Students promote safe sex, reproductive heath care products
ANNA MONROE SENIOR STAFF WRITER
@CURLY._.TOP11
The lack of conversation about safe sex has halted the awareness of using contraceptives. 56% of unintended pregnancies in the United States result from not using contraceptives, according to statistics.
Safe sex goes beyond the social stigma of a form of entertainment or abstinence. The mental and physical health of each person is the starting point in each practice.
The available services at UH are not only ready to provide these contraceptives, but even to educate and supply health support.
Services available at UH
Over the past year, almost half of the visits received to the Women and Gender Resource Center were for condoms, menstrual and other safe sex products.
Last academic year, students visited the WGRC over 2,600 times to obtain resources, said director of WGRC Laura ZavalaMembreno.
In 2024 so far, the Student Health Center and Campus Pharmacy provided 50 different types of contraceptives in pills, injections or even vaginal ring form. They also conducted more
than 15,000 sexually transmitted infections tests in 2023, according to SHC.
“If you are here in Texas and don’t know what to do, you’re like ‘Okay, I have an issue or unwanted pregnancy,’ and legally, we cannot advise on anything,” said assistant director of nursing at SHC Stephany Arnett. “Our hands are tied right now, so we’re trying to reach students before anything like that happens.”
SHC is partnering with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to provide free testing and treatment for students without insurance. There will be free STI testing on the first week of Dec. 2024 for World AIDS Day.
New resources the SHC will provide include long acting reversible contraceptives, intrauterine devices and other implants. This is project is currently work in progress and is estimated to release early next year.
Vending machines will also be available on campus stocked with general hygiene supplies, over the counter medications, STI testing kits, emergency contraception and possibly even menstrual cups. These will potentially be available on campus by Jan. 2025.
“I was a single mom commuting back and forth from Sugar Land to Galveston and didn’t have a job because it was
a nursing school,” Arnett said. “I would like more free services because I know the costs of such services are really high and a burden on students. I was there and we’ve all been there.”
Free condoms are available at the SHC during regular business hours or from the Condoms for Coogs Dispenser in the lobby anytime during the Health 2 Building hours.
UH Wellness Center also provides services for safe sex by providing education to help students make informed choices about sexual health, relationships, consent and abstinence.
Free internal, external condoms and copies of “Coog’s Guide to Safer Sex” can be found there.
There is an aspect to this exercise that goes beyond physical, emotional and mental effects that are key to creating a safe environment.
“Encouraging open, empowering conversations around relationships and safe sex supports greater control over personal choices,” said interim director of UH Wellness Suzy Harrington. “We emphasize the mental health benefits of partner discussions and informed choices.”
If feelings of discomfort or anxiety arise, students have every right to back out.
Pushbacks
With living in Texas and the outcome of this past election, students have felt some pushback when it comes to normalizing the conversation of safe sex.
Currently, Texas has imposed severe restrictions on reproductive choices, including banning nearly all access to abortions, limiting access to birth control for minors and not requiring mandatory sex education in schools.
“Especially after the election result, I think it might be a little hard to fully advocate for anything related to sex, reproduction and reproduction rights,” said biology sophomore Ana Martin Russi. “It might get harder in the coming years, but I’m hoping that everyone still stands for what they believe in.”
Some unknown factors may include if an individual is above 150 lbs and may have to take two plan B’s, and if they’re over 190 lbs, Plan B may not work at all.
A myth students found is how people who are pregnant or get STDs are not necessarily always promiscuous. Some are in longterm relationships, victims of assault or experiencing other special circumstances.
“The largest misconception we encounter is the ‘it doesn’t affect me,’ mentality,” said biology junior and founder of
Cougars for Choice Aihanuwa Ale-Opinion. “Students of all genders, sexualities, ages and relationship statuses have a stake in protecting the reproductive health of themselves and others.”
Continuing the conversation Students at UH have already made an impact by making their voices heard. Cougars for Choice, a coalition of student organizations advocating for increased reproductive resources on campus, have started a petition with over 1200 signatures.
