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Issue 16, Volume 83
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Icing on the break A winter storm swooped into Texas and delayed the start of spring classes by two days. | PG. 2
OPINION
‘God’s in control’ at black churches
Black Americans have found refuge and solice in places like Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, but white domestic terrorism continues to try to knock these communities down. | PG. 5
NEWS
2017’s best print photos
The Cougar welcomes the new year with a collection of last year’s best published photos, curated to help relive some of Houston’s news highlights. | PG. 4
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Dana C. Jones & Nola Valente, EDITORS
CAMPUS
i
Rare cold weather brings icy roads, extends break MICHAEL SLATEN
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @MICHAELSLATEN
The coldest weather Houston has seen in more than 20 years shut down campus for the start of the spring semester Tuesday and Wednesday. Temperatures dropped to the low 20s and ice covered roads and bridges throughout the city, limiting travel options. The University announced Monday evening that classes were canceled for Tuesday and canceled Wednesday classes Tuesday afternoon, citing icy road conditions and inclement weather. High 60s and low 40s are expected this weekend, according to meteorology blog Space City Weather. Due to the delayed start to the semester, the University pushed the last day to add a class to Jan. 24, giving students an extra day. The last day to drop a class will not change from Jan. 31. By press time, the University did not announce whether it would require students to make up the canceled classes. Exploratory studies freshman Brendan Hughes said he spent the
extra days of his break relaxing, not stressing over classes. He said his truck was covered in ice, which would have prevented him from coming to campus Wednesday. “I hope they do the same thing they do with Harvey, where (classes) canceled some things. That was real nice," Hughes said. “Pushing back things will be nice, but I don’t expect them to do it.” Changes to the last day to add a class came as a relief to Kiranjot Bhusri, a biochemistry senior, who tweeted at President Renu Khator requesting the change. In a private message, Bhusri said the University never received her transcript, which proves she took a vital prerequisite at community college. “I have to go in and personally hand it to them to register for a certain spring class,” Bhusri said. “Because it’s been closed, nobody’s problems can be resolved. I hope they (extend the last day to add a class date), but I won’t be surprised if they don’t. Might delay my graduation a semester.” Bhusri said she hasn’t been able to leave her apartment and only has the bare necessities.
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ISSUE STAFF CLOSING EDITORS
Emily Burleson Jasmine Davis COPY EDITING
Morgan Horst COVER
Thomas Dwyer
i For the second time this year, snow fell at UH and across most of Houston. The snow and ice stuck around for most of Wednesday. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
“I like the extra time because this week is usually a waste anyways, but because I’m having an issue this semester, I wish UH would at least be open to limited staff or something to resolve scheduling issues," she said. Pipe bursts at residence halls closed the main lobby of Cougar Village 1, and hot water was not available at some Bayou Oaks
apartments on Wednesday. Workers at Cougar Village one worked to vacuum up the flooded main lobby. A sign that read "CAUTION DO NOT ENTER" stood in front of the lobby's entrance. METRO buses routes and rails
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Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm
ABOUT CSM The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar newspaper, CoogTV and CoogRadio. 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. While our students are engaged in producing and promoting media channels and content, our goal is to ensure they are learning to become better thinkers and leaders in the process. CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA
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Few students were around to see UH transform into a temporary winter wonderland, complete with icicles and snow-covered trees. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
Thursday, January 18, 2018 | 3
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NEWS
Dana C. Jones & Nola Valente, EDITOR
CITY
Alumnus reopens historic cafeteria after devastating fire CHRISTOPHER MCGEHEE
remember,” she said. Paintings by Mickelis's father, Nick Mickelis, adorn the walls of Cleburne George Mickelis, owner of the Cafeteria. The fire that destroyed Cleburne Cafeteria located just 7 the restaurant in April 2016 was miles from UH, runs his personal the second to ravage the restaurant and professional life through the in its history. The original fire in motto "family first" and through his 1990 destroyed a lot, but Mickelis faith. Mickelis, a UH alum, graduated was able to recover almost all his from the Conrad N. Hilton College of father’s paintings. Hotel and Restaurant Management After the most recent fire, Mickelis in 1982. wasn’t so lucky. Mickelis's restaurant was Mickelis — a deeply spiritual man destroyed by a fire in April 2016 and —found a silver lining when it came reopened Nov. 14 after a complete to which paintings were saved. rebuild. Mickelis said one of the “I believe that these particular most important lessons he learned paintings were unharmed because from his father is where to assign it’s my father’s way of talking to me,” his priorities. Mickelis said. “And I try to follow his “The guests in my restaurant are message every day.” kings,” Mickelis said. “I can have the After the restaurant burned down, best food in the world, but without insurance paid for the employees' them I have nothing.” salaries for the first year. Since then, Michelle Fontana, 51, a patron Mickelis has paid them out of his at Cleburne Cafeteria said she has own pocket for seven months so that been coming to Cleburne Cafe they could continue to maintain since she was a little girl with her their standard of living while they family. "George has always had the were out of work. 10-11163_Cougar News January_work copy.pdf 1/15/18restaurant 11:19 AM same demeanor ever since I can After suffering1a second STAFF WRITER @PRINCE_CHRISMC
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fire in the span of 16 years, and the losses which accompanied both, some might be dejected. Mickelis said he never once doubted that his restaurant and his team would not only make it back, but would be more successful than ever. “Walk by faith, you know? No matter how many obstacles I encounter on my journey, I know that my faith in God will lead me through to the other side stronger than before," Mickelis said. It's a tradition for the Cleburne Cafeteria to be open on Christmas. The first year that Mickelis’ father owned the business, some guests showed up on Christmas Day, and the older Mickelis thought they should not be turned away. When he saw how happy those people were to have a place to spend their holiday, Nick Mickelis decided to remain open every Christmas. After Nick passed away in 1989, George decided that he would continue his father's tradition. The opportunity for guests to watch the preparation of their food
George Mickelis, owner, poses inside Cleburne Cafeteria. It reopened in December after a fire last year destroyed the former location. | Michael Slaten/The Cougar
is another tradition Mickelis said was important to continue after renovations. The meat case dish allows guests to choose their own steak from a selection in front of them and have it made to order. “I absolutely love being able to pick out my own steak,” Jessica Vazquez said, who was dining at Cleburne Cafeteria. “It allows you to really inspect your selection and you know that you won’t get one that has a lot of fat or anything.”
