Issue 4, Volume 88

Houston protesters decry Iranian regime after crackdowns

JOHN LOMAX LISA EL-AMIN NEWS EDITORS @THELASTLOMAX @LISAELAMIN17

Dissent lled the air around City Hall on Saturday as hundreds of Iranian Americans gathered to protest the government crackdown in Iran on demonstrators in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amini.

Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, was arrested on Sept. 13 by morality police in Iran for allegedly wearing her hijab “incorrectly.” She was reportedly beaten while in police custody and relocated to the hospital, su ering from injuries and a coma. She died on Sept. 16.

is immediately sparked rage among

Iranians, leading protesters to take to the streets in reportedly peaceful demonstrations. However, they were met with bullets and forceful tactics by law enforcement to detain activists as well as the mobile internet being shut down in Iran’s cities for over a week.

Iranians all over the U.S. and in other parts of the world are protesting in support of women’s rights and freedom. e slogan “Women. Life. Freedom.” is the basis for many individuals who attended the City Hall protest.

“I would just like to see the people of Iran live healthier lives, be able to a ord medicine and food because right now they’re ghting for basic necessities,” said a demonstrator at City Hall. “ ey’re ghting to not be murdered for having a headscarf on two inches further down than a man thinks it should be.”

Many protesters have expressed four decades of frustration with Iran’s regime and showed up on Saturday to let their voices be heard and share their disdain with the government.

Before Iran’s revolution in 1979, women were not forced to wear a hijab and had more personal freedoms. Since then, Iranians, especially women, shared that they have been devoid of safety, restricted of rights and revoked from having government positions.

While there was a large turnout of protesters yearning for change, many said it was risky to protest the government but felt it was necessary since people in Iran are not able to freely protest, report or spread awareness online about what’s happening to the public.

ough the outcry was initially sparked by Amini’s death at the hands of Iran’s morality police, it has since snowballed into something much larger.

One protestor, who identi ed himself as Amir, said while past issues have led to a popular backlash, none have reached the scale and unity as those seen recently.

“What has been happening over the years is that people have been protesting about single objectives, but they didn’t really want to see a change in regime,” Amir said. “But the government’s repeated oppressive tactics and horrible crimes have eventually gotten people to the point that they believe enough is enough.”

Amir said that despite having a cohesive mission, the road ahead for the Iranian people is long. e current government has a long history of suppressing protests and has learned how to curb outcry through bloodshed.

While the Iranian people still have much to overcome, Amir said he still sees beauty in the movement and his people.

“What’s really beautiful is that it’s a movement led by women, which is unique in Iran,” Amir said. “I think it’s unique globally. Revolutions that we have known to this point have not been initiated and basically led entirely by women.”

A UH senior who identi ed herself as Giselle is one of the women leading the demonstrations and an organizer behind Saturday’s protest. She said that much of what’s happening in Iran stems from the government’s fear of an increasingly vocal female population.

“ e Islamic Republic was really afraid of giving women attention. ey have spent about 43 years trying to silence them,” Giselle said. “With so many educated and independent Iranian women, the government has felt the need to shut them down because they knew the power they had.”

For Giselle and Amir, the Iranian

government’s attempt to undermine female voices is what has ultimately propelled opposition to the current regime.

However, speaking in opposition to Iran’s government is not without danger. Many gathered at City Hall did so despite potential retaliation toward friends and relatives back home. For organizers like Giselle, the risks are outweighed by the dire and immediate need for change.

“We all have this common sense that we want to end this one. We cannot really go through this again,” Giselle said. “We’re not afraid anymore because there’s nothing they can do to us that they haven’t done already.”

It is this sense of de ance that has united Iranians abroad towards a common goal, Giselle said.

“I realized that every single person in the street getting shot or arrested is one of my brothers, my sisters being hurt by the regime,” Giselle said. “Even if we are not the ones in front of the bullets, it felt like our responsibility to help bring attention to the plight of our people.”

Giselle said that Saturday’s gathering at City Hall served as a rst step towards garnering more international support in condemning the actions of Iran’s current administration.

