Issue 11, Volume 87

@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Est. 1934

Issue 11, Volume 87

Making Moves UH and Dana Holgorsen, already Houston’s highest paid coach ever, agree on multiyear extension. | PG. 11

Graduate School Edition | PG. 5-9

2 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

NEWS ALUMNI

HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

UH’s Lanny Smith behind Nigeria’s Winter Olympic opening ceremony look

HAYA PANJWANI

NEWS EDITOR @HAYAPANJW

When UH basketball alumnus Lanny Smith suffered a career ending injury while on the Sacramento Kings, he turned to his friend Stephen Curry, and created Active Faith, a sportswear company with a Christian lens.

Fast forward a few years later, Team Nigeria donned Active Faith’s sister company, Actively Black, at the 2022 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies, putting a UH alumnus on the forefront of an international platform.

Active Faith & Actively Black Before starting Actively Black and Active Faith, Smith played basketball for UH from 20032008, until he entered the NBA. “In the NBA, I signed with the Sacramento Kings in 2009 and had… a knee injury that ended my NBA career almost as fast as it began,” Smith said. “And from there, (I) kind of transitioned into becoming an entrepreneur.”

Following his injury, Smith collaborated with his business partner, ​​former Philadelphia 76ers player Anthony Tolliver, and Golden State Warriors player Steph Curry to create Active Faith. After launching in 2012, the brand now has customers in 74 countries, according to Smith.

“It’s a faith-based sports apparel brand,” Smith said. “The concept behind that was to create this faith-based version of Nike, if you will. We had some really great success, with that Inc. Magazine named us one of the fastest growing private companies back in 2017.”

After Active Faith’s initial success, Smith decided it was time to grow his already affluent

Shaun Adigan and Lanny Smith at a photoshoot for Team Nigeria and Actively Black. | Courtesy of Lanny Smith

platform by creating Actively Black. He launched that brand on Black Friday 2020.

“The concept and the mission behind (Actively Black) was, I saw the impact that Active Faith was having on the faithbased community and I wanted to see if I could do the same thing for the Black community, for my community, and create something that could be a positive influence and reinvest back into the Black community,” Smith said.

Now, celebrities like Curry and former President Barack Obama sport the Actively Black line regularly, and Smith’s revenue in his first year alone averaged about $3 million.

2022 Beijing Olympics With Smith’s growing popularity, he caught the attention of former classmate, Olympian and UH track and field alumna, Shaun Adigun. She’s representing Team Nigeria at the Olympics and contacted Smith to design the team’s opening ceremonies look for the 2022 Winter Olympics.The two grew closer after graduation. “(She) was actually in my first photo shoot for Active Faith,” Smith said. “We kept in contact and our friendship has just developed over the years through similar interests and passions.

When the time came for her, Team Nigeria was looking for

TRANSPORTATION

UH student struck by Metro Rail near The Quad

COUGAR NEWS SERVICES @THEDAILYCOUGAR

A University student was hit by a Metro Rail at a crossing near The Quad on Tuesday morning, according to the UH Police Department.

“He was conscious and breathing at the scene and

transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries,” said UH Police Department Capt. Bret Collier.

Metro is actively investigating Tuesday’s incident, according to deputy chief communications officer Tracy Jackson. news@thedailycougar.com

James Schillinger/The Cougar

a sponsor, a brand sponsor for the team going into the Winter Olympics.”

So, just a few months after Smith had launched Actively Black, Adigun brought his work to Team Nigeria’s wardrobe.

“I didn’t know how I was going to execute it at the time,” Smith said. “But, this opportunity is a once in a lifetime opportunity to have the brand on that type of stage.”

For the outfits, Smith worked with some experienced designers to create a look that merged the modern, athleisure look that Actively Black has, with the more traditional elements of Nigerian garb.

“The modern and the

traditional mix together,” he said.

“From the overlay piece that you see, it is called an agbada, and a headpiece, produced in Nigeria, which was very important to have that authentic tie to the outfits.”

With the quick turnaround and a new brand, Smith was initially nervous, but was glad he took the opportunity to put UH on the map.

“I had such a great experience at UH,” Smith said. “I’m proud to be a Cougar and proud to partner with a fellow Cougar, representing not only Actively Black with Nigeria, but also the University on the global stage.” news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 3 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

NEWS

CAMPUS

African American Studies faculty reflect on department’s history AMINAH TANNIR

NEWS EDITOR @AMOUNAJT

Although it was only recently granted departmental status, African American Studies at UH has a long and rich history contributing to campus and community culture.

The African American Studies program was the first of its kind for Texas public schools back when it was created in 1969. However, this historic step forward in education wasn’t made without a struggle.

In the latter half of the 1960s, when the Civil Rights Movement had significant traction countrywide, students decided it was time to advocate for the University’s adoption of a program that reflected the beauty and the struggles of the African American community.

“This particular program was born out of student protest,” said African American Studies program manager Kevin Thompson. “Students like attorney Gene Locke, Mr. Dwight Allen, who is now known as Mr. Omowale LuthuliAllen, and the late Lynn Eusan–who the Lynn Eusan Park is named after–the first African American homecoming queen, were a part of a consortium of students who actually quote-unquote stormed,

African American Studies faculty reflect on the department’s history and the journey to becoming a degree granting department being a crucial part of campus culture. | James Schillinger/The Cougar

basically, the president’s office.”

The group presented to the then UH President Phillip G. Hoffman with 10 demands, one of them being to create

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the African American Studies program, Thompson said.

