Issue 9, Volume 90 by The Cougar

CAMPUS

UH blocks TikTok on campus network, students raise questions

JOSHUA VASQUEZ NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR @J0SH_VASQUEZ

UH has officially blocked TikTok and other prohibited technologies on its campus networks as of Jan. 3, 2025, citing security concerns outlined in a directive from Gov. Greg Abbott.

In an email sent to students on Dec. 16, 2024, UH explained that the decision stems from Abbott’s 2022 directive requiring all state agencies to ban specific technologies and applications due to national security threats.

“As a result of this order and further clarification in Texas Government Code 620, the UH System created a System Administrative Memorandums 07.A.12 – Prohibited Technologies and Covered Applications to address these directives,” said assistant vice president and vice chancellor of information technology Sven Hahues.

The policy requires students and staff to remove any prohibited technologies from University-issued devices immediately, with detailed guidance provided in an online FAQ.

“Preserving the safety and security of Texas is critically important as the threat of the Chinese Communist Party’s infiltration into the United States continues to grow,” Gov. Abbott said while emphasizing the importance of this ban.

The delay in enforcing the directive issued

over two years ago has raised questions among students, and curiosity about the timing of the implementation.

“I wasn’t shocked because there’s been talks about banning TikTok in the U.S. since 2020,” said business administration sophomore Gabrielle Faith Tamayo.

However, unlike Tamayo, some students expressed frustration, questioning the ban’s impact and emphasizing their disagreement with the decision.

“TikTok is already going to be banned on a federal level for reasons I don’t agree with, so what is the point of UH doing it?” said political science junior Maisa Rguig.

While Tamayo acknowledged the University’s compliance with state mandates, she expressed ambivalence and refused to be an advocate for the decision.

However, Rguig criticized the policy for limiting personal freedom and restricting the right to choose.

“Everyone on campus is an adult and should have the right to choose what content they want or don’t want to consume or produce,” Rguig said.

Many students also have concerns about the broader implications of such bans considering that TikTok offers an unfiltered range of information that is not seen on other platforms.

“To ban TikTok in any form is to ban all

learning content of any kind,” said fine arts painting senior Jeremy Lopez.

The logic behind targeting Chineseowned technologies is also questionable as everything the ban prevents China from doing is already being done by American companies to earn profits, Lopez said.

UH’s ban extends to gaming platforms like League of Legends and Valorant as well, further frustrating students who argue these games foster community and connection.

Despite the students’ mixed reactions, the University maintains the policy aligns with state and federal efforts. This policy does not affect students and staff using personal devices and data networks.

If the U.S. Supreme Court does not stop the ban on the platform, it will shut down, said the attorneys for TikTok according to an article by The Wrap.

On Jan. 10, the Supreme Court held a hearing on the case where justices seemed likely to uphold the ban on the application in the country, according to the Associated Press.

A full list of the banned technologies can be found on the Texas Department of Information Resources’ website.

news@thedailycougar.com

Melt Lab melts away as Houston Street Subs takes over

GAURAANGI GUPTA

NEWS EDITOR

@GAURAANGIGUPTA

Houston Street Subs is a new food concept that has replaced Melt Lab, which was opened last fall in Student Center South.

Houston Street Subs was founded at Texas A&M in 2014 and has expanded to universities across the state over the past 10 years.

Melt Lab had initially replaced Mondos Sandwich Shop, marking this the second replacement in the same spot within almost six months.

“We reviewed student feedback, transaction data and determined that a sub-shop was a missing component in our food service portfolio,” said Senior Associate Vice Chancellor and Senior Associate Vice President for Administration Emily Messa. “The winter break provided an opportune time to make this changeover.”

Multiple students had negative feedback for both Mondos and Melt Lab, ranging from underwhelming options, undercooked food and unsatisfactory packaging.

“When I got my order of the American grilled cheese, the bread was stuck to the bag,” said computer science sophomore Vincent Wren in a previous article. “I couldn’t pull the sandwich out without ripping the bag in half.”

For students like Wren, the first experience was so bad that they refused to come back ever again.

A Reddit user was also found complaining

about the price range and how it was unjustifiable for the kind of service being provided.

