Issue 6, Volume 87

@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Est. 1934

Issue 6, Volume 87

GONE TOO FAR An overturned election, a suspended president and a crippled Senate has left the Student Government Association in turmoil . | PG. 2

2 | Wednesday, November 3, 2021

OPINION NEWS

ANNA BAKER, EDITOR

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL

Lack of oversight leaves SGA incapable of representing UH students

i

The Cougar

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ABOUT THE COUGAR The Cougar is published every other 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

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Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm

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

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

THE COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD @THEDAILYCOUGAR

As an organization meant to serve and represent the UH community by holding those in power to account, The Cougar’s editorial board has found it difficult to ignore the issues that have engulfed the Student Government Association in recent weeks after the SGA Senate initiated the recall process against President Arsalan Darbin.

What started as the SGA and the student body performing their civic duty has devolved into a mess that has crippled an organization that is supposed to represent the UH student body and act in its best interest.

When former SGA President Cameron Barrett pioneered the constitutional recall code during the 55th Administration, he designed the provision as “a way for students to directly hold elected leaders accountable.”

Three years later, with Darbin facing severe accusations of bigotry and hostility, the code was put to the test.

Darbin recently faced the student body in the recall election — and lost, convincingly.

Yet Darbin will remain president, albeit suspended until the end of the fall semester after the SGA Supreme Court effectively overturned the will of the student body.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court and SGA Attorney General Nadiia Hutcherson, who is supposed to be on a “leave of absence,” have upended the organization.

Hutcherson, abetted by the court’s judicial power, suspended 15 senators, including Senate Speaker David Paul Hilton, until Dec. 19 for supporting an amendment to the election code that would have allowed them to campaign in the recall referendum.

Hutcherson, granted new powers by the Supreme Court, has since removed three senators from office, including recall leader Abraham Sanchez.

The SGA’s legislative body, instead of focusing on students’ needs, won’t meet again until the spring and is essentially out of commission because of the suspensions and removals.

In the executive branch, Vice President Maryam Alghafir, the de-facto acting president, has been left in the unusual position

of being the top officer of an organization in freefall.

Of all the student organizations at UH, the SGA is among the most powerful. It has seats at many tables around UH, including in committees that oversee the distribution of student fees across campus, housing, dining and even the University Hearing Board.

It is allotted a $160,000 budget by the Student Fees Advisory Committee that is supposed to enable it to advocate for students and meet their needs.

But instead of using the SGA’s powers and money for the good of the student body, many members have spent the semester weaponizing their elected or appointed positions against each other and ignoring their responsibilities to the student body.

So, when the leaders that students elected to advocate for them can’t perform those representative duties, who can be trusted to do so?

Much like The Cougar and the Student Media Advisory Committee, many organizations and departments around campus are overseen by some sort of advisory board.

But the Student Government, despite its influence and financial power, escapes accountability.

Its president has been deemed unfit by the electorate but will remain in office because the Supreme Court and attorney general effectively ignored the student body’s will. The SGA Senate, meanwhile, has been completely sidelined because its members couldn’t follow the code for a recall election they initiated in the first place.

This lack of oversight has harmed the SGA’s reputation and corrupted the organization.

In turn, students who deserve advocacy and representation in administrative decisions, a duty the SGA would normally perform, have been ignored in favor of the faux-political squabble that has taken the organization over.

Entrusted with self-governance, the SGA has failed.

It has been made more than clear that those running the organization need to be put in check. The absence of some form of oversight will continue to be detrimental to the student body and the SGA itself. editor@thedailycougar.com

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021 | 3 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

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NEWS

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Recall nullified, SGA upended by Justice Department AMINAH TANNIR

NEWS EDITOR @AMOUNAJT

The Student Government Association is divided as their recall election spurred a series of complaints as well as several suspensions and a few removals from office.

Here is a guide on the status of SGA positions that have changed in the past week as well as updates on the recall and its aftermath.

President The SGA President is an elected official responsible for representing the student body to the University administration, Board of Regents and the Texas Legislature.

The President also spearheads executive projects and programs on campus and puts forth policies to the UH student experience.

Arsalan Darbin is the current SGA President, but is under suspension in light of allegations brought against him by senators and members of his cabinet.

Darbin will be unable to perform his presidential duties until Dec. 19 and is required to complete four diversity workshops or an equivalent offered by the Center for Diversity and Inclusion.

If Darbin fails to meet these requirements, he will be removed from office and the Vice President will assume the role of President.

