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Clock Blocked Repairs to the Bayou Oaks tower have caused the displacement of multiple residents. | PG. 2
OPINION Climate change is bigger than us
Governments and private corporations — not individuals — should be held responsible for the environment. | PG. 11
SPORTS Another shot in the limelight
After a tough loss to Texas Tech, Houston can restore its standing with a win against USF. | PG. 9
2 | Wednesday, October 24, 2018
NEWS
SARAH WHITELEY, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS
NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
CAMPUS
Clock Blocked: Students forced from dorms for repairs
Repairs to the stairwell and breezeway beneath the Bayou Oaks clock tower to address a leak will continue until Thanksgiving, forcing multiple students to relocate to other residence halls on short notice. | Billion Tekleab/The Cougar
MCKENZIE MISIASZEK
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @MISIASZEKUH
The discovery of a leak this summer in the stairwell beneath the Bayou Oaks clock tower has led to repairs and the subsequent relocation of multiple Bayou Oaks residents. The students received notice Oct. 8 that they would need to temporarily move to a new dorm, free of charge, by Oct. 19 so maintenance crews could repair rot within the stairwell. The repairs to the stairwell
and breezeway are scheduled for completion by Thanksgiving. “Most people got a week. I got two days,” said exploratory studies junior Ash Deepak. “I wasn’t given a room until yesterday or last night, and today is the last day to move out.” While some students were forced to move due to being directly impacted for the duration of the repairs, others were given a choice. “Students who were required to move was due to their safety
due to the work being completed directly impacting their occupied space,” said assistant director for Housing and Residential Life Douglas Bell in an email. “Students who were provided the option to move was done so at their comfort and as a courtesy.” The renovation on the stairwell below the clock tower commenced in August, and only after students moved into their dorms did maintenance crews realize there would be an impact to a few of the occupied
rooms. The students had to be moved quickly, Bell said. After it was determined the breezeway needed to be completely reconstructed in October, students were given a week and a half notice to move. But some students claimed they did not receive notice until just days prior to the move-out date. “I wasn’t contacted until two days ago, and I was like it’s kind of too late so I’m just going to stay because it’s an option,” said public health junior Azka Shahzad. Students that left have been offered free lodging in another dorm of their choice. While some did not take issue with the switch, others were left annoyed at what they felt was short notice. “I’m moving to the Lofts and not paying the Lofts money,” Deepak said. “So, I’m not complaining.” “My dad was super mad, he’s like, ‘So we literally had to move in just to move back out,’” said pre-law sophomore Xoxi Munoz. “Then I’ll pay the Bayou rate at Cougar Place, but if I stay there after they fix everything, I’ll have to pay Cougar Place dues even though I’d have to move back in again into Bayou. So I’d have to move three times.” When students move into residence halls at the beginning of the year, many have their parents to help. With a mid-semester move, students who own heavy furniture now have to find friends to help. “It just sucks because we have to do it by ourselves,” Munoz said. “We don’t have our family with us.” For many, midterms are already demanding. When you add the task of moving after most have settled into their rooms and routines, there is a possibility grades could suffer. “If freshmen had to move that much, they would be so overwhelmed,” Munoz said. “It’s still only the first month and a half of school.” There are no safety concerns for the students who had the option to stay. “As with any construction site, students should be mindful of their surroundings when facilities work is being done,” Bell said in an email. news@thedailycougar.com
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NEWS
SARAH WHITELEY, EDITOR
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CAMPUS
Library seeking funds for 24-hour lounge expansion
The M.D. Anderson Library plans to expand upon the existing 24-hour lounge after the completion of a feasibility study highlighted funding as the sole barrier. The $2 million will allow for increased security. | Billion Tekleab/The Cougar
SARAH WHITELEY
FEATURES EDITOR @SARAHKATEWHIT
In early 2017, the M.D. Anderson Library conducted a feasibility study to determine the demand for and feasibility of a 24-hour library. Since then, the library's hours of operation have been modified to open at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday instead of the previous 7 a.m. However, 24-hour access has not been established. The University of Houston remains the only Tier One university in Texas that doesn't offer 24-hour library access. "We do know that students want 24/7 access, and we’ve been trying to figure out different ways to do that," Head of Information and Access Services Lee Hilyer said. "Because of the way the building was built over time, we don’t have really good ways to ensure 24-hour use is limited to a certain area where security can be present and the safety of the students can be assured." Feasibility study The feasibility study was done to determine if students would utilize 24-hour library access, how many students would use this space and whether this expansion would be possible for the entire library, Hilyer said. "What they do is engage with an architectural firm that does what’s called ‘programming'," Hilyer said. "We met with them, we did some focus groups, and then what they produce is a document of what potential plans could be." The study concluded that
