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Issue 14, Volume 80
#Coogsgiving
ARTS PG.8
A call for help Self-harm is an issue surrounded by misconceptions. But for those suffering from it, there's nothing better you can do for yourself than to seek help. | PG. 8
OVERTIME
The price of progress
UH has invested heavily in its facilities over the past five years, with spending that could surpass $200 million in the near future. But will its investment pay off? | INSERT
OPINION
Speed over accuracy
A growing trend of drive-thru pharmacies is to treat the experience like a fast food joint — pull up, get the medication and leave. Inevitably, there are consequences. | PG. 6
2 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
NEWS
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LIFE & ARTS EDITOR Paulina Rojas
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Ferguson protest to happen regardless of verdict KAYLA STEWART
CONTRIBUTING WRITER @ALYAK_1291
It’s been a few months since unarmed black teenager Michael Brown was killed by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. The killing sparked outrage in the streets of Ferguson, Mo., igniting protests and increasing racial discussions across the nation. Now, as the decision whether to hold a trial against Wilson looms, protesters across the country – including Houston — are organizing a push for less police brutality. A Houston grassroots move-
ment is planning to march at 5 p.m. at MacGregor Park on the day a decision is made on the future of Officer Wilson. “The goal of this protest is to bring Ferguson to Houston,” said Rene Arias, one of the founders of the organization. “While many organizations have done a pretty good job making Ferguson relevant here in Houston, we want to end mass incarceration and criminalization of minorities. We want this movement to be a nationwide event, keeping the Ferguson situation at the forefront.” The organization meets to
share readings and discuss opportunities to participate in protests against police brutality in the Houston area. “We formed this group because of recent events of police brutality across the nation,” Arias said. “A few of us met at a National Event of Silence held for Michael Brown and other events that have been held relating to police brutality in minority communities.” While many are expecting Wilson not to be charged for his actions, the protest will take
PROTEST
Continues on next page
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Violence in Ferguson, Mo. erupted in August after the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by Police Officer Darren Wilson. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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PROTEST
Continued from previous page will have mass protest against it,” said UH alumnus and co-founder Treasje Mitchell. “We will still be unified, and we’re still going to push for something to be done. If he is held accountable, it’ll be a celebration. Finally, it will show that our voices are being heard.” While the protest is for all Houstonians, Mitchell said she believes it’s important for students to participate in the protest. “The youngest generation is the most important generation because they will make the changes that we all want to see,” Mitchell said. “You must participate, educate, and know what you’re talking about
before you can make any changes.” Arias also attributed student participation to the fact that many are from areas where police brutality is an issue. “We’ve seen some UH students at some of our events in the past,” said Arias. “A lot of them come from neighborhoods where police brutality is a problem, and they’re excited to be active participants in making changes.” UH alumnus and protestor Remington Alessi said he is hoping that students will see the importance of participating. “If students consider systematic racism to be a problem, it’s certainly worth participating,” said Alessi. “Police brutality is not new, and it will only begin to change
when citizens are vocal about the changes that must be made.” The organization has been active on social media to get more Houstonians involved. The hashtags #IndictAmerica and #turnuphtown lead online readers to more information about the protests and the group’s philosophies and movements. “There will be no sense of normalcy in this country until justice is served,” said Arias. Students can learn more about how to get involved by joining the organization’s Facebook event page, "#IndictAmerica: Protest for Mike Brown." news@thedailycougar.com
NEWS
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Sara Samora, EDITOR
Investigation initiated of $5M for TDECU President and Chancellor Renu Khator announced the audit of $5M dollars to ensure the funds were used correctly. The funds were suppose to go toward classrooms in the band's facilities at TDECU Stadium. For more information, checkout thedailycougar.com/news
4 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
NEWS
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CAMPUS
Red Devils prepare to take off, despite bumps on the road Despite being a small group with limited funds, these UH students are determined to enter an international competition KYLE HORN
STAFF WRITER
UH Red Devils are (left to right): Rajeev Bhattacharya, Jonathon Fulbright, Daulet Urkenbayev and Paul Orieukwu. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
Where some students prefer a less hectic lifestyle, a group of four senior mechanical engineering technology students are looking to go as fast as possible. Daulet Urkenbayev, Rajeev Bhattacharya, Jonathon Fulbright and Paul Orieukwu make up the UH Red Devils and are making a vehicle to enter into the Formula Hybrid Competition, one of the competitions in the Society of Automotive Engineer’s Collegiate Design Series, which will take place on April 27 in Loudon, N.H. The competition sees many teams from different universities build and test a formula hybrid vehicle. The team formed this past summer and has been hard at work to compete in one of the most challenging competitions of the SAE Collegiate Design
Series. “The competition heavily requires teams to have knowledge and skills in mechanical, electrical and computer engineering,” Urkenbayev said. Urkenbayev, Orienukwu and Bhattacharya began their project in the summer of 2014 at a workshop designed to help them become familiar with the Formula Hybrid model by troubleshooting the vehicle of last year’s team, Team Hyprid. Team Hyprid was set to compete until electrical problems and time constraints held them back. “(We) were not experienced enough with electrical systems,” Urkenbayev said. “The team found (Fulbright), who had the required knowledge and experience about the electrical system for the car. Jon was also an underclassman in Team
Hyprid’s team, so he knew about the car more than any of us at that time.” The Red Devils will be the first team representing UH to participate in the competition. Beyond winning the competition, the team also hopes to bring UH into the spotlight among other frequent competitors. “We would like to win the competition, but we stay realistic,” Fulbright said. “We will be the first team from UH to even race. That much will be a victory to me. I think what we're really trying to do is get our school known by competing in this international competition.” The road to the competition is anything but easy. With the difficulty of the competition comes a significant time commitment.