Vice President The student body Vice President is also an elected official whose responsibility is to aid the President with executive projects, programs and policies. The position is also tasked with student representative appointments for boards, councils and university committees.

The current Vice president Maryam Alghafir, who is now

EDITORIAL BOARD

taking on the duties of President, but without the title of acting President.

According to the SGA constitution, in the absence of the President, or in the event that the President is unable to perform their duties, the Vice President will assume the role of President.

The Vice President, along with members of the cabinet, will be required to complete a diversity and inclusion training of their choice along with a mandatory intensive leadership training before returning to office.

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Donna Keeya

MANAGING EDITOR

Sydney Rose

Senators Senators are responsible for passing legislation regarding administration and finance, academic and internal affairs, student life as well as graduate and professional student affairs.

Before the recall election, there were 31 sitting senators, 15 being suspended following the Oct. 20 senate meeting where an amendment to the recall election

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Sean Thomas Armando Yanez

NEWS EDITORS

ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Aminah Tannir Haya Panjwani

Gerald Sastra

SPORTS EDITOR

James Mueller OPINION EDITOR

Anna Baker

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Juana Garcia

STAFF EDITORIAL

The SGA Senate will no longer meet in the chambers until the end of the semester, due to a lack of quorum. | Haya Panjwani/The Cougar

code was voted on.

The bill was unconstitutional according to Attorney General Nadiia Hutcherson, and ultimately led to the majority of the senate being suspended and not meeting quorum.

After close review of the meeting, the attorney general rescinded the suspension of two senators, but decided to remove three from office after multiple election code violations.

Although there are still enough members to make quorum, Hutcherson exercised her power as attorney general and stated there wouldn’t be any senate meetings for the duration of fall semester since a little under half of the senators were suspended for similar violations.

Since the attorney general was given the power to preside over all activities related to the recall, the Supreme Court ruled this as

constitutional.

Recall results, what now?

The recall election for President Darbin took place Oct. 26-27, and voting was available to the student body online.

The results showed more than half of the students who voted wanted Darbin out, but this didn’t hold up for long.

A supreme court decision ruled in favor of the attorney general wanting to overturn the election, citing that it’s within the position’s jurisdiction according to their recall election code.

Darbin will remain in his position and is allowed to resume his duties following mandatory training and the completion of his suspension, in the meantime his Vice President will assume his duties with no title change. news@thedailycougar.com

STATE

After Texas redistricting, a look at how lines were redrawn HAYA PANJWANI

NEWS EDITOR @HAYAPANJW

It’s likely that sometime in your pre-college education, you learned about redistricting. It’s a process that takes place every 10 years, but it determines who your representative is at the local, state and national levels.

So, how did your district change this time around?

Breaking down redistricting Juana Garcia/The Cougar

Ashley Gwananji

WEB EDITOR

Jhair Romero

Speaker of the Senate The Speaker of the Senate is elected by senators at the first senate meeting of the new SGA administration. As the head of the senate, the Speaker’s responsibility is to conduct senate meetings and to coordinate senate committees.

The current Speaker of the Senate is David Paul Hilton, who is suspended until Dec.19 for voting in favor of a resolution to amend the recall election code to allow SGA members to campaign.

Normally the position of Speaker would be filled in by a Speaker Pro Tempore in the absence of the speaker, however the senator who holds that position is also suspended until the remainder of the fall semester.

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

As the demographics of the country changes, so does the distribution of that population.

That means that the density of a certain district, or an area with a representative, can change over time with migration across state borders and into the country itself.

The data around the country’s population comes from the census, which you or another member of your household probably filled out during the 2020 Census period.

The survey asked you questions like, “how many people live in your

REDISTRICTING

Continues on page 4

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 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.

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4 | Wednesday, November 3, 2021

NEWS

HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

ADMINISTRATION

President Renu Khator’s Fall Address highlights UH’s achievements HAYA PANJWANI

NEWS EDITOR

@ HAYAPANJW

President Renu Khator gave her annual Fall Address on Thursday, highlighting the accomplishments of the last year, as well as her goals for the University in the next few years.

The Moores School of Music’s Concert Chorale opened the address with a rendition of “The Sound of Silence” by Paul Simon.

President of UH Faculty Senate Vallabh Das introduced the President.

This address was the first fully in-person address since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

Khator began by detailing the pivot to online learning and how the pandemic was a new battle for the University.

“Last year I was here, in this empty Moore’s Opera House while you joined me from your screens,” Khator said. “We keep moving forward, and it takes more than resilience to do so. It takes tenacity. Tenacity makes us move forward.”