As the protest came to its conclusion, another Iranian American demonstrator who identi ed herself as Lilly said that she felt great pride seeing her people stand alongside their fellow citizens back home.

“My whole life, I have been surrounded by very strong women,” Lilly said. “It makes me very proud to see so many people come together in support of women’s rights in Iran, and I have hope we will see real change in the future.”

Protests gathered at City Hall on Oct. 1 to decry the Iranian regime. | Lisa El-Amin/The Cougar

POLITICS

Alumni run for State Board of Education position

EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Donna Keeya

MANAGING EDITOR

Jhair Romero

WEB EDITOR Denise Miller

NEWS EDITORS

John Lomax

Lisa El-Amin

SPORTS EDITOR James Mueller

OPINION EDITOR Cindy Rivas Alfaro

PHOTO EDITOR Sean Thomas

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jose GonzalezCampelo

ASSISTANT EDITORS Anh Le Armando Yanez

Logan Linder

LOGAN LINDER NEWS ASSIST @LOGANL_WRITES

Two UH alumni are competing against each other in the upcoming Nov. 8 election to represent the Texas State Board of Education District 6.

Incumbent Will Hickman, a Republican, is up against Democrat Michelle Palmer for the second time after the two faced off in the 2020 election, with Hickman beating Palmer by 2 percentage points.

Palmer recently spoke at a Student Government Association-sponsored event.

Stances

Hickman wants to draft a new course that gives middle school students the opportunity to take career aptitude tests and work with counselors to develop their skills.

This comes after noting how 40% of high school graduates don’t feel ready to further their career or education once they graduate, according to the College, Career and Military Readiness program.

Hickman notes his special interest in career and technical education programs and Texas’s abundance of courses, as he believes they are beneficial regardless of the career one is going into.

Palmer said her stances are “180 degrees” from how Hickman would vote.

If elected, one of the first things Palmer wants to get done is to call for change to the state’s social studies curriculum, which was recently controversially delayed by the board, along with administering new textbooks that include the teaching of climate change.

Palmer also wants a health curriculum to be required to graduate that includes lessons on sex education, LGBTQ health issues and the teaching of consent.

“Texas has one of the highest rape instances in the country,” Palmer said.

“And it has been shown that states that do teach consent have a lower, at least date rape, incidents because students understand that it’s not just violent rape that’s rape.”

Reasons for running

As a father of three children, Hickman wants to have a parent’s perspective on the board and said that he has the best interest of all Texas kids in mind when making decisions about their curriculum. He has also received endorsements from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and other state representatives.

“We work hand in hand with the state Legislature to get things done,” Hickman said. “I think that’s important to have a good working relationship with the Capitol.”

Palmer first ran against Hickman in 2020 when the seat was open. As a high

school history teacher, Palmer discovered factual inaccuracies in the curriculum, something that she hopes to change if elected.

“It wasn’t something I went looking to do, but I saw a need and jumped in,” Palmer said. “And I plan to run for it until I win it because my students deserve better than they’re getting.”

UH experience

While first attending Texas A&M University, Hickman later went to UH and earned three of his five degrees, most recently earning his Spanish B.A. Hickman also received advanced degrees from the UH Law Center.

“My philosophy about education is that education is preparing you to do something,” Hickman said.

Palmer graduated from UH in 1994 and double-majored in political science and Russian studies. During her time at UH, Palmer served as speaker of the Student Government Association Senate and worked with other political organizations.

“The knowledge that I gained through my many political science classes, obviously helped me to understand the way that the political system works and to be able to work within it and to fight against it,” Palmer said.

news@thedailycougar.com

STAFF EDITORIAL

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

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

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Will Hickman and Michelle Palmer will once again compete for a Board of Education position. | Photos courtesy of Will Hickman and Michelle Palmer

Republican incumbent Will Hickman and Democrat Michelle Palmer after facing off on Nov. 8 for the second time.

Holgorsen searching for answers amid 2-3 start FOOTBALL

JAMES MUELLER SPORTS EDITOR

@JDM2186

Houston football’s search for answers continues. e same problems that haunted the Cougars in Week 1 are still prevalent and problematic ve games into the season.