RED DEVILS
Continues on next page
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RED DEVILS
Continued from previous page Each team member is expecting to spend at least 2,000 hours on the project. Add to this is the team’s relatively small size of four, compared to teams from other schools at ten and twenty. “It's almost like having a fulltime job; it is hard to get to my other classes because there is always something that needs to be done,” Fulbright said. “I probably spend about 20 to 30 hours a week on something related to the project.” The Formula Hybrid Competition's formidable challenge is reflected in the numbers of participants. While other competitions in the SAE Design Series can see hundreds of teams competing, Formula Hybrid only has 35 slots, and even those have trouble filling up. This hasn't deterred the Red Devils. “The Formula Hybrid is also a very complex project that requires you to learn different engineering disciplines in a short period of time,” Urkenba-
Need extra reading material? thedailycougar. com/news
yev said. “It is very challenging and that is exactly what made me to join the team. Indeed, the project pushes me to the boundaries I have never reached before.” But it isn’t just about elevating themselves to a higher level. For the Red Devils, it is a chance to apply what they have learned to their passion, and for them to take their passion and make a name for themselves. “I personally joined Team Red Devils because of my passion for cars, engineering and understanding how much goes into car development,” Bhattacharya said. “I wanted to apply my mechanical knowledge gained while in the military to the engineering learned in the MECT program.” The team hopes their hard work allows future teams to form and that their work serves a similar purpose to what Team Hyprid’s project served for them. “We hope our accomplishments in this upcoming competition will inspire the next teams to participate in the projects like SAE Formula
Hybrid,” Urkenbayev said. The Red Devils are also always looking for people that can help contribute. While the Red Devils have advanced knowledge of how to build the car, students with backgrounds in programming could help take the project even further. “I believe getting involved with the project is the best way UH students can help,” Bhattacharya said. “I know we lack computer programing knowledge, and many UH students may have the knowledge to help the team succeed. It will also help students with a real-world application in programming the hybrid system to communicate with the internal combustion engine and multiple controllers.” The Red Devils also encourage UH students to help in any way they can, not only with getting all of the equipment they need, but to help them get there
NEWS
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Mechanical engineer and Red Devil Rajeev Bhattacharya hard at work at their headquarters. | Courtesy of the UH Red Devils
name recognized. The team is currently accepting donations through their website. “I don't expect college students to have a lot of extra cash,” Fulbright said. “They can still help by getting excited about the project and spreading the word about it. The
more people are talking about it the more likely someone who can sponsor will hear of us… We're doing it for the school. It's their school too. We want people to be impressed by what UH students can do.” news@thedailycougar.com
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Accuracy takes back-seat to speed in drive-thru pharmacies Attention to detail is important in any job, but imagine working in an environment where losing focus, even momentarily, could result in harming another person. This is the stress that pharmacy staff members deal with on a daily basis. In spite of the high stakes of working in a precarious profession where mistakes can JONATHAN BOLAN often be fatal, OPINION WRITER pharmacists are pressured to work in an environment where profit has eclipsed accuracy. Chain retail pharmacies are pushing staff to fill as many prescriptions as possible in the smallest amount of time with the least amount of help. The current pharmacy culture prefers speed to accuracy, which comes from the demands of higher-ups and customers alike. With unrealistic expectations on both sides, pharmacy personnel struggle to fill prescriptions while maintaining patient safety. Pharmacies are chronically understaffed. Big chains, always looking at the bottom line, want scripts to be filled with the fewest technicians on the clock. This is unfortunate, since many of the tasks one associates with the pharmacist — typing directions on the bottle, selecting and counting the correct medication and packaging — are actually completed by technicians. However, staffing is only part of the problem; technician rollover is also a major component, mainly due to pay. Though pharmacies make large profits, they are notoriously bad at paying a living wage to their technicians, who are typically doing a great deal of the work. Pharmacy technicians are among the top ten most underpaid jobs by US News and World Report. The pay, beginning at around $10 per hour at retail pharmacies, is simply not commensurate for the amount of work and stress related to the position. For the hourly rate, pharmacies aren’t staffing seasoned professionals; they’re having prescriptions filled by inexperienced techs that are willing to work for a pittance. The equally overworked pharmacists have the added responsibility of overseeing the
From 2000 to 2009, the FDA received more than 95,000 reports of medication errors, but this report is considered to be a great understatement, as this number was collected from voluntary questionnairs. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
work of their technicians, for whom they are solely responsible. The pharmacist is accountable for verifying the accuracy of the technician’s work before a script is dispensed to the patient. The verification step, by far the most important part of the filling process is done in a harried environment of excess stress. A pharmacist is expected to verify scripts while being constantly interrupted to answer the phone, counsel patients, administer immunizations, give transfers to other pharmacies and transcribe new prescription orders called in by physicians, all while maintaining an impossible 15-minute wait time for scripts and never taking a moment to pause. It’s not uncommon for pharmacists to work 14-hour days (8 a.m. to 10 p.m.) with no meal break. No, it’s not legal, but it is the rule in pharmacy practice — not the exception. This means that if one goes to the pharmacy in the evening for a prescription, it is most likely being completed by a pharmacist who has been on their feet for 10 hours, has only eaten what can be consumed in handfuls over their computer and is now physically and mentally exhausted. Add in the pressure to push scripts through as quickly as possible and one can see this is a precarious situation. Darwin Ta, a pharmacy technician and a recent UH graduate who is now applying to pharmacy school, suggests that it may be possible to begin to change the current pharmacy culture by educating the patient and, in turn,