“It was this time of intellectual curiosity and tenacity, and student organizations across the country were petitioning and protesting because this discipline came out of the struggle to see oneself within academic settings,” Thompson said. “And then also was reflective of the times, you know, we just weren’t taking it anymore.”

Aside from spearheading the effort to create the program, these same students pushed for a better relationship between the University and the surrounding community.

Eusan, Locke, Luthuli-Allen and others did this by asking to raise the pay for campus employees such as cleaning staff and groundskeepers, many of whom were from the local community.

From what started off as only a few courses to a degree-granting department, the African American Studies department holds a great significance for many.

“It is very important that we have it because it’s a subject area of that, as we can see from the times in which we live, America is still dealing with a lot of its historical past, a lot of questions need to be addressed in a very forthright way,” said African American Studies interim director Linda Reed. “It’s significant that people look at African American Studies, specifically because we practice it in our daily lives, but we don’t realize how we are practicing the culture.”

Beyond the classroom, the department hosts an annual study abroad program for students to be educated on the life of the African locals as well as the Diaspora.

“The biggest thing was, I think, for us is watching our students blossoming into viable pillars within our community, becoming productive citizens who maintain an elevated sense of consciousness (and) who show that

they are willing to work to make the community better,” Thompson said.

With student engagement being one of the department’s priorities, Thompson said fostering an environment where former and current students create bonds with the faculty and staff is what motivates him to come to work every day.

“I want every student to know that they have a home here at African American Studies whether they choose to major, or minor, or not,” Thompson said. “It’s just basically the spirit of what we embody.

That’s the African spirit.”

Reed expressed the department’s importance in how it spurs conversations about current events, especially during times like the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020.

“I think it’s important to actually see that from the president’s office, that from the dean’s office, that from other units on the campus others are addressing the similar kinds of concerns that African American studies had talked about for a long period of time,” Reed said. “To see that embraced is very significant, and that others are not leaving it up to only African American Studies, and the department (to have these discussions).”

While some might question what the purpose of the department is in having these conversations, it has helped others realize it’s their responsibility to carry these into the communities outside of the University, Reed said.

“Everybody understands the significance of paying attention to that history and culture, but to the history and culture of all ethnicities of Americans,” Reed said. “Now it’s the responsibility of the people, faculty, staff and students to help others outside of the University of Houston, understand that significance.” news@thedailycougar.com

4 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

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GRAD

EXAMS

GMAT vs GRE: Which admissions test is best for you?

MALACHI KEY

STAFF WRITER

Preparing for graduate school can involve stressful choices, and picking which admissions test to take is no different. Between the Graduate Record Exam and Graduate Management Admission Test, deciding which one is the better choice for today’s soon-to-be graduate students depends on multiple factors.

It is worth noting that the GRE is required for admission to a majority of graduate schools and a handful of business schools, while the GMAT is only taken for admission to business schools, according to the Princeton Review.

The GMAT and the GRE have accepted test scores in approximately 96 percent of MBA programs surveyed, with 86 percent of programs reporting that both test scores receive equal weight in the admissions process, according to a Kaplan survey reported by U.S. News & World Report.

While the same survey showed

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

13 percent of programs slightly preferred GMAT test scores, some experts recommend taking the exam that more naturally aligns with your personal skill set.

The admissions exams cover a similar subject matter, offering questions that correspond to three main subjects: verbal, quantitative and writing, according to Prep Scholar.

However, the differences in how the subjects are tackled may be key in helping each student decide which test to take.

With the GRE focusing more on textbook math, the GMAT

places a strong emphasis on one’s ability to problem solve using logic. The GRE covers vocabulary more heavily, and the GMAT tends to rely on a strong knowledge of grammar.

Another important factor to consider is the difference in test format. While both tests adapt to whoever is taking them, the GRE allows students to skip difficult questions and come back to them later, which can be helpful for students dealing with test anxiety, according to U.S. News & World Report.

However, according to Kaplan, the adaptive nature of the GMAT means that those taking it can get more highdifficulty questions wrong all while managing a decent score, whereas a student would need to answer nearly every question correctly on the GRE to get a high score.

At the end of the day, every student is different, so it’s all a matter of how much research is put into finding that right fit. news@thedailycougar.com

HIGHER EDUCATION

Timeline: The process of applying to graduate school allow flexibility during the day for jobs outside of school.

The University grad program designed its class frequency for once a week where most classes are three hours long to ensure course material is covered while still making it easier for other responsibilities.

A typical week for a graduate student in terms of courses would include one or two classes in the evening after 5 p.m. and possibly a couple of classes in the morning or afternoon depending on the graduate program.

Difference from undergrad

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

LISA EL-AMIN

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @LISAELAMIN17

The University’s graduate school houses over 150 masters, doctoral and professional degrees alongside opportunities for students finding career success.

For those about to proceed with the graduate school application

process, here is a timeline of what to expect.

First Steps Once a student has completed their application in the admissions portal, alongside the fee, the next step is connecting with the program of interest about test scores.

Depending on the program, a GRE or GMAT test score would possibly be required for students.

For those interested in law programs, check for a Law School Admissions Test requirement.

Once students are done acing tests and programs are making the acceptance of the students, there are many expectations of

how courses are laid out and timed.

What to expect Students share that classes in graduate school are usually during the evening to accommodate many of the student schedules.

Typically, many grad students will take courses during the evening to

For full-time grad students, completing a degree can take one to two years for most programs.

For part-time grad students, typically three to four years.

Academic content for graduate students will differ from undergrad. Graduate school would include discussions, reallife application, theories and concepts.

