Issue 12, Volume 88

Students Unite vs. For the Students: What to know before voting

JOHN LOMAX NEWS EDITOR @THELASTLOMAX

This week, the race for the 60th administration of the Student Government Association enters its final leg. Students may cast their ballots through Get Involved before polls close on March 3.

For those who may not have followed the lead-up to the election, this article will explore the candidates’ backgrounds, platforms and statements made during last Thursday’s SGA presidential debate.

Background

This election represents a marked departure from those conducted in the past five years. Aside from parties being able to spend $8,800 more on their campaigns, this is the first time in recent history that features an incumbent candidate.

Representing the For the Students Party, current SGA President Joshua Martin is seeking re-election. Martin, whose administration oversaw the revisions made to the election code that allowed him to run for a second term, said his status as an SGA veteran sets him apart from the other candidate.

“What makes me the better candidate is that I have a year of experience in the position,” Martin said. “Last year, students took me on faith. Now, there’s a record.”

Aside from serving as SGA president, Martin also has a background in Greek life. A member of Kappa Sigma himself,

Martin said his campaign has been endorsed by a large number of Greek life organizations, including Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Sigma Pi.

His opponent, Benjamin Rizk, leads the Students Unite party. A newcomer to SGA, Rizk has previous leadership experience as a student fellow for Beto O’Rourke’s gubernatorial campaign and was formerly the co-president of Students for Beto UH.

Simply put, Rizk said his unfaltering dedication to advancing the needs of the student body and his track record of persistence are what qualify him to serve as the next SGA president.

“For me, it’s all about persistence. It’s all about refusing to let an issue go,” Rizk said. “When I put my mind to something, I obsess over it. I don’t stop until it’s done.”

Perceived corruption, alongside alleged issues regarding equity and transparency within the current administration, were also motivating factors in Rizk’s decision to run. During Thursday’s debate, he decried what he saw as “dark money” and other shady dealings under Martin’s administration.

Platforms

Both parties in the 2023 SGA elections have condensed their goals into three core values.

The Students Unite campaign is prioritizing support for working students, sustainability and increased access to health and wellness services. For the Students,

conversely, is campaigning to improve job placement for UH graduates, reduce textbook costs and address safety concerns on campus.

Last Thursday’s debate shed light on how each candidate intends to accomplish their party’s goals. For Students Unite providing aid to working students starts with increasing the minimum wage for students who work on campus.

“I know that we can raise the minimum wage to $10 because it’s been raised before,” Rizk said. “It was raised from $7.25 to $8 under a previous administration through persistence and awareness.”

On the other side of the aisle, Martin said For the Students has a multi-faceted approach to increasing access to employment opportunities for UH students. Working with local businesses and Mayor Sylvester Turner’s office of education, Martin hopes to create a pipeline that starts in the classroom and ends with a job.

“I see students all the time that don’t know what they want to do after college,” Martin said. “So through the Cougar Job Connection, we’ll be pairing students with local businesses so they can get their foot in the door.”

The first of both parties’ goals, while similar in their intent to support students economically, differ greatly in approach.

Students Unite is focused on students’ financial situations while enrolled, while For the Students hopes to improve their

prospects post-graduation.

Martin’s party aims to relieve the financial burdens of university life in a different way. The second campaign objective for For the Students is centered around raising awareness of the University’s recently-unveiled Cougar Textbook Access Program. CTAP was unveiled in January of 2022 and provides students with a cheaper alternative to buying books.

“We’re going to work with the Office of Auxiliary Services so we can make sure students know about the CTAP program,” Martin said. “CTAP is a program that lets students buy any textbook for $299. That’s completely cheaper than some books, which can cost as much as $400.”

The second goal of Students Unite focuses on supporting students’ mental health needs. Rizk hopes to achieve this goal by increasing funding for Counseling and Psychological Services and other wellness-related programs.

“Increasing pay for CAPS counselors and improving employee retention within CAPS are two big steps we could take towards improving campus quality of life,” Rizk said. “There are students out there who can’t get the care they need, students who are on the brink of a mental breakdown because they can’t get an appointment or a follow-up.”

