Issue 4, Volume 86 (10.7.2020)

@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Est. 1934

Issue 4, Volume 86

Eye Strain? Headaches? Can’t Sleep?

These are just a few of the symptoms that can come with staring at a computer all day as screen times spike during the coronavirus pandemic. | PG. 2

LIFE AND ARTS Despite cancellations, students are still finding ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. | PG. 4

SPORTS Football head coach Dana Holgorsen credits upperclassmen for their leadership. | PG. 7

OPINION It’s time sex education gets the upgrade it deserves. | PG. 9

2 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

NEWS

DONNA KEEYA EDITORS & SYDNEY ROSE,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

HEALTH

Students turn to blue light glasses to cope with additional screen time during pandemic DONNA KEEYA

NEWS EDITOR @DONNAKEEYA_

When the coronavirus pandemic shifted the nation into a virtual setting, students were among many groups of people seeing a sudden spike in their screen time.

While computers allowed courses to continue with a decreased contraction risk, the added blue light exposure can bring harm to some individuals.

Headaches, eye fatigue and disturbed sleep cycles are some negative health consequences of blue light exposure, according to ABC27.

For biology senior Addison Staples, blue light glasses are a helpful tool to avoid screen-related health concerns and assist with migraines.

The shift to online classes was also a large contributor for biotechnology junior Shareef Abboushi to start wearing blue light glasses.

He believes the glasses help decrease eye strain and makes extended periods of screen time more tolerable.

“I started wearing my blue light glasses once classes started,” Abboushi said.

“I have found them to be very helpful because it allows there to be less strain on my eyes.

I normally get dry eyes when working on any electronic device for an extended period of time, but with the glasses, that problem was no more,” Abboushi added.

Programs such as Apple’s Night Shift are another way to decrease the direct amount of blue light consumed.

Night Shift uses location and

Savannah Smithson/The Cougar

geolocation information to gauge sundown at the device’s location, and then switches the product’s screen to warmer tones.

Once the sun comes back up, the screen will automatically adjust back to its regular coloring.

With the virtual course load, Abboushi and Staples alike have been taking advantage of breaks to step away from their computer and from the blue light glare. Abboushi says the increased amount of screen time has caused physical symptoms with his eyes and head.

“I like to take a 10-minute break every hour,” Abboushi said.

“During this break, I try my best not to look at any electronics to allow my eyes to rest. With classes being online, this has inevitably resulted in additional screen time.

This has led to having multiple headaches, dry and red eyes and eye strain.”

As far as online classes go, Staples has found difficulty maintaining academic work ethic through the screen.

“It has absolutely killed (my work ethic),” Staples said. “I feel very unmotivated and it’s difficult.

Again, it is difficult to sit down and focus while at home so I end up

NATION

Developments in Breonna Taylor case renew calls for action AMINAH TANNIR

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @AMOUNAJT

On Sept. 23 it was announced that an officer related to the case of Breonna Taylor, Brett Hankison, was indicted for firing into neighboring apartments.

Hankison later pleaded not guilty to the charges of wanton endangerment.

“I felt extremely disappointed

but not surprised to say the least,” said Alexis Cheatum, a junior outside hitter of the UH volleyball team. “The charges were not even for Breonna Taylor’s death, but for the bullets that missed her and could have possibly killed other people next door.”

TAYLOR

Continues on page 3

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

taking more breaks than normal.”

The sentiment is shared with Abboushi, who also has been struggling with productivity in relation to the shift to online classes.

He credits this to the lack of pressure from his virtual course load.

“Remote learning has caused my academic work ethic to change,” Abboushi said. “I used to be hyperactive and always trying to find something to work on, but now I just feel lazy.

“I believe that this is because I am not really feeling any pressure

from classes because they are all online,” he continued.

As the pandemic continues, remote learning remains a common option for students relying on screen time. Abboushi acknowledges this and has been putting additional emphasis on trying to protect his eyes.