UH found itself in a familiar situation in its American Athletic Conference opener against Tulane on Friday night at TDECU Stadium — leading late and in a prime position to win the game.

Yet again, the Cougars dropped the ball, nding another way to come out defeated.

“We could of found a way to win and we didn’t,” said UH head coach Dana Holgorsen.

It’s not just one speci c phase of the game that is holding the Cougars back. Rather, struggles with consistency spread throughout the entire team.

“O ense clearly didn’t do enough. Defense gave up another drive at the end. Special teams missed a couple of eld goals,” Holgorsen said. “All three sides right there.”

First quarter o ensive struggles were once again prevalent as the Cougars failed to score any points for the fourth time in ve games. Only 14 total rst quarter points on the season is not a recipe for success, as UH continuously nds itself having to dig out of hole in the second half to get back in the game.

“We just need to do a better job of starting fast so we don’t put

MEN’S BASKETBALL

ourselves in those situations,” said freshman runningback Brandon Campbell. “It’s hard to have to play from behind in the second half because you have to so much more dialed in and the mistakes you make, you can’t have as many of them.”

Just like the games against UTSA and Texas Tech, the UH defense failed to protect a late lead, allowing Tulane to march 75 yards in two minutes, 25 seconds to score the game-tying touchdown and force the Cougars to play in their third overtime of the season.

“ ey make more plays to win than we do,” said senior linebacker Donavan Mutin when asked about UH’s struggle to close out games.

A blocked rst quarter eld goal and another one missed from 47 yards out late in the third quarter were yet more squandered opportunities the Cougars failed to capitalize on. ese miscues and inconsistencies resulted in overtime, a situation which UH is far too familiar with.

“ ird overtime game in ve games,” Holgorsen. “I’ve never seen

anything like it.”

While the Cougars were able to pull out the overtime victory in their season opener against UTSA, the next two overtimes have not been kind to them.

Failure to stop Texas Tech on a fourth-and-20 led to a double overtime loss in Week 2. A threeand-out o ensively, followed by a pass interference on Tulane’s rst play in overtime led to another excruciating loss for UH.

All these extra periods of football through ve games have taken a toll on the Cougars.

“ ese games, they wear on you mentally,” Campbell said.

Frustration and de ation lled the UH locker room as the team knows it could and probably should be sitting at 4-1 instead of its actual record of 2-3.

“Not a good feeling right now,” Mutin said. “Not a good place to be right now. It can be better or worse. We have the ability to choose that.”

While there are many questions that need to be answered inside the UH locker room, the Cougars are holding out hope that they can right their wrongs and turn the ship around over their nal seven games of the regular season.

It starts with getting on the same page beginning in the lm room, weight room and on the practice elds.

“It gonna be a team e ort,” Mutin said. “From the head of the snake to the tail of the snake, we need alignment. It needs to be coherent. e message needs to be clear. We’re going to have a chance to do that or not and (the results of) our season will be the rami cations of whatever we do.”

If UH is able to nd this alignment from top to bottom, it then ultimately comes down to execution under the bright lights, something the Cougars have struggled to do so far.

“Enough blame to go around,” Holgorsen said. “Coaches gotta coach better. Players gotta play better.”

Kelvin Sampson excited as ever as team begins practicing

JAMES MUELLER SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

Even at 66, Kelvin Sampson was like a kid on Christmas morning heading into UH men’s basketball’s rst practice.

“I had goosebumps. My eyes got big,” Sampson said following UH’s rst practice. “I couldn’t wait. I been really excited. I didn’t sleep much last night. I got up this morning excited.”

Sampson came up to the Guy V. Lewis Development Center, the home of both UH’s men’s and women’s basketball programs, on Sunday, Sept. 24, the day before the Cougars’ rst o cial practice. He didn’t turn any of the lights on as he went up to his o ce so that he would not be bothered.

All alone, Sampson walked through his o ce into the team’s

conference room and got to work.

“I drew up a practice plan by myself,” Sampson said. “ en I went through all of our sets that I want to teach the rst two or three days and I was excited. I

was excited to do that.”

Full speed from the jump ere is no easing into things under Sampson. As soon as 3 p.m. on Sept. 27

arrived, the start of UH’s rst practice, it was full steam ahead.