The greater theme for the address was the new UH Strategic Plan, more specifically, the University’s goal of being named a Top 50 school in the United States.

In order to reach that goal, Khator said UH needs to improve in two areas; the graduation rate and the University’s overall national reputation.

Student Success To improve graduation rates, Khator said focusing on student success should be the priority.

The current graduation rate is 62 percent and Khator mentioned her goal of bumping that number to 70 percent in the next five years.

This would help UH attain the top 50 university status. Fouryear graduation rates are also up 125 percent since 2008.

While enrollment rates in the past year have remained flat, the address highlighted how the University received the most freshman, out-of-state and international applicants than

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Continued from page 3 household?” or “what racial/ ethnic background does each household member identify as?”

Those questions are then turned into numbers and percentages by the Census Bureau and handed off to lawmakers in state legislatures.

One milestone Khator highlighted in her address was UH Athletics being accepted into the Big 12 conference. | File Photo

ever before.

However, finances remain a barrier for many college students, Khator said.

“It is not surprising that the number one barrier for students was, and continues to be, financial,” Khator said.

Khator then went on to thank the school donors, showing appreciation for $232 million in financial aid distribution.

She also said she is committed to keeping the UH degree affordable.

Khator celebrated the University’s $1 million endowments revealed at the last UH Board of Regents meeting.

In wrapping up the student success portion of her speech, she celebrated the mental health resources the school provides to students, especially through the pandemic.

“It is clear that we support our students and when we do so, they reach for the stars,” Khator said.

Lawmakers are then supposed to fairly redraw districts.

How did your district change?

Looking at Texas as a whole, since the state’s population grew, there will be two new seats for the state in the U.S. House of Representatives — one in Austin, the other in Houston. That

Improving national reputation

address. “Our best days are yet to come.”

Speaking on areas of improvement, Khator mentioned how research and graduate students are the backbones of a research university.

The University received over $200 million in research funding and also ranked third in the state in research expenditures. This called attention to programs by UH faculty around COVID-19 research, climate change and healthcare.

“Great research is only possible with great faculty,” Khator said.

She also spoke to UH’s need to improve in the social justice and racial equity arena, spotlighting a task force created in light of the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Clearly, our work has just started and we have much work to do in this area,” Khator said.

The President talked about the number of facilities improvements and projects

the University is working on including building the College of Medicine, the John M. O’Quinn Law Center, renovating the Hilton College of Hotel Management and turning the old UC Satellite Student Center into a New Auxiliary Retail Center called “The Hub.” Pivoting to athletic achievements, Khator celebrated UH entering the Big 12 conference.

“Over the years we have patiently, strategically and methodically invested in our athletics,” Khator said. “Without a great academic standing, it would not have been possible to enter such a great conference.”

The President also spoke to her goals to grow campuses around the city, including UH Sugar Land and UH Katy, in an effort to ensure the growth of the University system as a whole.

“Every day I come to work, I come with optimism and pride,” Khator said to conclude her

means Texan representation went from 36 representatives at the national level to 38.

If you live on or near campus, your district didn’t change much at the national level. UH is still in the 18th U.S. congressional district, which is currently represented by longtime Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat.

However, some parts of

Humble were redrawn to be incorporated into this district.

In the Texas House of Representatives, nothing changed. UH is in District 147 and represented by Rep. Garnet F. Coleman.

The same goes for the other side of the Texas Legislature, where in the Senate, UH still resides in District 13 represented

by Sen. Borris Miles. The Census found that this senate district has a majority of Black voters, and the newly drawn map for this area stretches all the way to Missouri City.

If you’d like to see how other districts change, check out Texas Tribune’s redistricting map tool.

news@thedailycougar.com

President Renu Khator speaks about focusing on student success at her annual Fall Address. | Shivani Parmar/The Cougar

news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 | 5 JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

SPORTS NEWS

FOOTBALL

Drowning out the noise: UH football’s belief never wavered JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

After blowing a 14 point lead to Texas Tech to open the 2021 season, it appeared that it was going to be another long year for the Houston football program under Dana Holgorsen.

Everything seemed to be spiraling out of control for the Cougars. UH football still had not strung together back-to-back wins through Holgorsen’s first 21 games as head coach.

UH fans heavily criticized the team, saying no progress had been made since Holgorsen took over the UH program in 2019.

Quarterback Clayton Tune was under heavy fire from UH fans early in the season after his fourinterception performance in the Cougars season-opener. Social media was full of people saying Tune should be benched.