“I feel like these online classes have caused us to forget the importance of our eyes,” Abboushi said. “This is why I took it into my own hands and decided to purchase the blue light glasses.” news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | 3 DONNA KEEYA EDITORS & SYDNEY ROSE,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

CRIME

Safety report shows rise in assault, burglary on campus EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Jhair Romero

MANAGING EDITOR

Jiselle Santos WEB EDITOR

Mason Vasquez NEWS EDITORS

Donna Keeya Sydney Rose ASSTISTANT NEWS EDITORS

Aminah Tannir Cristobella Durrette

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

James Mueller OPINION EDITOR

Gina Medina

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Juana Garcia

ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Gerald Sastra COPY CHIEF

Zai Davis

SPORTS EDITOR

Andy Yanez

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

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

CRISTOBELLA DURETTE

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @CRIST0BELLA

Reported instances of aggravated assault and burglary at the University rose, while reported cases of robbery decreased in 2019 from the previous two years, according to the 2020 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

According to the report, total on-campus reports of aggravated assault increased from 13 to 24 from 2017 to 2019.

In 2019, 62 burglary reports were filed with the UH Police Department in comparison to the 47 submitted in 2018 and the 61 in 2017. Reports of burglary dropped from 18 to 12 from 2017 to 2019.

“There is a natural fluctuation in the numbers of individual types of crime from year to year in any area,” said UHPD Capt. Brett Collier.

“UHPD continually patrols all

TAYLOR

Continued from page 2 The indictments led to many protests throughout the country, continuing the ongoing call for justice that began earlier this year after the death of George Floyd was posted all over social media.

“The public wants to know why the lives of people who almost died deemed to be more valuable than the one innocent life lost,” Cheatum said.

Under the pressure of protesters and calls for justice

areas of campus looking for any issues, monitoring cameras and access control points and regularly evaluates areas that might need additional technology or attention,” Collier added.

The document, also known as the Clery report, compiles crime statistics from internal University sources and external law enforcement agencies.

Emailed to the University community on Sept. 30, the report features information on a variety of offense types for the previous three years.

Media production sophomore Autumn Johnson said she feels safe on campus and the security presence helps to mitigate her concerns about walking around campus alone or at night.

“I am almost always walking around with a friend, which makes things that

much easier,” Johnson said.

“When I get off work late at night and am parking my car at 1, or 2 or 3 a.m., there’s almost always either (UH) police or Parking (and) Transportation sitting in the parking lot, which makes me feel a lot better as well, just knowing they’re there,” Johnson added.

Psychology sophomore Chinelo Dike said she also felt relatively safe on campus, but the rate of crime reported at UH caused concern.

“As a freshman last year, I felt pretty safe, considering the late-night rides offered and the emergency poles. I think it’s great that we have (them), but not all the poles worked and there are parts of campus that I avoided when walking at night because of the limited light,” Dike said.

The report also includes data on reported instances of stalking and rape, with the former experiencing

a decrease and the latter an increase.

Total on-campus reports of stalking fell from 90 to 66 from 2018 to 2019, while reports of rape rose from 11 to 20 in the same period.

The drop in stalking cases comes after a spike in reported stalking cases on campus over a three-year period, according to previous reporting by The Cougar.

The rise in reported rapes may not correlate to an increase in these instances on campus, said UH Clery coordinator Jason Marquez.

“In recent years, awareness and prevention campaigns, both locally and nationally, have empowered witnesses and victims of certain crimes, such as rape, to come forward and report offenses that in the past may have remained unreported,” Marquez said.

on social media, local lawmakers have been attempting to appease the public by passing legislation to increase police accountability and prevent officers from engaging in certain behaviors with suspects.

Aside from legislation, these protests against police brutality and racial injustice have resurfaced conversations about racial inequity and a systemic issue in our country that allows for this inequity to remain virtually untouched.

“The next step towards fighting systemic oppression is exercising

our right to vote,” Cheatum said. “Too long the youth have believed ‘my vote does not matter,’ but indeed it matters more than we know.”

Cheatum said herself, the UH College Republicans, the UH College Democrats and select student leaders are working to have a polling location on campus so students can exercise their right to cast their ballot.