The graduate programs offer numerous opportunities for students to pursue academic interests while investing in one’s careers. news@thedailycougar.com

6 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

GRAD NEWS

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ADMISSIONS

Q&A: How to approach graduate school applications

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AMINAH TANNIR

NEWS EDITOR @AMOUNAJT

Filling a graduate school application can be a difficult process to navigate for students whether they are sure about continuing their academic career or not.

Graduate school admissions program manager Krystal Sugulleh helped explain some common questions about the process as well as provide some helpful resources for prospective students.

What does the application process look like when applying to a UH program?

Sugulleh: The first step in applying to graduate school is to go to our website, and a student is to put together their own online account through graduate school.

And so those steps include just setting up a username, which makes sure that we have a really good email for them. And then also put together a password. On our website, we do walk students

through step by step of how to apply.

How might some program requirements differ?

Sugulleh: You always want to, number one, look at the overarching way on how to apply, which is the graduate school website, putting together that application process.

Then also looking at each respective program or your program of interest webpage and really going through those requirements such as GPA, ‘what kind of tests am I supposed to take?’, making sure that I’m taking the appropriate test for my particular program of interest. So that’s a good way to approach it.

Where can I find more information about UH graduate program applications?

Sugulleh: Should students ever find that they’re not getting exactly what they need from the program’s page or college’s page, then we do have graduate advisers who particularly

are really good at answering any questions specific to the program.

I do informational sessions, at least one to two times a week, typically on a Tuesday or a Thursday. This information is also on our website where students can sign up to register.

From there, I walk students through how to apply which is the step-by-step application process. I talk to them about uploading transcripts, some other things that they may need, such as letters of recommendation and then any other additional items.

What supplemental information should be included in a graduate program application?

Sugulleh: Definitely, always a resume. Letters of recommendation, I always tell students that is really important.

Within the application process, you want to have a really good, full name of whoever’s going to be put down as your recommender, first and last name as well as a

good email for them. Typically, the program does ask that you do a personal statement, basically why you’re interested in graduate school and really telling graduate school programs a little bit more about yourself.

There are some programs such as architecture, who may particularly want a portfolio.

What are common questions you get about the application process?

Sugulleh: Right now the big push is going out if the GRE score is going to be waived. During the pandemic, we did and during COVID-19, particular programs have selected to waive GRE scores.

However, not all colleges have been doing that. So it’s really important for students, always just going back to the college to figure out if that’s something that they’re continuing to do or if it’s still a requirement.

So that’s been a lot of the questions, you know, ‘is the GRE waived?’ or another question we get a lot is about English

proficiency requirements.

Most of our international students are looking at ‘what are the options if I can’t take some of the tests?’, or ‘(what are the options) if testing sites are not open, especially due to COVID?’.

That’s a really common question about English proficiency, ‘is this a requirement?’ and it is a requirement.

How should international students approach the application process?

Sugulleh: Getting things in a little bit earlier than the deadline, because you just never know how long that processing might take.

For instance, I’ll use I-20’s, I know that sometimes that takes a little bit longer for processing.

So really make sure that you’re getting your information in well ahead of the deadline. For instance, if there’s an early or regular admission deadline, you want to try and get priority or do early admissions if you can. news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 7 THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

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ACADEMICS & RESEARCH

A look into some of the University’s graduate programs

Farish Hall houses the College of Education at UH. | James Schillenger/The Cougar

LOGAN LINDER

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @ENCH4NTEDL0GAN

Furthering your education after receiving your bachelor’s degree might seem like a daunting task, but UH has over 150 graduate and professional programs available, along with resources students can use to become involved.

Here is a breakdown of just a few of the graduate programs at UH, including deadlines and resources to apply.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences As of September of 2018, the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences sees the largest enrollment numbers annually.

With 15 total graduate programs, CLASS features Master of Arts degrees in subjects such as anthropology, English and world cultures and literatures, while also covering a Master in Fine Arts in creative writing.

The world cultures and literatures program carries a total of eight different concentrations, including global cinema studies, French and Chinese. Instruction in these courses is student-centered and aims to prepare students for an increasingly diverse world.

C.T Bauer College of Business Through Bauer, doctorate programs are offered, along with Master of Science degrees in nearly 10 different categories, including marketing, business analytics, entrepreneurship and management information systems.

Bauer also offers a Master of Business Administration degree, which is a 22-month program with 23 different concentrations to choose from. This program allows students to have hands-on experience in the business world, making connections by being able to take some classes at night, leaving time to experience the real world in between classes.

The fall application deadline for the fulltime MBA program for domestic students is Jun. 1, and Apr. 1 for international students. More information can be found on Bauer’s website.

College of Pharmacy The College of Pharmacy has two different concentrations for pharmaceutical sciences: pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy and medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutics and pharmacology.

They also have a doctor of pharmacy program, in which enrolled students become prepared to enter

the pharmaceutical career, and as providing insight in roles regarding drug information. Pharmacists are responsible for numerous actions involving drugs, such as determining drug dosages for their patients and properly distributing them.

College of Natural Science and Mathematics The College of Natural Science and Mathematics holds six different programs, composed of biology and biochemistry, chemistry, computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, mathematics and physics.

Three different programs are offered in the department of computer science, with a graduate certificate available in interactive game development.

M.S. and Ph.D. programs are also available, which provides rigorous coursework in both theoretical and applied computer science.

Students completing these programs have been trained to become teachers, researchers and leaders in the industry.