students do want 24-hour library access, but the library's build makes it challenging to designate an entire floor for this access, Hilyer said. The staff is concerned about students having the entire library or certain portions open for 24-hour access. The first floor has numerous access points, which makes it harder to close off, Hilyer said. Although the library itself lacks 24-hour access, the study lounge within the library is open 24 hours. The lounge was constructed in 2005, when the University had 35,000 students enrolled. The space was deemed adequate, since 85% of UH students commute. Thirteen years later, UH's student population has ballooned to 46,000 and the library is seeking to find the best solution to the increased demand for a 24-hour library space, Hilyer said. "The original intent was to have the whole first floor as a 24-hour space and to relocate all of the computers on both sides of the atrium," Hilyer said. "Unfortunately, the price tag that came back was almost 10 million to complete all of these." In addition to the actual construction price, the library would have to spend more to secure the building to limit usage of the library to the first floor, Hilyer said. Although students want 24-hour access, it cannot happen without extensive fundraising and donations to account for these costs, he said. Student demand
"There have been times that I was studying for finals and the bell would ring whenever it’s time for everybody to go, and we were in the middle of something," junior engineering student Meagan Weathersby said. "If we were to be able to continue, that would soak in better than having to pack up and leave." No longer able to study in the library itself, students migrate to the 24-hour study lounge on the library's first floor. At closing time, there are many students already occupying the space and there aren't always open seats, Weathersby said. In addition to the crowding, sound echoes in the lounge, which can make it difficult for students to study, she said. "I think the library being open 24 hours would be a huge difference, in a good way," Weathersby said. Other students see the 2 a.m. closing time as a cutoff, motivating them to complete their work before the closing bells ring. "If they close at two, I’m like, this is my cutoff. Okay, it’s already two, it’s closing time, I need to go home so I can sleep, but if it was 24 hours I’d probably stay here longer, which isn’t good because I need my sleep," senior psychology major Delia Gomez said. From here on out Due to the high costs quoted to them from the initial plans, the library has decided to implement a smaller scale change. This plan would allow for a larger 24-hour area by expanding upon the
existing 24-hour lounge, almost doubling the total space. The project would cost around $1.6 million, Hilyer said. The new, smaller scale plan would include a portion of the pre-existing computer lab with approximately 100 to 125 computers for students to use, Hilyer said. Before expanding the current 24-hour lounge, M.D. Anderson Library must secure the funds necessary to transform the space, which will likely reach about $2 million as prices go up, Hilyer said. The "Here We Go" campaign is a billion-dollar fundraising event where each college or the dean of the college has a cabinet that consists of members from the community. The library's cabinet will help them identify fundraising opportunities, clue them into foundations and find other potential donors to make the expansion possible, Hilyer said. "Our former dean, Dana Rooks, is the ambassador of the library’s cabinet for space renovations, so she is the one, along with the dean and
M.D. Anderson library has prioritized student safety throughout the planning process, Hilyer said. "The dean is very concerned about ensuring safety and security, so the reason we look at these plans to limit access to certain portions of the library overnight is out of an abundance of security and safety," Hilyer said. "As you know, there’s lots of places for people to be by themselves, and they may be far away from somebody else." The dividing line would be somewhere between the 24-hour lounge and computer lab, Hilyer said. The wall would ensure the space could be secured after hours, and the security officers would be able to patrol the entire area. "We all sort of share concern about the individual student working alone at 4 a.m. on the eighth floor," Hilyer said. "We do have security, but we only have one or two security overnight and it would take them quite a while to patrol the whole building." Although the library staff supports the conversion of the library to 24-hour operation,
“Now, it's just part of the development process to begin identifying, talking to donors, getting them excited about the possibilities this would allow us to do for students, and working on securing the funding.” Lee Hilyer, Head of Information and Access Services University Development, who is identifying the donors who would be interested in supporting the renovation of this space," Hilyer said. Some of the other changes include a place for a food service, which the 2020 Chartwells dining plan lists as a 24-hour Starbucks. The library also hopes to replicate the large stairs in Student Center South, which would provide seating and have outlets along the face of the steps, Hilyer said. Plans for security The number of security officers would likely remain the same when the 24-hour lounge opens, but the officers may relocate to the existing UHPD office inside the library, next to the prospective food service location, HIlyer said.
