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Small number of UH students affected by visa revocations, UH officials say
WENDOLEE T. GARCIA MARTINEZ NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR
@WENDOLEEGARCIAMTZ
Since March 25, a small number of international students at UH have been impacted by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and visa revocations.
The students affected by this issue were contacted directly by University officials to ensure they were fully aware of the changes to their immigration status.
According to the University, UH’s International Student and Scholar Services Office will continue its commitment to provide support to international students and encourage them to comply with immigration laws.
“We have proactively communicated the importance of maintaining compliance with immigration laws and continue to offer guidance to students,” said Director of Media
STAFF & FACULTY
Relations Bryan Luhn.
The university has restated the importance of staying in contact and up to date with communications sent out from ISSSO to ensure students are informed and supported through their academic journey.
“We are encouraging our international students to remain in close contact with ISSSO and to reach out with any concerns,” Luhn said.
However, international students on campus don’t feel safe. Students are being extra vigilant about their day-to-day life.
The Cougar has decided to protect the identity of the following student due to the current political climate.
“Our own administration has shown their lack of diligence and efficiency to protect their students in the past,” the student said.
“I’ve become hypervigilant in maintaining my status and ensuring I always have proper
documentation, that’s the most I can do on my part.”
UH emphasized that only a small number of students have been impacted by SEVIS terminations and visa revocations. However, the exact number of impacted students hasn’t been released.
“I can’t provide the exact number,” Luhn said. “But when I say a small number of students, it’s a very, very small number relative to our international student population.”
According to data gathered by Inside Higher Ed, about 115 students and recent graduates have had their legal status changed in the state of Texas. A recent visa revocation occurred at Rice University where five international students were affected.
“No person should fear themselves being disappeared from the streets based on their viewpoint that doesn’t align with the ones in
power,” the student said. “What is happening to international students is an anxiety inducing experience to live through, but one I hope we can recover from quickly.”
Recently, a UH professor also informed their students that they would no longer continue to teach at the University due to the unexpected termination of their visa.
In late March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the government would revoke student visas who participate in any movement that vandalizes or causes disruptions to and on university campuses.
“We gave you a visa to come and study and get a degree, not to become a social activist that tears up our university campuses,” Rubio said.
This is a developing story and the Cougar will continue to report on it.
news@thedailycougar.com
UH’s professor’s visa terminated, halts teaching
NEWS EDITOR
@GAURAANGIGUPT
April 13, a UH professor informed their students through Canvas that they would no longer continue to teach at UH due to the unexpected termination of their visa.
Considering the current political climate and the sensitivity of the matter, The Cougar has decided to protect the identity of the professor.
Students will be attending their last lecture with the professor next week.
Another professor will be taking over for the rest of the semester.
The professor feels extremely sorry that they won’t be able to complete the semester with their students.
However, this change is not permanent
and the professor is hoping to return to UH next semester.
This is a developing story and the Cougar will continue to report on it.
news@thedailycougar.com
Lily Huynh/The Cougar
GAURAANGI GUPTA
What’s next for SGA? UH launches review to rebuild student government
CHRISTOPHER GEE
SENIOR STAFF WRITER
@CHRISTOPH.3R
After the Student Government Association’s 61st administration failed to pass their new constitution in two student referendums following a mandate from student affairs, the administration was ordered to cease operation and vacate their offices.
What’s next?
Following the end of the 61st administration, UH is moving to rebuild the SGA and facilitate its return in the fall.
The focal point of the University’s efforts to rebuild the organization will be driven by an external review committee, and input from student leaders and stakeholders in the SGA. The University has not specified who these stakeholders are.
“SGA is a vital part of the UH community and plays a critical role in student representation,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Paul Kittle. “We are actively working to re-establish that foundation and ensure students have confidence in their student government”
The review’s goal is to create a new SGA that functions independently, while still being effective in fulfilling their duties as a student government. The SGA will continue to operate largely autonomously.
“Striking a balance between institutional support and student-led autonomy is central to that conversation,” Kittle said. “The review will help us determine how best to support that balance moving forward, and ensure the SGA is positioned to evolve and thrive for years to come.”
STUDENTS
The external committee will review the SGA’s current state and procedures. Governing documents, including the constitution, bylaws and election code, will be revised over the summer.
Functioning committees
University committees, which consist of SGA representatives, will continue to function despite the end of the 61st administration.
A student work group will be formed by Student Affairs to determine assignments for University committees, ensuring their continued function and role in rebuilding the organization.
“We are committed to setting up the incoming SGA administration for success,” Kittle said. “That includes ensuring
the governing framework is sound and equipping student leaders with clear guidance and institutional support.”
Additionally, student ambassadors, appointed by Student Affairs, will be present at UH’s summer student orientations to create awareness and encourage SGA participation.
“This is not just about outreach — it’s about reaffirming that student voices matter and that UH is committed to restoring and strengthening this institution,” Kittle said.
Next semester
The SGA will return to full function in the fall, following elections for the upcoming 62nd administration.
The voting method will be announced following the University’s review of the SGA.
“The goal is to ensure a process that reflects best practices and offers students a fair, just and transparent system for selecting their representatives,” Kittle said.
Candidates will be recruited from Aug. 25 to Sep. 12, and candidates will be able to campaign from Sep. 15 up until the end of elections.
Elections will take place from Sep. 22 to 25, and the winners will be announced on Sep. 26.
“By establishing well-defined roles, creating opportunities for training and facilitating early engagement through summer initiatives, we are laying the groundwork for a more functional, responsive and accountable student government,” Kittle said.
news@thedailycougar.com
Here’s why the student body rejected SGA’s new constitution
The student body rejected the Student Governments Association’s new constitution not just once, but twice. Many students disagreed with not only the draft itself, but the administration and SGA leaders behind it.
Communication, transparency
The constitution largely overstepped its bounds and had a lack of transparency, said English sophomore Christopher Hooper.
Administration, SGA leadership
Former senator Jesus Nieto blames administration for the downfall of SGA because he claims their main goal was to take over and do whatever they needed to get what they wanted.
According to Nieto, SGA was being pushed around in secret meetings, thrown into rooms and borderline threatened.
The administration has destroyed the organization and ignored what students want.
“We have all had enough of the UH administration pushing students around,” Nieto said. “We are paying members of this institution. We do have the right to push back and say ‘hey, what’s happening is not
right.’”
For Nieto, The results of the election showed that the student body stood up for themselves and told SGA leadership and administration not to mess with student representation.
“I know this organization can do good things,” Nieto said. “However, it’s the people that are in the position of power that determine why either the organization is successful or not. This year, the people in power were cowards and they were probably scared.”
Student impacts
Deeds Not Words, a UH student organization that aims for various social justice issues, became a main advocate in rejecting the document.
They claimed the new constitution this would destroy checks and balances, remove Senate authority to draft bills for student funding, create more bureaucracy and strip senators of their right to draft and modify the SGA budget.
“This constitution is a gross overstepping of UH administrations and SGA executive branch members to undermine fair representation for the student body,” DNW said in an Instagram post.
Nieto, who worked alongside DNW during
“To keep students out of the loop was a big slap
in the face
to
me,”
Hooper
said. “These
are important issues and if students don’t know about them, then we don’t get the opportunity to change what we want.”
Christopher Hooper, English sophomore
the campaign, urges students to become more engaged in light of nationwide school funding cuts.
Since this would affect jobs and various opportunities, SGA acts as a vehicle to prevent, or at least mitigate, widespread cuts.