College of Education The College of Education offers different programs for those wanting to receive their master’s in education or doctor in

education. For these different degrees, there are a few different selections available, including higher education, counseling and professional leadership.

The higher education program centers around preparing those who want to pursue leadership positions in a college or university.

This program is offered both face-to-face and online, and both allow students to earn their degree in two years. Some of the faculty involved have been previous university chancellors, presidents, provosts and deans of students.

College of Hotel and Restaurant Management With four different programs offered in the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, students are able to receive a master’s, Ph.D., or Executive Master of Hospitality Management, which is available fully online.

This executive program can be chosen to be completed in either one or two years and e-media learning programs through the Hilton College are used to complete the training. By offering this program online, it allows students with busy schedules to continue networking and making connections from the program. news@thedailycougar.com

8 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

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CORPORATIONS

Breaking down companies paying for your graduate school CHRISTOPHER GOODWIN

such as the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program.

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program helps cover most of the cost in exchange for participants committing to nursing for a few years after becoming a graduate.

Not just nursing, but the medical field as a whole is becoming more progressive with providing tuition reimbursements.

Health administrators and medical technicians are supported by the State Loan Repayment Program, which requires participants to commit in their respective areas due to shortages in the careers fields.

STAFF WRITER

Many companies are beginning to realize the benefits of paying for their employees to further their education.

Tuition reimbursement is an agreement between employer and employee for the company to help fund their graduate education. However, most companies require long standing employment and that the degree being pursued is limited.

This list details some companies opting in on this employee benefit..

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo is a banking company that considers continuing education as a strong value. It provides up to $5,000 yearly. Not only are employees valued here but even their children are invested in, offering scholarships.

Bank of America BoA normally provides up to $2,000 to accredited institutions for employees who work up to 20 hours a week.

INTEL Big tech company Intel provides up to $50,000 with no annual limit providing both resources and seminars to actively support employees in their educational journey.

QUALCOMM Tech company QUALCOMM covers various levels of degrees, providing up to $10,000 for graduate degrees with the

Engineering Juana Garcia/The Cougar

condition of working 40 hours a week and pursuing approved courses that will benefit the company.

Raytheon Defense and industrial company Raytheon prides themselves on being flexible and collaborative with employees continuing their education.

The Raytheon Enterprise Partnership program provides for both employees and their dependents to receive either continuing education discounts, scholarship matches for tuition assistance or up to 15 percent in private payments for tuition and fees.

Deloitte One of the biggest consulting firms, Deloitte, offers its own graduated school assistant program provided to high performers with up to $10,000 annually.

Full tuition reimbursements are offered to participants after two years of employment. After becoming a graduate, participants can be eligible to return to the company as senior consultants.

Nursing With nursing being an essential job, more specialized assistant groups are doing their part in supporting those who wish to pursue their masters in nursing

EDUCATION

Many engineering companies help reimburse and encourage the employees to continue their education just as much as the banking and health industries.

Companies like GE Aviation help cover the majority of grad school expenses.

GE covers up to 75 percent of tuition cost and is flexible enough for employees to work full time and go to school.

With businesses still recovering from the pandemic, companies are pursuing more desirable incentives for prospective talents to apply.

Along with rising tuition rates, employers offering tuition reimbursements are trying to help indebted students makes the trade-off seem all too good. news@thedailycougar.com

Going back to graduate school after taking a long break AARON ROMERO

STAFF WRITER

Upon completion of their undergraduate studies, many students will join more than 6,000 graduates enrolled in various masters, doctoral, advanced certificate, professional and joint degree programs.

Although this is the next step in their careers, many students do not do it immediately. The majority of graduate students enter a program within 12 months of earning their undergraduate degree.

Those who lead programs, like principal investigator of the biomedical engineering department Muayyad Al-Ubaidi said, the decision to attend graduate school is personal.

“It depends on what you do when you get out of the undergrad program,” Al-Ubaidi said.

A lot of students go into industries that have nothing to do with their future ambitions, which can be harmful to their ultimate goals, Al-Ubaidi said. He also advises future graduate students to use their time away from school to reassure their ambitions.

Graduates with at least one year of work experience received starting salaries

of nearly double those who had no work experience, according to a survey.

There are some areas where students are encouraged to gain work experience before starting their graduate degree and there are others where this would be less important, according to the dean of the UH graduate school Sarah Larsen.

The time gap helps students gain work experience in their field of study.

In 2018, only 42 percent of full-time students were hired, while 81 percent of part-time students got jobs, according to the national center for education statistics.

Larsen recommended for students entering graduate school after a long break to not hesitate to ask questions or seek help if they are having trouble navigating aspects of their student experience.

“You have many resources available to you including your instructors,” Larsen said. “At the UH graduate school, we support all students, whether they start their journey to a graduate degree right after their undergrad or if they’ve taken a year or more off.” news@thedailycougar.com

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 9 THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

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ACADEMICS & RESEARCH

Graduate degrees related to undergrad not always necessary HAYA PANJWANI

NEWS EDITOR @HAYAPANJW

For some, going to graduate school is a step in their career that sets people up for the next phase of their professional development. However, specializing in the same field or major as your undergraduate career isn’t always necessary.

Some students pursuing their graduate degree at UH have done just that, like environmental engineering graduate student Jorge Sanchez. He majored in biochemistry as an undergraduate student.

“I chose my undergrad originally because I was planning to go to medical school,” Sanchez said. “I also loved science as well.”

Sanchez was burned out from the demands of medical school admissions, like the MCAT and lifestyle of medical school.