The core demands of this petition includes UH to provide generic plan B to students at a more affordable price, free condoms in University bathrooms and wanting a sliding scale insurance plan at the University health center.
Deeds Not Words at UH, Students for Disability Equity, Houston Organization for Political Education and UH Young Democratic Socialist of America have also collaborated towards this cause and students can find the petition on their respective Instagram handles.
Students have voiced their concerns like how free condoms were only available during business hours in certain offices, the embarrassing feeling while getting free products in public and plan B, other birth control options and reproductive healthcare being too expensive.
Reproductive health on campus, in the state and country should be administered. By continuing conversation about safe sex, people of all backgrounds can take the steps to protect themselves.
“We wrote the petition after organizing roundtable discussions with students about their reproductive health needs and listened to their concerns,” Ale-Opinion said.
These resources are here for the betterment of the students. Dismissing a person’s health or overall well being can lead to greater consequences. Students can contact the Student Health Center at (713) 743-5151 or visit their location at Health 2 4849 Rd. Students can also contact the WGRC at (832) 842-9472 or visit them at 4465 University Dr Rm B12 and the UH Wellness center can be at (713) 743-5430 or 4500 University Dr. news@thedailycougar.com
Lily Huynh/The Cougar
CAMPUS
Interactive play examines US immigration policies
CHRISTOPHER GEE SENIOR
@CHRISTOPH.3R
As the School of Theatre and Dance at the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts moved forward with its 2024-25 season, the department presented a unique theatrical experience called Safe at Home.
The play opened on Nov. 7 at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park and continued till Nov. 10.
The production consisted of guest director Jack Reuler, co-writers Gabriel Greene and Alex Levy and actors that included a mix of UH students and professional actors from the Houston area.
The play
The play is set in the seventh game of the fictional 2024 World Series, where the San Diego Padres played the Texas Rangers.
The central conflict revolves around whether or not the Padres’ pitcher, Victor Castillo, will stage a protest at the pitcher’s mound.
The play addressed current political topics including ethnic discrimination, deportation and exploitation in athletics and the US immigration policy.
“When the writers wrote the play in 2023, the Rangers and the Padres were chosen because both were connected to immigration and were border states,” Reuler said. “Up until last year, neither had won the World Series.”
The play runs an approximate 90 minutes, cycles through nine seven-minute scenes. The audience members are directed by tour guides dressed head to toe in San Diego Padres’ gear.
Each scene plays cues at their end, and the audience is directed by the guides and upbeat pop instrumentals to their next location.
“90 minutes out from the start of the game, the audience learns that star pitcher Victor Castillo may or may not be planning a protest at the start of the game,”
Greene said. “As the audience goes through each scene, they learn more about Castillo until it culminates with meeting Victor himself right before game time.”
Safe at Home is a voyeuristic journey into the intimate conversations of executives, players, political candidates and others.
It doesn’t occupy a traditional theater space, instead takes place in a baseball stadium with a unique twist on traditional stage play.
“Site-specific immersive theater has long been a passion of mine, as it allows the audience to be both voyeur and participant,”
Reuler said. “In Safe at Home, the set and actors stay put while the audience moves, cycling through nine scenes in nine locations to see a whodunit thriller unfold.”
The message
Guest Director Jack Reuler aims to advance social change in the plays he directs.
“I like to work with material that doesn’t just reveal changes that have to be made, but gives a call to action at the end,” Reuler said. “At the end of the play the viewer’s not just thinking, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that,’ they’re thinking to themselves, ‘Now I know this and here’s what I’m going to do.”
The play also addresses the politics of sports, especially Major League Baseball. Both Greene and Levy are baseball fanatics, although neither are Padres or Rangers fans.
Safe at Home invites audiences to change the way they think about professional athletes and understand the politics better.
“Baseball is this iconic American sport that has always resisted the idea of outside politics, it held itself above them,” Greene said. “However, when you dig deeper you learn that it’s a fabrication.”