altering their expectations. “Even though the patient may want their prescription immediately, what they don’t realize is that the pharmacist and their support staff are already occupied with a myriad of other tasks," Ta said. "It’s important that the customer be educated to understand that the reason that their prescription may not be able to be filled on the spot is for their own safety. Pharmacies should be known for their accuracy, not for their lightning speed.” Patients have been conditioned to expect prescriptions to be filled while they wait. This expectation is due, in large part, to the presence of the drive-thru window. Although it’s meant to be a convenience, the drive-thru has diminished the integrity of pharmacy practice by lowering it to the level of fast food service, while simultaneously setting a dangerous precedent for speed. Not every script that enters the pharmacy can be filled in a moment’s notice, even if it is dropped off at the drive-thru, where customers want the speed of a fast food restaurant. The pace expected in the drive-thru, the area most prone to mistakes, is not consistent with care and attention to detail required of the filling process. Unfortunately, no matter the point of service in the pharmacy, speed is revered and accuracy becomes just a detail. In an interview with KHOU, Texas pharmacist Bill Bradshaw acknowledged the pressure to fill prescriptions faster and with little qualified staff and the fear that comes with the magnitude of the
job. “I have gone home and said a prayer asking God to please not let me have made any mistakes that could have caused harm to a patient," Bradshaw said. The fear expressed by Bradshaw is of incorrectly filling a prescription, known in the pharmacy world as a “misfill.” When pharmacists are expected to satisfy filling expectations implemented by management for a particular number of scripts within an allotted time, misfills will certainly follow. It cannot be debated that with an increase in speed comes a decrease in accuracy. It seems obvious enough, but for the corporate chains, the risk associated with a misfill here or there doesn’t outweigh the increase in revenue generated by fill quotas. In other words, profit has become more important than patient safety. Claudis Alston of Tomball is all too aware of the devastating, life-long repercussions of an incorrectly-filled prescription. According to USA Today, Alston went blind in his left eye following a misfill in which he received ear drops instead of an eye drop prescription; he is currently suing CVS Pharmacy for his loss of eyesight. The big-money pharmacy business is not likely to improve without the grassroots efforts of pharmacists who are prepared to become advocates for the changes they wish to see. It’s encouraging that those such as Bradshaw and
MISFILLS
Continues on next page
OPINION STAFF EDITORIAL
The Cougar supports administrative transparency
T
hey never said it was going to be easy. Given the sheer magnitude of changes UH has undergone — including the renovation of Cullen Boulevard, engaging in one of the most lucrative stadium naming rights deals in NCAA history and the proposed addition of a medical school — UH might have hit its limit for construction projects at one time. During Friday’s Board of Regents meeting, a full-scale investigation of the allocation of $5 million in Higher Education Assistance Funding — money from the State allocated for classrooms for the band in TDECU Stadium — was announced, to see if the funds were used in the way that the state of Texas signed off on. The conversation surrounding the stadium funds started when Student Government Association President Charles Haston addressed the Student Fees Advisory Committee — an almost entirely student-run panel that makes Student Service Fee allocation recommendations. On Nov. 3, he called for accountability and transparency from the Department of Administration and Finance. The gist is that the still-incomplete TDECU Stadium
was $23million over its initial $105 million budget “and counting,” leaving no money for the renovation of Hofheinz. There were other issues he addressed, too, but the meat of Haston’s concerns lay in the student body’s lack of knowledge about where its money is being allocated. The Cougar Editorial Board would like to extend its full support toward Haston during this time, as we applaud any proponent of administrative transparency. The Cougar Editorial Board would also like to praise President and Chancellor Renu Khator, as she said she filed an anonymous complaint about the HEAF funding that was earmarked for academics. It’s currently unclear if the money was funneled to academics or if it was used for the construction of the new football stadium. If the allegations against Administration and Finance are true, and millions of dollars in student-funded fees and state funding weren’t used in the way we were told they would be, then a complete violation of trust has occurred between the administration and the students. This is an issue we call upon the student body to take seriously, and it’s an issue we’ll be covering until its resolution.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 7
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MISFILLS
Continued from previous page Ta are willing to express how they feel, considering pharmacy employees are typically very closed-mouthed and hesitant about expressing grievances. Despite the current state of the pharmacy world, Ta still plans to attend pharmacy school and is optimistic that he and his fellow classmates will be able to improve the pharmacy protocol, but knows that it's not a feat that can be accomplished overnight. “The way that pharmacies currently operate is due to an evolution that has taken place over the last decade or so," Ta said. "Although I am new to the field, I have firsthand knowledge of how things are run. I believe that an initiative has to be taken to change the path of pharmacy practice." Hopefully, the culture of pharmacy business will allow pharmacists to work in a setting that acknowledges them as the consummate professionals they are with adequately trained and paid technicians and realistic fill times. Pharmacists need to reclaim their profession. Opinion columnist Jonathan Bolan is an English graduate student and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.