The final goals of both parties are focused on the UH campus itself. For the Students is prioritizing campus safety, whereas Students,

Unite! wants to address the University’s environmental impact.

Rizk said that shifting emphasis from recycling to reducing the University’s reliance on disposable or single-use plastics is a cornerstone of his party’s goal to improve campus sustainability. This starts with replacing items made of plastic with more environmentally friendly materials.

“Bamboo straws are a good start, as they are compostable and don’t dissolve like paper straws tend to,” Rizk said. “Additionally, reopening the Cougar Garden and installing compost bins on campus are big priorities.”

Finally, a large part of For the Students’ safety agenda is improving lighting on UH’s main campus. Martin said he would work with administrators and UHPD to continue to address students’ safety concerns.

“One thing we plan to do is create our light UH campaign,” Martin said. “Part of that will be establishing a hotline that students can call to report dark or unsafe areas.”

Go vote

All students currently enrolled at UH are eligible to cast their votes before the polls close.

All those who vote are automatically entered into a contest and could win a 50-inch TV, a Polaroid camera, an air fryer and an electric scooter.

Last Thursday, Bemjamin Rizk and Joshua Martin faced off in the 2023 SGA presidential debates. | Anh Le/The Cougar

Presidential candidates discuss campaign finances, voting

MALACHI KEY ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @MALACHISKEY

As the Spring 2023 SGA elections head into voting, campaign finances have emerged as a central issue between both parties. This year, each party has a maximum of $10,000 which they may use for campaign expenditures.

This campaign finance limit, which was raised from the previous amount of $1,200 in a revision made to the election code under Joshua Martin’s administration, has candidates carefully considering how best to use the increased financial scope.

“There are ways to piss away money, and there are ways to spend it efficiently,” said Students Unite Presidential candidate Benjamin Rizk. “So our campaign was intended on spending it effectively on the necessary materials.”

Rizk said that the recent change to spending limits has put him in a position where he feels like he has to work harder than his opponent to spend a similar amount due to his personal lack of connections.

“I’m not calling wealthy donors and billionaires. I’m calling friends and family,” Rizk said. “I’ve been getting two to

ORGANIZATIONS

three hours of sleep a night asking my mom, pop or uncles if I can borrow a quick buck.”

While Rizk said that Martin’s change in the election code puts him at an inherent advantage, Martin disagreed and defended the recent campaign spending limit increase as essential to allowing campaigns to reach more students.

“We’re focused on raising voter turnout and allowing people to be more free with their campaigns,” Martin said. “And I think it’s kind of hypocritical

that Rizk attacks the election code when he spent three times the amount my party did in the first week of the campaign.”

Martin said that his funding came from various sources who were impressed by the results his administration had made so far and claimed that their campaign had spent around $2,200 as of the date of the interview.

“I think a lot of people have been happy with what we’ve been able to do in this past year,” Martin said. “And we’ve been able to garner the support of

lots of people who believe in our vision.”

Both candidates said that the majority of their spending to this date had been used on campaign resources such as flyers, campaign cards and stickers.

Rizk said that he was interested in the possibility of changing the election code to allow students to qualify for funding through the university. While Martin said that he believes the current election code is fair, he noted that he was open to the possibility of more change.

“Within the 59th administration, the Senate voted unanimously to pass this election code,” Martin said. “But next administration, we could have a whole new senate that could be interested in editing it to how they want it.”

Both candidates expressed an interest in pursuing a higher voter turnout and encouraged students to vote in the upcoming election.

“It’s important people vote,” Rizk said. “People need to recognize the importance of this election and recognize that the University is a beacon of where people come to solidify their values.”

news@thedailycougar.com

Girl Gains to make gyms a more inclusive space

ROBERT

DE LA GARZA

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @REALNEWSROBERT

Girl Gains, a new organization on campus, is an all-inclusive space for students to reach their fitness goals while promoting body positivity in a supportive community.

President and founder of Girl Gains and a senior studying health administration, Cecelia Allen, said what makes her club different than other gym organizations is it promotes a positive, judge-free environment for women and gendernonconforming students without charging membership fees.