“We can slowly dismantle the system by electing officials in and voting officials out of office,” Cheatum said.

The Cougar Voting Coalition,

which Cheatum is a member of, met with various UH officials in order to ensure the health and safety of students and Third Ward community members on Election Day and decided that the polling location would be at TDECU Stadium.

“I will do whatever I can to defend Black men, women and children’s civil rights,” said Cheatum, “by getting into the American justice system and dismantling oppression one racist bigot at a time.”

news@thedailycougar.com

news@thedailycougar.com

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

4 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

LIFE AND ARTS NEWS

DONNA KEEYA EDITORS & SYDNEY ROSE,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/LIFE-ARTS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

FOOD

The Cougar Reviews: Restaurants on, around campus SYDNEY ROSE

NEWS EDITOR @SYDNEY_ROSEY

For students living on campus or those commuting throughout the week, the food found in the Student Centers can become run of the mill. For a change of pace, there are other eateries around campus and in walking distance for students to visit that will be rated for The Cougar.

The Flying Dumpling - 2/5 Located right across the street from the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, The Flying Dumpling is an Asian-inspired restaurant that replaced the Fat Bao that was originally in that space. I’ve only been there once, but I got the pan-fried chicken dumplings and the chicken bao for lunch. Overall, it wasn’t

my favorite as everything was doughy and not what I expected.

But maybe things would be slightly different in a pandemicfree world. 2/5 stars.

Azza Cafe - 3.5/5 What used to be Cafe 101, located near University Lofts, is a Asian fusion restaurant with milk tea options. Usually, when I come here it’s to get the different kinds of boba, which I highly recommend, but the few times I have eaten here it has been okay.

I’m not that big of a fan of the meat dishes they have, but the rice and soups are really good.

3.5/5 stars.

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

vibe to it. This is where I came to watch games during the World Series and ate a slice there one time. It’s pretty expensive by the slice, but overall the actual pizza they have is pretty average itself.

3/5 stars.

Pink’s Pizza - 3/5

McAlister’s - 5/5

In that same little strip center across the way from the Lofts, Pink’s Pizza has a sports bar

Located over by the Welcome Center, this is possibly my favorite spot on this list. I tried

not to add many chains here, but I had to add this deli-inspired restaurant. I am really into sandwich and salad places, so it explains my McAlister’s fascination. I would originally eat at the one in my hometown a lot, so when I came to campus, I tried this one and loved it just as much. Great food and a great atmosphere, all without breaking a budget. 5/5 stars.

There are plenty of other walking places on and off campus to try, especially fast food chains such as Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, Bullritos, etc. But overall, these are the food options that could spice up a lunch or dinner around campus if you don’t want to eat at Student Center South again. arts@thedailycougar.com

CULTURE

Hispanic Heritage Month brings students back to their roots DANIELA BENITES

STAFF WRITER @DANIELABENITESF

Many Houston events may have canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration by heart.

For some students, the month long period of Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is a time to show pride over their culture.

“I think it’s a way to remind us how important our background is and the great contributions we have done not only in our countries, but here in America,” said public relations graduate student Kellin Puello.

Puello, who arrived in Houston from Cartagena, Colombia, last year, describes her culture as warm and affectionate, which sometimes can be misunderstood, she said.

“We show affection, but it doesn’t mean that you have any romantic intentions with that person, it’s just a way to express friendship,” Puello said.

One tradition Puello practices at home is going outside and running on the streets with luggage on the night of New Year, which is supposed to bring good luck and fortune, she said.

When homesick, it’s the food

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

that is missed the most, Puello said.

“It’s funny because when I’m in Colombia, I don’t usually eat Colombian food, but this quarantine has made me crave for Colombian food,” Puello said.

Right next to Colombia is neighboring country Venezuela, where public relations junior Mariana Cordero was born. She

came from Caracas 10 years ago and still remembers her experiences with cultural shock.

“I feel like the most shocking thing for me was to go to class and having to stand a certain appropriate distance from my classmates, or even playing sports, people wouldn’t be cohesive,” Cordero said. “There’s like this elephant in the room

where it’s like you have to know people don’t like to be close to each other.”