But Tune drowned out the noise, continuing to believe in himself and listen to the encouragement from Holgorsen and his teammates who constantly reinforced that he was their quarterback.

“I’ve just kind of learned to tune out the noise and not really worry about what people are saying because it doesn’t really matter,” Tune said. “What matters is what the team thinks and what I think and the ability that I know that I have. That’s kind of what I stuck to just knowing that I can play this way.”

The rest of the team followed Tune’s lead, drowning out the outside criticisms and remaining confident they had a good football team.

The Cougars continued to grind every day in practice, determined to change the narrative surrounding the program.

“We never care about what outside people have to say,” said

Dana Holgorsen was all smiles after UH knocked off undefeated SMU on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium to remain perfect in AAC play. | James Schillinger/The Cougar

sophomore receiver Nathaniel Dell. “We just go in and work every week.”

The following week, UH dominated cross-town rival Rice University.

While this win didn’t mean much to the UH fan base, considering the Owls have not had a winning record since 2014, it was just the spark the Cougars needed to get things rolling.

The next week, UH football cruised past FCS school Grambling State, winning backto-back games for the first time under Holgorsen.

Next up, the Cougars opened up American Athletic Conference play with three games in 13 days, two of which were on the road.

UH was up to the challenge,

outsourcing its opponents 113 to 52 over the three-game stretch on the way to improving the win streak to five, proving that the work the team was putting in on a daily basis to turn things around was paying dividends.

“Weekdays we work. Saturday, that’s when we cash the check in,” Dell said. “We never care about what everybody else has to say if they doubt us or not because they are not on the field.”

After a bye week, the Cougars had to sit through a 5 hour and 18-minute rain delay before they could take the field against East Carolina.

Despite struggling to get into a rhythm, UH found a way to pull out the win over the Pirates to set up a heavyweight battle against

SMU for the top spot in the AAC. With the lights shining bright, the Cougars showed up against the 19th ranked Mustangs.

Tune played the game of his life, throwing for a career-high 412 yards and four touchdowns.

Dell tore apart the Mustangs’ defense, hauling in nine receptions for 165 yards and three scores.

Sack Avenue showed up, sacking SMU’s Tanner Mordecai, who entered the game only to have been taken down twice all season, three times on the night.

Marcus Jones provided magic in the return game once again, fielding a kick two yards deep in the end zone and taking it to the house for the game-winning touchdown.

The Cougars finally picked up the marquee win that had eluded the program for years, solidifying that UH football was finally back on the right track.

Students stormed the field.

Holgorsen was drenched in a Gatorade bath. Players stayed on the field long after the clock hit triple zeros taking pictures with fans to celebrate UH’s upset over undefeated SMU on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium.

“It’s awesome. That’s why you play the game,” Tune said. “When you’re a little kid and you grow up playing the game and watching moments like this. It’s awesome to live those moments and see everyone’s work come to fruition.” sports@thedailycougar.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Laila Blair growing into leadership role with UH women’s basketball SEAN THOMAS

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @SEANTHOMAS723

Laila Blair has set high expectations for herself . | Andy Yanez/The Cougar

Sophomore guard Laila Blair took the UH women’s basketball program by storm during her standout 2020-21 season, leading a Cougars team that fell just short of an NCAA Tournament appearance in scoring as a true freshman.

The Houston native finished her freshman campaign averaging 10.5 points per game

to go along with 2.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds, earning her a spot on the American Athletic Conference All-Freshman Team.

Expectations are set high for Blair’s sophomore season, who was recently named to the Preseason All-Conference Second Team to begin the year, but her impact on the team goes beyond the accolades and statistics.

Blair brings a high level of intensity and leadership to the

team.

Despite being just a sophomore, Blair feels ready to lead and take the initiative to be a voice on the team.

“I’m a leader at heart,” Blair said. “I feel like I’ve been a leader as long as I’ve been playing basketball really. I know I have to be mature and hold myself to a higher standard. On the court I feel like I can show that I’m a leader, I feel like I can help my teammates in every way.”

UH head coach Ronald Hughey has been an advocate for Blair’s leadership and growth and is optimistic she will continue to do so while making the team better.

“When you come in as a freshman, you think it’s about you and you get an opportunity to grow and understand that it’s really about the team,”

BLAIR

Continues on page 6

6 | Wednesday, November 3, 2021

SPORTS NEWS

JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

@THECOUGARSPORTS

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

‘Brick by brick’: UH men’s basketball team coming together

Sophomore guard Tramon Mark looks to be more of a playmaker and shot creator for the UH men’s basketball team in the 2021-22 season. | Andy Yanez/The Cougar

JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

39.8 points, 22.7 rebounds, 7.8 assists and countless intangibles are what the 2021-22 UH men’s basketball program will have to replace on a nightly basis after losing four starters from last season’s Final Four team.