“You can’t prepare for anything that coach Sampson does,” said junior point guard Jamal Shead. “You can talk about it. You can envision it. But you can’t prepare yourself for it.”

Freshman forward Jarace Walker, the highly touted vestar recruit out IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, knew what he was getting into when he committed with UH but at the same time had absolutely no clue what he had just signed up for.

“It’s another level here,” Walker said following his rst collegiate practice. “Just the intensity of everything, how hard they go in every single drill. ere’s de nitely another level to it.”

It only took Walker one practice to learn nothing comes

easy under Sampson.

Just because Walker is the highest-ranked recruit of the modern era in program history doesn’t mean he will receive special treatment. In fact, playing time isn’t even guaranteed for him or anyone else on the roster for that matter.

“When we get new players, everybody starts slobbering over them like they are already there,” Sampson said. “None of these guys are ready to impact winning. None of them. Name me a player. He’s not ready to impact winning if he’s a rst-year player.”

Under Sampson, everything is earned. Nothing is given.

“ ey earn their playing timing starting today,” Sampson said.

UH head coach Dana Holgorsen and his team have yet to find an answer for the abundance of problems the Cougars have displayed through five games in the season. | James Mueller/The Cougar

UH men’s basketball head coach Kelvin Sampson was in full teaching mode during the Cougars’ first practice of the 2022-23 season. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar

‘It’s a very unique place’: How UH tennis prioritizes diversity

SEAN THOMAS PHOTO EDITOR

@SEANTHOMAS723

The UH tennis roster currently features 10 athletes from 10 different countries, providing a unique team makeup for head coach Helena Besovic.

As a person who immigrated to United States herself, Besovic said working with such a diverse unit is a unique experience and is something that not many coaches have the opportunity to do.

“It feels very special, and it’s a very unique place because not everyone gets to experience being around people from so many different countries and cultures,” Besovic said. “I think we’re lucky and as a coach, it’s amazing to work with studentathletes from all over the world. I learn so much from them.”

Besovic believes that it is important to give international students the opportunity, especially in women’s sports and makes it a point of emphasis

SAMPSON

Continued from page 4

“ at’s the great thing about having competitive practice, you hold guys accountable more.”

Embracing the process

Even with the high expectations that Sampson sets for each of his players, the

when she is bringing players into the program.

“I like bringing players that bring more diversity to the team,” Besovic said. “I think it is something important, especially in female sports, giving chances to those players of different backgrounds.”

Veteran players such as senior Azul Pedemonti and junior Blanca Cortijo Parreno feel this diversity not only brings them together as a team but welcomes new players as many of them understand what it takes to leave family behind to join the program.

“It’s like another small family away from our family. With everyone being international teammates, we are all new here and we are experiencing everything together as a family,” Parreno said.

“We all support each other a lot because we experience the same things. We understand what we are all going through” Pedemonti added.

veteran coach understands that failure is part of the game.

“Today went about as I would have predicted,” Sampson said.

“ e guys that struggled the most are the new guys. And they’ll learn.”

ese struggles don’t concern Sampson. In fact, he views it as necessary if a player is ever going to make an impact for the

A cornerstone in helping these players adapt to their new homes away from their families is none other than Besovic, as she herself was once in their shoes.

Besovic, originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, came to the U.S in 2003 to attend Ouachita Baptist College before transferring to TCU in 2004.

With a team of players in a similar situation to the one she had when she first came to the U.S, Besovic gets an opportunity to provide players with the support she said she would have wanted back then for herself.

“I understand from my own experience that they are far from home and far from their parents and families, so it’s not easy,” Besovic said. “It’s very important to give them that support and be there when they need it, as I would have liked when I was in their position. I try to be a second mother to them.”

As players find themselves

Cougars’ on the court.

Sampson only cares about one thing when a player makes a mistake — e ort.

“Making mistakes is not the problem,” Sampson said. “It’s the e ort you’re making when you’re making your mistakes. You got to learn to make your mistakes going 100 miles per hour.”