“It’s our mission to create an inclusive environment for women who want to work out,” Allen said. “Although our name is Girl Gains, our organization does not exclude those who are not genderconforming. Meaning if you’re non-binary, gender fluid, etc. This is still a safe space for you.”

Girl Gains originally began at San Diego State University but

has chapters nationwide.

Allen was inspired to start her own chapter last year after seeing a TikTok post by Girl Gain’s founder and chief officer, Elisabeth Bradley, calling on all universities to join the movement.

The founder said in another TikTok post she originally started Girl Gains because many women who want to start their fitness journey lack the confidence and knowledge and are intimidated to enter a male-dominated space.

“We emphasize come-as-youare,” Allen said. “So, you could be somebody who’s never picked up a barbell in their life or someone who’s been doing this for about eight years as I have, and we want to cultivate a safe space for you, too, regardless of that background.”

At the end of each semester, the two members with the highest points earned can win prizes like gift cards or team merchandise.

“Your points are like a representation of the number of hours and how dedicated you are

to the organization,” said public health major and fall 2022 points winner Kirstin Parks.

Members agree Girl Gains is a safe community that has positively impacted their fitness journey and social life.

Still, all concur that extra funding would only benefit the cause further, said senior hotel restaurant management major Andrea Tijerina.

“Funding limits us in terms of

EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Donna Keeya

MANAGING EDITOR

Jhair Romero

WEB EDITOR

Denise Miller

NEWS EDITORS

John Lomax

Lisa El-Amin

SPORTS EDITOR James Mueller

OPINION EDITOR

Cindy Rivas Alfaro

PHOTO EDITOR Anh Le

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jose GonzalezCampelo

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Armando Yanez

Logan Linder

Malachi Key Starns Leland

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.

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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.

what we can do and where we can go,” Tijerina said. “We want it to be an inclusive space where you don’t need money to join, but funding definitely limits us.”

The organization holds educational seminars with special guest speakers twice each month and schedules at least two fun group activities aside from exercising.

news@thedailycougar.com

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Girl Gains is a space for students to reach their gym goals in a supportive community. | Courtesy of Girl Gains

Kelvin Sampson’s legacy of empowering assistant coaches

JAMES MUELLER SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

When Kelvin Sampson was climbing up the coaching ladder, he noticed a trend across college basketball — Black assistant coaches’ sole responsibility was to recruit.

“I would talk to a lot of the Black assistants (and) they never got to go to practice because they had to recruit every day,” Sampson said. “I said, ‘How are you going to be prepared to be a head coach?’ They said, ‘Well, I don’t know.’”

This didn’t sit well with Sampson. So, when he got to Houston in 2014, Sampson vowed to do his part in changing this trend.

“When I came to the University of Houston, I knew that I was going to hire my guys because I had so many former Houston all-star high school players that were finishing up their careers that wanted to get started (in coaching),” Sampson said.

Bringing his guys

From the moment he arrived at UH, Sampson put his money

where his mouth was.

One of his first hires was his son, Kellen Sampson, not as a sympathy hire but because of the potential he had always seen in his young apprentice.

“He always said, ‘You have upside as a coach. You didn’t have any upside as a player,’” the assistant coach said when talking about why his dad hired him.

Another one of Sampson’s original hires was Hollis Price, one of Sampson’s star guards at Oklahoma from 1999 through 2003.

While Sampson was an assistant with the Houston Rockets, Price had reached out to his former head coach about a position on the team’s summer league staff.

A week later, Price received a call from Sampson regarding a different job.

“He called me back in a week and said ‘Hollis, what do you think about coming and coaching with me at (the University of) Houston,’” Price said. “I was like ‘Coach, I’m there.’ You can’t tell coach no.”

Three years later, Sampson added another one of his former

players at Oklahoma, Quannas White, to his staff.

White grew up with Price as the two played high school basketball together at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans before spending two seasons together at Oklahoma under Sampson.

When White, who had served as an assistant coach at Tulane for two years and had just finished his first year on the Western Kentucky staff, got the offer to join the UH staff in 2017, he immediately packed his bags to reunite with his former coach.