“They are giving you two slices instead of a whole sub for the same price,” the user said. “On top of that, it tastes way worse than Mondos.”

Another Reddit user mentioned how he and a bunch of his friends got food poisoning from Mondos Sandwich Shop.

For Houston Street Subs, the menu will include signature sub sandwiches that can be customized with vegetables, cheese and sauce served on a white or wheat sub roll.

“It seems like the healthiest option in the Student Center than Panda Express of Chickfil-A,” said psychology senior Lovelyn Pearce.

An expectation for Pearce is to have fresh ingredients instead of fast food chains which was fulfilled by the sub shop.

“Not many people were here and it seemed to be a good place,” said electrical engineering sophomore Thomas Richards. “The sandwiches looked good and the prices were alright too.”

The new concept is an independent brand, subcontracting with UH’s dining partner, Chartwells Higher Ed.

The sub shop will remain operative from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Monday through Friday, remain closed on Saturdays and reopen from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays, according to the SC website.

Apart from this, a few more changes have been implemented to the existing food concepts.

New and updated menu items will be available at Asado Tacos & Bowls in the SCS and at Absurd Bird and Paper Lantern in the

Retail, Auxiliary and Dining Center. Chick-fil-A in the SCS will relaunch breakfast service, however Taco Stand in the RAD will discontinue breakfast service, Messa said.

What It Do BBQ will open in the Stadium Parking Garage retail center and Einstein’s Bros. Bagels, which closed last summer due to damage from Hurricane Beryl, will reopen for Spring.

Cougar Woods re-opened on Jan.10 and is set to celebrate its grand re-opening on Jan. 16, with eight refreshed food stations. More information about the new food stations can be found here.

The University has also been celebrating SC’s 10th anniversary with the “Days of Deals,” until Jan. 17. These deals include a specialty drink from Starbucks and guest giveaway at Chick-fil-A, Starbucks, Panda Express, Asado and Houston Street Subs. Asado will also be giving 10% off, for the first 10 guests each day.

In addition, there is also a Phase II update for Cougar Woods scheduled for Summer 2025 which will further enhance the student experience, Messa said.

As of now, there is no update on McDonalds. The University and its dining partner, Chartwells, are still reviewing proposals for the replacements.

Students can find more information about UH Dining Services on their website.

news@thedailycougar.com

Graphic: Jose Gonzalez-Campelo, Photo: Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Houston Street Subs replaces Melt Lab at the University of Houston, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025 in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Fall 2024 semester in review: Key moments from SGA

CHRISTOPHER GEE

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

@CHRISTOPH.3R

With the closing of UH’s fall semester, the Student Government Association moves into their Spring 2025 semester.

Over the course of Fall 2024, the SGA saw the passing of several beneficial legislation, including securing $63,235 from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office to prevent sexual assault and passing the Sheila Jackson Lee Emerging Leaders Expansion act.

The organization also faced a variety of issues, including a mandate from student affairs to rewrite their bylaws and constitution and impeachment recommendations.

Impeachment recommended for President, Vice President

During Oct. 2024, The Internal Affairs Committee, which is responsible for the enforcement of the constitution and bylaws, recommended the Senate to impeach President Diego Arriaga and Vice President Austin Craig.

According to the IAC, Arriaga had engaged in discriminatory practices for terminating former executive branch member, Director of Outreach Bryanna Nimmons while allowing former Director of Multicultural Affairs Parsa Torabi to resign instead in lieu of termination.

Arriaga terminated Nimmons for alleged performance issues during SGA’s End the

TIPS

Stigma event.

In the committee’s eyes, this decision was a large failure of leadership on multiple counts, said former IAC Chair Anahi Ortega on Oct. 9, 2024.

“There were discrepancies in the consideration for termination of those directors, but beyond that there was a lack of coordination, communication and accountability,” Ortega said. “Leadership from the top executives of the branch led us to believe that this whole matter could have been avoided if proper leadership had been exercised sooner.”

However, despite the recommendation, no impeachment proceedings were initiated by the Senate.

SGA mandated to rewrite bylaws, constitution

The SGA was delivered a letter authored by Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Paul Kittle to rewrite their bylaws and constitution, as well as fill all vacant positions by a specific deadline.