“Last year we had so many guys coming back,” said UH men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson. “This year we lost four guys that basically started (all of last season), so we’re having to indoctrinate a lot of guys into how we play.”

But Sampson has been in this situation before, finding success after having to replace players

BLAIR

Continued from page 5 Hughey said. “I think that’s the maturation Laila had last year and she’ll continue it this year. She’ll have a chance to understand that she has to make her teammates better.

That’s what she’s already done approaching this season.”

Veteran guard and graduate student Julia Blackshell-Fair knew Blair was special from the moment she joined the UH program.

“The moment she came in I

like Rob Gray, Corey Davis Jr., Galen Robinson Jr. and Armoni Brooks in previous seasons at UH. Even with the departures of Quentin Grimes, DeJon Jarreau, Justin Gorham and Brison Gresham, the Cougars return key components of last year’s team in guards Marcus Sasser and Tramon Mark and forwards Fabian White and Reggie Chaney.

While the Cougars will still rely on Mark and Sasser’s scoring, the two guards will also step into a new role as being playmakers and shot creators for their teammates this season.

Sasser has come a long way over the past month taking over

a bigger role as a ballhandler, Sampson said.

Mark feels comfortable in his new role and believes he will take the next step as a player during his sophomore season.

“I can definitely get myself shots and my team shots I think at any time I want,” Mark said.

“I just got to go out there and do it.”

White, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, has impressed Sampson throughout the offseason.

“I think (White) has been our best player,” Sampson said. “If I had to say who’s been our best player and most consistent guy in practice every day I would say Fabian.”

knew she was a dog,” BlackshellFair said. “Her high level of intensity has always been there.

Going against her every day, she’s making me better as a defender because honestly at this point, I think if I can guard her I can guard anyone in the league.”

Blair’s intensity comes from her personal motto, which she says she abides by in everything she does.

“My motto that I live by is, ‘I’m going to do everything with my all because God gave me this ability,’” Blair said. “Anything I do in a game or wherever, I’m

going to go hard because I have the ability and the opportunity to play the game one more time.

I’m going to always give my all in whatever I’m doing.”

Blackshell-Fair sees Blair’s work ethic firsthand every day and believes it will be what takes Blair far as a player.

She believes Blair is bound for success.

“She’s going to be great,” Blackshell-Fair said. “I know she’s going to go far, her work ethic is too good not to go far.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Chaney worked on expanding his range over the offseason and has also caught Sampson’s eye with his offseason play.

Chaney believes the Cougars’ frontcourt is coming together nicely, putting in long hours to perfect two of the staples that Sampson demands from his big men.

“I feel like we have a really good big group in the fours and the fives,” Chaney said. “The thing that we try to emphasize always is rebounding. That’s No. 1. But another thing I feel like we try to emphasize is just when we get the ball just finishing.”

Kyler Edwards, Josh Carlton and Taze Moore, the three new guys that Sampson said

the Cougars will count on the most of all the new faces in the program, are all transfers who come to UH with loads of college basketball experience under their belts.

Altogether, the 2021-22 Cougars’ roster features lots of new faces but it is built on the same principles that have helped UH emerge as a national contender under Sampson — and the program is confident that they have the pieces to build another successful team that is a threat come March.

“When you put the season together, you just do it brick by brick,” Sampson said. sports@thedailycougar.com

As a freshman, Laila Blair led the Cougars in scoring, averaging 10.5 points per game. | Andy Yanez/The Cougar

Wednesday, November 3, 2021 | 7 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/LIFE-ARTS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

LIFE ANDNEWS ARTS

ADVICE

Ask Ashley: Advice on music, romance, more ASHLEY GWANANJI

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @ASHLEXS

In The Cougar’s weekly anonymous advice column, I talk about music, scoring a boo thing in time for cuffing season and meeting new friends. To submit your questions for future issues, click the “Ask Ashley” button on our homepage.

Ashley, what are some sick musical artists you listen to? I’ve had the Kahoot lobby music 10-hour mix on repeat since September, and I need a change of pace.

Hey, anon! Thanks for the super cool question! I didn’t even know there was a Kahoot lobby 10-hour mix until now. It is kind of concerning that it exists. And you have been playing it since September? That screams a need for an intervention, so consider this as one!