Sampson is the rst to admit

searching for that support, they look right to Besovic for help every step of the way and Besovic delivers.

“She serves as our second mother,” Parreno said. “She has experienced all of these new things so she’s here helping us. When we need something, she’s the one that is here for us to ask.”

“I feel that (Besovic) knows and understands what we are going through too, and I love that,” Pedemonti added. “I love that she has the empathy to say, ‘I know what it is like.” She plays an amazing role because at the end of the day she is our first emergency contact.”

This bond between the players that are shared with Besovic brings the team together not only in their off-court daily lives.

“We help each other because we try to understand the position of everyone, and when it comes to actually being on the court, we try to keep that same mentality and mindset for

that his team is nowhere near the status of a national championship contender that has been placed upon the Cougars entering the 2022-23 season.

is will take time and Sampson understands that.

UH’s chemistry and execution on the court will come as the season progresses. All Sampson

everyone,” Pedemonti said.

“It is definitely something that sets us apart and makes us stronger,” Besovic added.

Besovic believes that openmindedness is the key to the team’s success and is why they are able to mesh so easily even when the players are all from different backgrounds.

“They know that they will be on the team and meet players all around the world, so it’s important to bring these players who are open-minded,” Besovic said.

Besovic believes there is a lesson to be learned for the world behind this.

“Being able to come together and realize that even coming from different backgrounds and different countries, we still have a common goal and can work together,” Besovic said. “I think it’s a great lesson to the world and everyone in it to see that it’s possible.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

asks of his players now is that they bring two things to each and every practice as the Cougars prepare to kick o the new campaign on Nov. 7.

“E ort and attitude are things they can control and that’s what this program is all about,” Sampson said. sports@thedailycougar.com

Azul Pedemonti and Blanca Cortijo Parreno are two of the longest-tenured Cougars and have fully embraced the diverse environment. | Courtesy of UH athletics

Gen Z can put an end to performative politics

MICHAEL KING STAFF COLUMNIST

@LXLMING

Gen Z is proving themselves to be more critical of the government than any generation before it.

By prioritizing accountability and holding a more headstrong attitude towards their politics, Gen Z is placing the power of democracy back into the complete control of the people, the same fundamental value that America was founded on.

roughout the course of America’s history, politicians have dangled false promises amongst the heads of their constituents.

is has slowed progression, as the people are not actually having their voices heard and concerns addressed. However, this practice, known as performative politics, may not be as common in the near future.

As the rst generation to have grown up without knowing what the world was like prior to the major technological shift, technology is now constantly at Gen Z’s ngertips.

is has shaped their overall perception of the world, and has also given them the ultimate

advantage when it comes to advocating for change.

Media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram have allowed people to post in real time when these events take place, as well as their own personal feelings on the matter.

is has also e ectively mobilized Gen Z to take action and speak out against various issues, especially ones that personally threaten their freedoms and way of life.

Growing up in a post-9/11 world with economic downturn, countless school shootings, the devastating e ects of climate change and now a pandemic that has created greater paranoia about the future, Gen Z is more dedicated to taking matters into their own hands when it comes to their future.

rough advocacy groups like GenZForChange, rallying and even supporting speci c politicians in elections, Gen Z is beginning to shape American politics as more of them become old enough to vote and have noticeable in uence.

It is estimated that in 2024, Gen Z and Millennials will match the older generations in the voting age population according

Iqra Rafey/The Cougar

to a Brookings study.

One can easily see why Gen Z is frustrated, just by looking at the demographics of Congress. A whopping 86 percent of the House of Representatives and 88 percent of the Senate are Baby Boomers and Gen X, compared to eight percent and one percent of members of each respective chamber being Millennials according to Forbes.

is means that there is a huge discrepancy between the desires of the people, where now more than 50 percent of the population is made up of Millennials, Gen Z, and beyond. e old and new generations

tend to heavily disagree on many issues, most recently being gun control and access to abortion.

Over half of the U.S. population is not being properly represented. Distaste is evident, as Congress’ approval rating fell to a low 18 percent in January 2022.

“As someone who is relatively politically informed thanks to social media, I try to place trust into politicians who claim to work for us. However, it is hard to do considering a majority of them grew up in a completely di erent America than we are currently living in,” says sophomore mechanical

engineering student Mateo Cannata.