The meat case is another ode to Nick Mickelis, who would bring his grill to the front of the store in the evening and make steaks right in front of the guests. “This was something that my father started, and our customers loved it,” Mickelis said “So I didn’t see any reason why we couldn’t bring that back for them during the reconstruction.” news@thedailycougar.com
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Dana C. Jones & Nola Valente, EDITORS
CAMPUS
Welcome back, Cougars — finally We found three Cougars on campus trying to escape cabin fever during the icy days off
DANA C. JONES
FEATURES EDITOR @DANACJONES_
The first two days back to school didn’t go as the University planned.
A nearly record-setting winter storm brought a hard freeze and icy conditions to Houston's highways on Tuesday, forcing millions to stay home until
roads dried out early Wednesday afternoon. While some Cougars where snuggled up in their homes, some were stuck on an unusually empty
campus. We spoke with three campus dwellers and talked about their experiences during the delayed start to the spring semester.
Although different, they had three things in common. They have experienced extreme cold before, they are new to the University and they don’t have social media.
Computer engineering freshman Nate Judas. | Dana C. Jones/The Cougar
Computer science doctoral candidate Qixi Deng. | Dana C. Jones/The Cougar
Geology freshman Leonardo Collier. | Dana C. Jones/The Cougar
Iowa roots
Freezing welcome
Harvey's second coming
Computer engineering freshman Nate Judas said he stayed tucked into the “quiet” Cougar Village residence halls. It was especially quiet for Judas because his roommate had yet to return to UH, forming the perfect setting for reading. Judas is no stranger to cold weather. “My folks are from Iowa, so this is not uncommon,” Judas said. He doesn’t even consider this a real winter. This week, Iowa experienced weather as low as -6 degrees Fahrenheit. With not much to down on a big, empty campus, Judas said he was starting to feel the effects of cabin fever just hanging around the dining hall and bonding with his other roommates.
Computer science doctoral candidate Qixi Deng is an international student from China. When news broke that classes were canceled, Deng said he checked to see if the International Student and Scholar Services office as open. When he saw that it wasn’t, Deng stayed at his apartment in Cullen Oaks. The cabin fever didn’t get to Deng because of the “very nice environment” at Cullen Oaks and his luck with a “very nice” roommate, he said. Deng's first week in the United States was nothing out of the ordinary. “This is not very cold for me," Deng said. "I’m used to it."
We found geology freshman Leonardo Collier and his friends LARPing, or live-action role playing, in Lynn Eusan Park. Collier said he spent most of time on Tuesday in Cougar Village 2. He said his stay was fine since the heating, electricity and hot water were all working fine. “Everybody’s joking saying this is the second Harvey coming around, but it should be cleared up by tomorrow,” Collier said. Collier was born in England and used to live in Canada, so the weather is “a walk in the park for him, he said.
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Continued from page 2 had limited service Tuesday and Wednesday, and HOV/HOT lanes were closed. At 5:30 p.m. Tuesday,
all bus services were suspended. Some routes started running again Wednesday. All dining options except Cougar Woods and Moody Towers Dining Commons were
closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Native Houstonian Lauren Thomas worked as cashier at Moody Towers on Wednesday and said she has never seen it this cold. She usually comes to work
riding the METRO buses, but her bus wasn’t running Wednesday. Luckily, a friend gave her a ride to work, but not everyone was able to come in, she said. “Either some people are going
to call in or some people are going to make it work,” Thomas said. “So if you really need your money, you’re gonna go to work.” news@thedailycougar.com.
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Dana C. Jones & Nola Valente, EDITORS
ACTIVITIES
Q&A: Student leaders strive for new members, inclusivity in 2018 Organization heads preview biggest spring events DANA C. JONES
FEATURES EDITOR
@DANACJONES_
There are hundreds of student-run organizations at UH, but only a handful are directly funded by feeds paid by all students. These groups, which primarily plan programming for UH, also focus on creating media and providing volunteer opportunities for students. Student leaders from four fee-funded organizations answered our questions about their goals for spring 2018 and how students can get involved in their activities. The Cougar: How does your organization serve the students? Lisa Menda, Director of Metropolitan Volunteer Program: Our mission is to provide service opportunities for students by collaborating with campus and community partners. Our goal is to make sure MVP is offering plentiful service opportunities at varying times to accommodate any student at the University of Houston. We average around 15 events a month for this sole purpose. Nazir Pandor, Director of Council for Cultural Activities: Our organization serves students by providing the student body with events that are centered around representing and celebrating the various cultures from around the world. We focus on giving the student body experiences of traditions and cultures without having to leave the University to acquire them. We pride ourselves on giving the University the outlet it needs to celebrate the beauty of cultures that our student body itself represents.
students on campus while learning new skills that will hopefully get you a job after graduatation. College is about finding yourself and what you really want to do, and I believe CoogTV really helps with that. Michelle Benjamin, Vice President of Membership for Student Program Board: There are so many ways to get involved with SPB. You can volunteer for several of our super fun events, such as movie premieres like "Get Out" and "Justice League" or Winter Wonderland, while earning service hours. Once you become a more involved member, you get to help plan your own events and see those come to fruition. Menda: Students should definitely get involved with MVP because we aim to supply our community with able and excited volunteers. If you have a love for service, need service hours, or want to serve alongside your organization members, then MVP is for you. MVP offers a carpool to all service events, and bus transportation for annual events. MVP tries to make volunteering as easy as possible. All we want is more students.