The letter outlined six key points as challenges, where five of the points said the organization failed to fill numerous vacant positions in a timely manner, and the sixth point said the organization changed their bylaws in a manner that weakened the system of checks and balances within the governance structure.

“In its current state, the SGA is unable to effectively serve the student body, and an immediate action from them is

necessary,” said Associate Vice Chancellor and Associate Vice President of Media Relations Shawn Lindsey in a former interview.

Adding to this, the organization feared being dissolved at the time, despite the letter not mentioning dissolution at any point.

“Our hands are tied and if this is not done by Nov. 26 [2024], the administration will dissolve the SGA to rewrite our constitution and bylaws,” Arriaga said at a meeting on Nov. 13, 2024. “They have full authority under Texas legislation to dissolve us and recreate us. It has happened at other campuses, including UH Downtown and UH Clear Lake.”

No decisions have been made regarding the possible consequences if the SGA chooses not to comply with the admin’s mandate, according to Lindsey in an e-mail

sent on Nov. 22, 2024.

The Cougar reached out to Arriaga and Craig for comments on the upcoming elections and updates on the issues mentioned but did not receive a response. Gonzalez directed the Cougar to PR, but received no response.

SGA receives $63,235 from Harris County DA’s Office

On Oct. 29, 2024, SGA relaunched a project to aid and prevent sexual assault on campus. They received $63,235 from the DA office in order to help accomplish their goals.

The project will enable students to submit sexual assault reports without paying and the funds will also be used for sexual assault awareness events, selfdefense itemsand CAPS. news@thedailycougar.com

A guide to filling out the FAFSA smoothly and accurately

WENDOLEE T. GARCIA MARTINEZ

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

@TOP444CIO

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as FAFSA, is a vital tool most college students use in order to receive financial help to continue their education.

However, this form is complex and requires students and their parents to fill out information regarding their family and income.

Although students are very familiar with the process, it is often stressful for everyone involved. This guide will go over a few tips to

make filling of the form smoother.

Get it done early

Make sure to start the filing process when the form first opens up, because most grants and scholarships are given on a first come basis until the state or school runs out of funds. Therefore, those who filed later but qualify are likely to not receive aid.

The federal deadline for FAFSA is at the end of the academic year on June 30, 2025; however, state deadlines could be much sooner and schools could implement deadlines of their own.

The Texas deadline for this year is Feb.

15, 2025 according to the UH FAFSA information.

File online

It is recommended to file FAFSA online because the process is much quicker, easier and avoids chances of confusion.

The online version also omits questions that are not required for the applicant and will alert if there was any necessary information missing before filing.

Have all documents ready

In order to be able to complete the form with minimal interruptions, students must make sure they have all the required documentation ready.

These documents include tax returns, records of child support received, current balance of cash, savings and checking accounts and net worth of investment, business and farms. This also includes your social security number, if applicable.

If a student is still considered a dependent, make sure to collect the same paperwork from the parents.

Read carefully, be vigilant

A common mistake when filling the form is being careless. Students often use the incorrect information, make small typing errors or don’t fill out all of the required areas. These small mistakes could delay the application process because the applicant will be asked for missing or incorrect paperwork. This will lead them to be

processed separately.

“Pay attention when typing because one small error caused me to have to turn in my documents through a separate system,” said psychology junior Jaleesa Gonzalez. “This held me back from submitting the form early.”

Make your guardians’ accounts

If the student is still legally dependent on their parents, the parents will need to make their own FAFSA account to file their own application.

Often, parents aren’t very technology savvy and could struggle on this step, making the application process longer.

“I suggest making an account for your guardian especially if they are of age and bad with technology. It can be tricky to get a signature from them,” said strategic communications sophomore Meltem Mishkat. “I helped my parents make their accounts so they can sign my form easily.”

Make sure to take note of every username and password of the guardian as the applicant will need them for future FAFSA applications.

Review

In order to avoid any issues, go back to review all the answers before signing and submitting the form.

Double-check each section to ensure all required fields are complete and accurate, especially if the form is not being filed online.

news@thedailycougar.com

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Lily Huynh/The Cougar

Navigating the transfer portal: Coach Fritz’s blueprint

@ASHTONAGRISSOM8

The NCAA implemented the transfer portal on Oct. 15, 2018, and it has redefined college football by allowing teams and players to find their perfect fit.