Coming from Venezuela at such a young age, people wouldn’t understand why she was so touchy, Cordero said, since during elementary school, she hadn’t adapted to the American culture.

Despite living in the states for many years, Cordero said she hasn’t lost her cultural identity because her parents fostered a family-oriented, Spanish-speaking environment at home, where they regularly eat traditional food and watch soccer together.

“I definitely feel as Venezuelan as American; I have both since I lived half of my life here,” Cordero said.

An identity crisis can happen in environments where a person’s roots are in one country, but they’re based in another, like marketing junior Maria Rodriguez who tells the story of how being a first generation American can cause confusion on her identity.

Rodriguez’s parents, who came from León, Mexico, created a patriotic, Spanish-speaking environment and taught her

and her sister their values and traditions, she said.

But when she visits her family in Mexico, Rodriguez feels different.

“They call us ‘Americans,’ and I do speak Spanish fluently, but there’s definitely a cultural difference; it’s very strong, like how over there the values are different than from here,” Rodriguez said.

Growing up in America, Rodriguez learned English at school, which created a barrier with her parents once she noticed she had more control over this language, she said.

“I would want to come home and I would want to speak English to my parents, and my dad was like ‘no, I don’t understand what you’re saying, speak it in Spanish,’” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said she feels proud of her Mexican heritage and maintains a strong connection with her roots.

“I feel like ever since I was young, I was always tied to that, it’s my other half,” Rodriguez said.

“And if I lose that, it would be like losing my identity.” arts@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | 5 DONNA KEEYA EDITORS & SYDNEY ROSE,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

LIFE ANDNEWS ARTS

Some cultural items from Colombia that Puello celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with. | Courtesy of Kellin Puello

Kellin Puello holding a Colombian flag to show pride for Hispanic Heritage Month. | Courtesy of Kellin Puello

An ornament to celebrate Venezuela. | Courtesy of Mariana Cordero

More Venezuelan ornaments to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. | Courtesy of Mariana Cordero

Mariana Cordero in front of a Venezuelan flag to represent her culturial identity for Hispanic Heritage Month. | Courtesy of Mariana Cordero

6 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Changing the World The University of Houston College of Technology and Microsoft with the City of Houston are providing students, businesses, and the Houston community with the resources to manage, create, communicate, and commercialize meaningfully unique opportunities.

These programs transcend beyond the classroom with industry-recognized certifications, workshops, and degree programs that support workforce creation, underserved communities, and a culture of innovation.

With a focus on digital equity, resources also these champion University of Houston students with 21st Century skills and capabilities that improve lives, build careers and enhance the economy.

Together, we are changing the world.

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | 7 ANDY YANEZ, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS NEWS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

FOOTBALL

UH players credit upperclassmen leadership in navigating string of game delays to start 2020

Senior receiver Marquez Stevenson hauling a pass against the SMU Mustangs in the 2019 season. He finished the game with 211 reception yards and two touchdowns, which included a 96-yard spring to the end zone after a catch on a slant. | Trevor Nolley/The Cougar

ANDY YANEZ

SPORTS EDITOR @AYANEZ_5

“It wasn’t difficult because we know the situation of 2020,” said senior cornerback Damarion Williams on Monday when speaking to reporters through a Zoom call. “We just stayed ready.

We ready.”

Despite the plethora of postponements, the Cougars stayed levelheaded. After the cancellation of the game against North Texas, which was the fifth game axed from UH’s schedule, the team took a break from coronavirus testing for the

remainder of the week as the team had reached its bye week without playing a single snap.

Once the Cougars resumed testing ahead of the game against Tulane, they picked off right where they had left off with zero issues head coach Dana Holgorsen said.

On top of staying clear healthwise, the UH student-athletes have also continued to put the work on and off the football field.

“I commend our guys for hanging in there and practicing at the level they’ve been practicing at,” Holgorsen said. “It has been challenging, but we have really good leadership with those eight

captains that we have.”