The Cougar: Why should students get involved with your organization?
The Cougar: What are some of your goals for this semester? Menda: A big goal for MVP is to be a helping hand in long-term Harvey relief. It’s been a few months since the hurricane, but we understand that the impact will be felt for years. With the introduction of a temporary committee to disaster relief, we are hoping to be a better crutch for our community. In addition, a general goal MVP has is to increase the number of unique volunteers. We want to make sure that we are reaching out to as many students at UH as possible.
Soheil Nanjee, Executive Producer of CoogTV: Our organization provides an opportunity to students regardless of degree or experience to network with other passionate and creative
Benjamin: We are working to program events that are inclusive to all of UH. Of course, that is a lofty goal with 40,000-plus students to reach out to, but we want to maximize the number of
students that know about and come to our events. The Cougar: What's your biggest event for the spring semester? Nanjee: We have a couple block parties planned with the other awesome organizations at the Center of Student Media. CoogTV members are also working on a lot of cool projects that will hopefully surprise you. Stay tuned! Pandor: Our biggest events this Spring are Cultural Marketplace and Carnival of Cultures. Both events are extremely important to us at CCA and their success is pivotal to our progress for the future. Cultural Marketplace is currently being planned right now and will be hosted on February 20 and will entail providing different cultural organizations with the ability to market themselves and sell any items of their choice in order to raise funds for the organization and exposure, which is highly important to them. Carnival of Cultures will be held on April 5 and entails bringing the continents of the world right to our university. Menda: Rock the Block is our biggest event of the academic year and falls on Keep America Beautiful Day. At Rock the Block we break up into two shifts with approximately four groups in each shift and serve in different areas of Houston— with a concentration in Third Ward. After each individual service site, all the volunteers meet up in the Third Ward to host a block party for the kids of the community. Benjamin: We have a couple big ones this semester. In February, we are bringing back Stuff-A-Bear on the 12, in partnership with MVP, who will be collecting stuffed animals for a toy drive to a local children’s hospital. Later in the semester is Coog-Chella, which will be on April 19, with live music from several performers, food, and art. news@thedailycougar.com
Executive Producer of CoogTV Soheil Nanjee. | Courtesy of Soheil Nanjee
Metropolitan Volunteer Program Director Lisa Menda. | Courtesy of Lisa Menda
Council for Cultural Activities Director Nazir Pandor. | Courtesy of Nazir Pandor
Student Program Board Vice President of Membership Michelle Benjamin. | Courtesy of Michelle Benjamin
CLASSIFIEDS
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FACULTY
Adjunct professors share advantages of flexible schedules DREW JONES
NEWS ASSISTANT @DREWKENDALJONES
Between classes, studying and whatever free time students can manage, there's not a lot of time for anyone to get to know who's leading their classrooms — namely more than 1,620 visiting and adjunct professors and lecturers at the University of Houston. Data from the U.S. Department of Education shows that as of 2015, nearly half of all faculty at institutions of higher education are part-time. At UH, that number is much higher — more than 60 percent of faculty is part time. The new reality of higher education means professors can dedicate themselves to work outside the classroom while receiving the backing of a university invested in their passions. Gone are the woes of proving one’s research abilities over and over in a bid to receive tenure. Yet for some, that avenue is closed altogether. Caryn Honig is an adjunct professor of nutrition within the department of Health and Human Performance. Honig has been in her position for 14 years and says that she would like to be full time in the future. For now, she is happy where she is. Honig is a registered and licensed dietitian, specializing in treating disordered eating. Honig has five employees who work directly with her, and she has employment contracts with three hospitals. “I have a fulfilling full-time job, and teaching is a part-time passion of mine,” Honig said. She has witnessed the continuing growth of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department, and although her private practice keeps her from being as involved with the department, she believes it is heading in a positive direction. Her employment at the University was a process that happened over time, and there are a number of reasons
why she took up teaching. “I was frequently asked to be a guest speaker at UH, so I finally requested that I create a class in nutritional counseling,” Honig said. “I love teaching and hopefully making a difference in future dietitians' lives.” She believes that the University has provided her with the tools and supplies she needs to successfully create interactive classes. For her experience at the University, Honig has nothing but praise. "University of Houston has been an amazing school at which to teach. I feel as though I am totally and completely supported by my department, other faculty members and staff,” Honig said. From veterans to novices, adjunct professors speaking of the desire to be independent and their passion for teaching are running threads. Elizabeth Whalen is a .5FTE — full-time equivalent employee, four days, 20 hours per week — Executive Masters Program Director & Lecturer and doctoral candidate in the Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management. She began the Ph.D. program in 2015 and is employed only by the University. “I was able to stay on teaching, which I love, and better myself and further my expertise in the field through my own studies at the same time,” Whalen said. In her eight years with the Hilton College, Whalen says that it has gotten better with each one. As someone who has seen it from the perspective of a student and a faculty member, she says she is impressed with the heights that the college has reached.
news@thedailycougar.com
Discovery Guide Position Outgoing, energetic individuals needed to work with children and ensure a fun, positive and educational visitor experience. As a nation-wide leader in child-centered learning, we are looking for the best and brightest to represent the Museum as Discovery Guides.
NEWS
Dana C. Jones & Nola Valente, EDITORS
Grill Cook Position Needed!
Part-time Grill cooks in our Café with strong customer service skills to prepare grill food orders for museum visitors, refill supplies, help with clean up and serve as back-up to cashier. Will also be required to pass criminal background check and drug screening.
A good sense of humor is a plus! Bilingual in English and Spanish is preferred! Must be able to work Thurs nights and weekends. 24-29 hour morning and afternoon shifts needed. Online applications accepted at www.cmhouston.org/careers.
Work schedules vary at 20-29 hours per week. Must be able to work 4:30 – 8:30 Thursday evenings, Saturdays between 9 – 6 and Sundays between 11-6. Online Applications accepted at www.cmhouston.org/careers.