The transfer portal has evolved from its original purpose and now money plays a large role in players’ decisions.

While university paying players directly is on the horizon, in the meantime athletes can now receive compensation through

NIL deals.

Sports analyst Josh Goldsberg compares the transfer portal to NFL free agency.

For example, LSU commit Bryce Underwood received a strong offer from Michigan for a fouryear deal for 10-12 million dollars that he ultimately accepted.

Underwood was believed to be strongly committed to LSU before he received the NIL deal from Michigan. His story sounds like NFL free agency just as Goldsberg described.

While college sports are very different than they have been previously, coaches are having to adjust to the changing times in order to compete.

In the past three seasons alone, Houston has had 63 players enter the transfer portal. To make up for this, they acquired 59 players from the portal in that same time frame. This year, 16 players left Houston during the winter window. Coach Willie Fritz and his staff responded by adding 16 players and placed seventh in the Big 12 in transfer portal rankings, per On3 Sports.

It was the December 2023 hire’s first full offseason in Houston, and his chance to put his stamp on the program that has struggled since entering the Big 12 conference in 2023.

The team has posted back-toback 4-8 records and finished in the bottom half of the conference each season.

“You have to be very smart with the transfer portal,” Fritz said. “You have to be careful bringing players in and making sure they fit your team’s culture.”

With the early football transfer portal window closed now, UH

has shown aggression in this year’s cycle.

Offensive additions

Houston added one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks: redshirt sophomore Connor Weigman.

The Cypress, Texas native was a five-star recruit and ranked as the third-best quarterback when he announced his commitment to Texas A&M. He spent three seasons with the Aggies and committed to Houston on Dec. 11.

“He is a natural playmaker whose functional athleticism allows for scrambling ability that leads to chunk yardage or accurate throws while on the move,” Gabe Brooks of 247 Sports said.

Houston also was aggressive in surrounding their new portal quarterback with explosive playmakers.

The Cougars picked up their rival’s senior running back Dean Connors from Rice who recorded 11 touchdowns and 1,265 total yards on the season.

UH also added two wide receivers junior Louisiana transfer Harvey Broussard and junior

UAB transfer Amare Thomas. The two receivers combined for 93 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns in the 2024 season and bring plenty of explosiveness to this Cougar offense.

Houston added another pass catcher in sophomore Tulsa transfer Luke McGary. He is known for his run blocking but still managed 17 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown while averaging 13.6 yards per catch in his 2024 campaign.

Houston ranked dead last in the Big 12 last year in offensive efficiency and a big reason why was the offensive line.

The Cougars ranked 122nd in the country in pass protection and averaged almost five penalties per game. UH addressed this immediately in the first portal window by adding five offensive linemen, including senior New Mexico transfer McKenzie Agnello, senior Oklahoma State transfer Jason Brooks Jr., junior Baylor transfer Alvin Ebosele, senior Texas Tech transfer Dalton Merryman and senior California transfer Matthew Wykoff.

TRANSFER PORTAL

Continues on next page

Former Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman. | Courtesy of Chris Swan/ The Battalion

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The Cooke is back on the court: Gigi Cooke’s returns to action

ALEJANDRO COMPEAN STAFF WRITER

@ALECOMPEANNN

As the anticipation of the upcoming 2023-24 season ramped up, so did the intensity of the offseason workouts and routines for Houston women’s basketball.

After conditioning drills and on-court workouts, redshirt sophomore guard Gigi Cooke and her teammates played an intrasquad pickup game, suddenly disrupted when Cooke suffered a non-contact leg injury.

“I’m doing some natural movement, things that I usually do, and I just heard it pop,” Cooke said. “I just knew something was wrong because I heard something.”

Roughly 48 hours after the injury occurred, it was revealed that Cooke had torn her ACL, and meniscus and had sprained her MCL.

The doctors showed her the MRI, and she soon realized the severity of the injuries that ultimately sidelined her for the entire 2023-24 season.

