Issue 9, Volume 87

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | 1

@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, January 19, 2022

Est. 1934

Issue 9, Volume 87

New Semester, Same Plan UH community prepares for another ‘soft opening’ as the omicron variant continues to surge. | PG. 2

2 | Wednesday, January 19 2022

NEWS

HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

CAMPUS

Second soft-launched semester begins as omicron surge continues

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

HAYA PANJWANI

NEWS EDITOR @HAYAPANJW

Since announcing the decision to pivot to a ‘soft opening’ format for Spring 2022, UH has averaged 40 COVID-19 cases a day, as of Jan. 15, before students began returning to campus.

When the University chose to opt for this format of instruction, it did so with the understanding that the rise in COVID-19 cases worldwide and surge of the highly contagious omicron variant would affect students returning to campus in Spring.

“In the days since the end of the fall term, we’ve continued to monitor the spread of the Omicron variant, which now accounts for 95% of all COVID-19 infections in the U.S,” said UH President Renu Khator in her ‘soft opening’ announcement. “While Omicron is believed to be less severe, its infection rate is still a cause for serious concern.”

The ‘soft opening’ format, which was also instituted during the Fall 2021 semester, gives instructors the choice of whether they want to conduct classes in-person, online or a hybrid of the two formats.

“Instructors have been empowered to modify their course format during the soft openings to reduce the number of students in close proximity,” said UH

spokesperson Shawn Lindsey.

78 percent of classes in Fall 2021 were held in a face-to-face setting following the ‘soft opening,’ according to Lindsey.

The University said it found this strategy effective, since it helped reduce contact.

“This (soft opening) strategy proved effective in reducing close physical contact at the start of the fall semester during the Delta surge, and we believe it will again be a key strategy for limiting the spread of the virus for the start of the spring semester,” Lindsey said.

However, during the fall ‘soft opening’ period, COVID-19 cases hit a spike, peaking at 34 positive cases reported to the University.

Nevertheless, the University proceeded with their choice to opt for a ‘soft opening’ this semester, citing that other Tier One educational institutions were choosing similar routes.

“Our plan for temporary, flexible changes to course modalities is consistent with the other large flagship universities in Texas,” Lindsey said.

Universities like Rice University, the University of Texas, UT Dallas and UTSA have all opted for a virtual-only format. for the first few weeks of the semester.

OPENING

Continues on page 4

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | 3 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

NEWS

ALUMNI

UH alumna running for Harris County District Court seat AMINAH TANNIR

NEWS EDITOR @AMOUNAJT

Striving to become the first Arab American judge to serve in Texas, UH alumna Lema Barazi is running for a Harris County district seat on the platform of furthering minority representation.

The trial attorney of 15 years announced her candidacy for the Harris County 158 District Court judge position in November of last year, officially being put on the ballot in December.

“I have seen discrimination against individuals, against my clients and against others in the courtroom for years, and I’ve seen it here in Harris County,” Barazi said. “I want that to stop and I think the way to get this to stop is to run for office.”

Barazi’s time at the Honor’s College as a dual English and political science major and later the UH Law Center for her J.D. isn’t the beginning of this prospective candidate’s story.

Barazi’s world changed when her family immigrated to the U.S. from Syria when she was a child, where they struggled to adjust to a completely new culture and language.

“Growing up in a working family, I saw things that I didn’t like. I saw my dad being made fun of because of his accent,” Barazi said. “I saw my mom being made fun of because she wore hijab. She was maltreated often.”

Despite the hardships of immersing into this new culture, Barazi is grateful for the opportunity to live in the diverse Harris County and attend schools reflecting that.

Barazi credits her life in

UH alumna Lema Barazi takes her passion for equal representation in the court of law and carries it to the Harris County District Court elections. | Courtesy of Lema Barazi

Alief as well as her experiences traveling the world for helping her become more empathetic and compassionate towards others.

Along with her personal life experiences, Barazi said her time at UH has helped solidify her beliefs and express them through multiple organizations she took part in.

Barazi spoke fondly of her position as a columnist for The Cougar, noting the times she received varying responses on her opinions for controversial current events at the time such as the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions.

“Sometimes I took unpopular stances and I got a lot of positive feedback. I also got some

backlash at the time. I even received death threats for some of my columns, especially my anti-war columns,” Barazi said.

