Issue 06, Volume 83

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Issue 06, Volume 83

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Inside ROTC

Between 5 a.m. and 3 a.m., cadets do more than just attend classes. | PG. 5

SPORTS

True freshman makes an impact

Payton Turner left his mark on the field after just his second play in the Bayou Bucket. He attributes his success to his family and willingness to learn. | PG. 7

OPINION

Shastaon phones IDs should be stored SCOT

MA Students have a hard time keeping track of their Cougar Cards. The logical next step is for the University to bring in electronic ID cards. | PG. 11

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C. McRae Peavy, EDITOR

RESEARCH

NASA awards professor for ice discovery NOLA VALENTE

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @NOLAVALENTE

People in ice-prone regions of the United States may be able to keep the lights on during winter thanks to research from a UH mechanical engineering professor.

Hadi Ghasemi won the NASA iTech Cycle 2 award, a year-long initiative to find innovative ideas to that may help NASA. Ghasemi created a biologically inspired anti-icing material that mimics wood frogs, which can survive up to 65 percent of their body’s fluids freezing.

The breakthrough can help alleviate ice-related power outages, which account for 10 percent of power transmission outages in the United States, according to Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

"The financial loss for industries is approximated $3 to 5 billion annually, and around 3 million people in the U.S. every winter suffer from power losses by ice storms," Ghasemi said. “Through this disruptive technology, we intend to address these challenges and improve quality of human life.”

The project was initiated two years ago by three researchers after studying modern-day global issues, said mechanical engineering doctoral candidate Peyman Irajizad, who Ghasemi acknowledged for his work in creating the revolutionary technology.

“One of the problems, especially in the north of America, Canada and Russia, is the ice formation,” Irajizad said. “Five percent of U.S. crashes are because of the icing. That’s a huge number.”

Airplane companies spray an oil before takeoff as an icing prevention method, but if the weather is too rainy, it washes off the oil, Irajizad said.

Graduate research assistant Ali Masoudi took part in studying the anti-scaling properties of the new surface.

Masoudi said being able to overcome the icing challenge is paramount, and the money saved there can be invested in other sectors of energy.

“When you don’t need to consume energy to solve all these problems, I believe that it will help a lot,” Masoudi said.

Irajizad said the power transmission industry will financially benefit from the new material. During winter, icing can cause power poles, towers and transmission lines to collapse, sometimes causing a domino effect.

“Installing a power transmission is around $100 per meter for only the wire, (and) each line has six wires,” Irajizad said. “Consider from west to east of America, it’s a huge market, so finding the solution is really important.”

Airplane and power transmission industries are the main sectors being considered, but the infrastructure industry is in future plans, Ghasemi said.

“If you cannot open the door of your car, that’s not a big deal. You can put some hot water on the car, and you can open the door,” Ghasemi said. “ But if you lose power in a city, that’s a huge problem.”

Ghasemi said he mainly looks forward to the journey initiated by the award.

“We have started a collaboration with NASA, so we are going to test our

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Mechanical engineering professor Hadi Ghasemi won an award from NASA for his space-applicable anti-icing technology. | Courtesy of Media Relations

product in their facilities,” Ghasemi said. “The next stage is that it will pass, and it will really help us to take some burden from the commercialization of this product."

Both Irajizad and Masoudi agree that working with Ghasemi requires hard work.

“Working with him is not easy because you know he works a lot, and he expects you to work a lot,” Masoudi said. “But at the same time, you know you will enjoy it, because when you have problems you are not left on your own. He is there to help you.”

Ethic and passion for the subject is crucial for the researching team.

“It’s really important for Ghasemi that you enjoy working on that project,” Masoudi said. “If it’s something that you are not interested in, then for sure you won’t make that much progress.”

Irajizad said he realized commercialization is a key part of succeeding in research.

“The most important lesson is the huge difference between the industrial and educational area of research,” Irajizad said. “It should be economic, durable, eco-friendly — it should satisfy all criteria.”

Out of his criteria for a successful project, affordability stood out the most, he said.

“This new material is going to be very cheap,” Irajizad said.

“I’m proud of that one.”

Ghasemi was a finalist for The World of Technology Award alongside Elon Musk in 2014. Although he did not win, he has continued to sharpen his ideas to better the worlds of energy and technology.

“It’s exciting because you think, you invent and always are excited about new things,” Ghasemi said. “So that’s what motivates me in research.” news@thedailycougar.com

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RESEARCH

Engineering professor recieves grant to find cleaner engines ANDREA FERNÁNDEZ VELÁZQUEZ

STAFF WRITER @ANDFERVEL

The chair of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering will receive a three-year, $2.1 million grant to research cleaner, more efficient combustion

engines — offering help to the transportation industry.

Professor Michael Harold applied for the research grant from the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory earlier this year and will receive it by the end of September.

“If we successfully complete

our project, we can bring more fuel-efficient cars on the road that use advanced engine technology,” said Lars Grabow, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering who is working with Harold on the research. “In particular, we are focusing our efforts on

low-temperature combustion engines, in which the energy content of the fuel is more efficiently converted to energy that drives the car.”

The team is focused on identifying new materials that work better than what is currently used to clean car emissions, Harold said.

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C. McRae Peavy, EDITOR

CLEANER ENGINES Continued from previous page

runs at higher load and higher temperature,” Grabow said. “In addition, we plan to modify Current catalysts used in the catalytic converter to conventional engines are have better efficiency at lower expensive precious metals temperature." like platinum, palladium and Catalytic converters change rhodium. car exhaust into water, carbon “This specific project is dioxide and nitrogen. Carbon focused on an emerging type dioxide is a pollutant, but of more efficient combustion is less damaging than raw engine,” Harold said. “That exhaust. is somewhere in between Harold and his team must diesel and gasoline, but one find a catalyst that works a of its attributes is that it runs low temperature, since the at a lower temperature than commonly-used catalysts only typical combustion engines, work at the high temperatures like the cars that we drive, at which conventional engines and that low temperature of burn. operation makes it that much The multi-organization more difficult to clean the project includes partners exhaust.” with other institutions and The old system won't work companies. in the new engines, but The research will be the new treatment system collaborative, Harold said, might work in older engines, with the University of according to a UH news Virginia, Oak Ridge National release.