She was in a situation she had never been in before, on a new team over 1,400 miles away from her home in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Star from the start

Cooke attended Bishop McNamara High School in nearby Forestville, where she helped her team reach three consecutive WCAC title games. Her 15 points per game as team captain during her senior year earned her a unique opportunity to play collegiate basketball with the University of Maryland Terrapins. Though the Terrapins’ 1-2 punch of soon-to-be WNBA lottery picks Diamond Miller and Abby Meyers stole the headlines, Cooke still played a hand in their run to the Elite Eight, with her 25 appearances off the bench and a plethora of experience in pressure-packed games. Cooke carried that experience with her to Houston, which was entering its first year of Big 12 competition upon her arrival. She was one of a handful of new additions to Houston’s 2023-24 roster, another being junior forward Maliyah Johnson, a transfer from the University of Pittsburgh. Although they didn’t

TRANSFER PORTAL

Continued from previous page

Defensive additions

On the defensive side, Houston finished fourth in the Big 12 in total defense last season and was a bright spot for the Cougars.

This season they prioritized several position groups to bring in a balanced transfer portal class.

share the court their first year, Johnson stepped up in a big way for Cooke and helped her with her physical and mental well-being.

“I don’t even call her my friend now, she’s like my sister,” Johnson said. “We just became close in a year. Her family is my family, and my family is hers.” “I can say just from the outside looking in, she did have a hard time trying to process that whole recovery. I don’t think she had enough support as she should have when it first happened.”

Now, Cooke gets to step up for Johnson, who suffered a knee injury of her own ahead of this season. Drawing from her struggles, Cooke has provided valuable guidance and insight, helping Johnson navigate the challenges associated with recovery. Her experience gave her a unique perspective on what Johnson would face, allowing her to offer the same support she once received.

While the two will not be able to share the court this season, Cooke got her long-awaited breakthrough moment, when she finally got to lace up her shoes as a Cougar for the first time during the 2024-25 season opener.

On the court

In just the opener, alone Cooke displayed what the Cougars frequently missed last season: perimeter shooting, pace and an ability to get to the rim and collapse defenses with aggression.

“Most of the time, these games that you win, it’s going to come down to the toughest team, and most aggressive team. And when you’re doing that all the time, you give yourself a chance to win, and I think that’s what she brings to the table,” coach Ronald Hughey said. “If we would have had that last year, I think we could’ve gone further, just because that team wanted to shoot a lot, and didn’t want to get to the basket. She would’ve been one of those that can get to the rim and create for others, as well as create for herself.”

Though the Cougars fell just short of securing a victory in the season-opener, Cooke’s 18 points gave a glimpse into how Hughey envisions her complementing the team. For Cooke, the performance

Junior Washington State defensive lineman Khalil Laufau is the lone d-line commit in the first portal window.

He accounted for 16 total tackles and four sacks in the 2024 season.

UH also picked up two defensive backs out of the portal with junior LSU transfer Jordan Allen and Southern Mississippi transfer Will James.

The duo recorded a combined

also served as a moment of reflection on how far she has come.

“It was just an exciting moment for me. Just sitting out so long, it does play with your mind,” she said. “It definitely felt good, the reflection of it all. You could see it in my face when I got back home. I was just happy to be back.”

She continued becoming more consistent and comfortable in her role as the 2024-25 campaign has progressed. She scored in double figures in five of seven games between Nov. 30 and Jan. 11, averaging 12.7 points per game in that span while shooting 33.3% from the 3-point line and racking up 1.3 steals a contest. Her season high in points came against Rice on Nov. 14, when she scored 21 on 7-of-14 shooting.

Keeping a strong mindset

Cooke has been able to adjust in part thanks to the incredible adaptation and emotional flexibility the recovery process required of her.

“It was hard to stay positive because it felt lonely at times, it was really hard. I was just ready to go home and see my family. I felt like that’s all I needed at that point,” Cooke said.

For Cooke, family was her greatest source of strength throughout her recovery even though they were far away during the process.

“They’re my why to things. After my mental got better, I was just like ‘I’ve got to get back’. My people sacrificed a lot. I lean on them because I feel like they molded me a lot into who I am,” Cooke said.

Beyond the invaluable moments Cooke got to spend with those closest to her, the time away from playing also gave her a new perspective on her situation.