“This is one incident where we really need the student body to not allow administrators to come in and take over,” Nieto said. “That’s exactly what they’re going to do with every situation coming forward.”
news@thedailycougar.com
Lily Huynh/The Cougar
Juana Garcia/The Cougar
EVENT
“It’s the event of the year:” Another successful Frontier Fiesta
GAURAANGI
GUPTA, JOSHUA VASQUEZ,
WENDOLEE T. GARCIA MARTINEZ NEWS EDITOR, NEWS ASSISTANT EDITORS
@GAURAANGIGUPTA, @ WENDOLEEGARCIAMTZ, @ JOSHUAVASQUEZNEWS
One of UH’s longest running spring festival, Frontier Fiesta, was held Thursday through Saturday last week.
The student-led carnival opened Thursday evening in the TDECU stadium parking lot with a completely repainted mural. It was free for all students and non-students and this year’s theme was “Revival.
The story behind the theme lies with the namesake song by Zach Bryan. The organizers also wanted to highlight the Western culture and bring back the rodeo roots.
Day 1- Variety shows, step shows, salsa night
Mateo Gantiva. “It’s a whole ordeal with a lot of commitment, but the payout is worth it.”
Frontier Fiest is an important part of Greek life students’ college experience, as it enables them to pair up with different sororities and fraternities to perform.
“I am paired up with TKE in my sorority. Alpha, Chai, Omega and it’s been really fun,” said human resources development freshmen Mia Farrow. “I didn’t really know any of the guys, and so I’ve made a lot of friends throughout.”
The competition not only builds school spirit and camaraderie, but is also an attempt to give back to the community. The money raised through the Step Shows is given back to the students through scholarships.
While UH’s festival is smaller than some at other universities, students say they don’t mind.
“It’s not as big as other schools, but we kind of like that,” Gantiva said. “It’s just a smaller community, but we appreciate everyone who pops out and it’s just a great time. It’s definitely a highlight of the year.”
Attendees also enjoyed a silent disco, salsa night organized by Council for Cultural Activities and SOMOS and Outlaw’s Den which had billiards, air hockey and foosball.
Day 2- Cougar Casino, Midnight Beverage, mechanical bull
On the second day, the Cougar Casino tent was a highlight for many attendees along with the headlining band, Midnight Beverage.
“It’s super fun,” said biochemistry sophomore Marina Farquhar. “This is my second day being in the casino. I like that you can redeem the chips at the end for raffles, so if you have leftovers, it’s not like you feel like you’re losing.”
Another big giveaway on day two was the UH jersey-style shirts featuring the number 27, a nod to the University’s founding year, 1927.
The giveaway was the result of a collaboration between student organizations and UH Athletics, said strategic communications junior and Council for Cultural Activities director Yhoalibeth Guerrero Becerril.
Students noticed a difference in the annual festival as the concerts were all restricted to one stage allowing students to enjoy games and events without missing the concert.
“I think the artist being at the Bud Light stage connects students back to Frontier Fiesta and allows them to enjoy the activities after the concert,” said strategic communications senior Omar Castanon. Students appreciated that there was more to offer this fiesta. There was a variety of food options and tents hosting fun games and events.
Nardo Wick was welcomed the stage after a lively performance by student performer 4Elamin.
4Elamin brought the crowd together by playing mixes of well known songs as well, allowing the crowd to sing along.
The opening day mainly focused on the long-running tradition of variety and step shows by different fraternities and sororities.
“Everyone in Alpha, Chai, Omega and Tau Kappa Epsilon have been working hard for months on the choreography with the dance stunts, their lines and acting,” said TKE member and marketing sophomore
“Everybody coming out, from different organizations, we have commuters, on-campus students, alumni come back, as well as the general Houston community,” Frontier Fiesta chair and public relations senior Bailey Payne said. “It’s just a great way to celebrate as a community, as UH and Houston as a whole.”
“This year, we partnered with UH Athletics to boost Cougar spirit, especially with the NCAA championship game,” Becerril said. “It’s all about building tradition and giving students a unique experience.”
Students could personalize the shirts by adding names and patches, making the activation part of a broader Centennialthemed celebration.
The UH Student Program Board also organized the Cosmic Hoedown where students enjoyed line-dancing. The organization also gave free cowboy hats and snacks as well.
Many students were excited about the free attractions like the ferris wheel and the mechanical bull that made its debut at Frontier Fiesta. The ferris wheel was also a common spot for attendees to take pictures.
“I was nervous at first to get on the ferris wheel,” Santiago said. “But it was a lot of fun. I really like it, and I’m very glad it’s free.”
Day 3- Nardo Wick, 4Elamin, Family-Fun day
Day three of Fiesta drew crowds eager to enjoy its festive music, food and student led activities. The day also saw families come out as it was the Family-Fun day.
“The performance was pretty cool,” said music education senior Trenten Hill. “He played a lot of stuff we knew so it was easy to dance to, me and my friends had fun.”
The crowd grew bigger and more eager to see Wick’s performance with people calling out his name as the time for his performance got closer.
The crowd was excited and enjoyed the night when Wick came out. There was a wave of flashlights in the crowd as Wick encouraged the crowd to turn on their phone flashlights and sway to the beat.
“The performance definitely lived up to my expectations, it was a good vibe,” said public health sophomore Sarah Wright. “They should definitely have these types of performances for the homecoming concert as well.”
However, while the attendees enjoyed the concert, students still felt that UH could’ve done better with their choice of the headliner.
This sentiment comes in especially because of the past few headlining artists like Juicy J, JID and Paul Wall.
“With the popularity UH has gotten recently from the final four results and the top rankings, I think the headliner could have been bigger,” digital media junior Andrea Briceyry Rubio.
news@thedailycougar.com
Frontier Fiesta, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gauraangi Gupta/The Cougar
Nardo Wick headlines the third day of Frontier Fiesta, Saturday, April 12, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
1. Joshua Braggs/The Cougar, 2. Raphael Fernandez/ The Cougar, 3. Karolina Navarro/The Cougar
Wolffest: Students take a bite from over 50 food stalls
GAURAANGI GUPTA NEWS EDITOR
@GAURAANGIGUPTA
The Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship organized its annual three-day spring tradition Wolffest from April 8 to April 10.
The food fest is part of WCE’s capstone project and the final step in completing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship from the Center.
The students are divided into seven teams and each team gets a leader or a CEO. The money raised by these students from the fest is used towards scholarships and student activities.
The event makes its students act under real-life pressure and make decisions that help them think and become entrepreneurs.
“One of the main reasons why we do a food festival is because restaurants and events like these are one of the hardest things to run,” said CEO of team Backyard Wolves and entrepreneurship senior Erica Parkinson. “So if you could do this, you can open any business, this is as hard as it gets.”
New collaborations
WCE emphasizes how an event like this brings the community together and expresses the different cultures around the world.
an appearance at the event.
Reactions from attendees
The students of WCE managed to get over 50 food stalls. These ranged from different cuisines like Mexican and Asian, food items from savory to sweet to even drinks and frozen desserts. The fest also had barbecue items and firewood pizzas.
Attendees experienced not just small businesses, but even well-known brands like Wingstop, Tajin, Raising Cane’s, Shipley Do-Nuts and Monster Energy.
“I came here last year too and this year feels a lot better, I can see a lot more people this time,” said petroleum engineering sophomore Fahim Hilmi. “I feel like there’s a better range of food, better variety of choices.”
little.