HIRING EVENT VALET
Hotel and Restaurant Management doctoral candidate Elizabeth Whalen also teaches at UH. | Courtesy of Elizabeth Whalen
Earn $10 per hour with a guaranteed minimum of 5 hours per event. She echoes the praise Honig281-727-8127 A professor in the School of Art offered for the University and who declined to be named said www.imperialtransportations.com values her position in it. that she is actively looking for a “I am extremely happy and full-time position and that she proud to be a member of our has several other jobs that she's community,” Whalen said. “I love currently maintaining. teaching. I love research, and I She began her work as an love the field I teach in.” adjunct in the spring of 2016, Not everyone is completely and says that she isn't involved in satisfied with where they are at the day-to-day operations of the the university. department, but she's content
WANTED with where it's headed. Like Whalen and Honig, her MALE ATTENDANT passion forhave what a she does shines Must car through, even amidst some $15/hr. + mileage critiques. Call: 713-668-6604 "I very much enjoy researching my discipline and sharing it with students," she said. "I also like mentoring my assigned TAs." news@thedailycougar.com
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Dana C. Jones & Nola Valente, EDITORS
PHOTOGRAPHY
Semester in review: Our most striking shots
Sometimes words can not express what a picture can, especially a semster's worth. Our editors picked their favorites from Fall 2017.
In the Bayou Bucket, UH played rival Rice University. Real life mixed with the world of memes when fans donned a crying Michael Jordan face with Rice tears in September. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
We chronicled a day in the life of an ROTC cadet. | Abby Lang/The Cougar
Hurricane Harvey left Houston with thousands of homes and cars destroyed. Many lost their livelihoods in the disaster. | Jennifer Gonzalez/The Cougar
The Cougars' search for the perfect quarterback ended with underdog sophomore D'Eriq King. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
When the Astos made the World Series, Ellen shocked the campus by giving away free tickets to whoever had the biggest costume. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
SPORTS
EDITOR Peter Scamardo EMAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/sports
‘Back on the map’
Olympian coaches like Carl Lewis are paving the way for a new generation of world class sprinters at UH. | PG. 2
2 | Wednesday, January 17, 2018
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Peter Scamardo, EDITOR
When Cameron Burrell (right) crossed the finish line to win the 2017 NCAA 4x100m national championship, it had been 35 years since a team from UH had won the 4x100m national title. That year they were anchored by Stanley Floyd in the 1982 NCAA Championships. But according to their coaches, that title is just one more step in a larger goal. | File photo/The Cougar & Courtesy of UH Athletics
TRACK & FIELD
Sprint City
How UH is becoming the home of the country's fastest men PETER SCAMARDO
SPORTS EDITOR @PLSCAMARDO2
Many university athletic programs cherish being called farm schools, i.e. Alabama is a farm school for the NFL or Kentucky is a farm school for the NBA. It is a testament to the efforts of the coaching staff that their athletes are prepared better than others to become professional athletes. During the ’80s and ’90s, UH could have easily been called a farm school for its track & field program. Twelve different Cougars in total competed at five different Olympic Games between 1980 and 1996; the star of the pack obviously being nine time Olympic gold
medalist, three time world’s fast man and UH alum, now assistant coach, Carl Lewis. The track program continued to be dominant at the conference level, winning 16 titles from 1997 to 2010. But during that same period they failed to produce the Olympic level talent they had in years past, with only three athletes being named to Olympic squads in the last ten years. Still, in recent years the program has shown signs of becoming a farm school once again. Head coach Leroy Burrell’s squad is working their way toward being a home to some of the fastest runners in the country. “We’re going to do some great
Assistant head coach Carl Lewis won six individual NCAA titles in three events in his career with the Cougars, never a team title. | File photo/The Cougar
things,” said senior sprinter Elijah Hall. “If we all come together and we put our minds together and work hard every day and do what we’re supposed to do, we could go to that national championship meet in Oregon and win it all.” In the 2016-17 season, the Cougars won every sprinting title at the conference meets and swept the podium in both the 100m and 200m finals at the outdoor meet. For all intents and purposes, the athletes on the roster are some of the best to come through UH in a decades. This was a roster built with one purpose in mind: win a national championship. “(Our success) feels good because we came here with a lot on our plate,” said junior sprinter Mario Burke, the Barbados 100m national champion. “We were like the No. 1 recruiting class, and it feels good to know we paid back what the coaches invested in us.” The men’s team has won four straight American Athletic Conference titles, due in large part to its sprinters. Athletes like 2016 graduate LeShon Collins, seniors Cameron Burrell and Elijah Hall and juniors Mario Burke and Jacarias Martin have all been monumental in this feat. The sprinting events have always been the main attraction
of any track & field competition. Just look at this past summer and Usain Bolt’s retirement race. Everyone was on their feet with camera in hand that day because they did not want to miss the world's fastest man's final race. For coaches Burrell and Lewis, these events have also been the ace in the hole for their current athletes. In the last four meets the previous two seasons, the Cougars were always down in points before the sprints. After the sprints they always achieved a commanding lead that they never lost. This past season was also historic, because three school records were broken: the indoor 200m, the outdoor 100m and the 4x100m relay. Senior sprinter Elijah Hall, a former two time NJCAA national champion at Butler Community College, broke the indoor 200m record (20.71s) in his very first race as a Cougar. Senior sprinter Cameron Burrell broke the outdoor 100m record (9.93s) in the NCAA semifinals. This was Burrell’s second school record, as he broke the indoor 60m record (6.48) the year prior. But the 4x100m relay was the sweetest as it came in the NCAA final. On that day, the team of Burrell, Burke and sophomores John Lewis III and Jacarias Martin
crossed the finish line first to win the NCAA title in 38.34s. In a race that featured several major track schools like Auburn, Oregon and LSU, the Cougars showed that non-Power 5 athletes had the ability to become champions. With that momentum behind them and with their current roster, 2018 just might be the year the team reaches that mountaintop.