“ ey grew up in a time where minimum wage jobs could actually pay for their education, and where their degree practically guaranteed them a job straight out of college. We either have to live with our parents or put most of our earnings towards rising expenses,” he added.

e change that Gen Z is bringing is already noticeable. ey are zzling out support for more established political gures for what they claim as more seemingly authentic politicians who communicate with their constituents on a personal level, such as AOC.

Gen Z candidates are also beginning to run for public o ce, as the upcoming 2022 midterm elections sees Maxwell Alejandro Frost and Karoline Leavitt, both only 25, running for Congress.

Running on opposite sides of the aisle, they represent a uniquely Gen Z mindset when it comes to the current regressive polarized state: reluctance to settle for less than demanded.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Hispanic Americans are combatting generational trauma

CINDY RIVAS ALFARO OPINION EDITOR @CINDYGISELLES

e newer generation of Hispanic Americans are recognizing the e ects of generational trauma in their families as resources emerge to better understand their experience.

Generational trauma is an emerging term used to describe the traumatic experiences that get passed down through generations that can manifest into physical and mental symptoms.

Some of the traumatic experiences that can be passed down through generations can be related to racism, poverty, domestic violence, sexual assault and hate crimes.

For Hispanic Americans with migrant parents, their parents have a lot of regressed trauma related to their experiences either from their childhood, home country or present experiences.

“Both my parents came from verbally and physically abusive male-dominated households,”

said junior public policy major Cruz Almonaci. “Both were the eldest in their families, gaining the rst beatings and the rst scars. Both of them still struggle to talk about their childhoods. While they’ve never been physically abusive towards me, my relationship with them has been signi cantly strained from the ideologies they were forced to adopt and their own inability to heal from their traumas.”

Because of the stigma surrounding mental health, a majority of these parents ignore their trauma which then a ects

how they parent their children.

Now, these children have become full- edged adults with mental, social and interpersonal issuesthat seem to have no origin until they take a look at their own upbringing.

“Mental illness on my dad’s side of the family is not taken as seriously as it should be,” said junior public health major Jynx Flores. “His sister had dealt with depression and suicidal thoughts herself. I had not known this until my dad had found out I was struggling with these same issues, except it wasn’t brought

up for understanding and comfort. It was brought up to further invalidate my issues as he proceeded to call her crazy.”

Many children of immigrants take on multiple roles during their childhood as they become translators, negotiators, mediators and a placeholder for several problems immigrant parents face in family, nancial and social contexts.

ere is a con ict that arises from this complicated relationship as children are treated as adults even though they do not have the tools necessary to solve these problems, therefore, creating a child lled with uncertainty and higher levels of anxiety.

“At home, I am the one expected to take over my mom’s responsibilities when she’s gone. She works 24/7 at her own job, at home and outside xing our house,” said Almonaci.

“I have a hard time facing problems,” said Almonaci. “I often leave or shut myself out when in con ict with someone else the same way it happens with my parents when we ght.

No apologies or conversations, just silence until someone breaks it and we move on. is habit has carried into my relationships with others. I have developed anxiety because of how controlling they can be.”

Unresolved trauma can present itself in several ways, especially with immigrant parents who nd it too painful to confront. However, it shouldn’t have to get to the point where their children are the ones su ering from the aftermath of their parent’s trauma.

In order to increase conversations and resources surrounding generational trauma, there should be an investment in the research on the phenomenon to know how to prevent it or just lessen the strain it has on both the parent and child.

As of right now, it’s just a word hidden in the psychology world, only found when someone is in desperate need of an explanation of their family dynamics and seemingly unfounded struggles.

Jose Gonzalez Campelo/The Cougar

Dear Denise: What to wear on gameday, fear of the future

DENISE MILLER WEB EDITOR @PAPERBAMBI

In e Cougar’s weekly anonymous advice column, I talk about game day attire, fear of the future and the college experience. To submit your questions for future issues, click the Dear Denise button on our home page.

Do people really wear cowboy boots at games?