“It was a no-brainer,” White said. “I told coach (Sampson) if I ever had the opportunity, I would come and work for him for free. That’s just the type of love and respect I have for him.”

While Kellen never played with Price or White, as they finished their final season at Oklahoma during his senior year in high school, a brotherly bond had formed between himself and his father’s star players from just hanging around the program.

Getting to work with two of his dad’s players he grew tight with as a high schooler has been a dream come true for Kellen.

“The fact that I get to work with those guys every day, I mean honestly my relationship with them means the world to me,” Kellen said. “It is bigger than just we’re all on the same staff. I think that is part of our secret sauce. It is a true brotherhood amongst the staff.”

The power of delegation

During his time as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich, Sampson learned the importance the assistant coaches have in preparing scouting reports. It wasn’t Popovich who took charge of scouting the Spurs’ opponents, it was his assistants. Whichever assistant was in charge of the scouting report for the Spurs’ upcoming opponent essentially functioned as the head coach for that day.

Sampson wanted to replicate this with his staff at UH.

“Part of my growth is growing my assistant coaches,” Sampson said. “The more you empower people, the more ownership they take.”

Sampson did just that, teaching his assistants what

a high-quality scouting report looked like and showing them how to manage and develop a roster, stressing the importance of ensuring that the next line of players are ready when their numbers are called to prevent having to start over each year after the program inevitably loses some of its best players.

“He trained us to be really good assistant coaches first in what to look for, what to identify and what nuances to pick up on,” Kellen said about the UH head coach. “He was patient. He was hard on us but he also was complimentary of us. He was also loving. He was the master sensei that anybody could hope for.”

Learning the art of scheduling is another aspect of coaching that Sampson has taken the time and effort to teach his assistants.

To Sampson, a good schedule varies each year based on the makeup of that season’s particular team. Sampson wants his assistants to understand the reasoning behind why

COACHES

Continues on page 5

Kelvin Sampson said Hollis Price, Quannas White and Kellen Sampson (pictured left to right) will all make excellent head coaches in the future. | Anh Le/The Cougar

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Inside UH’s vision with season heading towards AAC Tournament

ARMANDO YANEZ ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @ARMANDOYANEZ_16

Coming off a 60-37 victory against Tulsa during the weekend, the Houston women’s basketball team is shaping up to be a serious contender in the American Athletic Conference.

With the women’s AAC Tournament set to start on March 6, the Cougars currently sit as the fourth seed and can potentially move up to third with one game remaining on their regular season schedule.

For this team, there has been one key date to chase after.

“The mindset for us has always been March 9th. That’s the championship game of the conference tournament,” head coach Ronald Hughey said. “That’s always been the goal.”

Poised to make a run in hopes of chasing a conference tournament title, UH had to overcome adversity and several humps to get to pull off the turnaround that saved its season.

The Cougars opened their season with a 2-9 record, facing many struggles on and off the court. Since then, the Cougars have gone 10-6 overall with a 9-5 record in conference play. A crucial part of their season, this turnaround sparked a second chance and new life for the Cougars as March rolls around.

“We just got in the room and aired everything out on the floor,” Hughey said. “We had every person talk and say whatever it was that was bothering them. The greatest thing that happened was that there wasn’t any finger-pointing. It was more in the lines of ‘the best ability is reliability and accountability.’ I think once we did that and came back from Christmas, everybody could get

COACHES

Continued from page 4

he carefully selects each non-conference opponent, considering things like NET rankings as well as the strength of the team’s conference schedule, so that they are equipped to make their own schedules somewhere down the line.

“I think every head coach’s responsibility is if you’re going to go out and hire that guy then invest in him,” Sampson said. “Help him be the best he can be so when they go out they’re going to be able to help their assistants now.”

it out, be with their families, and everybody was fresh and renewed. That’s when I think we started to hit our stride.”

Despite the early-season woes, the Cougars have had several statement moments throughout the season. In AAC play, UH put together two separate threegame winning streaks and recorded five wins by double digit leads including four wins by more than 20 points.