“I had to think about God, everybody’s timing is different, so I started to think about that. Trying to be a good teammate, and staying positive throughout it all because it does get hard and annoying,” Cooke said.

Coaches are among those who can attest to the trials and tribulations of injuries, and it is no different for Hughey, who has been at the helm in Houston since 2014.

48 total tackles last year. Houston also added a pair of linebackers in junior Utah transfer Sione Fotu and junior Louisiana transfer Carmycah Glass.

These two athletes combined for 95 total tackles last season.

Special teams additions

The final addition to the winter portal was senior Old Dominion transfer kicker Ethan

“You have to give them that window of working themselves back, mentally first before they can do anything physically,” Hughey said. “Mentally getting their mind right and understanding that injuries are a part of the game. That it was just turn, but God has bigger plans for me, and will give me a chance to see that.”

Hughey also cited the importance of showing compassion and being there for Cooke with everything that she needed and understanding how much of a strain a major ligament injury can be.

“(You just) need be there when she needs somebody to talk to. It’s really, really hard for them to understand why this happened to them, so you’re basically a listening ear,” Hughey said.

As the months following Cooke’s surgery went on and boxes were being checked off, Cooke knew the most important one was drawing closer: being medically cleared. But it wasn’t all-systems-go quite yet.

When Cooke first went to get cleared, there was still pain in her knee, and despite everything looking good during tests, the pain was still bothersome enough

Sanchez.

UH only converted 71.43% of field goal attempts last season.

Sanchez made 91% of his field goals in 2024, and he made all 10 attempted inside of 50 yards.

Fritz on the transfer portal

The transfer portal is far more than just finding the best players available for the Houston program.

“I came in here and had to

to delay the two thumbs up from the medical staff.

“Off rip, I was kind of like ‘dang,’ it’s another setback. But I know that it’s God’s timing, and I just kept working at it, trying to get stronger,’’ Cooke said. “Once I felt more comfortable in it, just felt confident in my leg again, I played how I usually played, I felt back.” With Cooke back and the season in full swing, her ability to provide a spark and scoring punch for the Cougars has only been heightened by injuries that have ravaged the team throughout the course of the year.

Houston has been forced into an eight, sometimes seven-player rotation as a result and is facing huge challenges in Big 12 play. Despite this, Cooke still desires to be a leader and earn conference accolades, and she hopes to help build the Houston team a==wwwws they put the pieces together

“Once we find that identity, that one ego, one heart type of movement, then we can be something really good. I just want my team to have the accolades, myself as well… and imma just cook some, you know?”

sports@thedailycougar.com

establish our NIL. We were way behind and in order to compete I had to change that. I want our guys to fit the culture and enjoy being here,” Fritz said. “I think I slept three hours last night thinking about our program. Our student-athletes are chomping at the bit to get back out there and I am excited about this 2025 season.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

Houston guard Gigi Cooke (3) dribbles the ball during the second half of an NCAA college Women’s Basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

SOCIAL MEDIA

TikTok’s “soft language” is detrimental to discussion

PARKER HODGES-BEGGS

OPINION EDITOR @ALASTFAIR

As the banning of TikTok in the United States approaches, now comes the time to reflect on some of the effects the app has had on social media as a whole. One of these effects is an influx of self-censorship that has spread to seemingly every mainstream social platform.

Conversations of topics such as death and rape have become infested with terms like “unalived” and “graped.” This censorship is counterproductive and heavily minimizes the impact of serious situations.

These sorts of replacement words originated as a workaround for algorithmic censorship. Users avoid directly naming subjects that may result in their videos or accounts losing monetization, though no explicit list of bannable words is within TikTok’s terms of service.

This attempt at dodging bans, however, is not where the issue lies. While clever in theory, it has evolved into something done simply for the sake of individual comfort. Now, years later, users discuss the “unaliving” of victims to selfishly make themselves feel at ease with difficult topics.

“Soft language” is a term used for this

phenomenon, and it has made its way to sites like Instagram and X in recent months; with both apps often used for news and political discourse.

The reality of this, though, is that no one should feel comfortable during conversations about heinous crimes and tragedies.

Death, assault and politics are and will always be hard-to-swallow topics. This is by design, and, while tough to endure sometimes, is integral to upkeep. An important part of hard conversations is making sure they remain impactful, so as to remind ourselves why societal changes are needed.