Audiences’ reaction
While the play was first brainstormed in the early 2010s, attendees found the issues to be relatable even today.
The audience also found it relevant as the US grapples with the recent re-election of former President Donald Trump.
“This play reflects how people are feeling today and the real issues, and I loved that the playwrights are addressing real issues happening now,” said UH alumni Deborah Nowinski. “I just
wish society didn’t require plays like this.”
How the play came to UH
Reuler was contacted by interim director of School of Theatre and Dance Jim Johnson, to produce the play at UH after a previous production in Frisco, Texas. This marks Reuler’s second time directing a play at UH.
“I commend the department for taking this on, and I hope experiences like this one ripples out to the entire field, not only theater training,” Reuler said. “It’s been heartwarming and breathtaking, and I hope my relationship with the University, now two years in length, goes on for some time.”
Reuler is the founder and current Artistic Director Emeritus at Mixed Blood Theatre Company and previously directed “The Skin of Our Teeth” by Thornton Wilder in November of 2023 at UH.
The School of Theatre and Dance will conclude their fall season with the annual Emerging Choreographers Showcase on Nov. 22, 2024.
news@thedailycougar.com
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Safe at Home actor Andrew Chavez performs the final scene of the play in the visitors stairwell as the audience watches from the sidelines at Darryl and Lori Schroeder Park, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
Actors Greg Dean and Jason E. Charmichael performing a scene as the audience watches from the bench on Nov. 8, 2024. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
How UH Is Working to Reduce Motor Vehicle Thefts on Campus
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More than half of University of Houston students, staff, and faculty park their vehicles daily in one of UH’s six parking garages, surface parking lots or 16 gated lots. Like much of car-centric Houston, the UH community relies on their vehicles to arrive for class and work on time, but if their car is stolen or damaged by a thief, it becomes a costly and inconvenient matter.
UHPD also used social media to connect with the community. For example, they recommended locations where people can get their car’s VIN etched on their catalytic converter.
Lot Spotter Program
Aiding UHPD in the prevention of motor vehicles is Parking & Transportation Services. The department implemented a Lot Spotter Program that allows anyone on campus to send in reports of issues at a specific parking lot or garage.
Nationwide, a single-passenger vehicle is stolen every 32 seconds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here in Texas, 55,365 motor vehicle thefts occurred in just the first six months of 2023, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau.
For universities, motor vehicle theft includes more than the usual cars and trucks. They are also required to include reports of motor scooters, golf carts and motorized wheelchair thefts due to guidelines in the Clery Act, which reports college and university crime data. With so many in our UH community using scooters and golf carts to get around campus, keeping these items safe is a UH priority.
During the past few years, UH has taken strategic measures to prevent vehicle theft on campus, and the results have proved successful in decreasing four-wheel vehicle thefts and golf car thefts.
“There’s been a decrease in four-wheel vehicle thefts in the past year, but in prior years, it had been among the top 10 crimes committed on campus,” said University of Houston Police Department Crime Prevention Officer Felipe Gutierrez.
How does UH tackle motor vehicle thefts on campus?
Increase in Patrol and Social Media Presence
One important way UH proactively addresses crime and on-campus vehicle thefts is to increase patrols at campus parking garages and lots. Gutierrez explained that the department also conducted more in-person outreach via Coffee With a Cop and tabling at UH events to educate the campus community on motor vehicle theft prevention.
One of the pieces of information UHPD shares with the campus community is the importance of registering scooters. Campus community members can registers their scooters in their myParking account via AccessUH.
Using the QR code on the signs posted around the lots, it is simple to submit issues such as broken lights, the cleanliness of a parking lot or other routine items. The Lot Spotter program is only for routine items and should not be used for emergencies. Instead, it is best to call or text UHPD at (713)743-3333 or call 911.
Additionally, UHPD recommends the campus community heed the following safety tips when using the university’s parking zones and garages.