After the team received the news that the Baylor game had been canceled, which occurred less than 24 hours ahead of the scheduled kickoff time, a group of 40 players on the team went to the weight room to work out, senior offensive lineman Braylon Jones said. “(The cancellations) were a buzzkill, but I think we have a mature team, and we have a lot of leaders on this team,” said senior defensive lineman Payton Turner.

“It happens really easily for the leaders to lead. With that maturity comes steadiness throughout the locker room.”

Instead of letting the frustration from the cancellations overtake their emotions, the Cougars have been able to grow into a tighter unit from it and have learned to control what they can control Holgorsen said.

“The one thing I’ve been proud of is that I think we’re probably closer as a football team than we’ve been (because of the setbacks),” the head coach said.

With all the upperclassmen on the roster, the Cougars hope that their ability to navigate the string of cancellations will also prove to be fruitful on the field.

“Those weeks of practice that we

had weren’t a waste of time,” senior linebacker Grant Stuard said. “We were still getting better. We will be a much more improved and consistent team playing now than if we would have played week one.”

After having its spring practices ended early, optional summer workouts delayed after COVID-19 issues, and then the roller coaster of emotion the first month of the season having played zero games, it looks like Houston has reached the starting line.

“It’s finally here, there’s a lot of excitement,” Jones said. sports@thedailycougar.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Hughey: Hectic 2020 an opportunity to grow JAMES MUELLER

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @ JDM2186

Head coach Ron Hughey takes a knee while watching his UH team play against the NCAA powerhouse UConn. | Courtesy of UH athletics

Over a million lives lost to COVID-19, record unemployment and natural disasters that have displaced thousands of people from their homes are just a few of the many unprecedented challenges 2020 has presented.

While 2020 has been a disaster for everyone, UH women’s basketball coach Ronald Hughey sees this year as an opportunity to

teach his team about the ups and downs that come in life so that they will be ready to face anything that comes their way in the future.

“I think that this year is going to do more than others to prepare (the team) for life because of the discipline they have in the adversity they will face,” Hughey said. “Things are changing every day and every week for us. That’s a lot like life.”

This year has brought to light the harsh reality that nothing in life comes easy and often puts people

in uncomfortable situations that they must persevere through.

“We all want things easy in life and we want everything to be smooth but this entire year is not going to be like that,” Hughey said.

“With being successful, discomfort comes with that.”

The players have had to make many sacrifices this year, such as not going out, so they can limit

HUGHEY

Continues on page 8

8 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

SPORTS NEWS

ANDY YANEZ, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

UH head coach Ron Hughey praises freshman guard Laila Blair, says her ceiling is ‘sky-high’

Freshman guard Laila Blair looks up at the basket as she prepares for a unique basketball drill. The UH women’s basketball team has been on campus for individual workouts in small groups since late July. The team will be allowed to start its first official practice on Oct. 14. | Courtesy of UH athletics

ANDY YANEZ

SPORTS EDITOR @AYANEZ_5

Despite the long, escalating, melancholic year that 2020 has been, it has been the exact opposite for the UH women’s basketball team.

Since the summer when the

University hosted a series of Zoom conferences with fans, head coach Ron Hughey and his team has spread that this season will be a redemption tour after a 12-19 campaign in 2019-20.

One of the key reasons for UH’s optimism is because of freshman guard Laila Blair, who along with

a plethora of other new faces, will wear a Houston jersey for the first time this season, and last Wednesday, Hughey gave her as high of praise he possibly could.

“She’s gonna have a tremendous career here,” Hughey told reporters via a Zoom meeting. “She’s on a path (where) the sky’s the limit for

her … Chandi Jones sky-high.

“She’s the one that can blow this University up.”

Now, for those who may not know of Jones, she is arguably the best women’s athlete to ever compete for the Cougars, and the list of her accolades makes a compelling case in favor of it.

During her time with UH from 2000-04, Jones scored 2,692 career points. In 2003, she averaged 27.5 per contest in route to winning the NCAA scoring title, and a season later led the Cougars to a No. 9 ranking in the AP Poll and an NCAA tournament game win.

She was named the Conference USA Female Athlete of the Decade and was the No. 8 pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft.