“That helped me grow a thicker skin and it helped me stick to my beliefs.”

Barazi said it was eye-opening and helped her experience the world in a way she hadn’t before. This carried over into

her involvement at the UH Law Center.

Aside from her membership in activities including the Moot Court Team, Barazi was a research editor with her name appearing in publications such as the Houston Business Journal and the Journal of International Law. Barazi also founded the Muslim Law Student Association and remained its president for three years.

After her time at UH, Barazi practiced in several fields of law including civil trial litigation, medical litigation, personal injury and commercial litigation and while working on felony prosecutions, she was involved with the high profile Andrea Yates case.

Barazi is currently a partner at the Lloyd & Mousilli Law Firm representing small businesses and startups. She also does pro bono work for asylum-seeking individuals that are fleeing from Middle Eastern countries.

With a passion for helping represent her community, Barazi said it’s important to have a voice with these elected positions and with her love of being a public servant, running for a judge seat was how she looked forward to doing so.

“Our judiciary doesn’t properly reflect the constituency. We’ve never had an Arab American judge in Texas, so I think it’s time to change that,” Barazi said. “If you wait for others to do it, you’re gonna be waiting a very long time. That’s why I’ve decided to step up and serve in this capacity and to hopefully, make a change and make history.” news@thedailycougar.com

4 | Wednesday, January 19 2022

STUDENT CENTERS CONFERENCE & RESERVATION SERVICES The Student Centers is a multipurpose building where students can relax in-between classes, grab food & participate in various events throughout the year. Our Conference & Reservations team is eager to help you or your organization reserve meeting & event spaces. With 3 facilities & 19 event spaces, you’ll be sure to find a place where you belong.

CREATIONSTATION Student Centers’ graphic design & print shop, CreationStation, offers a wide range of services including design, printing, lamination & passport photos.

GAMES ROOM The Games Room offers bowling, billiards, table tennis & other amusement games! It’s available for individual or group usage for open play & by reservation.

SHASTA’S CONES & MORE Stop by Shasta’s Cones & More, a student-run ice cream shop featuring a number of ice cream flavors, candy & beverages.

Follow us @uhstudentcenter to stay up-to-date with the latest news & events happening throughout the year!

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | 5 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

NEWS

EVENTS

Students remain optimistic about on campus events

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

LISA EL-AMIN

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @LISAELAMIN17

With a change in plan for opening the University up for the spring semester, some students are still optimistic about events being held on campus in person.

Since the pandemic, many students are anticipating a full spring term experience on campus alongside events within the community.

“I am looking forward to putting on and attending more events with (the) National Society of Black Engineers,” said junior

mechanical engineer major Maleah Ross.

Concerns about the increasing spread of omicron have pushed the University to make decisions that ensure everyone’s safety while on campus.

UH announced on Jan. 7 that it will be implementing a soft opening for the first two weeks of Spring 2022 similar to the fall semester of 2021.

Professors will have the option to change the format of their courses during the soft opening resulting in some students planning their schedules

differently for the first two weeks, according to provost Paula Myrick Short in an email to students.

Despite the potential change in course modalities for some students, some organizers for spring activities on campus are still optimistic for what the semester will bring.

“Prior to the pandemic, Frontier Fiesta saw on average well over 20,000 attendees over the three day festival,” said Frontier Fiesta chair Christopher Caldwell. “Our hope is that we will have similar attendance for this year’s event.”

The Frontier Fiesta board is eager to bring student performers to the stage and looking forward to the headlining artist, according to Caldwell.

“Our board is working diligently to plan a safe and enjoyable experience for the entire campus and surrounding Houston community,” Caldwell said.

“While doing so we are sure to adhere to all safety protocols set forth by the university and local, state and federal officials.”

Although some students are concerned about the new variant, others are trying to stay positive

and are excited to attend events on campus that they haven’t been able to previously due to the University being online.

“I’m looking forward to all the campus activities planned in the spring since I never got to experience them my freshman or sophomore year,” said junior human development and family studies major Thandiwe Ndhlukula. “I’m also looking forward to my classes and all the new things I get to learn about my career in the future.” news@thedailycougar.com

OPENING

Continued from page 2

Data provided by UH. | Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

This ‘soft opening’ is a choice that some UH students have been criticizing, as it leaves the decision of their class formats in the hands of their professors, instead of the hands of the University administration.