For starters, I listen to a little bit of everything, so it is kind of hard to suggest something without knowing what you like.

All I got is that you like game show tunes, which I do not listen to. Have you considered listening to the “Jeopardy!” theme song?

Now that is a banger! You can even listen to the trap remix if you want to turn up. And don’t worry, there’s a 10-hour mix of it

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- You know the drill, so get moving. Mulling over what’s left undone will leave you feeling despondent.

Stop procrastinating and put what’s holding you back behind you. Eliminate frustration.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Emotional matters will affect work and personal responsibilities. Be realistic regarding what you can handle and who you can count on for assistance. Ask someone who owes you a favor to help.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Know when to reach out for expert advice

existing somewhere on YouTube.

As for artists I listen to, some of my favorites are Jack Harlow, Young Thug, Snoh Aalegra, Roddy Rich, Gunna, El Alfa, Maluma, Tainy, Bad Bunny, Drake, Megan Thee Stallion, Comethazine, DaVido and WizKid. These are just a few I can name off of my head (and according to my Spotify’s most listened to artists), but there are so much more.

Hopefully, this intervention worked, bestie. I want you to want better for yourself !

Ashley, I am trying to acquire a man (ew, I know, I know)! What are some pickup lines I can steal from you?

Oh my gosh, no anon, no! Not a man! What about everything Megan Thee Stallion and the City Girls taught us?! Has it all gone to waste? Just kidding. I don’t think acquiring a man is too hard.

I do think it’s all about finding who you like and putting yourself out there. As for pickup lines, a really great place to find them is on shows like “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette.”

I will warn you though, they can get really corny to watch. But some are pretty cute. Besides, if you need extra help, I am sure UH’s very own Landon Goesling could give you a tip or two. But since you are asking me for pick

and when to rely on your own common sense. Taking on the impossible will negatively affect your health and wellbeing. Use your time wisely.

AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Don’t make a snap decision when it comes to financial matters. Bide your time until you come across an investment or plan that fits into your lifestyle and objectives.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Talk to experts, old friends and those you have enjoyed working alongside, and you will gain insight into what not to do regarding financial and legal matters. Flirting will get you

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

up lines, here are some you can use: Are you a 0 percent APR loan?

Because I am having trouble understanding your terms and you aren’t showing any interest.

Do you know why you are so fine? Because when God said let there be light, he created you instead.

Are you my appendix? Because I don’t know anything about you, and this feeling in my gut is telling me I should take you out.

If I didn’t make my close friend group in college during freshman year, is

in trouble.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You are ready to settle into something that excites you. Take the plunge and do whatever is necessary to ensure you dazzle everyone you encounter with your skills, intelligence and fortitude.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Pay attention to your relationships with others. Overreacting or being stubborn will not help you get your way. If you want to make some real changes, use incentives, charm and compliments.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- You’ll receive

there still a chance for me to find a group, or is it too late?

Ooo, I’m sorry you feel down bad anon. But don’t worry, it gets better! It’s literally never too late to make friends. Personally, the best thing to do is to join an organization where your interests are recognized. Take me for example. I love writing, and I ended up at The Cougar where there are people with similar interests.

There are so many organizations on campus, and if you plan on being at UH next year, I strongly recommend

valuable information. Use what you know to bring about positive professional changes.

Trust and believe in yourself.

Don’t worry about pleasing everyone.

CANCER ( June 21-July 22) -- Your actions will have a bigger and better impact than your words. Take a disciplined approach to how you handle finances, medical issues and contractual offers.

Prove your worth.

LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22) -- You may not relish change, but you will turn it to your advantage if you act wisely.

Choose your words with care, speak the truth and follow your heart; you’ll feel good

checking out the events during UH’s Weeks of Welcome. Not only are they fun, but they allow you to find clubs to join and meet new people.

Also, consider checking out events on campus. There is always something going on.

Although cliché, I think it’s important to remember that you have to put a little effort into getting new friends. It can seem a little scary to put yourself out there, but it’s the only way you can meet people. I hope this helps. arts@thedailycougar.com

about what you accomplish.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Don’t overspend on entertainment or things you don’t need. Pay attention to what someone wants and don’t make promises you cannot keep. A direct approach is your best bet.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Look at what you can do and stop fretting over what’s not available to you.

Use your time and knowledge wisely and make the most out of whatever situation you face. Focus on giving it your best.

-Astrograph by Eugenia Last

8 | Wednesday, November 3, 2021