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Paulina Rojas, EDITOR
HEALTH
Scars of self-harm more than skin deep DIANA NYGUYEN STAFF WRITER
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
“I
felt helpless,” said biology senior Lynda Tran.* “I felt like my life and emotions were overwhelming, and I couldn’t control certain relationships or situations. I was dealing with rejection back then and took things too personally.” Tran said she started cutting as a way to vent her emotional frustrations, but she's not alone. According to the Boston Globe, approximately 2% to 6% of the general population engages or has engaged in self-harm practices. Self-harm, also known as self-injury or self-mutilation, occurs when someone intentionally and repeatedly harms themselves. The most well-known method is cutting, but other common behaviors include burning, scratching, carving or ripping skin, hair-pulling, intentionally starving oneself or drinking something harmful like bleach or detergent.
A way to cope Tran, who began practicing selfharm in high school, said it was a coping mechanism that controlled her emotions. It was a way for her to gain strength and feel powerful when she was feeling emotionally weak. “It was never to the extreme where I was suicidal, but cutting gave me a sense of power,” Tran said. “It’s hard for me to open up about it, even now, years later. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s not something someone should be ashamed of either. If you’re going through it, get help. Confide in someone you trust.” Tran said confiding in someone was the most difficult part. “When my best friend found out, she started crying,” Tran said. “It hurt her to know what I was going through, and (she) couldn’t understand why I did it. My parents still don’t know about it to this day.” Tran is not alone in her reluctance to come forth. UH Counseling and Psychological Services Clinical Director Christopher Scott said that self-harm behaviors are fairly common, but they are not often talked about due to the stigma around mental
Although self-harm is painful, it not a suicide attempt. Instead, it is a coping mechanism and cry for help. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
health concerns. “About one-third of the students who come to CAPS indicate that they have engaged in some form of self-harm in their lifetime,” Scott said.
How to deal When faced with someone who participates in self-harm, Scott suggests to stay calm and avoid judgment. “It is important to stay calm if you discover that someone you know engages in self harm,” Scott said. “These behaviors often indicate that a person is in a high degree of distress, and it is important to gently inquire about what is going on. Try to avoid any judgment in your response that may convey that they are 'blowing things out of proportion' or that they are 'defective,' even if you find the self-harm behaviors distressing. Refer your friend or family member to resources where they can get help, like CAPS.” Scott said it is important to realize that self-harm is different from a suicidal attempt. Self-injury is often an emotion-regulation strategy and does not always have the
motive of suicide. “Self-harm is different from a suicide attempt and can range from very minor scratching to self-injury that requires emergency attention,” Scott said. “Many people who engage in self-harm are not in fact trying to end their lives or even cause serious injury.”
Variety of causes Self-harm may start with the breakup of a relationship, out of simple curiosity or the result of a repressive home environment where feelings aren’t discussed. Psychiatrists believe that for many adolescents with emotional problems, self-injury has an effect similar to cocaine and other drugs that release endorphins to make one feel good. Construction management senior Darcy Gomez had a friend who cut themselves. Gomez said she credits the media, like social media blogging site Tumblr, and the show “Skins” as an influence to self-harm. “As bad as it sounds, I think the media, like Tumblr, can sometimes glamorize self-harm,” Gomez said.
There is help Self Harm Hotline: 1-800-DONT CUT (1-800-366-8288) http://www.selfinjury.com – Referrals for therapists and tips for how to stop. https://self-injury.net/online-support - Online support to chat with someone 1-800-273-TALK – A 24-hour crisis hotline if you’re about to selfharm or are in an emergency situation. http://www.uh.edu/caps/ - Information to CAPS (Counseling and Psychiatric Services)
“If you watch the British TV show “Skins,” you see the characters have all this sex, take all these drugs or cut to numb themselves out from emotional pain. There’s this beautiful tragic-ness about it, this craving to feel connected or to save someone.” An example of a Tumblr post on the topic of cutting by poet Sierra Demulder states: “I just see red lines like lipstick. more addictive than cocaine; This is dependence. Stripped of pipes and filters I am captivated by straight strokes and sharp edges.”
Gomez said getting involved in a community or culture of self-harm will only worsen the situation. “I do think it plays into the music they listen to, who they follow or which celebrities they idolize,” Gomez said. “My friend used to listen to emo music and fell into that culture. Teenagers will see all these people on Tumblr cutting themselves and instead of trying to deal with their problems in a healthy manner,
SCARS
Continues on page 10
Wednesday, November 16, 2014 | 9
LIFE & ARTS
thedailycougar.com/life-arts
arts@thedailycougar.com
Paulina Rojas, EDITOR
TEXANS
Student becomes adept at balancing act Despite serving as a NFL cheerleader, Baty keeps personal life in check DANIEL PEREZ STAFF WRITER
Despite her previous experience, Shannon Baty did not expect to become a Houston Texans Cheerleader. “It was really random, because I actually cheered (at UH) for three years. After my third year, my body was really worn out because I’ve danced and cheered all my life. So, I didn’t want to cheer anymore. I just wanted to focus on getting school done so I wouldn’t be a year behind,” Baty said. “Two months before tryouts, I just decided I’d try out for Texans. It was totally out of the blue. I got really lucky and ended up getting the position.” Every year, more than 1,200 women compete to become a Texans Cheerleader. The first round of tryouts is televised, and fans take a role in deciding who gets a spot. For Baty, the pressure of fans and media attention only makes the process more exciting.