While Blair has much to do before she lives up to Hughey’s ceiling, she has begun to show the Cougars what she is about in person.

“When she carries that focus over to the basketball court,” Hughey said, “she is tremendous.”

Blair is constantly in the Cougars’ facilities working on a way to get better the head coach said.

“She’s opening up the building

LB Grant Stuard finding familiarity at new position

Senior Grant Stuard (3) stalks the edge of the Memphis Tigers’ offensive line in an AAC battle at TDECU Stadium during the 2019 season. | Katrina Martinez/The Cougar

ANDY YANEZ

After moving from nickel safety to linebacker this past offseason, senior Grant Stuard talked about what that transition has been throughout UH’s long training camp and is confident he will find

sports@thedailycougar.com

HUGHEY

FOOTBALL

SPORTS EDITOR @AYANEZ_5

and closing (it),” Hughey said.

While Houston is still following coronavirus guidelines, which has the team doing everything in stations and small groups, and will not be allowed to hold an official practice until Oct. 14 after the NCAA announced the start of the 2020-21 season for Nov. 25, the 5-foot-7-inch guard has made an impression.

Hughey said that Blair has worn out the HomeCourt app, which the Cougars have used so the players can record their own progress during sessions by measuring their shots, tracking their shooting percentages, shot arc, release time and other things.

“With the (new additions) that will now be eligible to play, I’m just excited because I’ve seen what they can do,” senior guard Julia Blackshell-Fair said back in June during the team’s Zoom Coaches Caravan session.

While Blair averaged 24.5 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists her senior year at Waller High School, it will be intriguing to see what mark she makes at UH.

success at that new position.

“It’s nothing new to me (it’s just a new title),” Stuard told reporters about the change in position back in February.

On Monday afternoon, the 6-foot-1-inch Conroe native gave a small update on how he’s adjusted to the new spot as well as what he

expects production-wise from it.

For starters, Stuard said there is not a big change in the duties from what he did in 2019.

“I thought it was going to be less coverage than it is,” Stuard said. “I still have to cover a good amount, but the personnel (he is defending) is different (and it’s) just working a

Continued from page 7

different technique.”

The difference in position comes from who he has to cover. Instead of having to be on the opposing team’s slot receivers like in years past, Stuard’s responsibilities on defense have changed to tight ends and running backs as well being tasked with attacking the line gaps.

Another personal change that Stuard made this offseason was putting on over 20 pounds in muscle weight from a season ago.

While playing at around 205 pounds in 2019, Stuard is now hovering around 225-230 pounds he said.

“That was a big change,” the linebacker said.

After making 97 total tackles, 62 of them solo, and a sack in 2019, Stuard will be looking to create more havoc for opposing offenses this season, which he believes he will be in a position to do.

“I can be more aggressive and more dominant in this type of coverage,” he said.

any possibility of being exposed to COVID-19.

“They’re doing what we ask them to do and that requires discipline,” Hughey said.

Hughey has been intentional about comparing the challenges and discipline the team has had to have this year to future situations they might encounter.

He used the analogy of running as a good way to describe the lows that comes in life and the rewards that come from pushing through.

“When you run you can barely run a mile, but you keep running and keep running and then you can run four miles,” Hughey said. “It’s the same thing in life. You have to meet challenges head on and keep fighting to get through them.”

While Hughey has high hopes for this season, this year is about more than basketball.

“We’re going to look back on and say man I remember this happening and now I’m much better for it,” he said. “That’s what we want to get our girls to try to understand.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | 9 GINA MEDINA, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

OPINION NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

SEX ED

It is time for sex education to have a major glow up BRYANA TORRES-MARTINEZ

STAFF COLUMNIST

Beginning high school five minutes outside of Washington, D.C., was significantly different from the environment I arrived in once I moved to Texas. Being away from the city, I found myself finishing high school in southern Dallas, where my education changed in a variety of ways.

To my surprise, there was a shift in the way our school, the students and the state spoke about sex.

Back home, in Washington, D.C., we were not only taught about a variety of contraceptives, but about our reproductive parts, STDs, virginity, consent and more.