Campus Lightning and Security Project
A long-term project the University developed to increase overall safety on campus is the ongoing campus lighting and security project. UH is investing more than $18 million in the following safety measures:
• LED light fixture conversion
• Improved lumens per square foot
• Additional security cameras
• Additional emergency call boxes
• Parking gates installed at zone entrances and exits
• Security signage
Preventing motor vehicle thefts is a university-wide effort led by UHPD but needs to be a priority for the entire UH community. With these new measures in place, along with ongoing enhancements and improvements, it will go a long way in protecting vehicles on campus.
sports
Final serve: Cooke, Georgiades leave legacy
CAMRYN ALBERIGO
SPORTS EDITOR
@CAMRYN.ALBERIGO
In just a few days, graduate setter Annie Cooke and libero Kate Georgiades will don their UH volleyball uniforms one final time. The moment will mark the end of an era filled with collective and individual greatness.
“Every ounce of me has been poured out here,” Georgiades said. “It is like taking a wet rag and just squeezing it out. Everything I have ever loved has been poured into UH and this program.”
Both women were critical to Houston’s 2022 Sweet 16 run, the program’s first in 28 years, and they ushered the team through its transition to the Big 12 beginning the following season.
Cooke currently is on pace to surpass Sami Sawyer for second on Houston’s alltime service aces list, and she is ranked third in assists.
During her freshman year, the Woodlands, Texas native earned The 2020 American Setter of the Year award.
Meanwhile, Georgiades is just shy of 2,500 career digs, a fate only 26 Division I athletes have achieved. She has posted double-digit digs in every match this season and earned conference libero of the year honors every season with the Cougars. Their dominant presence on the court began taking shape in 2017, when they started playing club together at TAV Houston Volleyball Club.
By that point, Cooke had played volleyball since she joined the YMCA, at the age of 10. However, it was not until 16
that she began setting.
Georgiades, on the other, hand found her love for volleyball in middle school after spending time playing soccer.
Upon joining TAV, the girls traveled across the country together to compete and crafted a lifelong friendship.
In 2018, Georgiades committed to play at TCU, and in 2019 Cooke became coach Rehr’s first recruit at Houston.
In 2020, the girls graduated high school and prepared to spend the next part of their careers separated.
The distance did not stop them from talking daily during the freshman seasons. Cooke always checked up on Georgiades.
She learned her friend was struggling in Fort Worth, Texas.
“We understand each other at our core, so I never have to explain how I feel about anything,” Georgiades said.
Cooke continued to uplift her, and they often joked about reuniting in Houston.
Then, the Horned Frog threw her name into the transfer portal, but she tried to keep her options open, not wanting her relationship with Cooke to influence her decision.
Ultimately, Georgiades fell in love with the Houston program, allowing her to reunite with her best friend for four more years.
“I think if you had told the 15-yearold versions of ourselves we would have probably cried,” she said.
Their journey reached its pinnacle in 2022, when the Cougars made their first NCAA tournament appearance since 2000. They defeated South Dakota in a fiveset thriller in the first round. Before the celebration, the women prioritized a more important matter. They led a prayer circle with the Coyotes for a player who had suffered a serious injury during the match.
“It was impactful to come together in the volleyball community to pray over someone and showcase it’s greater than sports,” Cooke said.
As they have continued to grow as leaders, they strike a balance between relentless hard work and genuine care for others, and their teammates have taken notice.
“Annie brings a big light to our team. She is always making someone laugh or saying
something that is encouraging, (and Kate) is always going to push me to be my best,” freshman outside hitter Lily Baron said. With time running out, this duo hopes they have done enough in their five-year college volleyball careers to inspire those who come after them.
“I just pray and hope that throughout the volleyball career I have had here, people want to emulate the hustle, the work ethic and grit that I play with,” Georgiades said.
However, they would not be the leaders they are today if it wasn’t for those who came before them and set the standard of excellence.