“I’m not ready to get COVID,” said journalism senior Haya El Abdallah. “My parents are old, I don’t want to affect them. I’m not ready to go back to campus yet.”

On Jan. 7, the University reported 75 confirmed COVID19 cases, with 32 of those cases on campus, one of the most recent peaks.

As the data changes, El Abdallah is still worried about the consequences of potentially contracting the virus.

“I’m scared of COVID and I’m scared for my family,” El

Abdallah said. “I would much rather have virtual classes.”

In light of this format choice, UH continues to ask students, faculty and staff to follow COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations the University has repeatedly been encouraging since the start of the pandemic.

“Keeping our campus safe and healthy, and slowing the spread of omicron is a shared responsibility,” Lindsey said.

“We all need to take personal responsibility to protect ourselves and those around us by following the advice that we all know: Avoid large crowds, wash your hands frequently and consider wearing a face covering.” news@thedailycougar.com

6 | Wednesday, January 19 2022

No more fomo.

Do it all with Amazon Prime Student.

Fast delivery, entertainment, exclusive deals for students, and more.

Start your 6-month trial. amazon.com/UofHouston

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | 7 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/LIFE-ARTS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

LIFE ANDNEWS ARTS

ADVICE

Ask Ashley: Advice on interviews, school, more

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Donna Keeya

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

Ashley Gwananji Lisa El-Amin

WEB EDITOR

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Sydney Rose

Jhair Romero NEWS EDITORS

Aminah Tannir Haya Panjwani SPORTS EDITOR

Sean Thomas Armando Yanez ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Gerald Sastra

James Mueller OPINION EDITOR

Anna Baker

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Juana Garcia

STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Santiago Gaughan/The Cougar

ASHLEY GWANANJI

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @ASHXLES

In The Cougar’s weekly anonymous advice column, I talk about preparing for a job interview, school tips for the upcoming semester and frogs. To submit your questions for future issues, click the “Ask Ashley” button on our home page.

Do you have any job interview tips you want to share? If yes, what are they?

Howdy anon and thanks for the question. I’m assuming that you are job hunting right now (or about to), hence the question. Interviewing for a new job can be nerve-racking,

but I think the key thing is to practice.

What I like to do is to research the organization or company I want to work for. You want to know as much about their mission, goals and what they do. Another way to think about it is like a date.

You want to impress your date as much as possible, so you find out everything about them to woo them. In this case, to woo your chosen organization, you take what you learned about it and use it towards cultivating answers for potential questions during the interview.

Where do you find potential interview questions, you may ask.

You may find them on Glassdoor, a favorite website of mine, or you

can compile common interview questions. As always, practice makes perfect. So be sure to practice your answers with someone for improvement tips.

If you need extra help, consider visiting University Career Services on campus. They were pretty helpful in getting my resume together. All in all, job interviews are very much like a one-on-one date on “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette.”

Just remember to be yourself, dress professionally, and be prepared to charm your interviewer’s pants off. Perhaps you can get that shiny Neil Lane diamond ring at the end. And by a ring, I mean the job offer. Best of luck!

Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, the new semester is here. What are some useful school hacks that other students might not know?

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

Happy new start of the semester, anon. Hopefully, this spring semester goes smoothly for you.

Honestly, I don’t have many original school hacks since I mostly do what everyone else does: study, procrastinate and spiral from being stressed. And while it’s not the healthiest way to do school, it’s been working for me.

Maybe that’s something you should take from this. Don’t do what I do, anon. I mean, unless it’s working for you. One tip I can

suggest is searching the title of your textbook on YouTube and find similar lectures using the book. This tip typically helps those in STEMrelated classes, especially biology, anatomy and physiology.

Another tip is joining study groups. I think they help with keeping up with the class and its coursework. See, these are very unoriginal school hacks. But you asked, and I delivered. Regardless, I hope it helps.

How can I improve my relationship with my pet frogs?

Okay, so this is a question. And I guess I’ll provide an answer. For starters, I don’t have the slightest clue about frogs. I just know they make sounds, they are slimy and they are outside like the City Girls, JT and Yung Miami.