the lack of monetary support makes this an impossibility at the current time. "Ultimately, if we received philanthropic support and other kinds of funding, we would love to do the whole thing, but we don’t currently have the funding available to do this entire project," Hilyer said. The library plans to prioritize raising funds to make this project possible. "Now, it’s just part of the development process to begin identifying, talking to donors, getting them excited about the possibilities this would allow us to do for students, and working on securing the funding," Hilyer said. news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 | 5
MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW JUDGE MIKE MCSPADDEN The McSpadden-Bushyhead family is one of the most respected Cherokee families in the history of the Cherokee Nation. Mike’s great-great-grandfather, Jesse Bushyhead, led 950 Cherokees over the tragic Trail of Tears in 1838. From the Cherokees, Mike holds the values of diginity and even-handed justice dear. All defendants in the 209th courtroom --all victims and visitors --- everyone is treated fairly and with respect.
Robert N. Ross
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16x20 oil on campus
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On his own, he has visited at-risk fifth graders in Houston to talk with them about education, crime, and responsibility, which is why Child Advocates, the Samartian Center, Crime Stoppers, and the Assistance League of Houston have honored him. He was the first recipient of the Chuck Norris Team Spirit Award for his work with Kick Drugs Out of America and honored by the Sickle Cell Association of Houston because he exemplifies civic commitment. Judge McSpadden is at or near the top in almost every Houston Bar Association’s Judicial Qualification Poll. He also had one of the most outstanding trial records in the history of the Harris County District Attorney’s office (1977-1981). Mike is a proud veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. For 36 years, as judge of the 209th Criminal District Court of Harris County, he has fulfilled his oath to “administer justice without respect to persons and to do what is right for the rich and poor.” He appreciates your vote. This ad was paid for by Friends of Judge Mike McSpadden. Judge McSpadden does not accept campaign contributions from anyone in the criminal justice field. 1701 Hermann Dr. Houston, TX 77004
Early voting begins on Monday, October 22, 2018 and ends on Friday, November 2, 2018. Election Day is November 6th.
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 | 7
ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS
SPORTS
SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM
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CROSS COUNTRY
Houston marches on to season finale at conference championships JACKSON GATLIN
Britani Gonzales has had some strong finishes as she placed No. 22 at Rice in 15:00.7 and No. 42 in The Houston Cougars men's 21:20.6 at the Bronco Invitational. and women’s cross country teams As a team, the women have are headed to Louisiana this recorded third, fourth and sixth Thursday for the 2018 American place finishes this season, with Athletic Conference Cross the Bronco Invitational being the Country Championships. only finish outside the top-10 at Houston, along with the other No. 14. AAC teams, wrapped up regular The Cougar men’s 8000m race season competition last week as will be held at roughly 10:50 a.m. the team had its final runs before immediately after the women’s the season finale. meet concludes. Redshirt junior Meredith The men’s team does not have Sorensen will be relied on heavily a clear-cut star runner, as there by the women’s team. Sorensen have been four different top has led the way for the women’s runners for the Cougars across team the last three consecutive four meets this season, something meets, finishing No. 21 at Rice, that was expected as the men’s No. 10 at Texas A&M and No. 37 team began its new chapter. at the Bronco Invitational. While not yet the consensus The Texas A&M Invitational top runner, freshman Gabriel was a 6000m race, identical to Armijo is the only Cougar this what Sorensen will compete in season to record two top-10 Thursday, so it is possible she finishes with a third finish at No. 10-11569her Cougar News October 1_print.pdf 9/14/18 11:21 AM could replicate top-10 finish. 20 at Texas 1A&M. In addition to Sorensen, senior In addition to Armijo, redshirt SENIOR STAFF WRITER @JTGATLIN
freshman Nicholas Fernandes and sophomore Devin Fahey seem poised to play big parts for the men’s team, as they each have a top-10 finish on the season. The men’s team has collected second, third and No. 10 records this season, but like the women’s team, it failed to crack the top-10 at the Bronco Invitational, finishing No. 18. Tulsa is by far the largest threat to the Houston men’s team, as it has finished No. 1 at the AAC Championships the last four years in a row. For the women’s team, SMU and UConn are the two most threatening teams, with UConn having won last year’s championship and SMU winning the year prior to that. The Cougar women’s 6000m race will be first with a 10 a.m. start time at Audubon Park in New Orleans. sports@thedailycougar.com