“During my freshman year, I had a lot of upperclassmen who led me and showed me what discipline and effort looked like,” Cooke said. “Now, as an upperclassman, I have instilled that wisdom and showed the underclassmen what it looks like to love other people well and bring people together.”
As it comes to an end, they will spend their final days doing what they do best, caring for others and leaving it all on the floor.
This experience has shaped them into mature and dedicated individuals, but in turn, they have also left a permanent mark on UH volleyball set to impact those who come after them.
“They’re like my daughters,” Rehr said. “There are things we do to take care of each other. It’s kind of comforting. The legacy is coming to an end soon, and it’s time to start building the next one.” sports@thedailycougar.com
Cooke and Georgiades pictured at their last club tournament after being committing to play Division I volleyball. “Kate with the Cougar paw is a bit of a foreshadowing,” Cooke said. | Courtesy of Annie Cooke
Houston setter Annie Cooke (18) and libero Kate Georgiades (17) participate in the pledge of allegiance before an NCAA college volleyball match, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Milos Uzan steps up as Houston’s new floor general
ASHTON GRISSOM ASSITANT SPORTS EDITOR
@ASHTONAGRISSOM8
Junior point guard Milos Uzan came to UH to fill the empty guard spot, created when former Houston guard Jamal Shead was drafted by the Toronto Raptors this summer.
“Milos is probably the biggest beneficiary because he walks into a for-certain role,” coach Kelvin Sampson said.
With the role comes what seems to be a lot of pressure, taking a spot held by one of Houston’s best players in program history, is not for the weak.
But Sampson doesn’t need Uzan to be the next Shead; he needs him to be himself.
“Every year we lose really good players,” Sampson said. “I haven’t thought about replacing Jamal. We do not replace players, we just try to make our team better.”
Journey to Houston
Uzan decided to transfer from Oklahoma to Houston in April 2024.
He hails from Las Vegas, Nev., and is the son of Mike and Frances Harris Uzan. He has two brothers, Capri and Julian, and one sister, Haley.
Uzan’s oldest brother Julian played for USC and his other brother, Capri, recently transferred from Vanguard University to the University of Providence.
“I learned a lot from watching my siblings play when I was young,” Uzan said. “Capri always tells me to keep elevating my game and I respect him for that.”
Growing up, Uzan played basketball, football and soccer. He realized quickly that basketball was his favorite sport, and he also wanted to play for his dad.
He played AAU basketball with Dream Vision and Vegas Elite and also played for Desert Pines High School, where his dad was the head coach.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Uzan transferred to California Prolific Prep. For his senior year, Uzan played at Dream City Christian.
Uzan averaged 13 points, six assists and five rebounds per game in his high school career. He also took care of business in the classroom as he made the honor roll all four years.
Success at Oklahoma
Out of 10 Division I offers, Uzan accepted his final offer from Oklahoma and signed with the team on Oct. 21, 2021.
He appeared in 32 games as a freshman and started 24 of them. In his freshman season, he averaged 7.6 points, three assists, 2.7 rebounds and shot 41% from behind the arc.
His performance in his first year at Oklahoma earned him a spot on the 2023 Big 12 All-Freshman Team.
In his sophomore season, he was the only Sooner to start all 32 games. He averaged 9.0 points, 4.4 assists and 3.4 rebounds. He scored 10 or more points in 14 games last year. The biggest improvement seen was his defense where he averaged over one steal a game.
Houston faced off against Uzan and the Sooners on March 2, 2024, and Sampson got a glimpse of Uzan’s talent in Norman as the Cougars escaped with a close 87-85 victory.
“You are either a point guard or you are not, and that’s why we have only had three of them here in 10 years,” Sampson said.
“Milos is a true point guard.”
Fast start at UH
Uzan brings a unique set of skills to UH. The director of basketball scouting for 247 Sports, Jerry Meyer, rated Milos as a four-star transfer coming out of Oklahoma and complimented him because of his measurables.