When hearing of tragic events, the deliberate use of descriptive words reminds readers of the devastation that comes with them. If soft language like “sewerslide” is used, that impact is completely nullified. No one is going to be angry reading that someone “unalived” another person, or someone in the news was “graped,” and that’s a problem.

Sex crimes and death should evoke negative emotions. Anger, sadness and fear are the fuel for social activism and tangible change, which are more than necessary in times when marginalized people fear for their lives and safety.

If we allow ourselves to become comfortable with these topics when they arise, we will also become complacent. When complacent, no one fights for those who fall victim to brutality and oppression.

So, no, unarmed victims of police and bombed civilians have not been “unalived,” and other highly politicized issues should not be diluted for the sake of keeping oneself at ease. Being upset during times of

tragedy is part of being human. While conversations surrounding crime and brutality are undoubtedly tough to approach, watering down these subjects is only harmful long term. We are meant to be disgusted by those around us being harmed, and no one should be allowed to skirt around that.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

The 4B Movement is not the answer for American women

ANAYA BAXTER

OPINION ASSIST

@ANAYABAX

Months ago, American women, algorithms and publications turned a curious eye toward South Korea’s feminist 4B Movement. Many sought an outlet for their fears following the presidential election and the movement offered an answer to their questions surrounding self-defense and even revenge against harmful men.

As the inauguration of the 47th president approaches, interests have gone silent. There seems to be no mainstream commitment to previous passionate callouts.

The 4B movement, which emerged in

South Korea in the late 2010s, has four principles: do not date, marry, bear children or have sex with men. It seemed like a catch-all for women who experience or witness violence at the hands of men, as the logical way to avoid harm is to reduce interactions with perpetrators. But such complex issues cannot be solved in simple terms.

Many, in their fury, underestimated the severity of implementing such an intense lifestyle change. Verbally swearing off companionship is simple in concept, but in practice, rejects ingrained conditioning and, arguably, human nature.

From casual dating to long-term romance, people are societally urged to pursue partnerships. Women especially

are encouraged to desire relationships and may feel alienated when they do not desire them.

Even if individuals do commit to blocking men out of their lives, there is a clear collective push against the cause. South Korean feminists themselves struggle to organize offline and receive backlash for “deepen[ing] societal divisions,” says Minyoung Moon, a lecturer of sociology at Clemson University.

It is hard to police what people do in private, which is largely where the principles of this movement occur. Outcomes are not as tangible as other efforts that demand legislative change or public accountability, adding to its difficulties in attracting supporters.

Additionally, discouraging sex goes against many liberation progressions that have been made throughout feminist history. Only contemporarily have women found freedom in discussing and partaking in various sexual acts. For some, the 4B movement appears more regressive than helpful.

The unfortunate truth is that women limiting who they romantically and sexually involve themselves with does not resolve deeply cemented misogynistic systems. Change requires intense reflection and analysis of people’s and organization’s participation in patriarchy.

It is understandable why women would reject holding men’s hands through this laborious process, but celibacy is not an exemption from sexual assault, workplace

violence and other threats. Sex strikes have also received valid criticisms for following outdated patriarchal ideas of women’s bodies being their most valuable currency.

The 4B movement may not be realistic, but that does not mean women are not entitled to being selective with their partners.

The Decentering Men movement may provide the personal security women are looking for. Rather than choosing to reject romance and sex altogether, it encourages women to proclaim their identity, feelings and needs without fear of male judgment.

In practice, this may look like reaching contentment in oneself rather than waiting for a partnership to complete their life or not changing for approval. Healthy companionship with men can exist in this dynamic, and there is the added benefit of self-acceptance.

Gender divisions seem to only be worsening in recent years and marginalized people desperately need protection. There is no singular action that will fix every injustice, but that does not mean complacency is the answer.

In such times, women should prioritize their safety and livelihood. Some methods, however, may be more beneficial and sustainable than others. Likewise, men and women in privileged positions should do their best to support those most attacked by the ever-present patriarchal system.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Lily Huynh/The Cougar

life and arts

A guide to key UH events during Spring 2025

@GAURAANGIGUPTA

Incoming and returning Coogs have a lot to look forward to and here’s a list of some upcoming events in and around UH:

Cat’s Back

Kick off the semester with spring Cat’s Back on Jan. 23, 2025. This is a great opportunity for all students to explore the various interactive booths by student organizations and find ways to get involved.