Senior Britani Gonzales (right) is one of the most experienced runners on the Cougars' squad and has been one of its best runners. | Courtesy of UH Athletics
8 | Wednesday, October 24, 2018
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Wednesday, October 24, 2018 | 9
ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR
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FOOTBALL
Victory over South Florida could propel Houston into national spotlight ANDRES CHIO
SPORTS EDITOR @CHIOANDRES
In just three days, 6-1 Houston will have its biggest game of the season against undefeated South Florida at TDECU Stadium. Ranked No. 21/20 by the Associated Press and Coaches Poll, respectively, the Bulls are the only team on the Cougars' schedule that is ranked, and this gives Houston a chance at redemption in the national spotlight. Earlier this season, Houston defeated Arizona on ABC and was thrashed by Texas Tech on FOX. Since that loss, Houston has had to crawl back up into the spotlight, and the team is now on the edge of recognition as it faces USF on ABC. Houston itself has received votes in both polls and could become ranked with a dominating win over South Florida. One part of this possible redemption is erasing the stink around the defensive unit's reputation. Houston's defense has been a tale of two halves this season. At its best, the defense is a steady boat that gets where it needs to. At its worst, it is a leaky ship full of holes. When you look at the best half of each game against FBS opponents, Houston's defense looks amazing. It allowed just 59 points in the best halves of each game or 9.8 points per half. Remove the Tech loss and that number drops to 6.2 per half. At its worst, the defense allowed 131 points in the other six halves of action, 21.8 points per half. Some of this is due to putting in third- and fourth-string backups, but not all of it can be attributed to that since many of the team's first halves have been worse than the second. Elite FBS teams cannot have such large drop offs since an injury or two is all it takes for the third-string backups to become starters. Whatever the reasons for the defense's Jekyll and Hyde personality, it needs to fix them for its upcoming game against South Florida. Although the Bulls are undefeated and ranked,
The Cougars were on the cusp of being ranked earlier in the season, but the 63-49 loss to the Red Raiders stopped the team's momentum. A win against South Florida would improve Houston's standing and could put it back in the Top 25 in both the AP and Coaches Poll. | Richard Fletcher Jr./The Cougar
the team has been far from dominant. Four of its seven wins have been one-score games, including an eight-point win over 1-6 UConn and a one-point win against 1-6 Tulsa, which Houston beat 41-26. One thing the teams are both competing for is a spot in a New Year's Six bowl. There are four at-large bids available this season, and there is a lot of competition. Historically, only one Group of Five school gets to go to a New Year's Six bowl, and UCF is currently the front runner for that spot. If either team wants the spot, then it must win the American Athletic Conference Championship, which will likely be against UCF. If either team wins, but has two or more losses, then another one or two loss team, like Boise State, Utah State or No. 25 Appalachian State, takes the spot. A strong defensive performance on national television would go a long way toward building Houston's reputation as a worthy team for a spot in a New Year's Six bowl and strengthening its chances in the American Athletic Conference. sports@thedailycougar.com
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HOUSTON VS USF SATURDAY, 10.27.18 // 2:30 PM
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10 | Wednesday, October 24, 2018
SPORTS ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR
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BASKETBALL
Roundtable: Basketball has multiple players ready to surprise THE COUGAR STAFF @THECOUGARSPORTS
Men's basketball tips off its season Nov. 1 with an exhibition against Dallas Baptist at Texas Southern's H&PE Arena, and it will be the first look at the new Cougar squad. The regular season is a little over two weeks away, and the Cougars have had a lot of changing to do. The team needs to rework itself after it lost star guard Rob Gray, defensive stalwart Devin Davis and good bench shooter Wes VanBeck to graduation. But members of The Cougar's Sports section think there are a few players who could surprise fans and become household names.