Laboratory, in Oak Ridge, “Our goal is to improve Tenn. and Southwest Research the tailpipe emissions Institute in San Antonio. treatment system, such that In addition, Johnson it traps (nitrogen oxide) Matthey Inc., a London-based at low temperatures and company whose expertise is in releases it over the catalytic making catalysts, and Fiat10-10943_Cougar News September_PRINT.pdf 1 9/18/17 1:38 PM converter when the engine Chrysler Automobiles Inc. will

Professor Harold received a $2.1 million grant to research a cleaner, more efficient combustion engine filter catalyst. | Courtesy of Media Relations

be collaborating.

Around 10 to 15 people will be working on this project, Harold said.

According to Air Alliance Houston’s website, more than 68 million pounds of pollution were released during "malfunction and maintenance" events in Texas in 2015.

“Air pollution in the developing world is a real challenge, and it continues to be challenging in the

West," Harold said. "Cities like Houston face real air challenges, (and) that really presses the need for cleaner vehicles but also at the same time more efficient vehicles.”

Grabow’s methods will help to converge on the new catalytic materials and avoid the "Edisonian" approach, Harold said.

The downside is that at low temperatures, the currently available emissions after treatment systems do not

work well, especially during the cold start period, Grabow said.

A key pollutant is nitrogen oxide, which causes smog.

“In the discovery process, there is a lot of testing, trial-and-error and high throughput screening," Harold said. "All to get to the answers as quickly as possible, so we can then optimize the discovery, develop it and get it ready for commercialization."

If the project is successful, it would mean better air, less smog and more fuel-efficient cars without compromising engine power in the city of Houston, Grabow said.

Publishing research, empowering students, defending a student’s thesis and teaching good lectures are just some of things professors do, Harold said.

“But when you get a grant, it is an acknowledgment from your colleagues out there that you are doing good work, so it makes you feel good that you are on the right track, and it helps pay the bills,” he said. news@thedailycougar.com

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C. McRae Peavy, EDITOR

“The picture she shared showed mold already growing as high as four feet on her walls," senior James Russ said. "I was saddened that she was affected..." | Courtesy of Joann Huynh

HARVEY

Volunteer team clears 4 feet of mold from alumna's home ANDREA FERNÁNDEZ VELÁZQUEZ

STAFF WRITER @ANDFERVEL

Drops of rain became drops of tears as water flooded the homes of residents in greater Houston, invading their peace and stability, and increasing the concerns Hurricane Harvey created when it hit deep in the heart of Texas.

University of Houston alumna Joann Huynh, who graduated with a management information systems degree in 2002, was among one of the many Houston residents affected by Harvey. Huynh and her husband, Hoi Nguyen, also a UH alumnus, have been living in Canyon Gate at Cinco Ranch for the past 13 years.

“We survived many hurricanes and storms, but we didn’t make Harvey,” Huynh said.

Huynh said her house started flooding after the opening of the Barker dam around 1 p.m.

Aug. 28.

"My husband and I started seeing water zipping through," Huynh said.

As the water rose, they tried moving as many things as they could upstairs, but the water reached the electrical outlets, so they had to turn off all breakers, Huynh said.

The following morning,

Huynh said the water passed the electrical outlet line, and in a few hours, they were rescued by boat. During this time, they stayed at her brother’s house.

“By the time we were able to get back in the house, black mold was as high as my height,” said Huynh, 5-foot-1-inch tall.

Huynh decided to show the photographs to her co-workers in order to share her story.

Mechanical engineering senior James Russ, who interned at NRG during the summer, offered Huynh assistance after he saw the photos.

“The picture she shared showed mold already growing as high as four feet on her walls," Russ said. "I was saddened that she was affected, and I quickly offered to organize a team of UH students to help."

Russ contacted Honors College lecturer Douglas Erwing, Associate Dean for the College Natural Sciences and Mathematics Andrew Hamilton and environmental science and civil engineering sophomore True Furrh, who was already active in cleaning out houses in the community.

The next morning, there was a team ready to help Huynh's, Russ said.

“I was inspired by Joann’s

determination and optimism despite the circumstances and by the dedication of strangers helping strangers,” Russ said.

Six UH students, a UH professor and two strangers from Kentucky spent an entire Saturday helping Huynh's and her family, Russ said.

Erwing explained the tasks to the volunteers, demonstrating how to demolish the kitchen and cut and remove the Sheetrock in the master bedroom, master bathroom and closets.

“The foul smell of rotten food in the fridge, the muddy water left on the floors, the molded Sheetrock, the molded furniture made the working condition extremely unpleasant,” Huynh said.“ Yet, everyone was working nonstop with big smiles on their faces.”

True Furrh, who is an NSM ambassador and UH CARES captain, said he started the UH Harvey volunteering page after he walked to the Third Ward Multi-Service Center with friends to donate clothing and food.

“I wanted to make sure nobody got discouraged from volunteering by being turned away from a shelter,” Furrh said. “We lost our home during Hurricane Ike, so that motivated me to be as much help as

A team of students and professors helped clean the house of Joann Huynh, who graduated from UH in 2002. | Courtesy of Joann Huynh

I could.”

The UH Harvey Relief Carpooling & Volunteer Opportunities Facebook page has more than 1,200 students. Furrh said he worked directly with at least 100 students a week and a half before classes resumed Sept. 5.

“The shifts were generally from 8 a.m. to whenever we all got tired, usually after 4 p.m.,” Furrh said. “One day we hit six sites, and we stayed until about 6 p.m. The homeowners provided lunch, a fair amount, so we had plenty of breaks built into the day, and we all took

water and Gatorade breaks.”

Huynh said she does not know what she would have done without the help of the volunteers. “(From) time to time, I had a quick break to look around,” Huynh said. “Seeing everyone working so hard to help me during this time in need melted my heart. Not only did they help to demolish the house, but they also tried to salvage everything they could to reduce cost of rebuild.” news@thedailycougar.com

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CAMPUS

Army ROTC experiences a different kind of college C. MCRAE PEAVY

NEWS EDITOR @MCRAEPV1

For two years, Hyo Hwang has woken up at 5 a.m. every single weekday to run at least 4 miles and do countless push-ups, sit-ups and other body-weight workouts.

That's just one of the requirements of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps, which he joined his freshman year at UH. After that, he goes to class, notably military science, another of his ROTC requirements. In addition to physical training and specialized classes, Hwang also serves as a color guard for football games.