However, pricing was subjective from vendor to vendor. Some students felt the price was justified and were satisfied with their purchase.
“We just got these lemonades from the stand,” said psychology freshman Mila Lan. “I got two giant cups for $15 so I am pretty happy.”
For Gregory, while everything was perfect, she would appreciate having more covered seating areas in the future.
The fest was not limited to just food, the students also created a marketplace and got vendors who were selling jewelry, crochet items and clothing apparel.
Therefore, to emphasize the community aspect even more, the organization decided to do something different this year by partnering with the Southern Smoke Foundation.
20% of all the profits earned were donated to support other workers in the food and beverage industry.
“We actually went out to their (Southern Smoke Foundation) version of Wolffest out in Discovery Green this past year,” Parkinson said. “Then we decided we’re gonna partner and work together to make it a good collaboration, and get some more exposure to not just WCE, but also to Southern Smoke Foundation.”
Compared to last year, students suffered because of bad weather conditions. However, they were satisfied this year and sold out most of their items.
With each year, the event keeps evolving, offers better deals to attendees and even raises more money, according to WCE students.
Effect on small businesses
Another purpose of Wolffest is to help small food businesses and mom-and-pop style food vendors get exposure.
“A lot of these vendors are small businesses, we have them come out and do different deals with them,” said CEO of team H-Toon and marketing and entrepreneurship senior Daniel Sadegi. “It’s a great way to give them recognition and bring their brand to the students’ eyes.”
Sadegi also talked about DopeDawgz Hotdogs, a gourmet hotdog vendor, run by a UH student who’s on a gap year trying to expand his business.
Wolffest has become a stepping stone for such small businesses and helped them get even more involved on campus.
“I know Trill Burgers since they got involved with Wolffest and have opened their location in the TDECU stadium,”
Sadegi said. “I don’t know if it’s completely because of the fest, but they now have a partnership with the University.”
Bernard Freeman, who popularly goes by Bun B, a legendary Houston-based rapper and co-founder of Trill Burgers also made
Some of the hit items among the students were the lemonades from Twisted Lemonade, crawfish from Crawfish Noodles, free sour strip candies from Sour Strips, candies from Tajin and matchas from Enso Matchas.
“Everyone seems to be enjoying,” Hilmi said. “The lines are so long, it’s like a twohour long wait, especially for the matchas.”
Students enjoyed the food fest to its fullest and appreciated the importance of organizing such events even more.
Wolffest not only gave students a break from the everyday food items available on campus but also made their college experience stand out, said psychology junior Keymaura Gregory.
“It’s nice to see everybody hanging out with their friends on campus, especially since most people commute here,” said marketing junior Cynthia Ortega.
Hilmi and Ortega liked the fact that students could find food from almost all around the world, from different cultures.
“My favorite part is the community and different cultures coming together, and that everybody is supporting other students,” Gregory said.
Student feedback, scope for improvements
While Hilmi and Gregory both appreciated the event overall, they still felt the prices could’ve been a little cheaper considering this is still college. Spending $15-20 for a single meal shocked Hilmi a
“We noticed there’s a big demand for the marketplace and Wolffest has so much food concentrated, we thought it’d be fun to have a market as well,” Parkinson said.
Students like Gregory invested in the market as well and were satisfied with the quality, price as well as hospitality.
What Wolffest means to WCE students
Students of WCE feel extremely thankful for the institute, UH and all its members that provide them such great opportunities.
“We love our program director, managers and professors,” Sadegi said. “We have them to thank for everything and the University for letting us be out here and do our thing.” news@thedailycougar.com
The Wolffest banner on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gauraangi Gupta/The Cougar
A student attending Wolffest on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Emma Christensen/ The Cougar
A student at the marketplace at Wolffest on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gauraangi Gupta/The Cougar
A vendor serving potato twisters to a student at Wolffest on Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Houston, Texas. | Gauraangi Gupta/The Cougar
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Successful journey falls short of dream destination
CAMRYN ALBERIGO SPORTS EDITOR
@CAMRYN.ALBERIGO
Before the season began, coach Kelvin Sampson made it clear:
“The journey is more important than the destination.”
“If you aren’t inside the arena, you only care about the destination,” Sampson said.
“For the coaches and players dedicating their lives to helping each other through this thing we call a basketball season, to be judged on just one game is pretty shallow. But it doesn’t bother us.”
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Although the Cougars fell just one win short of their first national title, they made a triumphant return to college basketball’s biggest stage, advancing to the national championship game for the first time in 41 years.
Houston appeared to have control over Florida, building a 12-point lead, but their dreams were cut instead of the nets.
While red and white confetti didn’t rain down in the Alamodome, Guy V. Lewis
Development Center is still due for its usual redecorating. Houston earned a school-record 35 wins, a perfect 10-0 road record and three different trophies to add to its collection. The Cougars became a No. 1 seed for the third consecutive season after holding their own in the Big 12 Conference. They went 19-1 and became the first team in over a century to win the regular-season title in their first two seasons since Idaho won the Pacific Coast Conference in
1921-23.
“Don’t sleep on Houston,” Sampson said after the Cougars advanced to the championship game with a 14-point comeback against Duke. “We weren’t 34-4 playing in the toy poodle league.”
A last-second layup from graduate forward J’Wan Roberts that lifted Houston past UCF and a collective effort that helped the Cougars erase a six-point deficit in the final minute at Kansas in an eventual double overtime win served as dress rehearsals for their march to the finish.
The Cougars began their postseason climb by claiming the Big 12 tournament title for the first time in program history.
“Not this week, but this season has been about the Houston Cougars,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormack said as he handed Houston the Big 12 tournament trophy and ushered them into March Madness.
It was never about week-toweek performance; it was a season-long puzzle. Each month presented new challenges, requiring the Cougars to adjust and grow.
Houston showed off its No. 1 defense to advance to its second Final Four in five years, holding Tennessee to only 15 first-half points, the lowest first-half total by any No. 1 or No. 2 seed in a tournament game since seeding began.
In the Sweet 16, Houston pulled off late-game magic, turning an inbound pass into a gamewinning layup to defeat Purdue.
The Cougars reached their sixth straight Sweet 16, the longest active run in the nation, after keeping Gonzaga from the round of 16 for the first time in nine years.
Before that, Houston’s firstround win came in the form of a 78-40 dismantling of Southern Illinois Edwardsville.
It wasn’t always expected to end this way. In November, Houston slipped outside the top 10 for the first time in two years after a 4-3 start. From the outside, questions swirled about the Cougars’ adjustment to a new point guard in junior Milos Uzan. But inside the locker room, those questions were answered long before the rest of the country caught on.
“I’m just proud of the way we fought all season,” graduate guard L.J. Cryer said. “We went through some adversity early, and people tried to kind of write us off a little bit, not expecting us to make it to this point. But we kept our heads down and kept grinding all season. We flipped it around.”
Even though the journey didn’t end at the Cougars’ dream destination, “The dream has been great,” Roberts said.
sports@thedailycougar.com
Meet the future: The Cougars’ top recruiting class in program history
ALEJANDRO COMPEAN, ASHTON GRISSOM
STAFF WRITER, ASSITANT SPORTS EDITOR
@ALECOMPEANNN, ASHTONAGRISSOM8
Houston men’s basketball landed the No. 2 recruiting class in the country this past cycle, behind only Duke.