Assistant Sports Editor Trenton Whiting The biggest surprise for the Cougars will be one of the new additions to the team. Out of all the new players, graduate senior Landon Goesling will be the most helpful addition. Goesling is a huge addition to the Cougars. In his last year at St. Edward's University, he averaged 22.9 points per game and 38 percent shooting from threepoint range. Since Gray is gone, UH will need scoring from other players. Adding Goesling's level of shooting helps toward this goal and fits well with the Cougars, which were the best three-point team in the American Athletic Conference last season. He is also going to be replacing the production of Wes Van Beck as role-playing sharpshooter. The part Goesling will play is going to be vital for the Cougars’ success, and his production will be the most surprising part of this year’s team.
Sports Editor Andres Chio The most surprising player on this year's roster will be senior Galen Robinson Jr. He has been a
Senior Galen Robinson Jr. is eigth all time in assists in the University of Houston's basketball history and could finish fourth all-time by the end of the season. Robinson Jr. has had 100 plus assists in all three of his seasons and is only the seventh Cougar in history to do so. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar
big playmaker and court general for the team but has not been a big scorer. Robinson Jr. has quietly had a fantastic career for the Cougars and has flown under the radar for much of his career. With 395 career assists, he is seventh all time in Houston's history, is 12 away from No. 6 and 107 away from No. 4, which is shared by two players. Robinson Jr. will likely rise to take fourth by the end of the season and his college career, but that is not the only way I think he will surprise people this season. This season, he will need to add a bit more shooting to his game to help score and stretch out defenses. He probably will not be scoring 20 points a game every night, but he will start to have more games in which he scores 10 or more points this season to help Houston have one of the most balanced offenses in the conference.
at 9.3 per game while shooting a respectable 41 percent from downtown. Brooks’ growth throughout his collegiate career so far has been incredible, doubling his freshman scoring average by more than 218 percent in his sophomore season. The only statistic of his that did not improve but in fact declined during his second year was his total field goal percentage. He still shot with a respectable 42.5 percent accuracy and was No. 5 in the American Athletic Conference in three-point accuracy. If given the opportunity to start, No. 3 definitely has the potential to become an instrumental shooter for Houston and average SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE well into double figures.
contributor with 5.4 points, 3.9 rebounds and .9 blocks per game. Overall, the sophomore showed real promise in his first year and earned a spot on the AAC AllRookie Team. White will most likely be a starter come this season. Paired with senior Breaon Brady, the
worship
duo could make for one of the most prolific front courts in the conference. The sophomore’s long wingspan and agility near the rim should make him a well-known name throughout the conference. sports@thedailycougar.com
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While UH lost two of its three the Cougars will 9:00 am still be in good formSTUDY to make WEDNESDAY BIBLE a repeat appearance in March 12 noon & 7:00 pm Madness. Sunday Bible Class Sophomore Fabian White Staff Writer Abenezer Yonas Jr. will be a crucial factor in Junior guard Armoni Brooks replacing Davis, who averaged was undoubtedly an 10.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per integral part of Houston’s game last season. stellar 2017-2018 season. The ARE INTERESTED White appeared in all 35IN WORSHIP Sophomore Fabian IF YOU IN ADVERTISING DIRECTORY , White Jr. was Houston's best big man off the bench, but this season he might be the best on its starting roster. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar 6-foot-3-inch guard averaged a freshman and AT 713-743-5356 SALESas REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT Agames the fourth most points last year quickly established himself as a Sunday leading School: scorers,
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 | 11
WAFA KAZMI, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION
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Neglectful governments hurt environment WAFA KAZMI OPINION EDITOR
C