“After applying to medical school and seeing what they liked in applications, the MCAT, residency, medical school life, burnout, and (some other) stuff happening in my life, I took a gap year to reevaluate,” Sanchez said. “On top of that, I was losing time if I were to take a gap year to get into med school. I still loved math and science but I still had the passion to help people.”

Instead of medical school, he decided

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

to pursue environmental engineering, since he enjoyed that portion of his biochemistry coursework.

“Environmental engineering was closely related to the stuff I’ve learned in biochemistry, from general chemistry to complex things like microbiology and biochemistry,” Sanchez said. “On top of that, engineering, especially in civil engineering, will always have steady job growth and security.”

Since pursuing this field, Sanchez has enjoyed his experience in his graduate program, even though some classes are a

repeat of his undergraduate career, just at a higher level.

“The classes have been a repeat of my undergrad and so far, almost all of the professors have been amazing,” Sanchez said.

That said, Sanchez assures other premed students that leaving the field is not as bad as it seems.

“There is nothing wrong about leaving premed,” Sanchez said. “As an engineer, you are problem-solving and helping to improve people’s lives.”

Other graduate students, like education

masters student Davis Mathis, are also pursuing a major adjacent to his undergraduate career, where he studied Reading Curriculum and Instruction.

“Studying literature involves a lot of critical analysis and theory directly about fictional or non-fictional stories and texts,” Mathis said. “Grad school has been more practical application of ideals to be used in schools and classrooms to create better readers, so I suppose undergrad was more about ways of thinking and looking at the world, and grad school has been about applying ideas to real people.”

Mathis has wanted to be a teacher for a while, but by studying English as an undergraduate, he was able to explore stories he wouldn’t have gotten to otherwise.

“I love stories and literature and studying English allowed me to spend my time immersed in a story,” he said.

The majority of his graduate school experience has been spent virtually though, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Nevertheless, Sanchez and Mathis enjoy what they do now in their respective graduate studies, even though they aren’t on the same path as they were during their undergraduate career. news@thedailycougar.com

10 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

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Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 11 JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

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SPORTS NEWS

SOFTBALL

UH softball looks to turn things around in 2022 ARMANDO YANEZ

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @ARMANDOYANEZ_16

Coming off a 17-33 season in 2021, the Houston softball team is walking into 2022 hoping to bounce back with higher expectations.

Every new season means players return, leave and arrive, and while this team is different from the last season, UH softball head coach Kristin Vesely has been capable of leading her teams to success in years past.

“We’re the tale of two teams,” Vesely said. “We have a lot of newcomers, so we have our expectations to get acclimated pretty quickly while also continuing to work on team chemistry so that we are ready to go to conference and compete for a conference championship.”

Having gone 16-7 overall in 2020 before the pandemic ended the season early, the Cougars saw a drop off during the 2021 season.

The Cougars split home games with a 12-12 record, yet struggled mightily on the road, going 4-17 in true away games and 1-4 in neutral site games.

With a new season beginning, it is an opportunity for UH to get the sour taste of the 2021 season out of its mouth and turn things around this year.

One reason that the team has optimism 2022 will be a strong year for UH softball is because of the new players coming in.

“I think we have a lot of new talent,” said senior left fielder Bethany Busch. “The girls that we had last year really mesh well with

Senior center fielder Aspen Howie blasts a 3-run home run in UH softball’s season-opening win over UTSA on Feb. 11. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar

the newcomers and we’re all super competitive and really driven and confident to go far into the season.”

With the start of the season in full swing, the excitement levels are high for the Cougars as they look to make the most of the opening weeks and spark some momentum moving forward.

“The anticipation is super high,” said senior center fielder Aspen Howie. “Watching us at practice tells us that we have a lot of talent and our talent is really good. I

think we work together very well and we’re all super excited to see what we can do this season.”

Entering her sixth season as head coach at UH, Vesely delivered four consecutive winning seasons in her first four years since being promoted to head coach in 2016.

Last season’s team was the first to suffer a losing record with Vesely at the helm. While it stands as a small blemish on her record, Vesely and the team are determined to turn things around and contend for yet another

winning season and beyond.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” Vesely said. “I think we’re really competitive, we have a lot of depth and we’re going to see some new faces coming in so I think that keeps the front line extra motivated because they know that they can lose out on opportunities.

We’re just excited for the new haul.”

While the Cougars are off to a hot start, going 4-1 in the Houston Invitational and outscoring their opponents 39-9, a long season lies

ahead.

UH has the pieces to bounce back from the down year in 2021, but the road to return to the postseason will be anything but smooth.

“I don’t doubt that we can turn things around and be a winning team,” Vesely said about this season’s team. “We have to learn to see it our way, so if we continue to work hard, we’ll be in a good spot.” sports@thedailycougar.com

FOOTBALL

UH, Dana Holgorsen agree to contract extension JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

Houston football and head coach Dana Holgorsen have verbally agreed to a multi-year contract extension, as first reported by The Athletic on Saturday morning.

“This is a long-term deal,” Holgorsen told reporters from the Houston Chronicle and Fox 26 on Saturday. “I can’t tell you how excited I am to be at the University of Houston. I plan on this being my last job.”

This extension comes after Holgorsen led the Cougars to the program’s third-ever 12-win season in 2021, capped off by a victory over Auburn in the

Birmingham Bowl.

Holgorsen is currently under contract through 2023, set to earn $4.2 million in 2022 and $4.3 million in 2023. His contract stipulates that he and UH would rework his deal if the school were to accept an invitation to a Power Five conference, which Houston did when it agreed to join the Big 12 last year.