Our sex education was backed by facts and statistics, as well as an emphasis on safety rather than abstinence.

The education I received was not only thorough, but also inclusive for LGBTQ students as well.

Our city also had a teen clinic that supplied free or price reduced

contraceptives and testing.

When it comes to sex education in Texas, there is close to nothing.

According to the Texas Tribune, the state of Texas hasn’t revised its abstinence-based sex education policies since 1997.

Policies that include giving districts the option to exclude sex education altogether, as well as not requiring the information taught to be factual or statistically proven.

An opinion column on the Houston Chronicle reported 70 percent of high school seniors have had sexual intercourse at least once. The same column continues to note that Texas continuously ranks among the highest teen birth rates in the nation.

In addition, the same Texas Tribune article referenced earlier cites federal data showing that “less than half (of sexually active high school students) used condoms and a small percentage used birth control pills.” All due to the failure to expose and educate students on these matters.

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

The state’s abstinence-untilmarriage approach has been nothing but detrimental to every person who has failed to be educated by the Texas public education system. Action needs to

be taken now.

For the first time in over two decades, Texas is finally considering new policies.

A story by the Dallas Morning News states groups appointed

by the State Board of Education began working on drafting new policies that will be voted on

SEX ED

Continues on page 10

WILDFIRES

Indigenous land stewardship may be the way to prevent wildfires ANNA BAKER

STAFF COLUMNIST @ANNA2POINT0

There have been fires raging against the West Coast for the past month. This isn’t new either; California and the West Coast have been struggling with forest fires for centuries.

Many Indigenous groups have knowledge on how to take care of the land as to prevent forest fires.

The solution to stop these fires may be to allow Indigenous land stewardship.

More than 30 people have died as a result of the most recent wildfires. Firefighters have been working day and night while these fires cost billions of dollars in damage. People are becoming homeless as a result of these fires.

The sky has been turning orange in parts of Oregon and California, while the air quality has gone down exponentially in areas.

As someone who lived most of their life in California before college, I remember days where it literally rained ash. These fires seem to get worse every year and they aren’t sustainable.

Thankfully, there are ways to prevent wildfires, but many of those methods were gone when Indigenous people were removed

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

from their land in California in the mid-19th century.

Approximately 16,000 Native Californians were murdered while others were enslaved or put on reservations. Their methods of preventing wildfires were removed with them.

One way that Indigenous people prevented wildfires was with controlled fires to keep extra kindling from building up.

Without these controlled burns, a bunch of dried up vegetation

builds up, perfect fuel for fires.

Because Indigenous people were violently removed from the land they had a relationship with, these managed burns ended. Now the conditions are perfect for one big fire to wipe out a lot of land.

For a long time, it’s been difficult for these cultural burns to take place since Western settlers, who didn’t understand the concept of preventative burning, put restrictions to prevent fires.

Religious practices by Native Americans were also banned, preventing these burnings from happening for a long time as they were also spiritual.

It’s time for Indigenous tribes on the west coast to take over land stewardship again.

It’s actually already started with the Karuk and Yurok tribes partnering with the Forest Service to manage the land.

Studies show that this is working to prevent fires.

Of course, California’s landscape looks a lot different now from how it looked before colonization, so cultural burns wouldn’t be the exact same.

There are also concerns of people who are sensitive to smoke living near where the burnings would take place. That is valid, but it wouldn’t be the biggest price to pay in order to avoid massive wildfires like the ones that happen almost yearly.

However, this is on a smaller scale at the moment. Indigenous people need to be involved with every action taken regarding wildfires on the land that is theirs.

In fact, this situation sheds light on the fact that Indigenous people need to be more involved in decisions regarding land use all over the country.

Climate change exists and it is causing a lot of natural disasters. We need to turn to the people who have historical relationships with this land and have the knowledge to take care of it. Otherwise, America will be a source of a lot of climate refugees.