The Cougars received commitments from guard/ forward Bryce Jackson, point guard Kingston Flemings, shooting guard Isiah Harwell and forward/center Chris Cenac Jr. Together, they make up the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history.
Cenac’s rare skillset
The most recent addition to Houston’s recruiting class is Cenac, a 6-foot-10 recruit from Branson, Mo.
The stretch-big attends Link Academy and averaged 12.1 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
“I built a great relationship with Coach Sampson and the rest of the staff. They have a plan to develop me, and I trust
them,” Cenac said. “I know Coach Sampson is going to coach me hard, and I need that.”
Although associate head coach
Quannas White accepted the men’s head coaching position at Louisiana, Sampson prioritizes finding the right fit on his staff to continue the player development of the program.
Cenac committed to Houston last November and chose the Cougars over offers from Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Kentucky, LSU and Tennessee.
“Chris is an upbeat, positive young man and is a great teammate,” Sampson said. “He wanted to go somewhere where he could get better and prepare him for the next level of basketball.”
Cenac is a five-star recruit, ranked No. 7 nationally and the top player in Missouri.
“Chris is an elite frontcourt player who has a chance to be a long-time NBA player with the track he is on,” Link Academy
coach Chad Meyers said.
“He can push the ball in transition, initiate offense, along with being able to make threes and score in the paint. He is a physically strong athlete who can guard multiple positions and rebound outside his area.”
Cenac represented the Cougars in the 2025 McDonald’s AllAmerican game and totaled 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting, 1-3 from three and seven rebounds for the West team.
Beyond the advantages of his 7-foot-4 wingspan for rebounding, it also makes him a significant disruptor on the defensive end, affecting everything from passing lanes to closeouts and interior defense
Aside from his defensive tools and his nose for hauling in rebounds on the glass, Cenac will bring an archetype that has yet to be seen in the Sampson era of Houston basketball: a big man with a polished three-point jump shot.
“He will be one of the better 3-point shooters on the team. Instead of a roll guy, he gives us a pop guy,” Sampson said. “He gives us a guy who can spot up in transition, he can also handle the ball and he can pass. Chris has a chance to be a high-level player.”
The No. 1 center in the 2025 class is considered Houston’s highest-rated recruit in program history.
Harwell’s commitment
Harwell is one of the wings that Sampson and his staff are excited about adding to this program.
“Bryce and Isiah have great size,” Sampson said. “They both have high basketball IQs and are very skilled.”
The 6-foot-6 shooting guard is from Pocatello, Idaho, and attends Wasatch Academy in Utah.
Across his junior and senior varsity seasons, Harwell averaged 14 points per game while shooting 47% from beyond the arc.
Harwell is a five-star recruit and
is ranked 16th nationally. He is also rated as the No. 4 shooting guard in the class and the secondbest player in Utah.
Texas, Gonzaga, California and Houston were the Final Four schools that Harwell considered.
“I chose Houston because of the culture,” Harwell said. “Also, everyone is a family there.”
The talented recruit has attracted attention nationwide and has received praise from scouts and basketball insiders alike.
“Isiah Harwell is a well-rounded shooting guard,” On3 sports analyst Jaime Shaw said. “At six-foot-five, he is of good length and has a strong lower body. Harwell plays at a great pace; he does not play rushed and makes great decisions with the ball in his hands. He has a solid handle, frame, skill and IQ; there is a lot to like about his game.”
MEET THE FUTURE
Continues on next page
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson cuts down the net as the team advances to the Final Four, Sunday, March 30, 2025, in Indianapolis. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
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He has also earned respect from his high school coach and teammates through his work ethic and desire to improve in all facets.
“Isiah is a physical force with a much-improved jump shot from three,” Wasatch coach Paul Peterson said. “He could be one of the premier two-way players in college basketball as a freshman.”
Harwell earned multiple all-star and all-state selections throughout his high school career.
On April 1, Harwell, like Cenac, demonstrated his skill set to a national audience when he participated in the McDonald’s All-American game.
Harwell, despite going scoreless in the first half, caught fire early in the third quarter and displayed his entire offensive arsenal.
Aside from his perimeter shooting that got his East team back in the game, Harwell showed off his drive-and-kick ability and threw down a putback dunk midway through the third.
Harwell finished the game with a team-high 16 points on 6-9 shooting, alongside four 3-pointers and two steals.
A new point guard on the horizon
Flemings was highly sought after as part of the Brennan High School Bears in San Antonio. He ultimately chose Houston over Arkansas, Gonzaga, Texas and Texas Tech.
He is ranked as a five-star recruit, rated the No. 3 point guard in his class and the top recruit from Texas.
In his senior year, Flemings averaged 20.4 points, 6.8 assists,
6.4 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game at his high school.
Flemings had six performances with 10 or more assists this season.
“I’d say the best thing I do is drive and kick out,” Flemings said. “I see the court very well and trust my shooters.”
Another strength of Flemings is his rebounding ability, a trait that Sampson seeks in all of his guards.
“Defense and rebounding is mainly about mentality,” Flemings said. “I always try to go and rebound and get every single ball. As soon as it goes in the air, I’m thinking I want to be the one to get the ball.”
Flemings averaged 6.4 rebounds this season and 7.1 the year prior.
“Kingston is a point guard who understands the game at a high level,” Sampson said.
“His athleticism, quickness and competitive spirit make him everything you want in a point guard.”
He’ll now look to follow in the footsteps left behind by former Houston point guards such as Galen Robinson Jr., DeJon Jarreau and Jamal Shead.
“The point guard is the most important position you start with when building your program,” Sampson said. “I think Kingston has a chance to be special. He is a tough and smart kid who wanted to go somewhere that lives at a high level, and I think he made a great decision.”
Jackson stays home
Jackson was the first of the group to commit and is a threestar recruit from Shadow Creek
High School in Pearland.
He is ranked 200th nationally and 32nd in his position. He is also ranked 16th in the state of
Texas.
The incoming freshman stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 185 pounds.
Jackson is next in a family with a basketball lineage that spans generations.
His father, Luke Jackson, played four years of college basketball at Syracuse from 1992-95.
His grandfather, Lucious Jackson Sr., played eight seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers and was part of their 1966-67 championship team. Jackson Sr. was also named an NBA All-Star in 1965.
Jackson has the potential to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, but the young guard endured several setbacks.
“When Bryce was a 10th grader, he was tracking to be possibly the best player in the state,” coach Kelvin Sampson said. “That was until he had a horrific leg injury that required surgery, and he had to sit out quite some time.”
Sampson and his staff saw Jackson play last summer and were reminded of the player he and his staff recruited.
“I saw signs of the old Bryce,” Sampson said. “We are excited about Bryce and his future here.”
Despite the injury setbacks, many in the industry are still very high on his talent and what he could bring to Houston.
“He’s a versatile wing that impacts the game in several ways and makes winning plays,” former professional basketball player Herb Baker said. “I see him being a fan favorite and becoming a Cougar legend when it’s all said and done.”
With the addition of these four talented recruits, Houston’s 2025 recruiting class is poised to have an immediate impact on the
program’s success next season, on top of the returners from this past season’s national title runner-up team.
More than that, they are a testament to the efforts that Sampson and UH have made to
rebuild the credibility of the men’s basketball program and make it a desirable destination for top-flight players all around the country.
sports@thedailycougar.com
Incoming freshman Bryce Jackson (top) Chris Cenac Jr. (bottom) cheer on Houston during the second half of an NCAA men’s basketball game, Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Houston. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
Photos by: Emma Christensen, Raphael Fernandez, Oscar Herrera, Gillian Wisniewski
Cougars building a path to redemption for 2025-26 season
MICHAEL CARRARA
@MICHAELCOATE.TCS
After a heartbreaking loss in their first national championship game appearance under coach Kelvin Sampson, Houston men’s basketball is already back to work, determined to prove they can return to the final 40 minutes and capture the dream.
