend) in September." The Houston Symphony is not just trying to provide chances for up-and-coming musicians to attend its concerts at an affordable price; the HSO is also keeping an eye on its own future. “Students, young adults and young professionals are the future for organizations like ours, and we recognize that,” Murphy said. “So, we work to cultivate that love and appreciation by creating exciting, innovative groups for people to become a part of and to help shape the Houston Symphony experience now and in seasons to come.” arts@thedailycougar.com
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Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 17
thedailycougar.com/sports
SPORTS
sports@thedailycougar.com
Sean Alder, EDITOR
A bad day to have a bad game After making bold predictions, star receiver Greenberry comes up short ANDREW VALDERAS
OVERTIME EDITOR @THISISDREW2010
We’ve seen Deontay Greenberry execute the same pitch-and-catch plays so many times this season that launched him into one of the most lethal receivers in the nation last season. Thursday night, he dropped the ball — many balls — en route to a nightmarish performance in the Cougars’ 17-12 loss to Central Florida at TDECU Stadium. The junior star receiver managed just three catches for 26 yards, with one going for 21 on the Cougars’ final drive. Greenberry was targeted 11 times and dropped a recorded two balls, though I counted at least four. In the second quarter, senior Daniel Spencer’s 4-yard rush for a first down to the Knights’ 34-yard line was wiped out due to a crucial 10-yard holding penalty by Greenberry. The drive stalled and led to a punt. UH committed a season-high 11 penalties for 99 yards. Two drives earlier, the Cougars failed to build a two-possession lead and put pressure on the Knights due to a questionable
Receiver Deontay Greenberry has generally been the most reliable target for UH, but Thursday night's 17-12 loss to UCF was an exception. Greenberry dropped at least four balls and managed only three catches for just 26 yards. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
4th-down play call. O’Korn’s pass to Greenberry (6-foot-3; 200 pounds) from the Knights 1-yard line was broken up by the Knights’ Jacoby Glenn (6 foot; 186 pounds) and forced a turnover on downs. “We've seen a lot of 1-yard touchdown fades to Greenberry from John O’Korn in the last year,” said head coach Tony Levine. “We work on it in practice, and we had
the match-up and coverage we wanted. It never comes down to that 4th-down play if we get two yards on first down, second down and third down.” UH, at one point, was 1st-andgoal from the UCF 2-yard line, and after an incomplete pass and run for one yard, Levine forgoed the field goal attempt. “(We) wanted to try and be aggressive there. If we could
convert, we had a chance to go up 10-0 early in the game and get some momentum,” Levine said. “If not, we felt like we'd have them pinned back deep (and) give our defense a chance to create a turnover; or if we hold, they punt it and we'd get it back at mid-field in good field position.” Sophomore quarterback John O’Korn finished 12-26 with two interceptions and was benched
in favor of Greg Ward in the third series of the third quarter. Both of O’Korn’s interceptions were passes targeted to Greenberry. O’Korn should have hit his receiver earlier on the inside slant route but, after waiting too long and staring Greenberry down, it allowed Knights defensive back Clayton Geathers to jump the route and intercept it. Then in the third quarter, the two ran a similar route. O’Korn hit him perfectly in the chest this time, but Greenberry was unable to gather the ball before he hot-potatoed it right into the arms of the Knights’ Brandon Alexander. “I've seen him catch that a thousand times in the last two and a half years,” said Levine, whose Cougars lost seven of their last nine Football Bowl Subdivision opponents. Greenberry — who led the American Athletic Conference last season with 1,202 receiving yards — was the recipient of several pitch-and-catch inside slant routes that led to him either racing past defenders after catching it in stride or ripping off huge gains. After Greenberry said last week, “We don’t expect this game to be close,” the bold statement backfired and led to his least productive game as a pass catcher since Oct. 17, 2012, when he hauled in just three balls for 17 yards in a 45-35 win over UTEP. sports@thedailycougar.com
FOOTBALL
Five things we learned about UH in its loss to UCF CHRISTOPHER SHELTON
CREATIVE DIRECTOR @CHRISSHELTONTDC