Have you considered talking to them? Usually, that helps. What do frogs speak anyways? Frog-anese?

Ribbet? Whatever they speak, I’m sure they will like it.

Honestly, as long as you give them food, water and shelter, your frogs probably think highly of you anyways. I’m honored that you think I would know a thing or two about frogs. Maybe next time, hit up your local PetSmart for questions like this. They are more qualified than a random UH student who writes for The Cougar. arts@thedailycougar.com

The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major.

Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.

The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

studentpress.org/acp

8 | Wednesday, January 19 2022

SPORTS NEWS

JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

How UH has shifted focus after Mark and Sasser’s injuries JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

There was no hanging of heads. There was no feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, as the adversity piled up, the desire to win within the Houston men’s basketball program’s locker room grew stronger.

“I don’t think nobody else has a stronger belief system than us. Our coaches believe in us. We believe in ourselves,” said UH guard Taze Moore. “At the end of the day, we have an experienced group. We have an older group and we just know how to will ourselves and hold each other accountable to a point where we know what we want and we won’t let anybody take that from us.”

Nightmare before Christmas Dec. 23, 2021 will always be known as “Black Thursday” to Kelvin Sampson after the events that transpired the day before.

Sophomore guard Tramon Mark, who was finding his groove before reaggravating a left shoulder injury in the first half of the Cougars mid-December matchup against Alabama, underwent season-ending shoulder surgery the morning of Dec. 22 to repair a torn labrum on both sides of his left shoulder.

Replacing Mark’s 10 points per game would not be an easy task but seemed manageable with the roster UH had.

That night in the Cougars’ final nonconference game against Texas State, things quickly turned from bad to worse.

Kyler Edwards left the game with an apparent ankle injury.

After the game, Marcus Sasser expressed that his left foot was bothering him.

Both Edwards and Sasser went to get MRIs. The next morning, all the bad news hit the UH program.

Edwards had suffered a Grade-2 ankle

Veteran leadership After finding out that the team would be without Mark and Sasser for the remainder of the season, Fabian White Jr., the longesttenured Cougar in the program, sent a text to Taze Moore and Josh Carlton.

White knew that the role that Moore and Carlton, two college basketball veterans who transferred to UH over the offseason, needed to play for the team to win games had just increased tenfold.

Moore and Carlton, along with the rest of the team, embraced this challenge knowing that this UH team still had a chance to do something special even without two of its best players.

“The season wasn’t going to stop because Tramon (Mark) and Marcus (Sasser) can’t play,” Carlton said. “As much as we need them out there, there’s still games to play so we just knew we were going to have to find a way. There’s not much margin for error so

$

DLPProper.com

sprain and there was no timetable for his return.

Sasser, the Cougars’ leading scorer averaging 17.7 points per game, would miss the remainder of the 2021-22 season with a hairline fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his left foot that required surgery.

The dream of following up last year’s Final Four season with another deep NCAA Tournament run was quickly slipping away.

Sampson did not shy away from opening up about the challenges of navigating the remainder of the season without Mark and Sasser along with dealing with the team’s other injuries would be, describing his team as “walking wounded” and one injury away from Ryan Elvin, a walk-on, having to play 40 minutes a game.

“We’re walking a little bit of a tight rope here without any safety net under it,” Sampson said.

Josh Carlton has burst onto the scene offensively for UH since Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark have been out with injuries. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar

we’re not going to be able to blow teams out like we were before but we still have to find a way to win a game.”

Edwards, who knows what it takes to win at the highest level from his time at Texas Tech which included a trip to the national championship in 2019, expressed the same message.

“At the end of the day, we’re still Houston,” Edwards said. “We still got the best culture in the country to me I think. It doesn’t matter who goes out or comes in, we’re still good.”

Feeding the frontcourt While the injury bug had knocked out half of the UH guard group, the frontcourt, which Sampson called the best he’s had in all his years as the Cougars’ head coach, still stood strong.

“The good news is we have our front line,” Sampson said. “Josh Carlton, Reggie Chaney, Fabian White, J’Wan Roberts, all those guys are healthy, knock on wood, and ready to go.”