Holgorsen also is entitled to a $1 million bonus within two years of UH accepting an invitation to join the Big 12.

In his first two seasons with UH, Holgorsen had a 7-13 record as head coach but turned the program around in 2021. Along with the Birmingham Bowl win over Auburn, UH ran the table in

its conference slate during the regular season. Houston went on to lose to Cincinnati on the road in its first American Athletic Conference title game in six years.

The details of the contract extension are still being finalized, according to multiple reports.

“Hopefully I’ll be the head coach here for as long as they’ll have me,” Holgorsen said.

“Being here for the long-term is important. I’d preferred it a couple months ago during recruiting. Everybody knows we’re stable and I’m not going anywhere.” sports@thedailycougar.com

In his first three seasons at UH, Dana Holgorsen has led the Cougars to a 19-15 record, including a 12-win 2021 season. | James Schillinger/The Cougar

12 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

SPORTS NEWS

JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

@THECOUGARSPORTS

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TENNIS

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Houston remaining poised after recent success

Taze Moore has averaged 16 PPG over the past week. | Victor Carroll/The Cougar

AP Poll ranking: 14 Coaches Poll ranking: 15 NET ranking: 5 Conference standings: 2 Overall record: 20-4 Conference record: 9-2 Current streak: L2

UH tennis is back to an even record after a pair of impressive wins over both Southern University and Prairie View A&M, and the team believes wins like these prove they have what it takes to compete at a high level. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar

SEAN THOMAS

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @SEANTHOMAS723

Head coach Helena Besovic and her team came into the season with their eyes set on being a ranked team come tournament time, but being on the receiving end of troubling losses to No. 8 Texas A&M and Alabama have shown that the team still has a long way to go before reaching their goal.

With newfound success, Besovic is still confident in her team despite the losses to the tougher opponents and believes they still have what it takes to compete with the best.

Necessary losses No. 8 Texas A&M swept UH in the season opener, with many of the Cougars players finding it difficult to get even a set win against the Aggies in both singles and doubles play.

Roughly two weeks later, UH traveled to Alabama to take on the Crimson Tide with another chance at defeating one of the better teams in the nation, but this became another reminder of how far the Cougars still have to go before reaching the goal that was established months ago.

Despite these two losses, Besovic remains confident that this team can get the season back on track and believes that playing highprofile opponents, win or lose, is necessary to get better as a team.

“A&M had a really good team being top ten in the nation now, playing a match like that really gave us the experience we needed,” Besovic said after having time to reflect on the match. “It’s the beginning of the season. We want to play these tough teams to expose ourselves and keep improving. It’s important to play that level to

become that level.”

Junior Azul Pedemonti agrees with Besovic’s philosophy, adding that the scoreboard doesn’t always show the whole story and that just because the loss may appear lopsided, the team can still improve because of it.

“Sometimes you just see the result, but every match is different and we still feel super close, these matches still make us better,” Pedemonti said.

Hitting a recent stride The Cougars have shown they still have what it takes to dominate on the courts since the tough start to the season, having defeated Southern University and Prairie View A&M in sweeping fashion with a combined score of 13-0 recently.

The recent success has their record back at .500 for the year at 3-3, and it’s performances like these that keep Besovic confident that they have what it takes and are continuing to get better.

“We are focusing on improving with each match, it’s a process but we have a good team,” Besovic said after the dominating performances Sunday. “I think everyone is on the same page, they all really want to do well and they are improving a lot.”

Freshman Maria Dzemeshkevich has been another bright spot on this UH team.

She was not only the only Cougar to win a match against Alabama, but she did so against the Crimson Tide’s best player, who also happens to be nationally ranked in the country.

Dzemeshkevic has been playing the lead position in doubles for UH this season, despite being a freshman.

“Maria has been playing number one for

us, and she’s done really well,” Besovic said.

Going forward Besovic wants the team to continue to compete against the tougher schools despite the outcome, she believes that regardless of the outcome they will continue to get better.

She is happy with how things are going currently.

“I’m very happy with the way things are going,” Besovic said. “I think playing good teams really helps us improve, we’re competing and that’s the goal.”

Confidence still remains in the players.

Pedemonti said she is locked in and also intends to use the losses to Texas A&M and Alabama to her advantage and will get better from them.

“I feel like we’re still going to kill this season,” Pedemonti said. “We started a little slow with a loss, but we are playing good universities. Win or lose, we’re still here, so we are looking to improve and just get better.”

Sophomore Blanca Cortijo Parreno said she believes everyone is on the same page.

She says she sees it on the court throughout the matches that everyone is still bought in on the season.

“I think it’s going to be a really great season. I see how everyone is putting in effort on the courts,” Parreno added.

The season is still young for the Cougars, and the hopes of making a tournament run in late spring remain in this team and Besovic expects it to get better from here.

“It’s a long season. If we take it one match at a time and focus on each and every match, I think we can get there,” Besovic said. sports@thedailycougar.com

Upcoming schedule Thursday vs. UCF (8 p.m.)

Sunday at Wichita State (12 p.m.)

Feb. 23 at Tulane (7 p.m.)

Feb. 27 vs. SMU (11:30 a.m.)

March 1 vs. Cincinnati (8 p.m.)