The ROTC program allows student cadets to complete college — paid for either partially or fully by the U.S. government — while also training to become fully commissioned officers in the military.

The cadets do physical training and take military courses alongside their regular classes.

“One of my best friends, Tucker — I became best friends with him because we would come in every morning, sit on the couch depressed as f**k, like, ‘You ready for this five mile run?’ ‘Yeah.’

From there, we just bonded,” said Hwang, a political science junior.

“We all endured it.”

Nobody left behind While most other cadets only have PT on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, Hwang said he joined the more intensive Ranger Challenge group because he wanted to push himself.

“I hate running now because of it,” Hwang said. “Like, I f**king hate it. But it’s really great because you’re doing it with your fellow classmates and friends, so you don’t want to let them down, and they don’t want to let you down, so you’re constantly pushing each other.”

Cadet Kayla Dodd wakes up at 5 a.m. for physical training three days a week, works as a bartender and a marketing director and is taking 21 credit hours this semester. She likes to build gun cases in her free time. | Abby Lang/The Cougar

Hwang said if one cadet is left behind, the whole group gets in trouble. Instead of going on ahead, they have to slow down and help motivate them.

“In the end, everyone pushing each other to be the best that they can be...I think that’s one of the great parts of ROTC,” Hwang said.

Marketing senior Kayla Dodd joined the ROTC at UH after a five-year stint in Vicenza, Italy, as a civilian employee of the Army.

“I moved back, and I just missed the discipline,” Dodd said. “The first time I came back here, and I went in a Walmart, and there were kids hanging all over the place. I almost started crying. I was like, ‘This is culture shock.’ I’m from America, but these people are crazy.”

In Italy, Dodd said, she did payroll for the Army. She was told that it could pay for her to move back to America, but the Army wouldn’t be able to extend her contract.

“I decided to do the officer route because I didn’t want to enlist at

24. There was no way I was gonna be a private,” Dodd said. “Going the officer route, you get your college paid for first. A lot of guys will enlist and get their college paid for after.”

Dodd said she’s found that some soldiers who come back from war are so thankful to be alive that they believe they can get through anything.

“They come back and go to college. They’re like, ‘This is too easy. What do I care? I’m just so thankful to be having this day,’" Dodd said. "Sometimes, they didn’t think they were gonna have that day. They just have that grit and intestinal fortitude that you just don’t find. They’ve seen exactly how hard something can get and still come out of it.”

Hwang also described people he’d known before being deployed and what they were like when they came back.

“I don’t wanna say they were different, but they had a different outlook on life,” Hwang said.

“Like, not taking it for granted, I guess, and in general, a little bit more respect for it. ... They just have a different outlook on how precious life is, how sensitive it is and how quickly and how easily it can be taken away from you.”

Practicality and practice Hwang isn’t too worried about seeing combat when he eventually gets deployed, he said.

“Currently, I’m a (cavalry) scout, which is a combat arms profession, cause I was a stupid 17-year-old who thought, ‘Bang bang, Call of Duty,’ right?" Hwang said. "But now that I’m older, more mature, I want something practical."

Hwang said he wants to be a signal officer when he graduates.

He described them as forming the information technology department of the Army.

“I want to get that experience, go back to school, probably major in computer science and cybersecurity, and from there I’d go on to

the FBI,” Hwang said.

The Signal Corps is not a combat profession, Hwang said.

He might be attached to an infantry unit and be sent into the field, but the likelihood of him being in mortal danger would be low.

Dodd’s chosen branch for when she is activated in the Army is human intelligence, she said. As an intelligence officer, it would be her job to gather the intelligence soldiers collect in the field, make it comprehensible and send it to a higher-up to receive mission orders.

Dodd isn’t in the Ranger Challenge group, so she attends PT three mornings a week. On her most difficult days, she said she wakes up at 5:15 a.m. and gets to campus by 6:15 a.m. She’ll have a 4- or 5-mile run, then go to training meetings and classes by 2:30 p.m.

She said she goes home and tries to take a short nap, then works as a bartender from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.

ROTC Cadet Hunter Morgan, a history junior, wakes up even earlier.

“A typical day for me in ROTC starts at 4:45 a.m. because I commute from Katy,” Morgan said.

“When I get to to UH, the other cadets and myself conduct PT for an hour.”

Dodd stressed the importance of winding down with such a busy schedule. She said she takes a few nights off a month from tending bar to build gun cases, her favorite hobby.

“I actually don’t have to work tonight, or tomorrow, so I’ll be in my garage, building gun cases, listening to music, not giving a f**k,” Dodd said. “You have to have a mental break, or you’re going to mentally break.” news@thedailycougar.com

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Payton Turner had a coming out party in the Cougars' win over the Rice Owls. Despite limited snaps, he left the game with one interception and one sack to help the Cougars win 38-3. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar

DEFENSE

After interception, true freshman ready to make his mark FRANK CAMPOS

SPORTS EDITOR @FRANKCAMPOSJ

Freshman Payton Turner did not know he was about to make the stadium explode with cheers on only his second play for the Cougars. He was just doing what he was taught his whole life when redshirt freshman Sam Glaesmann made the mistake of throwing it right at him.

"I didn’t know I was about to get the interception," Turner said. "I just saw him wind up, and I did what coaches have always taught me.

You just got to get your hands up. I wound up batting the ball and then coming down with it."

Turner, barely 18 years old, just played in the first three games of his college career. Despite being so young, he has earned a role on the team, going from third string to second string after the Rice victory.

Coming-out party Turner burst on the scene in the Bayou Bucket rivalry game against the Rice Owls. The Westside High School graduate batted a pass and miraculously came down with the interception. Turner then locked in on the Rice quarterback for a sack on the next series.

The Cougars retained the trophy after a 38-3 victory, and Turner left

his mark on the field.

"He has a long way to go and a lot to improve on," said head coach Major Applewhite. "He has a nice frame that he can continue to build, and he’s intelligent. He comes from a very good family, a coach’s family, so he understands how to be competitive. He has expectations from the home, so he’s used to having to achieve. I’m looking forward to him continuing to grow and develop."

After the game, the team announced Turner's promotion to second-string. Applewhite said it had a lot to do with the game but was also indicative of his hard work on the practice field and having a high football IQ. "We were on him all summer and fall camp about learning the defense," Applewhite said. "He has the length and flexibility. He must develop the strength and put on the weight. He’s a good young man from a good family. We’re 98 percent of the way there."

Athlete in the making Applewhite credits a lot of Turner's success to his athletic family and its emphasis on discipline. It starts with his mother, Elena Turner, who is a former basketball coach and Division 1 basketball player.

"Both of my parents have motivated me and pushed me my whole

life to be the best player I can be," Turner said. "I started with sports when I was really young and haven't stopped, whether it's football or basketball."

Turner smiled from ear to ear when he discussed his earliest experiences with sports.

"I've been all about sports since I was young," he said. "I still remember playing little tykes hoops as a kid. It was so much fun."

Although he loves playing for the Cougars as a defensive end, Turner's other passion is basketball.

It is not just a hobby: Turner was offered multiple scholarships to play basketball but chose to join UH as a football player.

Football 24/7 It's not just physical ability for Turner. His knack to learn the playbook and be football-smart is what makes him stand out, despite just joining college ball.

Defensive line coach A.J. Blum thinks Turner's willingness to learn, not just being in the right place at the right time, makes him special.

"He has shown that he can be dependable as an 18-year-old true freshman," Blum said. "He has learned the playbook, and even at the beginning of camp, he grasped everything so well. The combination of his wisdom, his ability and know-

Turner was in perfect position for the interception. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar

ing where to be helps him a lot."

Turner received significantly more playing time against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday.

Although the Raiders eventually got the best of the Cougar defense, he still made strides by not just coming in for relief of the starters but also playing on early downs.

The young defensive lineman finished the game with two tackles and two quarterback hits. Despite the big loss at home and giving up 521 yards of total offense, The Cougars' bright spot of the day was Turner and the rest of the defense.

Blum said it does not matter how old a player is or how much experience they have; he will start the best

players in his defensive line room.

Because of the effort in practice and his game play, the coaches have given Turner more opportunities in games than other freshmen.

Despite the two big plays and all the extra attention this week, Turner continues to have his mind on only one thing: football.

"It was crazy and the loudest place I have ever been in my life after that play," Turner said. "Everyone swarmed me, and I was so happy, but right now, I just have to keep my head down, keep grinding in the weight room and on the field, and I need to stay hungry." sports@thedailycougar.com

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Frank Campos, EDITOR

CROSS-COUNTRY

Top runners return to squad poised to win PETER SCAMARDO

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @PLSCAMARDO2

Every day at 7 a.m., before the sun rises, head coach Steve Magness gets his cross-country runners ready for their morning practice.

It is a grueling task, but Magness knows they need to be ready in a month's time when they travel to Philadelphia for the American Athletic Conference championship meet.

The men's team is in a position where they believe they can win this year.

Senior Brian Barraza and junior Blake Contreras have rejoined the squad after a year without them saw the team finish eighth at the 2016 conference championship.

Both runners redshirted last season, and their return has given the men the confidence that they can compete with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane for a title.

"I honestly don't think there's a limit to what the men can accomplish this season," Barraza said.

"I'm not too concerned about winning or placing well at conference. What I want to be able to say is we all put in the work, we all did everything right, and we all were able to put it all together when it mattered. I think if that's the case, there's really no ceiling to what we can do."

The decision to redshirt Barraza, a three-time all-conference runner, came from the realization that the Cougars would have a down season.

With the graduation of athletes like Yonas Tesfi, a fellow all-conference runner, it was clear the Cougars would be taking a step back from 2015 when they placed third at conference.

So rather than waste his final year of eligibility, Barraza, who is staying at UH for grad school, opted to redshirt and return when team would have more of a stable base, he said.

Barraza made a strong return to cross country competition by winning the Texas A&M Invitational Saturday, a meet he also won in 2015.

But in Barraza's absence, junior runner G.J. Reyna stepped up in his sophomore year to take the role as the top runner on the team.

Reyna only managed a conference finish in the Top 20 last season but has already shown to have improved his form from last year by winning the Norry Hersey Rice Invitational.

After only placing eighth last season, Brian Barraza, Blake Contreras and G.J. Reyna has cross-country believing they can win. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar

"In my opinion, this last summer was probably the most serious I'd ever taken it," Reyna said.

"I started doing the little things, taking everything a lot more seriously with sleep and recovery and all that."

"I just think all of that and being patient with it has gotten me here."

The return of Contreras really rounds out the squad for the men.

Contreras started off his career with the Cougars well, placing eleventh at conference as a freshman.

But in his sophomore year, he struggled, dropping to 28th and tearing his right metatarsal.

The resulting surgery meant that by the time he was healthy

“I honestly don't think there's a limit to what the men can accomplish this season. What I want to be able to say is we all put in the work, we all did everything right and we all were able to put it together when it mattered."

Brian Barraza, senior distance runner to run, there was no time for him to get into shape.

So Contreras made the decision to redshirt.

Contreras was able to run throughout track and field season, and now he is back in shape.

The A&M meet was his first in

two years, just like Barraza.

"You're throwing me and Brian back into it, but on top of that, we have much more better talent than we've ever had," Contreras said. ""The guys we do have have stepped it up a lot, so I think

right now, we're just trying to put the talent together and really see what happens at conference."

The meet at A&M was the team's first real test of the season.

Not being able to run earlier in the month due to Harvey could hurt them down the line.

But the men showed strong improvement in College Station, placing fifth as a team, improving on their ninth place finish last year.

As Magness, the head coach, said, the men have the potential to do great this year.

It all comes down to them putting in the work and seeing their potential become a reality, he said. sports@thedailycougar.com

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Frank Campos, EDITOR

GAME

Offensive inefficiency continues to plagues Cougars REAGAN EARNST

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @REAGANEARNST

The Cougar’s early-season momentum came to a screeching halt Saturday when the Cougars fell to the Texas Tech Red Raiders due to offensive inconsistency that has appeared in each of the team’s first three games.

Although still 2-1 on the year, Houston has failed to score more than three points in seven of its first 12 quarters this season — including five periods in which the Cougars posted zero. Add seven turnovers and rushing attacking that features just 3.6 yards per carry, and you have a recipe for stagnant offensive play that frustrates fans, players and coaches alike.

“We didn’t get into an offensive rhythm,” senior wide receiver Steven Dunbar said following the team’s 27-24 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. “Some of the turnovers hurt us in that area. It’s hard when we can’t get in a rhythm of moving the ball ( forward).”

Junior quarterback Kyle Allen entered the game just one week removed from completing 31-of-33 passes against Rice and setting a new team record for single-game

Kyle Postma came into the game to replace the struggling Kyle Allen and led the Cougars within three points of the Red Raiders. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar

completion at 94 percent. Coupled with a 25 for 32 showing in the team’s first game at Arizona, the previously efficient Allen struggled against the Red Raiders.

After throwing a pair of interceptions and losing a costly fumble Saturday, first-year head coach Major Applewhite had seen enough of his newly named starting QB. With just over seven minutes

to play in the game and scoring opportunities running scarce, Applewhite turned to backup signal-caller Kyle Postma in search of a spark.

“We always go through personnel after a series,” Applewhite said.

“It was apparent in the game that (Texas Tech) was going to drop into coverage. They were giving you quarterback-runs in terms of

scrambles. He was going to give us the best opportunity at that point when the complexion of the game changed.”

Slow starts in every half are playing a major role in the Cougars’ lack of offensive production.

In its first game against Arizona, the Cougars’ offense produced only two points across six second-half possessions.

A week later against Rice, the unit was shut out in the second half with four drives ending in punts and two in interceptions.

Houston began the first half Saturday with four consecutive failed drives, including an opening-possession interception that turned into an early 3-0 deficit for the home team. The start of the second half went no better for Houston, which again surrendered a first-drive interception followed by four consecutive punts before switching QB's.

The team has yet to score on an opening drive of any half this season — something they’ve become accustomed to in recent years.

With conference play set to begin this Saturday against the Temple Owls, the Cougars must find ways

to score in the first and third quarters.

“This one stings, but we need to move on,” Applewhite said. “We’ve got eight more games left to play in this season. We did do some very good things in this game. The tackling and explosive plays were the most disappointing thing. There were plenty of opportunities for us to win this game on offense.”

A nonconference win against an in-state opponent would have been a treat for all involved, but the Cougars need to refocus their offense before kicking off American Athletic Conference play this weekend.

Saturday’s matchup against Temple will provide the perfect opportunity to return to form. The Owls are surrendering 31.5 points per game, which places them No. 95 among 130 FBS teams.

First, the Cougars must correct what went wrong in the loss.

“That’s the next task at hand, but we should learn from this game first,” Dunbar said. “I’m excited to see how we work this coming week and prepare for the game, but we have to learn from this one.” sports@thedailycougar.com

FOOTBALL

Roundtable: Cougars look to bounce back against Temple

THE COUGAR SPORTS STAFF @THECOUGARSPORTS

The Cougars have some soul-searching to do this week after a stunning 27-24 loss against the Texas Tech.

Many questions remain for head coach Major Applewhite, including who will lead the offense on the road against the Temple Owls on Saturday.

Quarterback Kyle Allen's expectations came crashing down after a performance that left a lot to be desired.

Now, the Cougars are looking to bounce back against the Owls as they travel to Philadelphia and take on their first conference opponent this season. The Cougar's sports staff discusses the loss and predicts how the Cougars will perform against Temple.

Sports editor Frank Campos The Cougars need a win on the road as badly as I need to get my grades together this semester.

After an unorthodox start to the season and two straight wins, the

Cougars were flying high going into the game against the Red Raiders.

They seem to have flown a little too close to the sun and came tumbling down, thanks to the Red Raider offense and defense, which made quick work of the Cougars.

Kyle Allen found himself on the bench in the fourth quarter with two interceptions against the Raiders after completing 31 of 33 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns against the Rice Owls.

The Temple Owls have not fared so well themselves this year and are 2-2 this season after getting hammered 43-7 by South Florida. The Owls finished the game with six turnovers and not much life on offense, scoring one touchdown through four quarters.

Head coach Major Applewhite has a big choice on his hands at quarterback and still isn’t sure who will be under center against the Owls, but I don’t think it will matter.

If the defense can be as dominant as they have shown they can

be, then it should be a relatively easy game for the Cougars no matter who is under center. If they can fix the play-calling on offense and give the quarterback easy third downs, then the Cougars should cruise to a double-digit victory against the Owls.

Assistant sports editor Reagan Earnst Traveling to Philadelphia to play the Temple Owls following a heartbreaking loss against Texas Tech will prove to raise the moral of the team as they enter conference play. Because uncertainty at the quarterback position and inconsistency on offense raise questions about the Cougars’ ability to put points on the board, Houston will dominate on defense to secure the win.

The Cougars entered their game against Texas Tech with one of the top defenses in the nation, but their shaky showing has some fans worried.

For many teams, allowing 528 yards of offense and having five turnovers against Texas Tech would indicate a blowout of epic

proportions, but the Cougars’ defense surrendered only 27 points — just three of which came off Houston turnovers — against one of the most efficient offenses in the country.

The same cannot be said for Temple.

An average of 17 points per game places them 117th among the 130 FBS schools in the category. The Owls have not found any way to produce in the run game and are among the worst running offenses in all of college football.

Fortunately for Houston, stopping the run has not been an issue in recent years. Prior to giving up 200 rush yards to the Red Raider on Saturday, Houston was a top-10 team in run defense.

When all the dust settles, I think the Owls’ offense cannot overcome the Cougars’ defense.

Houston will leave Philadelphia with a 31-7 victory.

Assistant sports editor Peter Scamardo As the Cougars attempt to bounce back, they will face a

tough test in Temple's defense.

When Matt Rhule left to become Baylor's head coach, Geoff Collins filled the void.

Before coming to Temple, Collins was coaching SEC defenses for seven years — first at Alabama, then at Mississippi State and finally at Florida. For a team that has lost multiple defensive leaders to the NFL, Collins was the perfect fit to carry on the defensive prowess of the Owls.

But at the moment, the Owls are struggling. Their last game against South Florida saw the Owls surrender 43 points and only score seven. Their only wins include an eight-point win at Massachusetts and a three-point win at Villanova.

The team hit a brick wall in the form of South Florida, but that means they will come out strong Saturday against the Cougars.

Playing at home in Philadelphia, the Owls will be motivated.

But given Temple's offensive struggles, the Cougars should leave Philadelphia with a win. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, September 27, 2017 | 9

713-743-5304

thedailycougar.com/opinion

OPINION

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Dana C. Jones, EDITOR

POLITICS

Arpaio's pardon does not excuse behavior

P

resident Donald Trump’s pardon of ex-sheriff Joe Arpaio differs drastically from presidential pardons in the past by Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and James Cartwright in that the leader of the free world used a pardon to supersede ANUSHEH the ruling of the SIDDIQUE judiciary.