limate change is beginning to feel more dire than ever. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recent report gave the world a deadline of 2030 to reduce emissions before global temperatures would rise more than 1.5°C without intervention, at which point climate change will become irreversible. While we continue in our personal efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle, we must hold our governments, energy providers and other corporations accountable for their large contributions to the global carbon footprint. Without their cooperation, our planet is doomed. From media outlets, environmental organizations and our peers, there has been a more acute focus on personal environmental responsibility in light of this report. I’m sure many of us have encountered a number of diehard vegans advocating that everybody should abandon their meat in favor of a diet with a smaller carbon footprint, and though they mean well, building a personal eco-friendly lifestyle is only part of this complex equation. A 2017 study from the Carbon Disclosure Project, a UK-based nonprofit dedicated to corporate transparency, shows that just 100 corporations are responsible for 71 percent of the world's carbon emissions. This is in sharp contrast to the populations that suffer most from the consequences of such emissions: the poor and disenfranchised. The bulk of the list is comprised of natural gas, coal and oil companies, all of which remain loosely regulated in favor of national economic growth in developed and developing countries alike. Because of the huge profit the fossil fuel industry yields for these countries, policy makers and lobbyists often end up valuing short-term gain over the long-term habitability of our planet. Without governments of industrial nations like ours own investing in clean energy alternatives and harshly regulating the emissions of oil
The emphasis on individual efforts to save the environment fail to hold the true culprits of climate change — private companies and lack of government regulations — responsible for their actions. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar
giants like ExxonMobil, these corporations will remain in high demand. The fact that they’re in high demand despite growing knowledge of fossil fuel’s carbon footprint is no incident. In the United States alone, the industry spent $2 billion from 2000 to 2016 in lobbying against potential environmentprotecting measures that sought to lower corporate emissions and increase funding for clean energy research. This lobbying is not inconsequential; The oil, gas and coal industry receives an 11,900 percent return through federal protection and subsidies on every dollar spent on political investment. Additionally, while recycling, adopting vegan diets and avoiding fast fashion are all
CLIMATE CHANGE
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12 | Wednesday, October 24, 2018
OPINION WAFA KAZMI, EDITOR
CLIMATEICHANGE
Continued from previous page great, they're only as effective as the number of people willing to adopt these lifestyle changes. Currently, many of these potential changes are unenforced, inconvenient and inaccessible. Maybe it isn’t right, but it is human nature to avoid inconveniences when there’s an easier and more accessible option, even if said option has long-term consequences. Therefore, the government regulation and pacts like The Paris Agreement are necessary to hold states, corporations and individuals accountable. When there are measures enacted that enforce green lifestyles on a mass scale, they typically prove highly effective. Take, for example, California’s plastic bag ban. Despite some initial protests, citizens were able and willing to find greener alternatives with little inconvenience, all with the added benefit of a reduction from 7.4 percent to 3.1 percent of plastic bag litter on California beaches from 2010 to 2017. In Europe, the European Union sets comparably stricter emission regulations for its members. The city government of Barcelona, Spain, pledged to reduce their CO2e emissions by 40 percent by 2030 after consistently failing to meet the EU’s air pollution standards. The city, one of the most populated in Europe, sectioned off areas of three-by-three city blocks to create large squares called superblocks in which no traffic is allowed and trees or community gardens can be planted. The goal, at which they’ve succeeded, was to force residents, commuters and tourists to find greener methods of transportation while in the city, but it also had the added benefit of boosting the sales of local businesses within the superblocks. Climate change is without a doubt an important and multifaceted issue with many factors contributing to it, but then again, it might not be as complicated as we’re taught to believe. Individual efforts do make an impact and often spread through communities creating a ripple effect, but we cannot put the onus of environmental reform on each other.
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The fact of the matter is that any efforts to reduce carbon emissions through lifestyle changes would have to be organized and collective in
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order to make a significant impact before 2030, and that will be difficult to do without government compliance. Furthermore, all those efforts
may prove null if those same governments neglect to enforce harsher regulations on the oil, gas and coal industries.
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Opinion columnist Adison Eyring is a media productions and political science sophomore and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
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