CHEER
Continues on page 10
Baty juggles her Texans job, being a student and being a cheer coach. | Daniel Perez/The Cougar
10 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
LIFE & ARTS
CHEER
Continued from page 9
“The first round is live stream so you get to watch while we’re trying out. It’s probably one of the best rounds because it’s really fun,” Baty said. “We have our super fans and some local news reporters, and they’re our judges so it’s really fun that the fans get to decide if they want to see you on the field or not… it’s so stressful and a lot of work.” Everyone has to try out again in order to continue cheering — no one has a secure position on the team. “It’s actually harder to make it back,” Baty said. “You just have to make sure you’ve improved from last season. There could be a girl who looks like you, and if she’s better, she’ll take your spot. You got to make sure you’re keeping up.” Aside from cheering, the girls are required to have full-time jobs or be enrolled full-time at a university. “They want you working for something…they don’t want you to give up everything you’re doing just to be a Texans cheerleader,” Baty said. Baty fulfills more than one of the requirements with her time spent as a broadcast journalism student and coach. “I’m a student, and I’m a cheer coach,” Baty said. “Being a cheer coach while being a Texan is inspiring because these kids look up to me…they don’t realize that they’re
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arts@thedailycougar.com
Paulina Rojas, EDITOR
inspiring me at the same time.” The time spent with the Texans is useful for Baty’s career as a broadcast journalist. “Right now, I’m the one being interviewed, but one day I want to be the interviewer,” Baty said. “I get to learn from some of the best people in the industry being a Texan Cheerleader, so it’s a good tool for getting in the direction of doing what you want to do.” Balancing her responsibilities can be daunting, but Baty says she does so by communicating with her professors at UH. “I always make sure I go and talk to my professors and explain my situation because I don’t want them thinking that I just skip class. I always tell my professors when I have to go to a game, and I ask my fellow students for what I missed in class that day,” said Baty. “They’re very understanding. I’m a full-time student, and I’m keeping up with my schoolwork at the same time as getting to experience this unique opportunity.” Recently she was awarded the Judy A. Harvey scholarship. “I wrote about what I do, including school, cheer and coaching,” Baty said. "I ended up getting the scholarship, which was pretty rewarding because they reached out to me.” arts@thedailycougar.com
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It can be hard to talk about experiences with self - harm but finding someone to confide in is often the first step towards recovery.. | Justin Tijerina/ The Cougar
SCARS
Continued from page 8
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they become tempted to turn to self-harm as well. It only continues the cycle.” With the variety of reasons to participate in self-harm, Scott said the behaviors can lead to serious injury and have negative longterm consequences — in spite of the seemingly positive short-term effects. “In the long-term, these behaviors can create isolation, lower self-esteem and reduce healthier coping behaviors,” Scott said. Tran agrees. She said staying quiet about it for so long was a mistake. Although she was initially fearful of her friends’ reactions, she said she’s glad she reached out for help. “It was a struggle at first, but I knew I had to tell someone,” Tran said. “The act itself was probably a
subconscious cry for help.” Healing is possible In her process to heal, Tran said she kept her hands occupied by baking, playing guitar and going the gym a lot. Tran said she has her faith to thank for her recovery. “I eventually found healing through Christ,” Tran said. “I don’t want to turn this into a religious story, but that’s what ultimately saved me. It gave me hope. I joined worship and found solace in singing. I thought of my younger sister and felt like I was being this horrible role model. I had to start holding myself accountable for my actions.” For many, who may not have friends, family or faith to turn to for healing, there are various online support groups or psychiatric hospitals or clinics that provide psychological counseling. Tran’s story ended on a happy note — she said she’s a completely
different person and plans on never going back. “If you meet me now, I’m this confident, happy, enthusiastic person,” Tran said. “I’m sarcastic and joke around a lot. You would have never guessed me as someone who used to cut herself. I have great relationships and learned not to hold things in; it’s not healthy. If I’m going through something, I’ll talk it out with someone I trust.” Another thing Tran said she learned was to not care about what people think. “I used to be so scared of people judging me,” Tran said. “Most may not understand, but if they truly care, they would at least try to and be there for me. I’m just glad it’s all over with. It’s my past. I’m done with it forever. Time really does heal everything.” arts@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 11
12 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
SPORTS thedailycougar.com/sports
sports@thedailycougar.com
Sean Alder, EDITOR
Head coach Kelvin Sampson hopes to rebuild the Houston men's basketball program from the bottom up, starting with team development and followed by building a strong fan base. Sampson looks to have a team that's entertaining to watch and anticipates a boost in support once the Cougars establish a home in the planned new facilities in the near future. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
MEN'S BASKETBALL
New era begins for Cougars, but not a quick fix SHARDANNA JONES
STAFF WRITER @SHAYGOTIT