UH are also the only team to hand conference leaders South Florida a conference loss after a 71-69 road victory for the Cougars against the then No. 24-ranked Bulls.

Another key stat worth mentioning: the Cougars’ five conference losses this season

Not only has Sampson provided his assistants with plenty of tools, but he gives them endless opportunities to put those skills into practice.

Like Popovich, Sampson divides up the scouting report responsibilities among his assistants and takes the back seat behind whichever coach took the lead on preparing for UH’s next opponent.

Sampson’s assistants aren’t merely observers. Instead, he gives them the freedom to do what they were hired to do — coach.

“Experience is the best teacher,” White said. “When we scrimmage, Kellen will have

have all come by five points or less, meaning UH has gone down to the wire in very close games.

Even through the tough losses, the Cougars, led by junior guard Laila Blair, remain calm through the most crucial part of their season.

“We’re in a great space,” Blair said. “How I look at it is: as long as you wake up another day, as long as you have another opportunity, we still have everything that we want right in front of us. There’s no need to panic, no need to get frustrated.

I’m excited to say how I feel, it’s exciting just for the opportunity. It’s a blessing and a sign that we’re not done yet. I’m excited and ready to take advantage of the opportunity at hand and

the white team and I’ll have the red team. We get a chance to coach those teams and run plays and call timeouts. That’s made a huge impact on myself and Kellen as well as Hollis.”

Head coaches in waiting Sampson has always told recruits to choose a coaching staff, not a school. Not many have been better than the UH staff since 2017.

With Kellen, Price and White on the staff, UH has won 170 games, four AAC regularseason titles, two conference tournament championships and four NCAA Tournaments, including a Final Four in 2021.

have fun and be great.”

Paired with Blair in the Cougars’ backcourt is senior guard Bria Patterson, who also plays a crucial role in Hughey’s offense. The core of the squad, driven with leadership as a senior on her last ride, Patterson feels that this moment means more now as a veteran on this team.

“It’s making me feel kind of old,” Patterson said jokingly. “But I feel like it means a little more to me now than it might have my freshman year. I’m looking at it differently, more seriously. I think it’s just really important to build confidence, especially going into March. Just take it one game at a time. I feel like if I could play hard

This doesn’t even include the 2022-23 postseason in which the Cougars could win their third straight AAC tournament title and are currently the betting favorites to win the national championship.

In Sampson’s eyes, he doesn’t have three assistant coaches on his staff. He has three head coaches in waiting.

Whether it be in the next year, 10 years down the road or anywhere in between, Sampson is confident that Kellen, Price and White are equipped with the tools to successfully run a college basketball program.

“When the time comes for them, wherever it is, they’re

each game and leave everything on the floor, I can live with the outcome, whatever that may be.”

As UH soon makes its way up to Fort Worth for the AAC Tournament, Hughey and the team all have one key takeaway from this moment in their journey.

“In life you have to resist comfort,” Hughey said. “You don’t get a do-over in life, so you have to resist comfort to do what you do every day to be the best that you can do every day. That’s why we always talk about being feelings-driven versus purpose-driven. That’s why we say everything matters. Every single thing matters.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

going to be ready to go,” Sampson said. “They’re not just recruiters. They understand how to run a program.”

Now in his 34th year as collegiate basketball head coach, Sampson has had a number of his assistants get head coaching jobs over the years.

While losing an assistant comes with bittersweet emotions, seeing his proteges move up the coaching ladder brings Sampson ultimate joy.

“Legacies are built by helping other people, not by helping yourself,” Sampson said.

sports@thedailycougar.com

Junior guard Laila Blair has led the Cougars to a strong second-half of the season before heading into the AAC Tournament. | Raphael Frenandez/The Cougar

More students should vote in SGA elections

CINDY RIVAS ALFARO OPINION EDITOR @CINDYGISELLES

With Student Government Association elections starting this week, it is important that students head out and vote for the SGA president they want for their university.

Last year, only a little over 2,000 students voted in the SGA elections while 43,488 students were enrolled in the Spring 2022 semester. This means only around 5 percent of the student population participated in the elections for president.