Students can also use this event to discover new interests and hobbies and connect with other Coogs. There will also be free food and exclusive giveaways.

The event will take place at Student Center South from 2p.m. till 4p.m.

Frontier Fiesta

This student-led and studentrun spring festival has been a UH tradition since 1939, making it one of the oldest programs. The event invites all and is free to attend as well as participate.

Attendees can enjoy one of the most common and oldest traditions of Frontier Fiesta, the Variety Shows. Registered student organizations create short productions based on Broadway shows and big-screen hits to

compete against one another for the Joel Koppel Award.

The program today emphasizes diversity and community at UH through student performances. Other attractions include celebrity concerts at the Fertitta Center, various carnival booths and the famous “World Class Cook-Off,” where over 40 cook-off teams compete in six different food categories.

Apart from attending and participating, students can also volunterr and assist the Frontier Fiesta Association in transforming a piece of the campus into a fully functional town called “Frontier Fiesta City.”

The activity schedule is yet to be announced; however, the event will take place from Apr. 10-12, 2025 at the TDECU Stadium parking lot.

Wolffest

Wolffest is another spring tradition which started in 2002.

This three-day food fest is a nonprofit event and showcases various pop-up food stands.

It is open to the entire University and students enjoy food from big names like Raising Cane’s and Minute Maid, along with small businesses like Two Hands Korean Corn Dogs, Feng Cha Boba and more.

Wolffest is part of the Wolff Center of Entrepreneurship’s capstone course and is the final step in completing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from the Center.

The program makes its students act under pressure and make reallife decisions that help them act like entrepreneurs.

Students raise more than $250,000 per year in food sales and donations. The money raised by WCE students through this event

that for the first time ever, Houston Rodeo has reserved 402 Rodeo and concert tickets for the UH community in a special pre-sale, according to an email sent by Division of University Marketing and Communications on Jan. 10, 2025.

The tickets are in the Loge Level which consists of sections 502 and 503. This coincides with the “UH Night at the Rodeo,” on March 6, 2025 where the University shows UH pride by wearing Cougar red.

The ticket sale is live now and will close on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.

EDITORIAL BOARD

is used towards scholarships and student activities. The schedule for spring 2025 is yet to be announced.

Houston Rodeo

Yeeh-haw your way to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo this spring. Houstonians are well aware of the tradition, but if you’re an out-of-state or

Tickets are priced at $46 + taxes and fees for Loge Level. Purchasers should be aware that the tickets are reserved for UH during pre-sale period at the general price, not discounted. The ticket sale code is UofHNight2025, and can be purchased here..

Student Government Association elections

The beginning of spring also means kick-starting the election season at UH. This will mark the appointment of the 62nd administration of the SGA.

Students will have the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

ABOUT THE COUGAR

The Cougar is published biweekly on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters and online daily at thedailycougar.com. The Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. Copies of The Cougar are free.

COPYRIGHT

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

ABOUT CSM

International student, attending the Rodeo is a must.

The much-awaited annual event will run from March 4-23 at NRG Stadium. Attendees can enjoy an authentic Western heritage experience through the various professional rodeo events, the world’s largest livestock exhibition, carnival rides, food vendors, art auctions and photo opportunities. Attendees will also get the opportunity to experience starstudded concerts featuring a variety of genres ranging from country to pop. The recently released entertainer lineup includes artists like Post Malone, Brad Paisley, Luke Bryan, Bun B and Grupo Frontera. Recently, it was also announced

opportunity to cast their votes for who they want in the presidential, at-large and college-specific Senate seats and positions.

The candidates from each party develop and implement their different campaigning strategies to win the students’ votes. The candidates will campaign for about two to three weeks.

There will also be a moderated debate between the presidential and vice-presidential candidates which will be open to all students and free to attend.

The details as well as the candidates of this spring’s election are yet to be declared. news@thedailycougar.com

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.

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA

(713) 743-5350 csm@uh.edu www.uh.edu/csm