The Cougars fell about six inches short of a signature win. When the ball slipped out of sophomore Greg Ward’s fingers with 24 seconds left in the game, so did UH’s hopes of defeating UCF. The Knights earned a 17-12 win against the Cougars at TDECU Stadium on Thursday. Here are five things we learned in the game: 1: The Cougars aren’t who we thought they were:
Before the season began, there were dreams of a BCS bowl and double digit wins. Now, it seems like becoming bowl-eligible could
become a chore for the Cougars (2-3,0-1). With road contests against Memphis and Cincinnati and an improving Temple coming to TDECU Stadium, UH has a tough path to competing in the American Athletic Conference. Obviously, teams can improve, but the Cougars have a long list of issues to tackle, including turnovers, penalties and … the entire offense. While many problems may be corrected in a sports context, UH has too many to fix midseason. 2: There’s no offensive identity:
Sometimes the Cougars want to be a power run offense, while in other spots the team wants to
pick up the tempo for a finesse short-passing attack. While it’s good to strive for balance, the Cougars are in a weird middle ground where neither gets into a consistent rhythm. The coaching staff is a big proponent of taking what the defense gives it, and that’s a fine strategy, but I would like to see the Cougars choose an identity and stick with it. 3: The quarterback position is up for grabs:
UH head coach Tony Levine announced that sophomore quarterback Greg Ward will replace John O’Korn as starting quarterback on Monday. He said Ward earned the posi-
tion through his play on Thursday. Ward brings more speed and elusiveness to the position, but Levine didn’t commit to Ward for the rest of the season. “If you’re asking me who’s going to be the starting quarterback going to be three games from now, I can’t answer who the starting guard is going to be three games from now,” Levine said. 4: It wasn’t all John O’Korn’s fault:
The Cougars’ offensive ineptitude was a group effort. The high profile receivers dropped passes, offensive linemen missed assignments and the entire group was penalty-prone, especially in the red zone. After you add some turnovers
into the mix, the Cougars had little chance to win with that offensive effort. The entire unit needs to head back to drawing board. 5: If you’re going to talk trash you need to back it up:
I’m all for hubris. Junior receiver Deontay Greenberry displayed it last week when he said UCF wasn’t that good last season. But when you speak up, you need to do better than three catches for 26 yards. I think Greenberry is a great player who can play on Sundays, but he needs to have a bigger impact on the game. sports@thedailycougar.com
18 | Wednesday, October 8 , 2014
SPORTS
thedailycougar.com/sports
sports@thedailycougar.com
Sean Alder, EDITOR
STUDENT LIFE
Foreman reaches out to veterans SHARDANNA JONES STAFF WRITER
Boxing legend George Foreman is known to the world as a two-time World Heavyweight Champion. He’s also known as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and ordained minister. For Foreman, however, there is still room to do more. The Cougar: How did the launch of Operation Liberty come about? George Foreman: It’s been my wish forever to do something to show my appreciation, not only to the men and women who serve in the armed forces,
but for the country. I didn’t get a chance to serve, and I could never repay that debt and give back for what I didn’t do. They did, and it’s like an extension of me as long as I keep that in mind.
TC: What is the overall purpose of Operation Liberty? What do you want these students to take from their time with you? GF: The old saying is “The cream rises to the top." Some of us were rising to the top while they were serving. They were in the trenches. Those of us who didn’t serve got it easy, now we know that we should be closer to them. If they can leave knowing and saying, 'Hey
George is close to us, George cares,' that’s all I want.
TC: What makes you so passionate about reaching out to veteran students? GF: I graduated from the Job Corps and those who ran the program at that time were World War II veterans. Those guys gave me everything. They’re the ones who told me “clean yourself up, pick up your pants,” and gave instructions on appreciating my country. My plan since then has always been to give back - not with things - but the advice I received from them and continue to give it. That’s the overall plan and I have never
Foreman plans to make many memories with the student veterans of the University of Houston through Operation Liberty. | Sara Samora/The Cougar walked away from it.