Hired away from the Houston Rockets, Cougars’ first-year coach Kelvin Sampson made his debut as the Cougars’ head coach in an exhibition game against North Alabama, beginning not only a new era for team, but the revival of the facilities and fan base. There is work to be done. The fan base is almost nonexistent, the facility is almost 20 years old, and the team had only five returning players. These things have all been addressed by twotime National Coach of the Year and 500-game winning Kelvin Sampson, who welcomes the challenge. “One of the reasons why I wanted this opportunity is because of the things that make this job a challenge,” said Kelvin Sampson. “What we have to do to make this program really good is very attainable. One is facilitieswhich our administration has committed to make better.” Kelvin Sampson carries a big reputation with him to Houston and it’s something that hasn’t gone unnoticed by returner redshirt junior guard Jherrod Stiggers. “We’ve done a lot of studying
on coach and looked at the teams that he’s lead to the NCAA tournament,” said Stiggers. “When you know you’ve got somebody that has a lot of experience and knows what they’re talking about, it feels good.” The impact Kelvin Sampson has had on the team has not only affected the players, both new and returning, but the coaching staff as a whole, especially his son Kellen Sampson. “Coming back after six years, it’s been unbelievable,” said Kellen Sampson. “He’s really good at his job and for anyone who’s trying to learn and grow in the profession; it’s always beneficial to be around those that are really good at their craft.” Kelvin Sampson said the idea of building a practice facility was necessary. It’s something that everyone else in their league has. So now, the building of a better practice facility is in motion. The team has already moved into a brand new locker room, and once the practice facility is done, the renovation of Hofheinz Pavilion will begin. But it is not about being glamorous. “Now we play in a conference where the defending national champions (Connecticut) play in this conference,” said Kelvin
Sampson. Their facilities are second to none. University of Memphis’ facilities are second to none. SMU has completely renovated Moody Coliseum, and they’ve built a brand new practice facility and completely redone their facilities and so has Cincinnati.” With recruiting being so competitive, Kelvin Sampson says that in a lot of ways Houston has been at a competitive disadvantage for years because of their facilities. “We’re doing something about that,” he said. But something has to be done about the lack of fan support. “Most fans won’t come unless you win,” he said. “We understand that. Everything kind of goes around. To win you have to recruit, to recruit you have to have great facilities, if you have great facilities you get better players. You get better players then you can win. So we’re in a process now of upgrading our roster.” With a new head coach and staff in play, but many unfamiliar faces, fans and students are left to wonder about the state of the team as a whole, and of course, whether or not they can play.
SAMPSON
Continues on page 15
Sampson began to put his plan for the Cougars in motion as he addressed Houston students at the team's preseason pep rally. | File Photo/The Cougar
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 13 thedailycougar.com/sports
sports@thedailycougar.com
SPORTS
Sean Alder, EDITOR
COMMENTARY
WEEK IN REVIEW
Rockets off to big start with strong players ADAM COLEMAN
Many would have called the pick a downgrade, but it turns out Ariza provides exactly what the Rockets were lacking — defense. He also cost the team half as much. Sure, Ariza can’t compare to Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh offensively, but Ariza is an elite perimeter defender. In his first stint with Houston in 2009, Ariza was one of the main options who was asked to do more than he could handle, and that led to him being traded away. However, this time Ariza is playing a specific role and playing it to perfection. Being in arguably the toughest division in sports, the Rockets can’t rely on their offensive firepower alone. With the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, the new-look Dallas Mavericks and the rock-solid Memphis Grizzlies, Houston will need to be much better on defense. Even the Pelicans won’t be an easy victory. James Harden is notorious for his poor defending, but he always had the talent to be a solid defender. His problem has always been on the mental side. When he wants it to, Harden’s on-ball
STAFF WRITER @2_AWESOMEE
The Houston Rockets have lived up to their name; they’ve soared to hot start and put the whole league on notice. A little over two weeks into the season, the Rockets have cruised to a 9-2 record good enough for second place in the Western conference and only a game behind the Memphis Grizzlies. During this period, the Rockets are second in average points allowed per game (91.6) and first in opponents average field goal percentage (.451). Granted, only two of their victories have come against opponents with records more than .500 — the Miami Heat and half of the San Antonio Spurs (due to injuries) — and we’re only about 10 perecent into a long NBA season, but those stats are still nothing to scoff at. After failing to bring in a big name player in free agency and with Chandler Parsons heading up I-45 to rival Dallas Mavericks, the Rockets had to settle for small forward Trevor Ariza.
defense can be pretty good. But when Harden was defending off the ball, he was either resting or just playing carelessly, allowing back-door cuts, lay ups and easy jump shots that would make for a good YouTube video, but not a victory. After a dramatic playoff loss to the Blazers, Harden vowed to improve his defense. Many laughed at this statement, but so far Harden is making good on his promise. Over his career, Harden's points allowed per 100 possessions has been 106. This year Harden’s is 96, which is a vast improvement. If Harden can maintain or even improve on his defensive play, with his elite offensive arsenal, the Rockets will be a tough out. Maybe his beard really does have superpowers. If nothing else, just look at Dwight Howard. This isn’t the same Dwight we’ve watched in recent years. He’s healthy and back to his 2008-09, form when he led the Orlando Magic to the NBA finals. As long as Howard is stays healthy along with Harden, and key players like Beverley and
SEAN ALDER
SPORTS EDITOR @SEAN_W_ALDER
In a transitional period for Houston sports, these Cougars are making the most of their opportunities. The past week was highlighted by strong performances and a huge moment for one of Houston's most productive seniors.