“He’s a smooth, athletic player with a burst that helps him create separation and generate steals,” Meyer said. “Also is a strong shooter from deep, he finishes at the rim with either hand and excels in the midrange. He’s a creative passer, handles the ball well and is a crafty defender who excels at disrupting passing lanes.”
Houston sought Uzan not just for his athletic ability, but also for how he carried himself as a person.
“I know the kids we recruit are a culture fit for our program,” Sampson said. “One reason kids choose to come here is because we do a good job creating value with them.”
The culture Sampson has created at Houston has made it an attractive destination for athletes from around the country.
Now, with the implementation of NIL and the transfer portal, it has become much easier for athletes to find their desired program without any penalties.
“If you are not utilizing the transfer portal today, then you are getting behind,” Sampson said. “The portal has been great for us.”
So far, Uzan has improved in every facet of his game to begin the 2024-25 season. He is averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists and shooting 52% from the field and 50% from behind the arc. His other
stats have seen an uptick as well, as he is averaging 2.0 steals, 0.3 blocks. He has decreased his turnovers to just 1.7 a game.
Uzan credits the entirety of the coaching staff and associate head coach Quannas White for the improvement in his game this season.
“Coach Q holds me to a higher standard every day, and that’s what Houston is as a program,” he said.
He also praises his teammates, graduate guard L.J. Cyrer and redshirt junior guard Emanuel Sharp, for teaching him the UH culture.
“L.J. is the leader of the guards and he has helped me the most,” Uzan said. “Emanuel has been great at encouraging me as well.”
Eyes on the NBA
As Uzan continues to improve his skills on the court and run the offense for the Cougars, he has his sights set on his next step after college.
“Coach has the blueprint and my end goal is to play in the NBA,” Uzan said. “It is good to see what guys like Jamal have accomplished in their career and I want to follow in their footsteps.”
Houston’s reputation for developing young talented players and transforming them into professional athletes was a huge reason why Uzan came to play for the Cougars.
Since 2017, UH has produced five NBA draft picks: guard Damyean Dotson, guard Quentin Grimes, guard Marcus Sasser, forward Jarace Walker and most recently, guard Jamal Shead.
Continuing the legacy
As Uzan continues to develop as Houston’s point guard, his journey reflects not just his individual talent, but the program’s ability to develop players.
With the guidance of Sampson and his staff, Uzan is poised to take on the challenge of being Houston’s next point guard.
“All the greats that play here are unique in their own way,” White said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Milos is going to have an outstanding career here.”
As Uzan’s game grows, so does his potential. Whether it’s the leadership of his teammates like Cryer and Sharp, or the demanding but supportive coaching staff, Uzan’s development illustrates the program’s commitment to making players better both on and off the court.
With his eyes set on excelling in college, and eventually playing in the NBA, Uzan is on track to follow in the footsteps of previous Cougar greats. With Houston’s track record of developing future pros, his path looks brighter than ever.
“I chose Houston because it’s the place where I could become the best version of myself,” Uzan said. “The time they put in here and the pieces they have elevate my game so it’s a good fit.”
As he takes on this new chapter at UH, Uzan will be a key figure in continuing the legacy of excellence at Houston.
sports@thedailycougar.com
Milos Uzan surveys the floor as he attempts to drive past a Louisiana defender during the first half of an NCAA men’s college basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024, in Houston, Texas. | Oscar Herrera/The Cougar
POLITICS
The internet has made news far too stressful
MELISSA UNLU STAFF WRITER
@MELISSA_UNLU03
Before social media apps such as Instagram or X, the way people consumed election news fostered a sense of community, balanced discourse and thoughtful engagement in stark contrast to today’s fast-paced and often polarizing media landscape.
People still had to find a way to get election news, and this process was cultivated to their specific communities. They could form their own opinions based on their culture and customs within small communities rather than through sensationalized, often biased news.
This practice was also much less stressful with news on paper. There was a distinct lack of polarization we’ve become so used to.
“It’s making it easier to avoid politics for those disinterested… Its proliferation of one-sided information is polarizing politics, and it has pressured traditional news media to produce faster, more scandal-driven, less researched news,” said Harvard assistant professor Sunshine Hillygus.