TC: On Thursday nights, veteran students will be able to hang out with George Foreman and watch some football. What should they expect? GF: I look forward to these Thursday evenings. A watch party with football,
food and camaraderie solely for the veterans and they’re students too. Most importantly I’m looking at them as students, but I can’t forget the debt they paid. I look forward to meeting and actually bonding with them on Thursdays and more of them all the time.
sports@thedailycougar.com
ATHLETICS
Standouts of the week SEAN ALDER
SPORTS EDITOR @ SEAN_W_ALDER
Though the football team fell short this week in their 17-12 loss against UCF, UH showed strength in other areas of athletics. Sophomore/Tennis Vogasari traveled to Los Angeles this past week to compete in the Riviera/ITA All-American Championships and proudly represented the Cougars. She made it to the third and final round of qualifiers for the Main Draw of the tournament, making her the first Cougar to perform that well since Sarah Borwell in 2001.
Kadi Kullerkann Redshirt junior/outside hitter/Volleyball Although the team fell to both Tulane and East Carolina this past week, Kullerkann continued to dominate the Cougars' competition. With her performances against Tulane and East Carolina, Kullerkann recorded her seventh game with more than 20 kills.
October 29th
Despoina Vogasari
Showing The Shining 9pm-11pm 237
-Fun -Prizes -Games -Costume Contest -Short Film Award of $150 Cash
Lexa Green Junior/midfielder/Soccer Green has been doing great things for the Cougars' offense in their past six games as she has scored in four of them. Green now leads the team in goals scored after her games against USF and UCF and is expected to score many more.
sports@thedailycougar.com
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COUGAR RESOURCE FAIR Wednesday, October 8, 2014 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
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Make the most of your college experience!
GAMES ACTIVITIES INFORMATION REFRESHMENTS PRIZES
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20 | Wednesday, October 8 , 2014
SPORTS
thedailycougar.com/sports
sports@thedailycougar.com
Sean Alder, EDITOR
After his stretch for the goal line in the final seconds resulted in a fumble rather than the winning score, teammates surrounded sophomore Greg Ward Jr. to give encouraging words. | Esteban Portillo/The Cougar
A GAME OF INCHES DESPITE WARD'S VERSATILE EFFORTS, COUGARS REPEAT HEARTBREAKING LOSS TO KNIGHTS IN FINAL MINUTE
In what would have been the Cougars' only and winning touchdown, sophomore quarterback Greg Ward Jr. lost possession of the ball on his way into the endzone, turning the ball over to the Knights with less than 30 secdonds left to play. The final play of the game left UH just short of UCF once again. | Esteban Portillo/The Cougar
Taking over at quarterback late in the third quarter, sophomore Greg Ward Jr. showed talented decision-making and ability. | Esteban Portillo/The Cougar
CSAM_Oct8_QuarterPg.pdf 1 10/6/2014 10:20:16 AM
SPORTS
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OCTOBER IS CAREERS IN STUDENT AFFAIRS MONTH C
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VP for a Day
With a new coach and new season, Danrad Knowles knows he needs to take advantage of opportunities on the court. | File Photo/The Cougar
essay contest
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Knowles one of few constants for Cougars CHRISTOPHER SHELTON
CREATIVE DIRECTOR @CHRISSHELTONTDC
The criticisms came before Danrad “Chicken” Knowles joined the team – that’s not a debate. Knowles, one of the few constants from a change-filled offseason, knows the team needs to improve its defense and rebounding and said that it serves as motivation as the Cougars begin preparing for the upcoming season. The team had its first practice together on Monday. “Defense, rebounding — I’ve heard it all and I’ve only been here one year,” Knowles said. The Cougars were in the bottom third of every major defensive and rebounding statistic in the American Athletic Conference last season. But after big changes this offseason, offense could be a concern, too. The Cougars have nine new players after the high profile transfer of their two leading scorers Danuel House and TaShawn Thomas, a new coaching staff and arguably more intrigue. Knowles, a versatile forward, averaged seven points and four rebounds per game last season but could play a bigger role for the Cougars next season. With Thomas off to Oklahoma, Knowles is one of the players pegged with replacing his 15 points and eight rebounds. This offseason, Knowles has been attempting to add weight