Guard James Harden continues to prove a key facet to the Rockets play. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Jones coming back from injuries, the Rockets will be poised for a playoff push in a tough Western Conference. sports@thedailycougar.com
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Senior libero Natalie Keck reached a career milestone after recording the 2,000th dig of her career in the third set of Friday’s loss to Memphis. Keck totaled 18 digs on the evening and know has a season total of 550. Keck currently ranks fifth in Houston history for the most digs in a single season and second in career digs with 2,002. Sophomore Brian Barraza qualified for the NCAA Championship Friday after taking fourth place at the NCAA South Central Regionals. The sophomore is the first Cougar to make it to the NCAA Championship since 2011. Barraza finished the 10K with a time of 29:41.5 and his performance earned him a spot on the 2014 NCAA All-South Central Region Team. The men’s basketball team began the Kelvin Sampson era after barely pulling off a season-opening win against the Murray State Racers. In the 77-74 victory, junior forward Devonta Pullard led the Cougars’ offense with 19 points, followed up by 17 from junior guard Jherrod Stiggers. Freshman forward JC Washington had a big impact on the win as he nabbed nine rebounds in his Houston debut.
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The women’s basketball team opened their season in similar fashion to the men’s as they picked up a 46-42 victory over the North Texas Mean Green Friday. After scoring 100 points against Huston-Tilloston, Houston’s defense played a stronger role in the close win over North Texas. The Cougars held the Mean Green to a 27.1 shooting percentage and forced 22 turnovers as junior forward Tyler Gilbert and junior guard Alecia Smith led the offense with 10 points each. Smith also totaled nine rebounds, falling one rebound shy of her first career double-double.
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14 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 15 thedailycougar.com/sports
sports@thedailycougar.com
SPORTS
Sean Alder, EDITOR
SOFTBALL
Looking into the life of a championship Cougar SUSIE NYUGEN
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Sitting among the many rooms located on the second floor of the Athletics/Alumni Center sits a small back-corner office. The sign outside the door reads: Softball Head Coach. There are family photos on the desk, and the promotional softball poster the KYLA University HOLAS puts out HEAD COACH hangs on the board next to her computer. A lone quote by Babe Ruth painted on the wall reads, “Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” Judging by the numerous awards and certificates on her shelf, you know she means business. This office belongs to Kyla Holas. Holas, entering her 16th year as the first and only head softball coach at Houston built the program from nothing. She has been able to lead the Cougars to two conference championship titles, several appearances in the NCAA tournament and two Super Regional appearances. Although Houston is now a nationally recognized team, Holas faced challenges when creating the program in 2001.
SAMPSON
Continued from page 12 Kelvin Sampson likes his team. “We’re going to play a very entertaining style,” he said. We’re going to play as fast as possible and are going to shoot a lot of 3’s. Our goal is to be the toughest team, the hardest-working team, and the team that does all the dirty work things to win games. I think that’s what fans want to see. They want to see a blue collar team that gets after it and that’s how we’re going to play.” The change has proven to make an impact already in the short time Kelvin Sampson has spent with the team and Stiggers sees the changes from previous experience with former head coach James Dickey. “The biggest thing that stands out to me is how hard we play,” said Stiggers. “There’s a big transi-
Entering her 16th season as the Cougars' head coach, Kyla Holas looks to replicate the past successes of her championship career. Holas knows softball inside and out, having a decorated past as both a player in Louisiana and coach here in Houston. | File Photo/The Cougar
“It was just one of those things, fighting the stigma that’s the University of Houston, where we are, not only in the tier of universities in Texas, but just kind of getting past our location and some other things. I think I’ve probably heard Cougar High
more than once,” Holas said. “If you look at our roster, some of our best players in the beginning were from other states. Kids who didn’t really know our reputation in-state and really didn’t know some of those stigmas that were a part of our
tion from how we played last year and how we’re paying this year since we’re playing way harder and way tougher.” With a six-year stint as an Assistant Coach for the Houston Rockets, Kelvin Sampson plans on being a fast-paced, heavy pickand-roll offensive team, which is very much from the NBA. “The thing about working in the NBA is that it is great offensive league. Every coach sits around all day trying to figure out how to get this guy a shot or that guy a shot, how to work a big man in around shooters. For us, I think it’s the pace of play. We’ve got to get the ball across half court in three seconds or less, make or miss.” The time is here and now, but Kelvin Sampson plans to build his program and do it the right way. Kellen Sampson is looking forward to the future of the Houston
Cougars, as well as the development of his father’s return to the coaching sphere. “As his son, I’m most excited to see him back doing what he loves and doing what he was put on this planet to do,” said Kellen Sampson. “Some coaches coach because they don’t know what else they would do, but Kelvin Sampson coaches because he has a burning passion to compete and a burning passion to teach.” He says he doesn’t think fans expect them to come in and go undefeated, and that he has no idea what the win-loss record will be, but they will improve as they go. “I’m super excited and I’m really fired up about what we can do here. It’s a great job, great school, and great city. Nothing but positive things for me.” sports@thedailycougar.com