SENIOR STAFF There wasn’t WRITER just a social implication of forgiveness in this pardon — Trump was asserting his definition of justice for a nation.

Despite Trump's announcement, courts are bringing up legal challenges to Arpaio's would-be pardon. He will still be sentenced on Oct. 5 based on a series of criminal convictions of racial profiling.

Arpaio is reputable in the law enforcement world for being "America’s toughest sheriff " because of his racially discriminatory practices, such as detaining Latinos without charging them. The case Melendres V Arpaio was filed in 2007 under Judge G. Murray Snow and revisited in 2011 and again in 2013, when an injunction was placed on his record for arrests and targeting solely under suspicion

of being here illegally.

Trump regarded the Arizona sheriff 's obsession with securing our nation's borders with admiration, applauding him for being a “great American patriot.”

As usual, our president has polarized the masses with his tendency to hold bigots in such high esteem. Arpaio has been known to dehumanize the Latino inmates in his prisons by referring to them with derogatory slurs, abusing solitary confinement, reviving chain gangs, refusing to replace soiled clothes and sheets and locking down cells where inmates do not understand English.

Is this the model that our president believes federal prisons should look to for inspiration? A model created by a man who referred to his jail as a concentration camp?

This act displays growing contempt in the United States for violations of human rights as the government continues to enable hatred and pander toward white supremacists.

Many of Arpaio's supporters defend his practices by pointing out the decrease in crime that coincided with his tenure, but taxpayers in his district paid for multiple lawsuits each year to defend his atrocities.

The interaction between the citizens of this country and the police has always been racially charged.

Black drivers and Hispanic drivers have, respectively, a 31 percent and 23 percent higher chance of being pulled over, compared to white drivers.

It is a horrifying — but not shocking — statistic, and law enforcement officers like Arpaio entrench this notion of inequality further. We are left with federal prisons becoming capital ventures as the industry becomes privatized and further dehumanized.

The prison system in America is an affliction of the justice system.

Politicians employ harsh and cruel policies on inmates to sway votes by conveying how hard they’ll be on crime, but this perspective allows the populace to see them as faceless felons — the absolute scum of society.

About 60 percent of inmates are nonviolent offenders, and yet they’re advertised as egregiously depraved and psychotic individuals.

All this spins the narrative of crime in favor of the elite as rates of recidivism, the tendency to return to prison, rise.

Felons are disenfranchised from voting and, therefore, alienated from any political influence that could modify or refine the prison system. Incarceration is increasingly becoming the solution to the most impoverished of society.

The most disparaged and destitute

ROUND TABLE

The causes of suicide that we forget Dana C. Jones

Mia Valdez

Anusheh Siddique

Opinion Editor

Assistant Opinion Editor

Senior Staff Writer

Suicide is only the act that people mostly pay attention to. It gets the headlines and the immediate attention. What is not discussed is the day to day struggle with the person's mental illness.

Conversations about mental health often end quickly and unsatisfactorily.

We stop talking about mental illness for the same reason that we start: it's a combination of obligation and respect for those who have most recently been affected by something scary.

For college students, suicide has become the second most prevalent cause of death.

Regular conversations about one’s mental health is usually dodged because of being uncomfortable on the receiver's side or even guilt of emotionally dumping on someone from the senders.

However, this needs to be a part of, maybe not every day, but our ongoing discussions and vernacular.

People who are going through mental illness, that stretch further than just depression, need to feel, especially from those they are closest to, that they can open up.

Whether it is depression, anxiety, stress, bi-polar disorder, or what have you, it has to be discussed, in an open forum as possible. Otherwise, we will keep seeing tragedies.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, which indicates that, as a society, we are aware of some responsibility that we owe to one another in our journey towards stability and mental fitness.

What gets lost in the conversation, however, is mental health. Our conversations about mental health leave many students wanting more. It is not only about extending the conversations, but about improving their quality overall.

People want to be mentally healthy, a journey that might start with a collective effort to discuss and normalize ways to achieve that goal might be a good start.

This statistic has incited a movement that seeks to institutionalize the significance of mental health, but it seems the implications of suicide are shadowed by the momentousness of taking one’s own life.

The taboo surrounding mental health has made seeking help increasingly inopportune. The anxiety, depression, and stresses of college have becoming heartbreakingly recurrent throughout campuses. This conversation seems to be revived each time such a heartbreaking instance takes place, but the infamy does not last.

It seems the notoriety of suicide and its causes are disinterred faster than the victim of them.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Tamor Khan/The Cougar

caste of society is at a loss for their dignity and their fundamental rights as incarceration rises and becomes the only alternative. The disenfranchised, voiceless portion of America needs someone to speak for them.

But it seems that in this nation, forgiveness is shown to the criminals making the arrests.

Anusheh Siddique is a political science freshman. She can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

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10 | Wednesday, September 27, 2017

OPINION 713-743-5304

thedailycougar.com/opinion

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Dana C. Jones, EDITOR

HUMOR

Time to leave the Dark Ages: We need virtual IDs

H

ave you ever sat in the student center downing your Big Mac, while complaining that you can’t go to the cafeteria because you lost your ID card and couldn’t go to the dining facility for your pre-purchased meal plan?

Hannibal has spent numerous hours walking to the Cougar Card Office wondering CARI NETEMEYER why the STAFF WRITER University of Houston is so far behind the times, that I couldn’t store my ID card on my smartphone.

Each trip to the Cougar Card office costs me $10, a little bit of my pride, and a repeat of the same question – why can’t I keep my ID card on my phone? The technology is already out there and being used by institutions like Silicon Valley University, Mount Hollock College, and Auburn University.

If you are like me, then you have spent at least a hundred dollars over your four years, replacing your ID card. As students of 2017, we no longer need, nor have the skill to keep track of a - wallet hindering, 1000 year trash pit filler. So how do we help the University catch up with the times?

Well, we need to demand to be taken out of the dark ages all the while the UH stubbornly hangs on to the past by issuing laminated ID cards that will take ten

generations to biodegrade in a trash pile somewhere.

UH could build its own mobile app like they have done with UH Redline. UH even has a division in their IT department for mobile development and coding.

There isn’t much downside for converting our ID cards to ID on phone except for those students without their smartphone, and for those, a physical ID card can be printed. But there are a lot of downsides to staying in the 1950 physical ID card world.

If I lose my smart phone or it quits working then a quick remote erase will save my private information.

But, if I lose my ID card it has my picture, full name, and student ID number. What can I do with that information?

I’m no IT genius or hacker but logically I would say that a thief could use your name and find you on Facebook where your email address is listed.

A password hacking software will get them access to your email. Then, with your student number, they can go to Access UH and click on PeopleSoft use your student number, and have a new password sent. From their it’s an easy cruise to your Student Center with all your personal information listed, and a hop skip and jump over to credit cards and you have a whole new look and credit score.

(This is completely hypothetical I am pretty sure I was not going to be given permission to accomplish this, but logically this scenario works.)

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Emily Burleson MANAGING EDITOR

Jasmine Davis

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Sonny Singh WEB EDITOR

Marialuisa Rincon NEWS EDITOR

C. McRae Peavy CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Traynor Swanson SPORTS EDITOR

Shasta

A

PHOTO EDITOR

Thomas Dwyer OPINION EDITOR

Dana C. Jones ASSISTANT EDITORS

Kaylee Dusang,Reagan Earnst, Peter Scamardo, Karin Keller-Cuevas, Erin Davis, Mia Valdez, Jennifer Gonzalez

STAFF EDITORIAL 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.

I say, it's high time we go towards the light; even more so. | Sonny Singh/The Cougar

If you are wondering how we would use an uploaded ID at locations like cafeteria, food court, food trucks, or your dorm room – go to Starbucks and then check in at a Marriott. The technology is out there.

So, since there's minimal downside to jumping into the 21 century and a whole lot of upsides why haven’t we?

Well, I am not sure. I reached out to a member of the IT department who said that no one has asked for the Mobile App and then I reached out to the Cougar Card Office and heard crickets.

One walk in visit and I was told to email Ms. Davis. One week later, with no answer, I re-emailed her to get an out of office message and please email Ms. Johnson, and another week has gone by.

Since stopping at a stonewalling job is not my style, the next step, remind all the students that the Provost Dr. Paula Short Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is the appropriate office to bring this major issue up. opinion@thedailycougar.com

Incomplete master narratives create misunderstandings general themes?

How many times have we learned about the world wars?

How many times have we heard the rhyme as old as time: “Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492?” These topics are important, but there are other important things that should be taught as well.

If you go into a class on the history of Native Americans, you can’t expect to learn about the Roman Empire. In general history courses, it’s important

Frank Campos

COOGLIFE EDITOR

Julie Aracia

MASCOT

HISTORY

t one point or another, we’ve all taken a history class, and if that class piques our interest enough, we may continue that path.

But why do most history classes stick to ALEENA KHAN the same old STAFF WRITER topics taught the same way with the same

EDITORIAL BOARD

that we teach students the past in reference to the present and future, rather than precedents that are no longer as imperative to learn as they once were.

For example, we learn that post-Civil War is when AfricanAmericans truly began to have rights and that there were still internal battles fought to further their rights even after the war.

Classes tend to end this discussion leaving students to think that race relations are at peace, even though it is

evident through police brutality and the protests like the one in Charlottesville that racial harmony has a long way to go.

Not only should we be spending more time connecting the past, present and future, but we should also include monumental facets of history that are not even covered in mainstream academia.

The Stonewall protests, as well

BIASED HISTORY

Continues on next page

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Letters are subject to editing.

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or email address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 600 words.

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PUZZLES

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OPINION

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BIASED HISTORY

Continues on next page

ACROSS 1 Practice boxing 5 After-school gp.

8 Artist Picasso 13 Shoestring 14 Dada artist Jean 15 Ceremony 16 Place to make a quick touchdown 18 Ultimatum words 19 Chicken part and what it sits on 21 Psychedelic drug 22 Ones’ quarters?

23 Soap ingredient 25 Cry 28 Bread variety 29 Colormixing board 33 Univ. teachers 35 Holds spellbound 36 Stravinsky or Sikorsky 37 Twenty years 39 Can, but refuses to

40 Informal phrase of farewell 42 Major airline 43 Get piggy with it?

44 4, on a phone 46 Simple words of confusion 47 Biology topic 48 The break of day 51 ___ Tome and Principe 53 Overnight activity and where it’s done 58 Highspirited 60 Spend the night in a tent 61 Pierce with a stake 62 Some high rollers in Chi-town 63 Old burner in a lab 64 Like very bad weather 65 Offensive time in Vietnam?

66 Hectors

DOWN 1 Hunk 2 Twosome 3 Land measure 4 Further shorten, as lumber 5 Somewhat 6 Big hit in baseball 7 Common fruit 8 Big name in tires 9 Chowed down 10 Certain projectile and what it makes 11 Lad’s companion 12 Type of TV 15 Decay 17 Nicholas and Alexander, for two 20 Stock phrase 24 “___ can!” (optimistic shout) 25 Malice 26 Church instrument 27 Well-read thing and some who read it 30 Not a st. or

blvd.

31 Portion to tithe 32 “Como ___?”

34 Refrigerant gas 35 Fish eggs 37 Droop 38 Coffee additive 41 Like potato chips and bubble wrap 42 Song of lament 44 Car’s radiator cover 45 Not deceptive 49 Distress 50 Poplar variety 51 Twirl 52 ___ mater 54 “Yes, captain!”

55 Itsy-bitsy piece 56 Mao Tse-___ 57 DFW listings 59 American Shorthair, for one

as the LGBTQ community, are not mentioned anywhere in any general U.S. history course. The historical narratives of American minorities are too completely written by the victors.

But, I ask you, what are the descendants of this history winning if we are shut out of a complete historical narrative, the absence of which is currently causing us social inequity and anxiety? Feminism is mentioned but only brushed over in history courses, and when it is spoken about, it mentions allegedly progressive historical figures like Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

She fought for women’s rights, but her progressive agenda stopped there, when amid rumors that black men would soon gain suffrage, she said, "We educated, virtuous white women are more worthy of the vote."

Many historical figures are taught in a one-dimensional sense that advances a false narrative. Even to this day, not all women have the same rights as other women, making intersectional feminism absolutely necessary.