Sprint City Around March of last year, the new term Sprint City started floating around the team. It started in reference to the fact that Cameron Burrell and Mario Burke were in the NCAA Indoor 60m final, the first Cougar duo to do so in 20 years. But this dream of UH being home to the fastest sprinters in the country is becoming a reality. During the indoor season, the Cougars had the number one ranked 60m squad in the country with an average speed of 6.65s. Their indoor 200m squad ranked fourth with a 20.96s aggregate. Burrell, Burke and Hall all had times ranked in the NCAA Top 16 in the 60, 100 and 200, while the 4x100 relay team had the second best time in the country (38.59s). This desire of making Houston into Sprint City has become so
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ingrained that #HTownSprintCity is now on every tweet the official UH Track & Field Twitter account sends out. While the track & field program is always growing, winning a national title in six months would be the greatest way of accomplishing that goal. This summer proved they have
system for the sprinters that micromanages every detail in order for his sprinters to peak at the right times. In past interviews he admitted that athletes will not have immediate success, but now that many are in their second or third year with him the effects are starting to show.
“I believe that if Oregon is the distance factory, then we can be the sprint factory.” Mario Burke, junior sprinter the men to do it. Mario Burke won the 100m at the Barbados Naional Championship. He is literally the fastest man in his country. Cameron Burrell is the fastest Cougar ever to run in the short sprinters and has two runners up medals to show for it. A less than 100 percent Elijah Hall ran the third fastest 200m time at the USA Track & Field Championships. Plus, every member of the transformative 4×1 team is returning. If this team wants to accomplish their dream they will have to perform when it matters most, something Burrell preached to them at every meet. If they do that, then championships are well within reach. “That’s what we’re looking forward to do,” Hall said, “changing the way we do things in Houston. Becoming that program that’s fast in college and when we leave college we become a bigger program like in Santa Monica. That’s why Carl is doing the Perfect Method, where we have a group outside of college. It’s going to be great this year. We’re really expanding the way we do things in Houston.”
The coaches When Carl Lewis joined the coaching staff, Leroy Burrell must have known he was not only going to get a multi-faceted coach, but a great recruiting tool. Every member of the national championship relay team credited both Burrell and Lewis as reasons for committing to UH. The opportunity to train with Olympic gold medalists was one they did not want to pass up. “We have two of the best coaches ever,” said junior Jacarias Martin, who competes in the 200m. “Both of them were the fastest person in the world in one point in their careers. And they did what we did, they did all this practicing, running, everything started here. What they did, they’re trying to recreate that so we can do the same thing they did.” Since his arrival in 2014, Lewis has been working on a training
In an interview leading up to the 2016-17 season, Lewis said this current crop of sprinters would be the best in school history and they would break all the records. Last year showed they are capable of reaching that goal. But eventually the athletes will graduate, and then their focus will turn to one thing: becoming an Olympian. Getting to the Olympics, let alone winning a medal, is not something one accomplishes by themselves. Lewis knows that better than anyone. In the prime of their careers, both Lewis and Burrell were members of the Santa Monica Track Club. During their time with the club, Lewis and Burrell broke the 100m World Record a combined five times. Santa Monica proved to be a perfect training ground as the two were able to train with eight other Olympic gold medalists. What the Santa Monica Track Club gave these two was guidance. Even after graduating from college, they maintained connections with Tom Tellez, the UH track & field coach at the time, and fellow UH alums Kirk Baptiste, Mike Marsh and Frank DeLoach. That place is something Lewis has tried to replicate with the creation of Team Perfect Method.
The Oregon model The Perfect Method is an online resource created by Lewis to provide training techniques to athletes and schools for free. Team Perfect Method is the professional team Lewis coaches that all post collegiate athletes are able to join, and who UH alums have easy access to. The “about” section of the Team Perfect Method website reads, “The Perfect Method is a stepby-step program that prepares runners by focusing on their habits both on and off the track. The Perfect Method gives athletes and coaches everything they need to compete at the highest level: technical running skills, seasonal conditioning, optimized nutrition, mental preparation and discipline.” Lewis said in an interview with
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the Houston Chronicle that Team Perfect Method would have a focus on keeping UH athletes in Houston. By keeping them at UH, the athletes are not thrown into the world of professional track & field without any guidance. Instead, they are able to stay with the coaches that got them to where they are and continue their training long after they have left college. 2016 graduate sprinter LeShon Collins is the most high profile member so far. In addition to winning races at both Texas and Penn Relays, Collins ran for USA at the IAAF World Relays in March, helping Team USA to a gold medal in the process. The article also reported that Lewis was hoping Elijah Hall and Cameron Burrell, both seniors, would join Team Perfect Method once they graduated. “This squad that I have is going to be our squad when we run post collegiate,” said John Lewis III, who ran the first leg of the NCAA champion 4×1 team. “Just like how our coaches put Houston on the map, we’re trying to put them back on the map.” What Coach Lewis has created is very similar to the Nike Oregon Project in Portland. It was originally founded in 2001 to promote long-distance running. The Oregon Project uses Oregon's high altitude in order to strengthen the runner’s lungs and bodies in addition to the underwater and low-gravity treadmills. The Oregon Project is coached by Alberto Salazar, an Oregon alumnus and three time New York City Marathon champion. Salazar and his team have been able to recruit fellow Oregon alums to the Project thanks to their proximity to the university. The most notable has been Galen Rupp, the 2012 Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000m and 2017 Chicago Marathon champion (the first American to win the race in 35 years). But the Project has also recruited international athletes like Mo Farah of Great