Team statistics Points per game: 76.4 Opp. points per game: 58.3 Field goal percentage: .471 3-point percentage: .350 Free throw percentage: .66 Rebounds per game: 39.0 Assists per game: 16.0 Turnovers per game: 11.3 Steals per game: 8.4 Blocks per game: 5.3 Average attendance: 7,057

Leaders Scoring 1. Kyler Edwards (318, 13.8 ppg) 2. Fabian White Jr. (289, 12.0 ppg) 3. Josh Carlton (281, 11.7 ppg) 4. Jamal Shead (224, 9.3 ppg) Rebounds 1. Josh Carlton (152, 6.3 rpg) 2. Fabian White Jr. (143, 6.0 rpg) 3. Kyler Edwards (132, 5.7 rpg) 4. J’Wan Roberts (116, 4.8 rpg)

Assists 1. Jamal Shead (126, 5.3 apg) 2. Kyler Edwards (62, 2.7 apg) 3. Taze Moore (57, 2.6 apg) 4. Fabian White Jr. (31, 1.3 apg) Steals 1. Jamal Shead (41, 1.7 spg) 2. Taze Moore (34, 1.5 spg) 3. Marcus Sasser (26, 2.2 spg) 4. Fabian White Jr. (26, 1.1 spg)

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 13

Bounce ideas around in your head for a while. Consider the pros and cons, and come up with the best approach to finding love and happiness. A look at the past will help you cultivate an ironclad plan that will ensure your safety and your ability to reach your destination. A thoughtful, kind attitude will yield good returns.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) -- Consider what's possible and forge ahead.

Don't wait for someone to step in and take charge.

Do your own thing, and take credit for what you accomplish. Be a leader, not a follower.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Rely on the information you receive firsthand. Trust in your instincts, common sense and experience to know what to take on and what to leave alone.

Intelligence and bravado will be called for.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Pull yourself together and target what you must accomplish. Show resilience, regardless of the distractions you encounter. An innovative approach will help you surpass your expectations.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Take a low-key position when working in groups and pay attention to detail. You'll want to make sure that what you present to others will far exceed their expectations.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Put more emphasis on home and family. If your surroundings are easy to navigate and your relationships are in good shape, it will make it easier to manage your responsibilities.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Don't take everything others say to heart. Take

on a project that requires ingenuity and creativity.

Discuss your intentions with a loved one. Selfimprovement is encouraged.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Focus on whatever brings the highest returns. Take a leap of faith and enforce a drastic change. Lock in plans to do something you want to pursue. Follow the path that excites you.

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22) -- Share your feelings, concerns and plans with a loved one. Personal growth will lead to a better understanding of life, love and how to achieve happiness. Shoot for the stars.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) -- Fancy footwork is required if you want to make a comfortable and welcoming home. Controlling your environment, overhead and future will be easy if you let others think they have a say.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) -- Deal with red-tape issues. Having a clear path forward will make it easier to reach your goal. Think outside the box, and you'll develop a foolproof plan. A positive change is apparent.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Put everything in place and leave no room for unnecessary adjustments.

Establish what you want to do and refuse to let anyone stand in your way. Listen to the facts and stay grounded.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Don't let depression consume you.

Shared expenses are not a good idea, and don't invest in someone else's future. Focus on what will make you happy and encourage your success.

– Eugenia Last

14 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022

LIFE AND ARTS NEWS

DONNA KEEYA EDITORS & SYDNEY ROSE,

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/LIFE-ARTS

ADVICE

Ask Ashley: Advice on love, food recommendations, more ASHLEY GWANANJI

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @ASHXLES

In The Cougar’s weekly anonymous advice column, I talk about ways to ask out your crush, food hacks and local food hotspots. To submit your questions for future issues, click the “Ask Ashley” button on our home page.

Howdy Ashley! There’s this guy I think is cute, but I barely know them. I want to ask them out but I don’t know if I should or even how to do that. What would you recommend?

Howdy anon, and thank you for the well wishes. I’m doing okay considering I have been asked not to answer any questions about fr*gs. I believe the last “Ask Ashley” has haunted The Cougar staff so much I now have to censor the word. But I’m talking too much about me and not so much about you.

Congrats! Romance is in the air and that’s really cool dude. I think it’s okay that you’re feeling

a bit cautious getting back out there. You can only move at the pace you can. However, don’t let it hinder you from pursuing something you really want, you know? If you see the opportunity there, definitely take it.

In your case, maybe consider taking it slow. Maybe you don’t have to ask them out right away. How about you start with getting to know them? I think this can help scope the vibes and evaluate whether they are worth your time.

If the vibes are immaculate, you can ask them out. Consider sending them a snowflake emoji in the DMs and tell them “you’re so icy imma glacier boy/ girl/nonbinary.” Quavo bagged Saweetie, so I’m pretty sure this method is 100 percent foolproof. And if the person doesn’t appreciate the time it took to steal and recreate this very humorous pickup line from Quavo, then I think they are kind of goofy. Besides, it’s not that big of a loss. I’d rather have you drink the ocean or braid grass than be with a lame, anon. Hope this helps.

Ashley, do you have any food hacks you’d want to share?

Anon, I am a Taurus moon and rising. Food hacks are all I know.

I think my favorite food hack puts a twist on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The key is to replace the jelly with Nutella. I first get two slices of my favorite bread and toast it.

Now you don’t want to burn the bread, that would be sick of you.

It just needs to be lightly toasted to give it some color. Slather peanut butter on one side and Nutella on the other. Slap the bread together. Now, here’s the important part: warm your sandwich for 30 seconds. Take it out, and enjoy.

The toasted bread adds texture and crunch to the sandwich. This probably isn’t even revolutionary, so I feel kind of lame. But if it’s your first time trying it, give me credit! Unless you hate it, then I don’t want that kind of smoke.