As Michael Conway wrote for The Atlantic, “Currently,

most students learn history as a set narrative — a process that reinforces the mistaken idea that the past can be synthesized into a single, standardized chronicle of several hundred pages.”

Some would argue that there is too much history to be able to pack more into the already-busy courses we have. Then why do we have so much time to repeat what we’ve already been taught?

How many more times can we possibly learn about the American Revolution? If you ask me, there are some things we

can cut out to make room for the past that is affecting our society today.

History needs to be a facet of understanding to better the future, and we can’t truly do that unless we cover everything. With the topics and individuals we do cover, we must make sure they aren't taught linearly. Teachers and professors should not get to pick and choose the narrative.

Aleena Khan is an exploratory studies frehsman.

The only narrative needs to be one of factual events. | Katie Santana/The Cougar

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Dana C. Jones, EDITOR

STAFF EDITORIAL

Changing climate yields biblical weather

T

o discuss climate change now — in the wake of Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria — is insensitive. At least, it is to Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

But if not now, then when?

Hurricane Harvey, which ravaged Houston with its unprecedented rainfall, could cost as much as $180 billion in damage, Gov. Greg Abbott said.

But among the Houstonians who lost up to 40,000 homes and 500,000 cars, the damage hits much closer to home.

Harvey was just the beginning. The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season brought along 13 other named storms so far. Of the 13, seven were hurricanes, and of the seven, four — Harvey, Irma, Jose and Maria — reached Category 3 or higher.

With such an intense storm record and still two months remaining this hurricane season, it’s only natural to wonder if climate change is playing some type of role behind the scenes. The general consensus within the scientific community is that no, climate change did not cause these storms to form. The effects of climate change, however, such as rising sea levels and warmer oceans, made these storms much worse by creating more rainfall, intensity and storm surge.

The surface temperatures in the eastern half of the Atlantic Ocean were between

0.5°C and 1°C above average this summer, and warm water provides fuel for hurricanes.

A study by NASA even found that hurricanes intensify much faster now, reaching Category 3 wind speeds nine hours before they did in the 1980s.

So why is Washington acting like talking about climate change after deadly storms is as controversial as talking about gun control after a mass shooting?

If policymakers want to protect citizens from increasingly powerful storms, then they are obligated to talk about it.

President Donald Trump called climate change a hoax created by the Chinese government to make U.S. manufacturing less competitive. Then, he withdrew the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, which seeks to cut carbon emissions, leaving the U.S. in the company of Syria as the only countries to not be a part of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Pruitt refuses to acknowledge that carbon emissions from vehicles and power plants are the primary contributor to the issue.

The EPA is even rolling back regulations aimed at cutting carbon emission.

Talking about climate change now is more important than ever. After the devastating impact of Harvey and Irma, people are finally realizing that, yes, climate

change should matter to them, and politicians should stop making it a partisan issue during a time when science is becoming increasingly political.

We must discuss climate change now. For measure, 9,135 out of 9,136 scientists who authored climate change research articles between 2012 and 2013 believed climate change is exacerbated by humans. If you had a tumor, and 99.99 percent of doctors told you it was cancerous, would you then listen to the .01 percent of doctors who say you have nothing to worry about?

Without action, storms will continue to intensify. We in Houston know this firsthand.

Hurricane Harvey — our third “500-year flood” in three years — grew from a weakened tropical depression to a Category 4 hurricane in just 57 hours due to abnormally warm water in the Gulf of Mexico.

We must do whatever possible to make climate change a nonpartisan issue.

Our future depends on it. It’s not about criticizing those who reject mainstream climate science; it’s about helping everyone understand that we all have something to lose if inaction continues.

Otherwise, future hurricanes will be stronger and devastate other cities like Harvey devastated Houston. editor@thedailycougar.com

Climate change is going to continue to casue travesty like Harvey and Irma if we don't do something. | Jennifer Gonzalez/The Cougar

SCHOLARSHIP

GRANT

Scholarships without big dollar signs still add up. | Sonny Singh/The Cougar

EDUCATION

Scholarships are in abundance

A

ll students could use help paying for college and scholarships are the gold standard of financial aid.

Mardell Maxwell, executive director of admissions, said every University of Houston student should be searching for scholarships.

ALYSSA Maxwell said FOLEY his GPA was STAFF WRITER “middle of the road” in high school, but he went to college with more scholarship dollars than the valedictorian.

He received many small-dollar scholarships from community organizations.

Maxwell said his experience is similar to UH students who bring in the most money; they have multiple small scholarships. Although some students may think that $500 scholarships aren’t worth applying for, they can add up.

According to Maxwell, students should focus on quality over quantity. Don't list too many activities anddetail what impact an experience had on their education, college or community.

“Talk about the depth of experience you’ve had with two or three meaningful activities, clubs or experiences,” Maxwell said. While scholarships are competitive, Maxwell said that there may not be many applicants when an essay is required.

Scholarships can be grouped into university, community and national levels.

Scholarships for current UH students are available from individual colleges. Advisors or financial aid counselors can help students find these.

Maxwell said students need to be creative in looking for local scholarships because they are usually not widely advertised. Applicants can

look at the websites of local banks, credit unions, rotary clubs or other community organizations.

Websites like CollegeAnswer.com, FastWeb.com and Niche.com can help students find national scholarships they qualify for and will send deadline reminders.

Maxwell said students need strong time management and should set aside time each week to devote to searching and applying for scholarships.

Alejandro Dolores is a management information systems and entrepreneurship senior at UH. As a high school senior, he spent over 150 hours applying for more than 80 scholarships.

Dolores described running to the mailbox only to find the same rejections. Eventually, Dolores received his first award letter and it kept him motivated.

Dolores has paid for his education with a mix of national, state, local and UH scholarships he received the summer before and during college. With scholarships, Dolores is able to focus on school, maintain a high GPA and be involved on campus. He doesn’t need to work to pay for school, but he works to build career experience.

Dolores described himself as a “very basic” high school student, with average test scores and leadership portfolio. Dolores said he thinks he received more because “I spent an obnoxious amount of time applying for these scholarships.”

“I’m still in awe, but I don't think it's luck,” Dolores said. “It’s persistence."

Dolores advises other students to be persistent and spend up to three hours a week applying for every scholarship they’re eligible for.

Don’t allow anything to discourage you from applying for scholarships. We are all pursuing education and financial independence, scholarships are fuel for both. opinion@thedailycougar.com.