Grabbing newspapers from local libraries, and subscribing to Sunday-only paper editions or newsletters will lead to more up-to-date information about the country and the world because traditional papers are not algorithmic.
The newspaper cannot customize what’s on the front page; it simply shows articles with more digested takes.
In the past, newspapers were the primary means of disseminating news, playing a crucial role in shaping public opinion during a time of rising literacy among the general population. This increased reading comprehension fostered greater political awareness with newspapers serving as a focused source of information.
While misinformation and sensationalism
certainly existed, the absence of modern technology meant the spread of such ideas was far less ubiquitous or amplified than in today’s online environment where even unfounded ideas can rapidly gain traction across global platforms.
Before the internet era, community meetings, town halls and local debates were foundational to political life. These gatherings allowed individuals to express concerns, hear differing perspectives and engage directly with political candidates.
In May of 1860, forty thousand visitors descended upon Chicago, drawn by the festive excitement surrounding the Republican National Convention.
Dozens of trains carried the delegates and supporters of America’s youngest political party to America’s fastest-growing city. All along the routes, crowds gathered at every station, sounding their enthusiasm for the Republican cause with brass bands and volleys of common fire.
This and similar examples illustrate how news traveled across the United States—not on bright, algorithmic screens that cause turbulent emotions, but with excitement and human connection. These methods bonded people together rather than driving them apart over the nuances of politics and controversies.
From the deliberate pace of newspapers to the communal nature of town halls, historical methods of political engagement highlight the importance of fostering thoughtful, balanced and communityoriented discourse.
Reflecting on these practices offers a reminder of the value of slowing down, engaging with diverse perspectives and staying grounded in our communities. In doing so, we can better navigate today’s fastpaced media landscape and reclaim a sense of balance in our political and personal lives. opinion@thedailycougar.com
Trust your instincts and weed out what’s fact from fiction. Channel your energy into something meaningful and avoid arguments that solve nothing and leave you feeling empty. Make choices that satisfy your soul, revitalize your dreams and help you reach your goals.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)
-- Take the plunge and sign up for an adventure, lecture or networking function that will encourage connections. Protect your assets. Treat flaws, address red flags and avoid losses.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Take time to figure out what and who you want in your life. Do the legwork and avoid being misled. Apply energy to investing, budgeting and saving for something you want.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
-- Get involved in a cause and be the one to make a difference. Your discipline will pay off financially and build up your confidence to ask for what you want.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)
-- Expand your surroundings to fulfill your needs. Lighten the load by selling off what you don’t use or donating to those in need. Someone who can make your life better will recognize your kindness and compassion.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- A steady pace forward will help you make the changes necessary to stabilize your life. Refrain from letting anyone talk you into implementing something you don’t want or cannot afford.
ARIES (March 21-April 19)
-- Take a run at something that requires creativity and raw energy to achieve, and it will take you on
an adventure. The result will be magical and spur you to incorporate dynamic pastimes into your routine.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Sit back and observe. Choose to let your inner voice dictate what you do next. Verify the costs involved before agreeing to something that’s not within your budget.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Question motives, take direct action and account for what you will and won’t contribute. The outcome of trip, presentation or learning experience will depend on how you respond.
CANCER (June 21-July 22)
-- A partnership or new position looks promising. Go the distance to ensure you get what you want and formulate a good relationship simultaneously. Someone will offer questionable information.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Show vitality and passion in whatever you do, and others will take notice. Network, socialize and use the information you receive to make a positive change. Put your energy into getting ahead instead of argument.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Take a pass if someone asks you to sign up for something questionable. A domestic problem will unfold if you or someone close to you withholds facts. Rely on your intuition and ability to stick to the plan.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- High energy and sound advice will lead to something tangible. Look for an opportunity that links you to an associate you’ve lost touch with. Traveling and gathering knowledge will help you make better choices.
Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar