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Peter Scamardo, EDITOR
Mario Burke (left) and Cameron Burrell (right) won two of the seven conference sprint titles last year, all won by the Cougars. | Peter Scamardo/The Cougar
Britain, who won four Olympic gold medals in the 5000m and 10,000m in his time on the team. Currently, Team Perfect Method is working on developing their own talent, but if the team is successful there is always the possibility of attracting established talent. Given that the Cougars are now 4x100m champions, more people will be taking notice of what they are doing than they otherwise would. “(Becoming Sprint City) would mean a lot, (Carl) already started it off with Team Perfect Method,” Burke said. “When Cam and Eli graduate at the end of this season they’ll move onto that team. I believe that if Oregon is the distance factory then we can be the sprint factory.” After all, the purpose of sports
is to promote their university and attract new students. There is no better way of doing that than winning a national title. Now that the team has a national title, they have ensured more talent will come in order to make sure they continue to stay competitive. “When my time is gone here we’ll be able to have that leverage to attract the next great sprinter to our program. We’re already currently working on that,” Cameron Burrell said. “It just shows that what we’re doing here is some really great work, and when we do those things we can attract other great athletes to propel your program even further.” sports@thedailycougar.com
The team of Mario Burke, Cameron Burrell, Jacarias Martin and Elijah Hall owned the nation's second fastest 4x100m time going into the NCAA Regionals. Hall ultimately missed the finals due to an injury. | Peter Scamardo/The Cougar
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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Sophomore leading team to unfamiliar heights TRENTON WHITING
STAFF WRITER @YUNGTREKKA
Before sophomore guard Jasmyne “Jazz” Harris even stepped onto a basketball court, her journey started at a neighbor’s basketball goal in her apartment complex. She was only four years old. Fast forward to her sophomore year of college, and Harris has revived a struggling women’s basketball program. The Cougars have already won 14 games this season. The past two years they won a combined 18 games. A large part of that has been Harris and her ability to score, and score often. “We’re just taking more shots that I didn’t take last year, and my teammates are finding me open,” Harris said. “(It’s) my teammates trusting me with the ball to make shots and us playing great defense making it easier to score the basket.” Harris leads the team in points per game (20.3) and total assists (69). In addition, Harris’ success on the court helped create a bit of history for herself. Harris became the first Cougar to be named American Athletic Conference
Guard Jasmyne Harris became the first Cougar to be named American Athletic Conference Player of the Week since the program moved to the conference. Her efforts have the women in third place in conference. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
Player of the Week since the team changed conferences. On Jan. 8, she received that title a second time. Harris earned her latest award after a stretch averaging 30 points per game, including a 34 point effort against Tulane as part of a 21-point comeback win. She was even nationally recognized as she won espnW’s player of the week
award. It was during that Jan. 6 Tulane game that head coach Ronald Hughey saw how the efforts of Harris and her teammates had changed the team’s mentality. “We said, ‘You need to make a decision’,” Hughey said. “‘Are we going to be the same team that always gets to a certain point and then continues to lose, or are we
going to be a team that’s surpassed that and come out and win this basketball game?’ I think we kind of did some things to put them in position along the way, but it’s them, their competitive fire, their heart and determination. It’s all them.” Harris committed to UH in the spring of 2016. The opportunity to play at the University of Houston
allowed Harris to stay close to her family. Her hometown of Freeport is just under an hour away from the school. The ultimate decider may have been Hughey’s efforts. “Coach Hughey was recruiting me,” Harris said. “He gave some very good words about how me and the other players that were coming could change the program.” Harris is achieving a level of success that is pushing the rest of the team to match her energy, and she has given the University of Houston a taste of having a star player once again. So far, that fire has pushed the Cougars to a great record and a 3-2 start in conference play at press time. Because of this, Hughey said he holds the sophomore’s play on the court and emotions off the court to high standards. “She’s one of our most passionate kids,” Hughey said. “She’s a hell of a competitor. She’s a great kid, and she wants to do everything she can for her teammates.” sports@thedailycougar.com
MEN'S BASKETBALL
Roundtable: Who is the toughest remaining opponent? THE COUGAR SPORTS STAFF @ THECOUGARSPORTS
The men's basketball team is in the final stretch of its season. With only 13 games left, every game increases in weight as the Cougars hope to finally return to the NCAA Tournament. Two of our sports writers made their picks for the Cougars' toughest remaining opponent.
Staff writer Chris McGehee When looking to find Houston’s toughest remaining opponent, look no further than the team they played less than two weeks ago: the Wichita State Shockers. The Cougars will host the Shockers this Saturday. The Shockers won the first meeting by 18 points and, in addition to holding several statistical advantages over the Cougars, they now have confidence going into the second matchup. As a team Wichita State boasts a more efficient offense than UH, averaging 5 more points per game than the Cougars (85 to 80 respectively), while also holding
a 42 to 40 edge in the rebounding category and dishing out more assists, 19 to 15, during each contest. Once you drill down, the disparity between the two teams grows larger. Wichita State can claim four players who are averaging double digits in the points column, while Houston can only counter with three. Of their top four scorers, the Shockers have three of them shooting at least 39 percent from deep while junior guard Corey Davis Jr. can say the same for the Cougars. During the first meeting, three Shockers players scored 14 or more points. All three shot 62.5 percent or better from the field. In stark contrast, only one player made it to 13 points, and that came while shooting at a relatively horrendous 42.5 percent clip. If the trends established in the first matchup carry over into the second showdown, the Wichita State Shockers hold a decisive advantage from the top of the roster to the bottom.