Maintaining consistency has been key to keeping the Cougars’ championship window open. In just two seasons in the Big 12 Conference, Houston has compiled a dominant 34-4 regular season conference record, resulting in back-to-back regular season titles. They’ve also earned three straight No. 1 seeds in the NCAA Tournament.
A conference single-season record of 19 wins, a conference tournament title and a deep NCAA Tournament run that included all six games led to a program-best 35 wins in the 202425 season.
The recipe for replicating that success hinges on the health of Sampson’s roster.
The 2024-25 campaign was regarded as the healthiest in recent memory, allowing for a deep tournament run in which every top-10 rotation player logged minutes at some point during the run.
While Houston has ranked in the top two nationally in KenPom defensive rating over the past two seasons, its offensive rating improved significantly, jumping seven spots from 2023-24 to finish 12th in 2024-25, showing growth but also room for further development.
Isaacs, Sakho, 2025 recruiting class highlight incoming talent
With the graduations of guard L.J. Cryer, forward J’Wan Roberts, guard Mylik Wilson and forward
Ja’Vier Francis, roster turnover isn’t a concern for Sampson, who is well known for his savvy use of the transfer portal.
Less than 24 hours after Houston’s 65-63 national championship loss to top-seeded Florida on Monday, April 7, Creighton junior guard Pop Isaacs, who entered the portal on March 26, announced his commitment to Houston for his senior season via his agency, PNW Sports Group.
In two seasons at Texas Tech and one at Creighton, Isaacs has averaged 14.2 points per game on 36.2% shooting. In his brief stint with Creighton, just eight games before a hip injury cut his season short, he posted careerbest numbers: 16.3 points per game on 41% shooting overall and 38.3% from three, along with 4.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists.
Returning to the Big 12, where he played 59 games with Texas Tech, Isaacs brings experience and accolades, including thirdteam All-Big 12 honors in 2023-24. Isaacs is a shot-creating combo
PATH TO REDEMPTION
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The Importance of Bicycle and Scooter Registration at the University of Houston
As a student at UH, you might have noticed the increasing number of bicycles & scooters around campus this semester. With the rise in their usage, it's crucial to understand the importance of registering your bicycle or scooter with the university.
Why Register Your Bicycle or Scooter?
1. Theft Prevention and Recovery: One of the primary reasons to register your bicycle or scooter is to protect it from theft. If your bike or scooter is stolen, having it registered with the university significantly increases the chances of recovery. The registration sticker provides a unique identifier that law enforcement can use to track & return your property.
2. Campus Safety and Organization: Registered bicycles & scooters help the university maintain a safe & organized campus. By knowing the number of bikes & scooters on campus, the university can plan for adequate parking facilities and ensure that pathways & entrances are not obstructed.
3. Access to Secure Parking: The University of Houston offers high-security Bikeep stations where you can securely lock your registered bicycle. These stations are located at Butler Plaza & University Lofts, providing a safe place to park your bike while on campus. Registered users can easily access these stations through the UH Go app, adding an extra layer of security against theft.
4. Community Responsibility: Registering your bicycle or scooter is a simple yet effective way to contribute to the campus community. It shows that you are a responsible member who cares about the safety & well-being of others. Plus, the registration process is quick, easy, & free.
How to Register Your Bicycle or Scooter
1. Log in to AccessUH.
2. Click on "myParking Account."
3. Select the "Permits" from the pull-down menu & click "Get Permits." Additionally, there’s a “Bicycle/Scooter Registration” button on the home page you can click.
4. Click the red button that says, "Register Bike."
5. Enter the serial number, model, & color of your bicycle or scooter. You can also upload photos.
6. Submit the form & visit the Parking & Transportation customer service office in the Elgin Street Garage to pick up your registration sticker.
Registering your bicycle or scooter at UH is a small step that can make a big difference. It enhances the security of your property, contributes to campus safety, & helps the university to have enough parking stations so that bicycles & scooters have secure on-campus places to park.
You may notice a $20 citation placed on unregistered bikes. This is part of an informational campaign to educate the community about the importance of bike registration. Each citation comes with a card stapled to it, explaining that if you register your bike, there will be no charge. The card also includes a QR code with easy instructions on how to complete the free bike registration process.
So, if you have not registered your bike or scooter yet, take a few minutes to do so today. It's a decision that benefits you and the entire university community.
Houston guard Milos Uzan poses for a fan selfie after the team returns from the National Championship, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Houston. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
Always and forever Cougars, road does not end here
PATH TO REDEMPTION
Continued from previous page
guard and expected to shine in clutch moments.
Joining the Cougars, on Friday, April 4, Sam Houston was senior forward Kalifa Sakho, who announced his commitment through his agency, WEAVE. Across 65 Division I games with Utah State and Sam Houston, Sakho has averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds.
In 2024-25, he started all 32 games for the Bearkats, putting up career highs with 7.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. He is a strong defender and blocked two or more shots in 18 games, including a four-block outing on Feb. 22 against Middle Tennessee.
Standing at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Sakho helps replenish the size and defensive presence lost with Roberts and Francis departing the frontcourt.
The 2025-26 season also welcomes the highest-rated recruiting class in Houston program history, ranked No. 2 nationally by 247Sports. The class includes guards Isiah Harwell and San Antonio Brennan High School alum Kingston Flemings, along with stretch center Chris Cenac, who is already projected as a 2026 NBA Draft lottery pick and the highest-ranked recruit in Houston’s modern era.
Arceneaux’s departure, Uzan tests NBA Draft waters
Roster turnover isn’t one-way; however, on Thursday, April
and senior forward Ja’Vier Francis are still there, regardless of the game’s result.
“It’s sad, the season is over with, I won’t get to put this jersey on with my teammates again,” Wilson said.
According to the number of wins and accomplishments, this was the greatest season in UH basketball history and the student-athletes will always be proud members of this team.
“I’m glad I could play with L.J. I’m glad I played with all those guys. This is by far, out of my six years, the best team I’ve been on,” Roberts said.
Houston started the season with three early losses and was left under the radar for a lot of the year.
The adversity that they faced early helped them be battletested for the tough games ahead.
Houston’s 19-1 Big 12 mark was a conference record, and the Cougars stacked up 18 straight wins until the championship game.
While Houston men’s basketball’s national title dream came up just short against Florida in the championship game, the positive memories and incredible journey the team went through from the start of the season until the first weekend of April are something that the school and city will always be proud of.
Houston made it to the national championship for the first time since 1984.
It took 41 years to climb back up to this height of success and compete for the National Championship.
The emotions of moving on from the program, from graduate guards L.J. Cryer, Mylik Wilson, graduate forward J’Wan Roberts
10, redshirt sophomore guard Terrance Arceneaux announced via social media that he would enter the transfer portal after three seasons with Houston.
His 2023-24 season was shortened by an Achilles injury. Arceneaux becomes just the fourth top-10 rotation player under Sampson to enter the portal, joining Caleb Mills, Tramon Mark and Damian Dunn.
Complicating the plan, the return of junior guard Milos Uzan remains uncertain. On Sunday, April 13, his agency, PNW Sports Group, announced he would declare for the 2025 NBA Draft.