Oh! I have a second food hack.

Get some rotisserie chicken,

season it (that may be a trigger word for some of y’all) and bake it again so it won’t be so moist. You want it dry, but not completely dry. Get your favorite salad kit, put it in a bowl and add in the rejuvenated chicken.

Add in any other toppings you desire and finish it off with Virginia Brand Vidalia Onion Vinegarette. You can find it in Sam’s Club, and it goes so well with chicken. I promise salad won’t taste bland ever again #NotSponsored.

Ashley, where are some good places to get food in Houston (any kind)?

Omg, purr! Is the moon in Taurus? I love this question.

I’m sure there is someone better qualified to answer this question, but I’m glad you asked me. Most of the food places I know have been acquired through the help of my friends.

If you’re looking for something midtown, consider JINYA Ramen Bar or Miyako slightly nearby. JINYA primarily serves ramen, and I think it’s a must try because it is so good.

There’s a location as well in Sugar Land if you live around there. Miyako also serves ramen, but there are more items on the menu such as sushi and rice bowls. My favorite food item to get there is the spicy shrimp yaki ramen. It’s served with the broth practically bubbling in the bowl.

Just a quick disclaimer: be sure to wait for it to cool down some, or else you’ll burn your throat as I did once. I highly doubt you’ll do that, but you never know.

If you’re into Thai food, Street Food Thai Market is the bomb.

Perhaps you’re into Colombian cuisine? I don’t know many but try Pollo Riko. The chicken there is super good and to die for. In the mood for Mexican? Taqueria Del Sol. In the mood for something cheap and filling with the side of adrenaline? Frank’s Pizza at 1 a.m. on a Saturday.

These are just a few suggestions but definitely hit me up if you’re looking for more.

And if you want to invite me, I’m not going to turn down a good time. Hope this helps. arts@thedailycougar.com

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Wednesday, February 16, 2022 | 15 ANNA BAKER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

OPINION NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

OLYMPICS

The Olympics have always been controversial

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The 2022 Beijing Olympics have been very controversial and there has been a lot of criticism on how China is using the games to cover up their major issues. However, this has always been the case with the Olympics so it may be time to examine how they have historically been problematic.

Far before these Olympics began, the U.S. and several other countries announced that they were participating in a diplomatic boycott against the Olympics due to human rights abuses against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang according to the BBC. While athletes from all the boycotting nations are still attending, no government or Olympic officials are attending.

Additionally, many people have criticized how China is using the games to distract from its human rights issues. It is important to recognize however, that this is the case with a lot of countries and the Olympics serve the same purpose: to distract from terrible issues plaguing the country in question’s citizens.

The Olympics are known for glamorizing the countries they take place in and ignoring or tokenizing the marginalized identities facing human rights abuses everyday there.

In 2016, the Summer Olympics

were held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. In the years leading up to that, Indigenous activists were being killed over land conflicts according to Human Rights Watch. Brazil’s indigenous population still struggles with ongoing state violence and land conflict today.

The same goes for Australia where the 2000 Summer Games were held, which continues to struggle with human rights abuses against its Indigenous population as reported by Human Rights Watch.

Unfortunately, the same can be said for any colonized land like Canada and the U.S. both of which’s indigenous populations are struggling with land theft from companies building oil pipelines as well as Indigenous women being murdered and going missing in large numbers, according to Native Women’s Wilderness.

The Olympics make these countries seem great while covering up the violence that happens there.

The Olympics don’t just cover up marginalized people in a media sense, the games inevitably lead to the displacement of thousands of people, usually low income and minorities. With countries having to build new facilities for the game, this leads families to be evicted and left with nowhere to go.

This was the case in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games where over

6,000 families were displaced according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

This disrupted people’s lives in so many ways, breaking up their community, isolating them on the outskirts of the city where there was less employment and little transportation to get to city jobs.

The 1996 Atlanta Summer Games also led to thousands of people, most of which were Black, being displaced and even being arrested for being homeless.

Displacement also happened in the 2012 London Summer Games as well with East London residents being evicted so that their building could be torn down to build facilities, according to the Guardian.

Whenever the Olympics happen, poor people, usually minorities, are displaced so that cities can build billion dollar stadiums that they often never use again. People lose their homes and the buildings that replace them stand empty for years to come.

This isn’t okay and it’s rarely acknowledged whenever the Olympics come around. That’s why there have been many movements to stop the Olympics happening in their cities such as the successful No Boston 2024 organization.

During the Olympics in Tokyo last summer, there were protests

by Japanese citizens, the vast majority of whom didn’t want the games to happen, according

to NPR. There were worries of medical resources being used up for the Olympics, especially when the city was in a state of emergency over COVID-19 and cases continued going up during the games according to US News.

There are some benefits to the Olympics in that it increases tourism revenue and creates temporary jobs, but when it hurts the people actually living in the city, it’s not worth it.

A lot of the money used in the Olympics is taxpayer money according to Investopedia. It is just downright wrong for it to be used to displace residents, endanger communities with COVID-19 outbreaks, build facilities that may never be used again for that community and to do it all with the taxes from that community.

The Olympics are a fun event that people love to watch, but they have a dark history of distracting from human rights abuses while also tearing up marginalized communities on taxpayer dollars.

It’s great that some people are criticizing this year’s games but it’s important to realize the problems with the Olympics are systematic and aren’t going away when it takes place in the next country.

There needs to be a real conversation had on the horrible consequences of the Olympics and what can be done to stop them. opinion@thedailycougar.com

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16 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022