Both Carlton and White had proven they

can score in the past but had not been called upon to put up a big offensive performance on a consistent basis when Sasser and Mark were on the court.

Sasser and Mark’s injuries changed this, as the Cougars needed to replace the nearly 30 points per game the UH guard duo combined to average in the first two months of the season.

“It’s like watching TV. Sometimes you just got to change the channel,” Sampson said. “We played one way with Marcus and Tramon (but) we don’t have them anymore.

Now we play a different way and we’re going to have to adjust again.”

Thus, the shift from running the offense through the guard group to making Carlton and White a feature focus of the offense was made.

This change in focus has paid dividends for the Cougars’ offense through the first few weeks of conference play as no team has had an answer for the UH bigs.

INJURIES

Continues on page 9

200 OFF YOUR RENT IF YOU MOVE IN BY MARCH 1ST 2022

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | 9 JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

SPORTS NEWS

FOOTBALL

Looking back on Alton McCaskill’s breakout 2021 season SEAN THOMAS

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @SEANTHOMAS723

Freshman running back Alton McCaskill’s impact for Houston during the 2021-22 college football season was gamechanging and served as a step in the right direction for the Cougars’ run game.

Just a season ago, the Cougars’ leading rusher was former running back Kyle Porter with 424 yards on just 105 carries.

Junior quarterback Clayton Tune led the team in rushing touchdowns with five and the team as a whole mustered 1,145 yards rushing total for the year.

A lot has changed since then.

McCaskill alone carried the ball 189 times for 961 yards and 16 touchdowns, doubling Porters’ total rushing yards from a year ago and making it the most carries and yards from a UH running back since Kenneth Farrow back in 2015. The Cougars nearly doubled their total rushing yards from a year ago.

“There’s nothing he can’t do, he did not look like a freshman to me at all,” said UH football head coach Dana Holgorsen after McCaskill’s breakout game in September. “I think he’s going to turn into a feature back and a complete back.”

McCaskill’s 16 touchdowns were the most in the nation for a freshman and second-most in a single season in UH

INJURIES

Continued from page 8 Carlton has looked like a man among boys in the paint, putting together a 30 point and 22 point double-double in two of UH’s first three games without Mark and Sasser.

White has been more aggressive looking for his shot offensively, including hitting 3-pointers on a consistent basis.

On top of that, Chaney and Roberts have brought toughness off the bench, bringing value on the boards and defensive end of the floor to complement the scoring of White and Carlton.

Cougar culture still alive and well While injuries have completely changed the dynamics of the 2021-22 UH team, the staples of the program under Sampson have remained.

Someone in a Cougars uniform is still always the first guy on the floor diving after a loose ball. They still are reckless on the offensive boards, creating plenty of second chance opportunities every game. The stifling defense that has frustrated so many opponents and resulted in easy points off of turnovers for UH is alive and well.

“The thing that we’ve relied on to win games, we’ll still continue to do that,” Sampson said. “We’ll defend. We’ll rebound.

We’re going to play hard. Our kids are going to continue to compete.”

Edwards returned from his Grade-2 ankle sprain two weeks after suffering the injury despite being told he would miss four to six weeks in the initial injury diagnosis because he could not stand.

Freshman guard Ramon Walker, who Sampson said was likely to be redshirted at

football program history. As a result, the 6-foot-1-inch running back out of Conroe was awarded AAC Rookie of the Year and named to the All-Conference second team.

“I’m here to be legendary and break records,” McCaskill said. “That’s been my mindset, I definitely want to put a stamp on this University with Alton McCaskill’s name on it.”

A stamp is exactly what was made his freshman season and the run game for UH has been redefined because of his success.

Despite being a freshman, the heavy workload has been welcomed by McCaskill.

“I just feel blessed that the coaches really trust me to be out there and showcase what I can do,” McCaskill said. “It’s better than anything I could’ve hoped for, I love it here.”

UH lost only one game during the 202122 season after making McCaskill the primary back in Week Two. And now that he is on board with the work, the run game is likely to see the same success as long as McCaskill is a part of the program.

The UH football team’s strength and recovery team is what allows McCaskill to remain confident as well as comfortable in taking on such a large role so early in his collegiate career.