This is an alarming number as SGA decides on many things that directly impact students. SGA can suggest bills relating to parking expenses, syllabus changes, student jobs and even student fees.

If students are not voting, these decisions will not accurately represent student wishes and demands which can lead to a conflict of interest.

The purpose of SGA is to represent students but this mission can be easily muddled. Many students are unaware of the candidates on the ballot

LIVING

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

which can create confusion and mistrust. In order to become an administration that abides by its students, there needs to be transparency and a push for student engagement on campus.

A way for students to become informed on elections and their

candidates is to attend the SGA Presidential Debate.

This year’s debate was held last Thursday in the Student Center Theatre and also livestreamed.

The total attendance for this year’s debate was 121 students

according to assistant director Allyson Yolland from the Center for Student Involvement. Again, this number is a stark contrast compared to the student population.

A lot of this information is new to many students which

only emphasizes the divide students have with SGA. The main contributor to this divide is that it’s the students who have to take the extra steps to become informed about the elections rather than SGA doing a better job of implementing it into the student life and culture.

Student government does not sound fun or enjoyable to many students which is an acceptable feeling to have.

But when student fees and budget reallocations are on the line, there should be a concern as to how these issues are dealt with in the long run.

To increase student engagement in regard to voting, there are usually giveaways for students who cast their votes. Last year, it was a Nintendo Switch and this year there’s a chance to win a TV or an air fryer to name a few.

So even if student government issues are not your cup of tea, casting your vote will get your voice heard but might also get you an air fryer.

It’s a win-win situation.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Moving out will teach you new things about yourself

CINDY RIVAS ALFARO OPINION EDITOR @CINDYGISELLES

If your situation allows it, moving out of your parent’s house might be a decision that teaches you more than you’ll ever imagine.

As you enter adulthood, independence is something you might find yourself battling with.

There are many ways to become independent and the answer differs for every person. Independence might mean being able to do whatever you want whenever you want. It might also mean owning your own car or apartment and even holding a job.

Whatever it may be, there is a common consensus that living on your own is the epitome of independence.

As of right now, over half of young adults are living with their parents.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with living with your parents. If anything, it’s a commendable decision once you look at the current economy.

However, if you feel like there is no more room for you to grow under your parent’s watchful

eye, moving out might bring you more breathing room.

Of course, you must take into consideration your mental health, your expenses and your ability to be responsible for every aspect of your life. It sounds scary but it’s true when they say your parents will not be there forever.

By moving out and living on your own, there will be a lot of things you’ll be able to do that you probably weren’t able to under your parent’s roof. Suddenly, you can decide when and where you want to go, what groceries you want to buy, how much of your paycheck will end up in savings and maybe even the possibility of getting a pet.

It teaches you new skills as suddenly the responsibilities your parents used to have over you are now in your hands.

The new feeling of autonomy might be overwhelming but if you set boundaries for yourself and plan accordingly, this new level of freedom might be liberating.

The whole point of moving out and living on your own is to figure out who you are without the interference of others.

If you continue to stay in a

place that hones harmful or old ideologies, it’ll be harder for you to grow out of them. Again, it’s possible to still grow despite living at home but it’s easier to develop your own thoughts and feelings about things when you are in a new and fresh environment.

Self-expression is easier

to do without a watchful eye and everyone can agree that sometimes parents hold you back from living your true self.

They might have their children’s best interests at heart but with each new generation, new cultures and forms of selfexpression might not match those of the older generation.

Moving out is not a decision to be made on a whim and sometimes it’s the only answer for people who live in a suffocating home environment. But if you have the resources and confidence to move out, you should do it.

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

JOHN LOMAX & LISA EL-AMIN, EDITORS

Dear Denise: Graduation woes, employment opportunities

DENISE MILLER

WEB EDITOR

@PAPERBAMBI

In The Cougar’s bi-weekly anonymous advice column, I discuss staying in school and managing employment priorities. To submit your questions for future issues, click the Dear Denise button on our home page.

Dear Denise, graduation is coming up so fast, and I’m not yet ready to be an adult with a boring job yet. Should I double major so I can stay in school longer?