Staff writer Andrew Tuan On Feb. 8, the Cougars will be up against arguably their toughest matchup: the SMU Mustangs. Led by third year head coach Tim Jankovich, the Mustangs have beaten the Cougars in five out of their last six meetings. They have a fast paced offense starring junior point guard Shake Milton, who is averaging a teamhigh 17 points per game and leading the team with 4.5 assists per game. At 6’5", Milton’s length allows him to create shots for himself and his teammates. He has given trouble to the Cougars in the past, exploding for a season-high 27 points and collecting five assists in the first matchup last season. The Mustangs are a frustrating defense to face. Their length allows them to contest shots and makes them the eighth best defense in the nation in terms of points allowed. Combine that with their lethal shooting from beyond the arc, where they are eighth in the nation in 3-point percentage, and the Mustangs
With 13 games left in their season the basketball team will face two opponents that will greatly decide their tournament hopes. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
are going to be a true test for the Cougars. However, the Cougars will be at home at H&PE Arena, where they have yet to lose a game this
season. This will be the first of two meetings this season with the second on Feb. 28. sports@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, January 17, 2018 | 5
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OPINION
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Anusheh Siddique, EDITOR
Black churches, especially in the South, have been targeted because of the sense of unity among the black community. The symbolic cature of the church, however, has not ended. | Dana C. Jones/The Cougar
CULTURE
Black church strategy: Destroying only safe haven H
istorically in the United States, there has been white domestic terror targeting people of color, especially Black Americans. Different tactics, like migrating to the North to flee southern terror, have been used to seek refuge and find safety. But for those who couldn’t, safety was found in the black church. Dating as far back as the burning of the 1822 Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, DANA C. JONES there have FEATURES EDITOR been strategic attacks on the black church, all leading up to the most recent attack of the vandalism and burning of the Hopewell Baptist Church in Greenville, Mississippi in 2016. Going on 200 years of black church attacks, this is far from a coincidence. The question is, why? Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, the Church Business Administrator for the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Maurice Carr, has first-hand experience with church attacks. In 1963, the most infamous church bombing happened in Birmingham at the 16 Street Baptist Church. “I didn’t go to [16 Street Baptist]. I went to 22 Avenue Baptist Church, which is only about 10 blocks from there,” Carr said. A 15-year-old Carr could feel the tremors when the bomb exploded.
What the church can do In the '50s and '60s — a time when racial tension was even more severe than it is now — there were even fewer places where Black Americans could truly be safe. One place was the black church.
In addition to being a place of religious worship, the black church also served as a place for meeting to discuss topics that were pertinent to the community. The black church is also responsible for creating some of the early private historically black colleges and universities. Morehouse College was first known as Agusta Institute, which started in Springfield Baptist Church. Carr himself went to Lane College in Jackson, Tennesse. “You look at most of the private black schools, they came out of a church, so it’s essential,” Carr said. Black churches provide afterschool programs and financial aid, and they help the community through food drives and homeless shelters. Two of the biggest Civil Rights leaders were religious figures as well. Martin Luther King Jr. was a reverend, and Malcolm X was a prominent Muslim figure. They often referenced God and Allah, respectively, in their speeches galvanizing black people during the Civil Rights era.
Disrupting the safety This two-century tactic of destroying churches is an effort to shake the integrity of the last safe place black people can go. With enough bombings, vandalism and shootings, domestic terrorists can eradicate the concept of strength in numbers and limit the comfort of being around like people. Dylann Roof, the gunman of the Charleston shooting, took advantage of the hospitality that black churches show. Just because a church is predominately black does not mean that it is for blacks only. The main mission of the church is to bring people closer to God no matter who you are. Roof was probably a newcomer. All first-timers at Baptist churches
are asked to stand at the beginning of service to be recognized. This tradition also happens at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Reports say that he sat for an hour in the church before opening fire, killing nine people. The fact that there were no worries about an outsider coming into the church shows the foundation of safety that the church provides. This is true especially in a city like Charleston, which has historic racial tension from the slave trade, Jim Crow and the Civil War like other southern cities, not to mention its own bouts of police brutality and the removal of Confederate symbols along with the rest of the nation. The leaders and representatives of black churches have to ease the minds of the congregation when these attacks happen. “First, you tell them God’s in control,” Carr said. “It’s happening because there are still people who don’t believe that we are all created equal and we are all created in the image of God.” These kinds of attacks are continuing the implementation of fear: making black people afraid to vote, afraid to go to certain places at night, afraid to meet in masses to praise their God. It’s the old and sadly effective tactic of suppressing the disenfranchised. “When the bottom starts to rise, and you have nobody else to fill the bottom then you have to keep the bottom down,” Carr said. But it’s not all grim. With this current generation, we are different than our ancestors that came before us. We do not become afraid easily, and with the rise of social media, we are aware of what is going on through the willful spread of information. “It’s not going to be as easy to inject fear into this generation as it was the last, because it’s a different
era,” Carr said. In this ongoing fight for equality and freedom, we must maintain the few places in which we can make our own freedoms and create our own roles of power. The black church must be protected and continue to be held sacred. These opposing forces will eventually end. “I think they need to just chill, forget about it. It’s not gone work.
They are going to lose the battle,” Carr said. The thing about the church is that it’s a symbol. No matter how many vandalisms, shootings or burnings, you can’t destroy a symbol. Features editor Dana C. Jones is a print journalism junior. He can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church's congregation worships and praises at the 11 a.m. service. | Dana C. Jones/The Cougar
The Wheeler Avenue Baptist church was started in 1962 from Texas Southern University's Baptist Student Union. | Dana C. Jones/The Cougar
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STATE
Fringe political ideologies push generational voters out EDITORIAL BOARD
T
exas is a phenomenal representation of the American political condition current: polarized and divided based on social class. The 2016 presidential election featured the typically red state going blue in many major cities, a manifestation of the relationship between Republican success and the rural vote. President Donald Trump is by far the most city-bred president to hold office, but the voters that ANUSHEH led him there SIDDIQUE are just the OPINION EDITOR opposite. The Republican dependence on rural voters is not a new development, but it does beg the question whether the gap between rural and urban mindsets is becoming dangerous. The gaping chasm between the Republican party and Democratic parties is ever-widening. 2017 had enough scandals — on both sides of the political spectrum — to leave any average citizen, and the students of this campus, inundated in a state of abeyance and bewilderment. Existing differences between city and countryside voters only exacerbated this past year. It feels almost as if these massive metropolises within these very Republican states are in their own worlds. Going to school in such a democratically-inclined city at an equally inclined campus often leads us to believe that the atmosphere of Texas is growing more blue, but any drive to the country will remind you otherwise. The contrast between these two worlds seen through the stereotype of the progressive, pro-LGBT, pro-abortion rights, pro-gun control Democrat and the deeply Christian, rural, guntoting, anti-abortion Republican shows us that there is an abundant gray area between the extremes. There are many opinions and more moderate perspectives that are being neglected because the most radical voices have a tendency to shout the loudest, but in this instance I worry if every voter between these extremes is being silenced. Those who identify as independents or moderates within the two parties have such minimal representation that they pose little relevance.