A projected mid-second-round pick on multiple boards, Uzan has until May 28 to decide whether he will return to Houston with his final year of eligibility.
high school, but was able to get him back for his last two seasons after he took the long road.
On this team, Wilson developed into an essential piece and culture player off the bench who was an excellent rebounder. Most importantly, the 6-foot-3 guard played with intensity and grit, exactly what the Cougars are known for.
Putting his body on the line every night, the Rayville, La., native always was flying high and buying into the Cougars’ culture.
Wilson’s 3-ball greatly improved, and he stepped up in multiple games, such as in Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas in January and agasint Gonzaga in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
Wilson also got the last rebound of the game against Duke in the national semifinal. The growth that Wilson and the team had made them winners.
“Even though we lost, we’re still champions in my eyes,” Wilson said.
This included navigating through the toughest region of March Madness with wins over No. 16 SIUE, No. 8 Gonzaga, No. 4 Purdue and No. 2 Tennessee to be crowned champions of the Midwest Region.
“Where we come from, Third Ward, Houston, nobody believed in us, but we believed in ourselves to get to Monday night,” Wilson said. “It’s something we’ll remember for the rest of our life.”
Wilson is a true testament of how this program develops players during their time in Houston and when it’s time to move on, they are ready for the next chapter.
A two-time transfer guard from Louisiana and Texas Tech, UH initially recruited Wilson from
Sampson’s contract, coaching succession
“I haven’t thought a lot about what’s next,” Sampson said. “I get so focused on the team and trying to figure out how to help them.”
Sampson, now 69, is in the final two seasons of his current contract, which currently pays
Houston is a program that has been underrated throughout the years, and never made a nationwide impact like they did this season.
“It’s been a blessing being here. Just been the best year of my life so far,” Cryer said. “We need to hold our heads high because we did accomplish a lot this season.”
Cryer, Roberts, Wilson and Francis, will all look back on their time in the red and white very fondly.
This was a group that will always be considered special at UH.
“Family never dies, no matter how far we are, it doesn’t matter. We’re always going to be locked in,” Roberts said. “This group of guys are special.”
sports@thedailycougar.com
him $4.75 million annually and expires after the 2026-27 season. The deal includes a succession clause that appoints his son, assistant coach Kellen Sampson, to a $2 million-per-year position as the program’s next leader. sports@thedailycougar.com
MAANAV GUPTA STAFF WRITER MGSPORTSTALK
Mylik Wilson (top), J’Wan Roberts, L.J. Cryer (bottom) duirng the National Championship in San Antonio | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
Kelvin Sampson | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar
UH needs to protect its international students
ANAYA
BAXTER
OPINION ASSIST
@ANAYABAX
As of April 12, over 950 international students around the country have had their legal status changed by the State Department. These changes, which come as a result of Trump’s visa termination orders, leave hundreds at risk of sudden deportation. Some of those 950 are UH students.
According to the University, a small number of our international students have been impacted by the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System and visa revocations.
This statement came only days before a professor faced that exact fate. It is increasingly clear that the University must, privately and publicly, protect international students and staff. The identities of impacted students and faculty remain private, and for good reason. Advertising their information would do more harm, but that does not mean UH can sweep the issue at large under the rug. One could assume this is their plan, as they have not publicly addressed visa changes.
A public statement is, along with being a sign of decency, a powerful solidarity tool that can snowball into action. The
University has thousands of eyes on it, in and outside of Texas. This vast network must know that international students are valued and have a place on campus.
Further, it must be known that UH will not be complicit in these attacks. A statement alone is enough to bring eyes to what is happening. Increased knowledge of current risks, personal rights and how to be an ally are great starting points in protecting international peers.
In addition to publishing a statement, the university needs to use its platform and resources. Nearly 90 universities across the country signed an amicus brief demanding that the Trump administration stop revoking visas and detaining students without cause.
UH needs to join the list and stand amongst other institutions pressuring the federal government.
While national change comes through a lengthy process, there are many local ways to support students and faculty. The university has thousands of alumni and connections, as previously mentioned. Amongst these supporters are legal professionals, non-profit organizers and more.
UH should be utilizing and connecting vulnerable students with those who can
EASY TO ENJOY IN
help. This threat is beyond the campus level and requires the appropriate resources. It would be incredibly wasteful for the university to ignore the support at its disposal.
While only a “small number” of students have seen status changes so far, there will undoubtedly be more affected. Other Texas universities, such as UNT and UT Arlington, are seeing nearly 30 students targeted.
International students and faculty sacrifice too much for the University to turn its back on them. In addition to contributing financially, they leave behind friends and family to better our institution’s academic programs, culture and legacy. For a school that so often boasts about its diversity, one would assume they would defend it.
Visa revocations are just one of many tools being used to dismantle higher education. Freedom of speech, inclusive programs and funding have all been targeted since the beginning of the year, and there are only so many excuses UH can use before they must assume their responsibility to represent and fight for students.
opinion@thedailycougar.com
Lily Huynh/The Cougar
UH continues to silence pro-Palestinian movements
PARKER H-B
OPINION EDITOR
@ALASTFAIR
The past year has seen immense suppression of pro-Palestinian movements, especially on university campuses. UH has been one such school, continuously silencing Palestinian protests and events, and not just within the main campus.
This has especially been the case since Greg Abbott’s executive order last March, directing campuses to punish student movements unjustly deemed “antisemitic.” The compliance UH has shown with this order reflects a shameful pattern across America in which free speech is looking as good as dead.
Event cancellations
Last month, the Students for Justice in Palestine HTX organization put together an event at UH-Clear Lake called Heart to Hummus; an homage to Palestinian cuisine with an emphasis on the effects of cultural erasure.
The event was prepared for over a month in advance, with SJP working to acquire the proper food handling certifications as well as approval from school staff, such as the Residence Hall Association, The Office of Student Involvement and the Activities Funding Board. Preparation-wise, the org had done everything right.
Despite this, UHCL staff canceled the event within less than 24 hours’ notice, claiming that it was in violation of the University’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. In addition to this, SJP was told little in regard to how the event violated these policies after reaching out to several staff members.
Members of the organization believe that UH is entirely unjustified in these actions and that their cause is being wrongfully targeted.
“Not only did the UHCL administration fail to provide documentation of how this is a violation, they allowed RHA to host a ‘cookout’ event with three other student organizations two days after they canceled SJP’s food-making event,” said junior computer science major Maryam El-Rasheedy.
She then added that since SJP at UHCL became a registered organization, they’ve
SOCIAL
faced consistent cancellations for vague reasons, and constant reminders of the Student Code of Conduct. “SJP has spoken to over five other Registered Student Organizations, and they have all stated that they do not receive this level of surveillance from administration.”
The cited reason for the cancellation being DEI policies is interesting, considering that section 4.4.3 of those policies clearly states that “An activity of a registered student organization” is excluded from these rules. SJP at UHCL is one of these registered organizations, and therefore are not subject to the exact reasoning provided.
So, why was it really canceled? The conclusion that many have come to is that the University is biased against Palestinian movements, and is coming up with any flimsy excuse it can to silence them.
This bias was even further enforced by a statement made by a UHCL admin, who referred to the event as “Heart of Hamas” in a video posted on Instagram by SJP.