to his thin frame and working on his shooting range and passing to fit into coach Kelvin Sampson’s offense. “(Sampson’s) going to help us get to the next level, even though a lot of people think we’re rebuilding right now,” Knowles said. “They’ve got us finishing ninth or 10th in conference right now, which is disappointing.” Avid Rockets fans will have deja vu watching the Cougars’ come down the court this season. Knowles said Sampson, a former Rockets assistant, will run a motion-based offense that prioritizes quick decisions. He said the team will shoot more 3-pointers and close shots around the basket while de-emphasizing the mid-range game. Knowles is listed at 6-foot-10, but don’t expect him to spend a lot of time in the painted area. Though he only made 10 shots from behind the arc on 26 attempts last season, Knowles expects to surpass those numbers early in the season. Knowles said he will spend a lot of his time on the perimeter. Junior guard L.J. Rose, who knew Knowles before he stared at Homeschool Christian Youth Association, said the redshirt sophomore’s versatility and intelligence will allow him to adapt to Sampson’s new offense. “He’s put on weight and gotten bigger, but he’s still Chicken,”
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KNOWLES
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ACROSS 1 Asian nannies 6 Big reptile, informally 10 Groundwork for plaster 14 Judicial gowns 15 The L of L-dopa 16 Skin-cream additive, often 17 Felt very ashamed and sorry? 20 Peron and Gabor 21 Oui or si 22 Fratsweater X 23 Conveyed an estate 25 More intoxicating 29 Flanders of cartoons 30 Florida City 31 Japanese beverage 33 Mend socks 35 Orchestra’s location 36 Beatles hit 40 U K fighter pilots’ gp 41 Fair offering 42 “Fine” or “liberal” things 43 Arboreal lizards 46 Warm hello 47 Ellery Queen portrayer Ralph 48 Backsliding episode 52 Venomous serpent
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Wednesday, October 8, 2014 | 23
SPORTS
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Casey Donahew Band, Dan + Shay Kevin Fowler, Roger Creager and more! Sophomore quarterback Greg Ward set career-bests Thursday night after completing 10 of 17 passes for 116 yards. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar Industrial Shelters
Levine's new offensive gameplan requires new starting quarterback After consistent games with multiple interceptions and poor decision-making, sophomore quarterback John O'Korn will now watch from the sidelines as sophomore Greg Ward will be taking over head coach Tony Levine's offense. The more consistent and productive Ward was confirmed to be the Cougars' new starting quarterback by Levine after practice Sunday night.
KNOWLES
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said junior L.J. Rose alluding to Knowles’ nickname. “He’s been aggressive; his mindset has changed from last year to this year. I expect him to keep on getting better.” The Cougars need to continue to improve after struggling with consistency, defense and rebounding during former coach James Dickey’s four-year tenure. UH (17-16, 8-10) didn’t threaten to make an NCAA tournament despite having a talented squad, which led to Dickey’s resignation. Off the court, Knowles fits in well with UH’s diverse atmosphere. Knowles, a native of Nassau, Bahamas came to Houston as a child. Like many UH students, he loves video games, including the newly released Destiny. Unlike
real life, though, Knowles doesn’t like virtual sports games after a teammate scored 50 points with Shane Battier. When he’s not playing video games, you can catch Knowles watching Power Rangers – Tommy, the green ranger is his favorite – or Dragon Ball Z. “Our people talk with more accent, but we do the same things. It’s no different,” Knowles said. The good news for the Cougars is that he stands out from most UH students on the basketball court. With a new coach, new players and a new game plan, the Cougars hope to build on last year's success, and reflect on the the team's failures. The men's basketball team started practice this Monday and, with the help of Knowles, looks to make the most of this season. sports@thedailycougar.com
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