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STAFF EDITORIAL
Even though Texas is a red state, the influence of the blue cities like Houston, Austin and Dallas, Texas could become purple or even blue over time shifting how politicians will have to campaign. | Sonny Singh/The Cougar
The political frenzy of the last couple of years has led to a drastic shift in values and a realignment of voters. Between confused voters and the ever-growing power of lobbyists and interest groups, the democratic system seems to be catering to an enormous audience. This makes it difficult for younger generations to understand how they identify if only the extremes are presented. The danger of this is an extreme polarization of voters as the platforms for both parties grow more and more decentralized. The increasing polarization of this nation is evidence that political parties are not determined by economic issues, but rather reliant on the factors of race, religion and social class. Of course, these factors play an important role in determining any identification — they’re integral with every facet of your identity — but the shift from exclusively political issues to sociopolitical makes it difficult to discern where one lies on the spectrum between liberal and conservative. The trend of red states voting blue in their major cities, such as Houston, is evidence of this. The political sphere is meant to grow, evolve and adapt to the needs of its populace, but the direction it has taken has resulted in untrustworthy politicians and confused voters. My issue with the progression of our two major parties is how heavily associated they are with their most extreme supporters.
Avid supporters have begun to separate their representatives from their parties. “I can’t even really begin to see where I land,” said political science sophomore Mark Mata. There has always been a degree of truth about the stereotypes of the conservative Republican and the liberal Democrat. The parties lend themselves easily to a very archetypical demographic. It is beyond difficult to compromise on an issue of ethics because to concede for either side would be amoral. The general populace is no longer selecting the candidate that best represent, just their beliefs, but rather the candidate that maintains some shred of their original values. We are no longer voting Republican or Democrat; we are voting Trump; we are voting Hillary Clinton; we are voting Bernie Sanders. These are people who no longer represent the original values of their parties, but the radical and most flexible extreme of them. The problem this presents is an obvious one; How do we identify the issues that are the core of our political values? How do we go about deciding which moral issues take precedence over another? All of this would be of interest to a political science student or an avid follower politics, but it doesn’t really seem to have implications on the lives of students. But shockingly, for such an enormous group, college students have the lowest political
turnout and efficacy. This can be blamed on a number of factors, but I believe the main determinant of the ever-dwindling college vote is the absolute confusion that now accompanies determining your political agenda. Political organizations around campus have noticed this trend. The University of Houston College Democratic Organization’s president, Gabriel Aguilar, felt that “the Democratic party has evolved, but remains inclusive. Not every Democrat supports every liberal ideal, you’ll find a variety of Democrats on this campus alone.” The students of UH, a leftleaning campus in a left-leaning city in a red state, are evidence enough of the political climate giving precedence to these valence issues over more relevant economic and social issues. Some may not be confused, but rather “frustrated with having opinions that land on opposite ends of the political spectrum,” such as psychology major J. Emmanuel Salinas. These contradictory opinions were once a struggle, but they’ve grown to a dissonance that leaves this generation so unsure where they fall that they choose not to place themselves on the spectrum at all. Opinion Editor Anusheh Siddique is a political science freshman and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Cougar Editorial Board. All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the writer. Opinions expressed in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or its students as a whole.
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STAFF EDITORIAL
Transfer students: Don't be afraid to jump into campus culture Transfer students who decide to switch schools in the spring come in with a handicap. The campus is less excited than in late August, cliques and friend groups are already established, and organizations are already planning to capitalize on the progress they have made in the semester prior. With all of these gears in motion, what are you, the transfer student and glorified new kid, to do? Since there are few events dedicated solely to transfer students, you will have to take initiative and throw yourself out there. Most of you are either coming from community colleges or transferring from another four-year university for a myriad of reasons. Some of the best first steps to acclimating are to join organizations and explore the city around you. By now you should have a sense of what you like to do in your spare time, if not exactly what career field you want to go
into. There are clubs catered to hobbies and career readiness. Hobbyist clubs include the air hockey club, badminton club of UH and the billiards league. If you want to be surrounded by other in your future career field (hint: you do), there are organizations dedicated to law, medicine and human development. You can also find clubs that provide camaraderie among those who share aspects of your identity, like ethnicity, gender or religion. Another set of clubs are the fee-funded organizations that part of your Student Service Fee goes to. These clubs include the Homecoming Board and the Metropolitan Volunteer Program, which engages in volunteering on this campus and throughout Houston. Then you have Center for Student Media, which covers radio, television and the newspaper that you’re reading right now. UH is a commuter school, and it is easy to get into the habit of going to class, then going home.
File photo/The Cougar
If you don’t live in the city, you have to pass through it to get home anyway, so why not look at the happenings around town? There are two parks within 10 minutes of UH on the same street, Elgin, called Emancipation and Baldwin Park. Just five minutes away, two of Houston's historic the most popular city and nationwide restaurants are located on
or near Scott Street. Cream Burger is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with quality but affordable homemade burgers and shakes. A few blocks down, you’ll find the original Frenchy’s Chicken. Visit soon: Solange and Beyonce's go-to restaurant will be moving locations this spring. Just visit a few of those places and you haven’t even left Third Ward, which you should
probably get a history lesson about. Unfortunately, unlike freshmen, you don't have so many guides and mentors to show you around this big school. However, you cannot be afraid to take risks and go full throttle. Besides, that’s what we do here at the powerhouse. editor@thedailycougar.com.
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