This labeling of a cultural event as being related to what many consider a terrorist group is objectively unprofessional and incredibly insensitive. If it weren’t already shameful enough to call off an innocent get-together with illegitimate reasoning, this incident only reinforces the discriminatory attitude UH staff has shown towards the organization.
“It’s just incredibly racist to say that so casually,” said economics freshman Hamza Malik, a member of SJP at UH’s main campus. “It really has displayed the white supremacist ideologies present in the University.”
Less than a week before the “Heart to Hummus” event, SJP organized a book club to be held in the Student Center. This event was meant to occur on the SCS steps, where attendees would discuss political prisoners recently abducted by ICE, as well as read a novel about Palestinian displacement.
Once again, right before the event began, administrative action got in the way. The steps were blocked off, with a sign designating the area as reserved for an NCAA viewing. Members were directed to move, despite the space commonly being used for study groups and the like fairly often.
While the University certainly has a right to section off its own property, the responses given by staff and the suddenness of the conflict are telling, especially alongside other blatant shows of suppression.
Concerns for safety
While the unjust cancellation of gatherings is bad enough, involved students, both at and outside of UH, have begun to worry for their safety when engaging in protests and other organized activities.
Across the US, pro-Palestinian protesters
have been faced with the threat of deportation by Trump’s administration. Students have been suspended from their respective campuses, arrested and even had their visas revoked, simply for exercising their rights.
“We do have concerns over our own safety,” said Malik. However, he also asserted that students are not letting these worries stop them.
“While it’s objectively terrifying, it’s not by any means demotivating,” he said. “It’s even more motivating in the rise of fascism and the complete abandonment of our civil rights.”
Malik then added that it is incredibly important now that these movements continue so that universities and governments understand the resolve and power of their constituents.
As threats to free speech rage across the country, and Palestinian protesters continue to be suppressed and silenced, students must persist in their efforts.
UH may decide to be complicit in fascist government policies, but the student body is immense and has the ability to push against any authority that wishes to violate their rights. There is strength in numbers, and the University’s discriminatory actions should not be tolerated.
opinion@thedailycougar.com
Declining school spirit is in the hands of UH admin
PARKER H-B
OPINION EDITOR
@ALASTFAIR
With the semester coming to an end soon, students are once again facing the dreary atmosphere that comes with finals and reflecting on the months spent tirelessly working. While the Cougar’s incredible March Madness run this year certainly built up hype, this academic year has seemed to lack a sense of energy overall.
School spirit is important for any university’s community, but between UH’s lackluster responses to crime and flimsy student support, it’s continued to dwindle, and it has every reason to.
To anyone on campus, it’s obvious how unsettled the student body has been. Within the last few months, there were multiple major crimes at UH, including rape, sexual assault and robbery.
The rise in crime has been damaging enough, but many have been discontent with the University’s actions following these incidents.
Protests were organized shortly after, and demands were made, but even during these events, students worried that they would ultimately be disregarded. Even protesters outside of these have expressed concerns about silencing or not being taken seriously.
This was also a concern following the
suicides at Agnes Arnold in 2023 when the University’s only response to the tragedies was to recommend CAPS until students protested their inaction.
Given this, why would any student discontent with the state of their school, feeling as if they’ve been ignored by the institution for years, have any pride in being at UH?
Students also lack integral support, with consistent complaints being made online about things like the DART Center and CAPS. The application processes are extensive, DART accommodations are sometimes ignored by professors and little to nothing is done to fix this.
These issues aren’t new. Year after year,
students continue to express concern over school policies, unhelpful administration and plenty of other things that would lead anyone to be discontent with their enrollment.
The question is, will UH make the necessary changes to bring back school spirit? It’s not unreasonable to assume not. Truly, it’s hard to care about an institution, let alone show much school spirit, if it shows at every turn that its students and their well-being have little value. If UH wants anyone to be prideful about their time spent here, something needs to change.
opinion@thedailycougar.com
Lily Huynh/The Cougar
letter from the editor
Not a goodbye, just a ‘See you later!’
CINDY RIVAS ALFARO
EDITOR IN CHIEF
@CINDYGISELLES
There is so much to say but such little space so I’ll try and make this brief. I can’t believe it but I will be returning next year to be Volume 91’s editor-in-chief!
What a year this has been. From rounding up freshmen at Cat’s Back to late nights covering breaking news with the team, I’ve never felt more alive.
Journalism truly is my passion even when it makes me want to pull out my hair but the people I’ve surrounded
myself with make it worth it.
When I first came to The Cougar, I was pulled in by the organization’s efforts to uplift student voices, and I can’t help but use this letter to reiterate that.
Right now, student voices are under attack. International students are
getting kidnapped off the streets and professors are getting their visas and funding cut for no reason other than hindering free speech.
On a wider lens, immigration issues have been present from the dawn of time but one thing I will always say is this: No one is illegal on stolen land.
As a daughter of immigrants, I keep that in the back of my mind whenever I am met with a student, faculty or staff who are fearful of the next few years. These are scary times, and I won’t lie and say everything will be okay.
However, I do know that there are people here to support you, including myself. I will always strive to uplift student voices who feel like the world is shutting them off. As editor-inchief, I promise that I will always put students first.
I hope the next few years are kind to us, and I wish peace and comfort in these troubling times. I trust that it will get better, even if things don’t seem that way.
editor@thedailycougar.com
Cindy Rivas Alfaro Editor in Chief @thedailycougar
Lily Huynh/The Cougar
parting ways
Farewell, Anaya!
ANAYA BAXTER
OPINION ASSISTANT EDITOR @ANAYYUH
Burnt out from research papers, I searched for a way to express myself and process the world through my favorite medium. An Instagram post led to an interview (that somehow got on the topic of fanfiction), and suddenly I was at CVS printing pictures for my office desk.
I am honored to have contributed to Volume 90. Most students are not given room in an official newspaper to write about
whatever comes to mind. From reality TV to campus issues, I have been given the freedom and trust to represent the opinion section with pieces I can only hope are thoughtprovoking and spark conversations.
Above all, The Cougar has given me community. I cherish the hours spent in the office filled with joyous conversations. I cherish coming to campus mostly to see my friends or popping into the office before leaving, just to see who is in.
I would like to especially thank my editor, Parker, for patiently working with me.
From stories sent in early morning hours to scrapped pitches, they have made this year special. I could not have asked for a better person to work beside.
To anyone who read, discussed and cited my work – thank you. It is surreal to know my thoughts are perceived by strangers, even though they are published in the physical and digital world. Thank you to The Cougar for all you have given me and allowed me to give. Good luck on Volume 91!
Farewell Emma!
EDITOR
@RIN1.PNG
In college, everyone always wants to join a club or a sorority, make a ton of friends, and party all the time–but when you go off-book, and take the unmapped path, you could just find what you were hoping for all along.
If you walked into The Cougar office
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As I was putting together the layout for this print edition, it finally clicked that my
LETTERS
Farewell, Regan!
REGAN GRANT MANAGING EDITOR @JPG.REGANG
As I sit down to write this, it still hasn’t fully hit me that in just a few short weeks, I’ll be walking across the stage, diploma in hand, leaving behind the place that has shaped so much of my college experience.
Graduating in three years is an accomplishment I should be proud of—and I am—but it’s bittersweet knowing I’m missing out on another year with The Cougar, an organization that has come to mean the world to me.
My journey here hasn’t always been smooth.
There were late nights, tough edits and
challenges that tested my resolve. But every bump in the road left me with a new callous—a mark of growth, resilience and the kind of strength that only comes from pouring your heart into something you love.