Hey! It’s funny you asked this because I was talking with a friend about how I need a pair. To answer your question, yes; people do wear cowboy boots on game day. Game day out ts are my favorite part of football season, so I love seeing the boots styled di erently every home game.

I remember my senior year of high school I wanted to buy a pair of boots because I used to search Pinterest day and night for out t inspiration. And everyone had a pair. Everyone but me!

e fact that I still don’t have a pair is really funny.

I hate my major, but I’m a senior. What do I do?

I’m sorry to hear this, but honestly, I think you can persevere. You’ve made it this far and if you are about to graduate in the next one or two semesters, why prolong it? You can always come back to college after working for a while. I’m not an academic adviser, so I can’t promise to give the best major-related advice, but as a

friend that’s what I would tell you. Class of 2023, we are almost done! How do I make the most of my college experience?

is is cliché, but the only way to make the most of your college experience is to get involved. In my freshman year, I barely did anything social. I went to class, to eat and to my bed. Once the pandemic hit and basically stole my sophomore year away, I knew something had to change. I joined an organization that allowed me to meet so many students from varying colleges around campus.

It built my con dence as both a student and a leader. From there, I made sure to be involved in person

with multiple extracurriculars. You meet so many people and potential friends just by stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something new.

What advice can the lovely Denise give to someone who’s scared of the future?

Friend, you are just like me! I am also extremely nervous about entering the real world. e thought of leaving this college bubble where everyone is so supportive and pro you is frightening.

e advice I’m going to give you is something I need to listen to myself. I think everything will be OK! Everyone’s journey is di erent

and job hunting takes time. I recently received some wisdom from a successful college graduate, and she told me that the best time to start applying for jobs is whenever you feel your resume is ready. If that’s four months before your graduation or two weeks before, do what makes sense to you. Employers will always need workers, so don’t fret about not nding work.

To end this, I’ll say the future is amazing because we have no idea what will happen. at naivete should give us all hope because since we don’t know what we don’t know, we can hope for the best.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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ISSUE STAFF

CLOSING EDITORS

Donna Keeya

Jhair Romero

COVER Lisa El-Amin

i 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.

Channel your emotions into something creative this year, and you will nd another way to bring in cash. Strive for peace and happiness. Compromise will buy you time to do your own thing and give those you love a chance to do the same. Don’t let uncertainty be your downfall.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Trust and believe in yourself and your ideas. Doing something innovative will be educational and will prompt you to incorporate the things you enjoy doing most into your everyday routine.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Learn something

that will bring you one step closer to a position or daily routine that makes you happy. Helping others will be draining, so keep a close watch on your energy level.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- A joint venture will tempt you. Before you proceed, consider what it will cost. Set high standards. Nurture meaningful relationships and set time aside for romance. Don’t be afraid to chip in.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Be explicit when asked about your quali cations. Don’t embellish what you can do. A positive change requires honesty and integrity to keep the peace. Keep life

simple and a ordable.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Take the initiative to lower your overhead. Select a healthy routine that keeps you physically, emotionally and mentally t. Commit to a savings plan. Contracts and investments are looking good.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- A problem at home will mount if you don’t address issues quickly. Refuse to let your emotions take the reins when you need rational solutions. Do your dirty work yourself.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Time spent with a loved one or someone you nd informative and refreshing will give you a

new outlook. Discussing what’s bothering you will bring better days ahead.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Stick to the truth, regardless of what others decide to do. Pay attention to detail and you’ll attract interest in what you discover. Choose a unique path that allows you to meet interesting people.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Stay focused on what’s important to you. Keeping busy will help you dodge controversy. Don’t trust someone trying to sell you something. Discipline will pay o .

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Emotions will be di cult to hide. Be a good listener and refrain from

overreacting if you don’t like what you hear or see. Ask an expert if you are in doubt. ere’s no shame in seeking help.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Discuss your concerns. Being honest regarding your likes and dislikes will bring you closer to a loved one. Don’t let a change someone makes be a cause for alarm. Find a positive outlet.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Channel your energy into moneymaking pursuits. Learning something new or making a professional change or long-term investment will pay o ..

- Eugenia

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.

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