“I believe we have the best in the nation as far as enforcing recovery,” McCaskill said. “Keeping our bodies as strong and the start of the season, has been called upon to play big minutes for the injury-stricken Cougars.

As a true freshman thrust into action, Walker has delivered in big ways for the Cougars whether it be hitting a timely shot or taking a charge, providing a much-needed and unforeseen boost to a crippled UH guard group.

Sampson could not be more pleased with what he’s seen from his team in the first few weeks without Mark and Sasser, calling his guys a group of “fighters.”

“I’m just proud of our ability to stay together,” Sampson said. “You get knocked down. Isn’t that what life is about? But you’ve got to get up.”

Aiming for the ceiling While the Cougars have handled the punches thrown at them in the early stages of conference play, Sampson acknowledges that the road ahead will be an uphill battle with plenty of roadblocks along the way.

He also knows that UH’s ceiling is not what it was when the season started now that Mark and Sasser won’t return.

Even with all the unknowns, the 66-yearold coaching veteran is excited for the challenge ahead and has one goal in mind — to get the most out of the guys he has each and every time the Cougars take the court.

“We got some things we need to tighten up, some areas we need to add, but I’m excited about where I think this team can be,” Sampson said. “Now we don’t have the ceiling we had before (with Mark and Sasser), but we do have a ceiling. We’re going to try to hit that ceiling. Be as good as we can be.

However good that is, we’ll find out.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Running back Alton McCaskill has wrapped up his freshman campaign after being named the AAC rookie of the year and leading all true freshman in touchdowns. | James Schillinger/The Cougar

healthy as possible.”

While a solid offensive line upfront is typically the most vital in the success of a running back, McCaskill believes the defense he practices against every week is really the key to him getting better and being able to produce in games.

“We have a really good defense,” McCaskill said. “Going against them every day made me better and more equipped to go showcase what I can do in a game.

I feel like we have the best defense in our conference.”

UH ranked first in the conference and 10th in the nation in rushing defense

during 2021, giving McCaskill some of the best competition in the country to practice against, making it even easier to translate into games.

Holgorsen liked what he saw in year one from McCaskill, the expectation is that the player’s production will continue and in turn, so will his impact during his sophomore campaign.

“He’s mature for a true freshman,” Holgorsen said. “I love everything I see about him.” sports@thedailycougar.com

10 | Wednesday, January 19 2022

Wednesday, January 19, 2022 | 11 ANNA BAKER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

OPINION NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

STAFF EDITORIAL

UH should extend ‘soft opening’ to spring semester, prepare for potential on-campus coronavirus surge

i

The Cougar

thedailycougar.com

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

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

ISSUE STAFF CLOSING EDITORS

Donna Keeya Sydney Rose Jhair Romero COVER

Juana Garcia

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

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

THE COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD @THEDAILYCOUGAR

Although it works on paper, the ‘soft opening’ that UH implemented in the fall is being brought back this spring despite it not working last semester.

The policy, which gives faculty power to shift classes online and implement other attendance rules during the first two weeks of the term, proved to have a major flaw — it was too short.

Within a week of classes starting last fall, the surge of students returning to campus

resulted in hundreds of new cases within the University community and a two-week extension of the opening plans.

It took weeks for cases to level out.

If last year’s fall semester has taught us anything, it’s that a surge in coronavirus cases will likely follow the opening of the new term if the mitigation plans aren’t extended.

As the highly transmissible omicron variant continues to spread rapidly around the U.S., it offers a grim outlook for the UH campus.

The University has already

shattered records for new coronavirus cases over the holiday break, and all students have yet to return to campus.

And because UH doesn’t have the power to mandate vaccines or masks, thanks to controversial Texas policies, it falls on students, faculty and staff to soften the omicron variant’s on-campus impact this spring.

So, while the University can’t mandate masks, vaccines and other mittigants, the school still highly encourages the campus community to wear face coverings and get vaccinated

against COVID-19.

If you’re due for your booster shot, it encourages you get it.

Campus offers easy-to-use testing resources, and many Americans will soon be able to order free COVID-19 rapid tests online.

Should last year’s fall semester repeat itself this spring, this time with a fierce variant that has shattered records in the United States and around the world this past month, the UH community should prepare for a surge. editor@thedailycougar.com

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

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA

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

12 | Wednesday, January 19 2022