Honestly, that’s what I did, and I do not regret it at all. Thanks to all my credit hours from taking dual credit in high school, I could have graduated a semester early, but it felt too sudden. I didn’t feel like I had a real college experience because of COVID-19, and I didn’t feel like I had any job prospects.

I added my second minor, management and leadership, and even though it’s not that interesting, it allowed me to stay here. I feel so at peace with my decision to extend my time because now I know that I was not ready at all in the past. If you have the funds, you should do it! It’s totally worth it.

I’ve been at a job for almost two years, and I’m starting to hate it. I want

to go somewhere else, but I’d feel bad about leaving because one of my bosses is about to go on maternity leave, so it will leave a void. What should I do?

Leave that job immediately. I think it’s difficult once we become emotionally invested in our jobs, but we are so replaceable, and we have to leave when we want to, or we will stay forever.

I like my current job. I can

show up late whenever, and they really don’t care what I do because it’s just a cool job. But the money’s not there. I have a better job opportunity with better pay but a more strict work situation. This job has almost double my current income, but I’d have to stick with it for a few months to get there. What do I do?

This is tricky. It may seem like the obvious choice to follow the

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COVER

Photos by Anh Le

Art by Jose Gonzalez-Campelo

money, but if the work situation doesn’t suit you, I would hate for you to choose the new position and then dislike the strictness and get laid off with no backup.

If your current job is part time, maybe work a few hours a week just to keep yourself on the schedule in case of an emergency.

You should try out the new position, though.

You may be surprised at your capabilities.

arts@thedailycougar.com

iCenter 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.

Stick to what you know and do well this year, and you won’t be disappointed. Rid yourself of whatever lacks meaning or purpose to make free time for things that matter. Anger is a waste of time and energy. Focus on effecting positive change, simplifying your life and achieving the peace and comfort you deserve.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Don’t make a fuss. Stick close to home and do things that soothe your soul and give you food for thought. A positive change will set you on a path that motivates you to seek peace of mind.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

-- Containing your thoughts and feelings will be difficult. Actions speak louder than words but can also lead to conflicts with those who disagree with you. Put your emotions aside.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

-- It’s time to reevaluate your relationships. Align yourself with people who share your likes and dislikes, and work to promote positive change in your community.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

-- Intelligence and dedication will lead to victory if you don’t let an outsider meddle with your plans. A trendy new look will lift your spirits and attract input from someone who can help you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

-- Keep tabs on your emotional reactions. It will be easy to misinterpret someone’s words or gestures. Look for answers and discuss possibilities. A reunion will clear up uncertainty.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Go directly to an expert before you make a decision that can affect your health, finances or

emotional well-being. Step up and do what you do best, and you’ll gain support. Romance is encouraged.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

-- Jumping back and forth between what you want and what you are responsible for will not work. Pick a lane and stay in it. Don’t shy away from change when you should embrace it.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -Show enthusiasm, participate and make a difference. Join forces with someone you love and respect, and together you will find a path that brings you joy and satisfaction. Romance is favored.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

-- Examine every aspect of your next move. Satisfaction won’t be easy to achieve if you are sloppy or emotional. You may not relish change, but you should

look at it with an open mind.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Misinformation will have lasting repercussions. Don’t trust anyone to give you sound advice. Honesty and integrity will save you from embarrassment and loss. Concentrate on what matters to you.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

-- Jump at a chance to change direction. Add to your skills and qualifications, but don’t waste time doing something for the wrong reason. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Impulsive spending will rob you of peace of mind. By paying attention to your living expenses, you’ll find a way to cut costs. Avoid indulgent or excessive people.

Part of the Student Life portfolio in the Division of Student Affairs, the CSM is concerned with the development of students, focusing on critical thinking, leadership, ethics, collaboration, intercultural competence, goal-setting and ultimately, degree attainment. While our students are engaged in producing and promoting media channels and content, our goal is to ensure they are learning to become better thinkers and leaders in the process.

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA (713) 743-5350

csm@uh.edu www.uh.edu/csm N221 University Center University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015

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