Serving as your Managing Editor this year, and as the Student Government Assistant Editor before that, has been one of the greatest experiences of my undergraduate career.
None of it would have been possible without Cindy Rivas Alfaro, my Editor-inChief, who saw something in me even when I doubted myself.
Cindy, thank you for your unwavering belief in me—for pushing me to take on more, to dig deeper and to trust my voice.
You didn’t just lead this paper; you built a family here, and I’m endlessly grateful to have been part of it.
As I move forward, I know a part of me will always stay here—in the hum of the newsroom, the clatter of keyboards, and the laughter that got us through even the craziest of times.
Thank you, Cougar, for the lessons, the memories and the people. No matter where I go next, you’ll always have a piece of me.
at any point in the last year and a half, chances are, I was there.
My desk became my home, a place of focus, and a foundry for my passion.
I had never imagined myself working in a newsroom, but The Cougar spurred on my love for design and social media outside of just my interest in marketing.
If I leave behind one thing, I hope it is the feeling of change and fun with the methods by which The Cougar reaches its readers.
I had an amazing time being the messenger for students at UH, and I know this experience will stay with me as I move into the professional world.
I found amazing friends, renewed my love for photography, and learned as much as I could about the world of journalism.
The Cougar will always be the highlight of my time here at UH, and I know I will miss it dearly.
JOSE GONZALEZ-CAMPELO CREATIVE DIRECTOR
@JGONCREATIVE
Four years ago, in the fall of 2021, my friend asked me to come with him to The Cougar’s first general meeting.
He wanted to join the photography team to show his dad he was getting involved on campus, but he didn’t want to go alone.
At the time, I’d never been a part of student media, or any organization for that matter, and I was nervous.
I feel proud to have been part of an organization with such dedicated people who worked hard to elevate underrepresented voices and speak out against issues that matter and truly made a difference.
During my time at The Cougar, I’ve seen 33 different members serve on the Editorial Board.
I’ve witnessed incredible growth, both in the organization itself and in those around me. I want to thank John Lomax, our former editor in chief, and Cindy, the two people I spent the most time with at The Cougar, who worked tirelessly to ensure the important stories were told.
I’d also like to thank Dylan Burkett, the previous creative director. I owe my time here at The Cougar to him and his support and mentorship helped me ease into the role.
I’m especially grateful to Lily, our assistant creative director, whose hard work, support, and dedication have been invaluable.
time at The Cougar is coming to a close. Strangely, InDesign seemed to get the memo too, as it cooperated with me more than it ever has.
When I anxiously walked into the office for my interview last April, practically shoved in by our Web Editor, Emma Christensen, I never could’ve imagined how amazing the next year would be. I found a home in that office that I am more and more grateful for every day.
Being the Opinion Editor for The Cougar has been more than just a job. Cliché, I know, but it’s true. Working here, spending time with everyone in the office and having the privilege to put not only my voice, but the
I didn’t realize then that going to that meeting would shape the next four years of my life.
Joining The Cougar was the best decision I made here at UH. Being a part of this community has genuinely changed my life, opened up so many opportunities, and allowed me to meet so many hard-working and incredible people.
voices of others, out to the student body has been a journey that I will always hold dear. I can only hope that any of the words I’ve published have reached someone out there, and have meant something to them, as well.
So as Vol. 90 meets its end, I want to extend
I’m going to miss The Cougar. From the print day rush and messing around in the office to working on last minute graphics or delivering newspapers in the cold.
I’m so grateful for an unforgettable four years. I’ve made memories and learned so many things that I will carry with me forever. Thank you to everyone at The Cougar. (P.S. I hope this is in AP style.).
my gratitude to every amazing friend I’ve made here, every student who supports us and most of all, Emma, who got me here in the first place. I’ll treasure every moment I’ve spent here for the rest of my career.
EMMA CHRISTENSEN WEB EDITOR
EMMA CHRISTENSEN WEB
life and arts
April’s Angle: Getting ready for summer
Hi, and welcome to the last issue of April’s Angle, where I share my thoughts on everything from fashion and beauty to college life and beyond. You can submit questions or opinions through the link in the April’s Angle highlight on @ thedailycougar or message me personally.
Ending the semester strong!
As the semester comes to an end it’s important to end stronger than you started. This is the time when grades catch up to you and assignments pile up so make sure to stay focused and consistent in your work!
Communicate with Professors
We are approaching the period of time that professors deem too late to complain about grades or missing assignments, so don’t
wait any longer. If you have questions or concerns about your standing in a class, don’t be afraid to reach out to your professors or TA’s, they are available to help you be successful.
Begin preparing for finals
To avoid being blindsided by the amount of studying needed for finals, start now. Even if you’re unsure of your standing in a class, it couldn’t hurt to begin studying for a potential final exam. I for one don’t have any final exams but I do have an insane amount of final projects, if this is the case for you– start working on those projects as soon as possible.
Pick up a new hobby
Every summer I scour the internet for a new hobby to fixate on, this does a job of keeping me entertained and allowing my creativity to flow. One summer I was really into scrapbooking, I collected pages out of magazines
and printed out pictures to create fun and creative pages in my journal.
Find a summer job
A part time low stress summer job is a good way to make money while staying busy. Bonus points if you can find a friend to work with you, working with a friend is so much fun, it makes the experience seem more like a hangout rather than a job.
Spend time with friends and family
Whether you’ve been a commuter or been away from home, college takes away valuable time to spend with your family and friends. Make it a priority to take the time to catch up with your loved ones. Plan trips and hangouts to celebrate your relationships and how far you’ve come!
news@thedailycougar.com
VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- Think about the best way forward, unleash your energy and plan strategically. Refuse to let outside interference come between you and your target. Trust in yourself.
LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) -- Choose a creative outlet and immerse yourself in it. Don’t let outside influences cause you grief. Pay attention to what brings you joy and distance yourself from drama and chaos.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Help those who need it. Participate in events that encourage progress and a better life for everyone. Be the one to start a movement or educate those who have lost their way.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- A
work ethic will separate you from your associates. Someone unexpected may disappoint you. Keep your guard up, keep your secrets to yourself and keep your progress top-notch.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Consider your next move and plan your actions carefully. Making a wrong move would be costly. Explore your options, reset your agenda and refuse to let emotional interference throw you off your game.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- You’re in the groove and must trust your instincts. Do what feels right, and don’t waste time. Expect to go it alone. Consistency and preservation are your path to victory. Self-improvement is favored.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Aim to
simplify your life, not make it more complicated. Downsize and do whatever it takes to reduce stress. Indulge in heart-to-heart talks, gather information and stop waffling about what to do next.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Smile, be happy and do something fun to help you engage with like-minded people. Expand your awareness and interests. Trust your instincts and walk away from negativity and those standing in your way.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Build a strong base, good friendships and a healthy lifestyle. Don’t leave details up to someone who doesn’t share your vision. Put your energy into stabilizing your position and prospects.
GEMINI (May 21-
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR
June 20) -- Broaden your outlook and engage in something that motivates you. What you discover about yourself will give you more confidence to strive for a better, more efficient lifestyle.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Take better care of yourself, your surroundings and your relationships. Learn from experience, and you’ll find a unique way to handle sensitive situations. Refuse to let emotions cost you. Choose peace over argument.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Give a shout-out to those you agree with. There is power in numbers, and participating in something you believe in will positively impact you. Don’t sit back.
—Eugenia Last
SENIOR
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.
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