name. They took a chance, made a visit, came and saw it and fell in love with it.” Holas' passion to succeed was built by a welcoming environment toward sports. Holas said her mother taught her how to pitch when she was
young and encouraged her to participate in sports. Holas started her softball career in a club at South Houston High School for a year, and then signed on with the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now Louisiana-Lafayette, for three years. As a player for Southwestern Louisiana, Holas was a threetime NCAA All-American pitcher, received WCWS All-Tournament Team honors, a two-time finalist for the Honda Broderick Cup and led the Ragin’ Cajuns to third place in the 1993 NCAA Women’s College World Series. This, coupled with Holas's awards, including the 2007 and 2008 Conference USA Coach of the Year, inductions into the South Houston HS Hall of Honor, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Louisiana-Lafayette Hall of Fame and in 2015 and her induction into the Pasadena ISD Hall of Fame, as the youngest person to receive the accolade, should come as no surprise. “At the end of the day, my goals and my values are to work really hard, to put good people back out into society and give back as much as we can, so usually as a result of doing those things — I think usually those awards go hand-in-hand," Holas said. "I’m proud when they happen and if they keep coming in, that to me, is a good gauge of the success we’re having.” sports@thedailycougar.com
Sampson has significantly changed the pace of Houston basketball as he has kept the Cougars working hard and fast. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
16 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
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NEWS UH announces investigation of $5 million used for TDECU stadium “Internal audit will be useless. They should get an independent external audit. They should also audit all buildings built since Carl Carlucci and Renu Khator came to UH. Renu Khator initiated 1 billion dollar construction on campus while she has been a failure in fund raising...” — 'UH-needs-accountability'
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OPINION Rebuild or renovation: UH conducts feasibility study on Hofheinz "Absolutely unacceptable. We’re already eight figures over budget with TDECU stadium. Don’t get me wrong, I love UH athletics, but this is egregious. I would only support something if Hofheinz were actually structurally unsound.. ” — 'Silence Dogood'
CALENDAR
l Sports | l Campus events | l City events |
See more upcoming events at thedailycougar.com/calendar.
TODAY
Center 1 Rm. 210D.
Smart Start: Salary
SPB Presents: UH EDC Festival
The Women's Resource Center will host a workshop where women can get the skills they need to negotiate higher starting salaries and close the gender pay gap at 9 a.m. in Agnes Arnold Hall Rm. 210.
The Student Program Board will host its very own electric daisy carnival, where several DJs will compete for the title of UH's top DJ and the chance to perform at Frontier Fiesta, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Lynn Eusan Park. Free glow items will be provided to attendees.
Negotiation Workshop
Cultural Conversations:
Life of a UH International Student
The Council of Ethnic Organizations will host a conversation where students can bring questions and answers and learn about the international student population of UH at 12 p.m. in the CDI.
It's All the Rage:
Managing Anger
The Couseling and Psychological Services' Food For Thought workshop of the week will teach students about healthy and unhealthy anger, types of anger expression and managing anger from 12 to 1 p.m. in the Sudent Service
Ask The Doctors Young Americans of Liberty and Republicans Against Marijuana Prohibition will hold an open forum wherein cannabis research and questions about cannabis can be discussed with Dr. Elias Jackson and Dr. David Yang from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in Agnes Arnold Auditorium 2. For a free ticket to the event, RSVP at www.rampgop. eventbrite.com.
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 "The Hills."
The Cougars will play against USF at 7 p.m. in the Athletics/Alumni Center. Students get in free with their Cougar Card.
Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty
SATURDAY, NOV. 22
The Museum of Fine Arts recently opened an exhibit of more than 150 works, including Korean national treasures. The exhibit includes books, metalwork, sculpture, lacquer, furniture, costumes and textiles. Admission is free on Thursdays.
MVP Night Under The Stars
Via Colori The Center for Hearing and Speech will host a two-day festival promoting creation of street art from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Hermann Square at the City Hall, as well as on the surrounding streets of McKinney, Bagby and Walker. Admission is free, and there will be food and drink vendors. All proceeds will benefit the Center for Hearing and Speech.
THURSDAY, NOV. 20
The Metropolitan Volunteer Program will show a documentary about homelessness throughout the country, and volunteers will be able to make care packages at 7 p.m. at Lynn Eusan Park. Dinner will be provided and participants will also be entered into a raffle.
Reality Bytes
FRIDAY, NOV. 21
UH Men's Basketball
UH Volleyball
The Cougars will play against Morgan State at 7 p.m. in Hofheinz Pavilion.
The Women's Resource Center will watch and discuss reality television
UH Football The Cougars, 5-4, will play against Tulsa at 2 p.m. in TDECU Stadium. The game will also be shown on ESPN3. Students get in free with their Cougar Card.
The game will also be shown on ESPN3. Students get in free with their Cougar Card.
Transgender Day of Remembrance This day has been set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The Houston Transgender Unity Committee will hold a reception at 7 p.m. and a memorial at 8 p.m. in the A. D. Bruce Religion Center.
SUNDAY, NOV. 23 UH Volleyball The Cougars will play against UCF at 1 p.m. in the Athletics/Alumni Center. Students get in free with their Cougar Card.
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