Anna Baker is an English junior who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

10 | Wednesday, October 7, 2020

OPINION NEWS

GINA MEDINA, EDITOR

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

VOLUNTEERING

The benefits of volunteering go beyond helping your community

i

The Cougar

thedailycougar.com

ABOUT THE COUGAR The Cougar is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer and online at thedailycougar.com. The Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost 25 cents.

COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the consent of the director of Student Publications.

ISSUE STAFF CLOSING EDITORS

Jhair Romero Mason Vasquez Jiselle Santos COPY EDITING

Zai Davis

COVER

Renee Josse de Lisle

i

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

KIMBERLY ARGUETA

STAFF COLUMNIST @KVMVERLY

The world is an extremely complicated place and humans largely contribute to its list of troubles.

One large contribution is the making of man-made societies.

Because of our civilized societies, humans have unfortunately created many social and environmental issues.

This makes it our duty to help maintain our planet and assist those around us who may be suffering.

This brings in the idea of community service.

Volunteering allows us to positively impact the world we live in as well as those who inhabit it, from humans to any type of living organism.

Community service also grants us the opportunity to learn more about ourselves as individuals and as a whole species.

It allows us to grow and to help those around us grow too.

SEX ED

Continued from page 9 next year. However, with the current attitude the state has had towards comprehensive sex education, there is so much progress left to be made.

What does this mean for Houston?

In a city that leads in the state

Community Benefits Volunteering can be a great opportunity for people to give back to their communities, both environmentally and socially.

There is a great need in the world for helping others. This support can come in many forms; people constantly go to parks to pick up trash just as much as some volunteer to play music at hospitals to uplift others.

Community service can truly change the lives of many. Cleaning up the environment is just as beneficial and life changing as volunteering at an elderly home.

Overall, volunteering allows us to live in a cleaner, healthier world in which we can all coexist in a happy and peaceful manner.

Personal Benefits Although volunteering has numerous possible community benefits, there are just as many personal benefits that can come from it.

In addition to the obvious positive impact of helping others in need, whether at a food bank

or at a shelter, volunteering also allows for multiple personal benefits, ranging from better mental health to discovering new passions and even potentially benefiting your career.

Volunteering gives people the opportunity to learn more about themselves and their passions through helping others and learning more about the world around them.

Participating in community service more often than not allows people to see things through different perspectives.

This can allow for positive growth by examining new points of view at their own pace and in their own time.

An improvement in the state of your mental health is not uncommon when participating as a volunteer. This can come from the uplifting and optimistic feelings that arise when helping others and giving back.

Being surrounded with hope and positivity from the volunteering environment can be uplifting and crucial for bettering

your mental health.

Because volunteering allows people to meet, it can be a great opportunity to make connections, business and personal, which can ultimately help people with their lives in the long run.

Through potentially benefiting their careers or simply allowing for new relationships to form, volunteering is a great social interaction.

Not only does volunteering allow you to give back to your community and help others, but it gives you the opportunity to meet new people, form new relationships and gain new passions.

One never knows how much of an impact they can make in someone else’s life, and volunteering ensures that the people around you and your community get the help and support that they need.

Kimberly Argueta is a political science freshman who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm

ABOUT CSM The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar newspaper, CoogTV and COOG Radio.

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. 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.

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA

(713) 743-5350 csm@uh.edu www.uh.edu/csm N221 University Center University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015 ADVERTISING

(713) 743-5340 with a steady increase in STDs, we need comprehensive sex education now more than ever.

According to the Texas Medical Center, “Harris County had the highest number of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis cases of all 254 Texas counties.”

The best course of action for our beloved city is comprehensive sex education.

At UH, we have the ability to take responsibility for our actions.

As well as take the necessary precautions to change the statistics and better our community.

UH students should strive to take advantage of why we’re here.

We’re here to educate and better ourselves and our community.

By practicing safe sex we reduce the risk of unplanned pregnancies and minimize the spread of STDs. We have the power to make our community a safer place.

Bryana Torres-Martinez is a journalism sophomore who can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

advertising@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/advertising

Wednesday, October 7, 2020 | 11

Stream your favorite movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals.

Start your 6-month trial, no cost to you

amazon.com/UofHouston