Issue 16, Volume 84

PRINT WEEKLY. DIGITAL DAILY

Wednesday, January 19, 2019

Issue 16, Volume 84

uh.edu/csm

coogradio.com

thedailycougar.com

coogtv.com

Cougars get an A for attendance MEN’S BASKETBALL JACKSON GATLIN

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @JTGATLIN

“Corey Davis Jr. for three!” echoes throughout the brandnew Fertitta Center as senior guard Corey Davis Jr. drills a triple.

While energetic, the enthusiasm of the PA announcer is nothing compared to the deafening cacophony of cheers coming from more than 7,000 fans in the jam-packed stadium.

Attendance is often expected to drop off during winter, but the 16-1 Cougars should run onto the hardwood with a sold-out crowd cheering them on every night, not just during premiere

games like Oregon or LSU. The Cougars’ new home has sold out three additional times since selling out opening night Dec. 1 against Oregon, a marquee matchup that included the highly-touted NBA prospect in freshman Bol Bol. With the support of a full stadium, the Cougars defeated the Ducks 65-61 to grace the inaugural Fertitta Center crowd with a win.

Just two weeks later against St. Louis, the Fertitta Center was half full and resembled that of a team with a losing record, not the then-perfect 9-0 Houston.

“We’ll know we made it when people are coming to see

NEWS

Women’s Clinic offers new birth control UH students will soon be able to receive IUDs, in addition to already-offered contraceptives, from the on-campus facility. | PG. 4

the Cougars and not who we’re playing against,” said head coach Kelvin Sampson.

While selling out four of 10 home games is impressive, Houston’s fans can do better.

The men’s basketball team, led by Sampson, is on a tear that can only be compared to the historic 31-2 season featuring NBA Hall-of-Famer and Cougar alumnus Elvin Hayes.

That team made it to the Final Four, and this team has the same potential.

“We’re winning and people are taking pride in this team.

It’s been great playing in front of this,” Sampson said.

“What we’ve created with this building is a huge

connection between our fans and this team, and you can tell it’s growing.”

Another aspect of attendance is making Houston an attractive target for conference expansion.

While football is the main sports attraction for college athletics, having good teams and strong attendance across multiple other sports will make Houston a must have school if conference expansion talks roll back around.

The men’s basketball team made its first appearance in the NCAA tournament in nearly a decade and is a top 20 team in the country.

The baseball team has five conference titles in five years

LIFE & ARTS Ring in the new year

Forget about fad diets and working out.

Start your 2019 off right with these notso-typical resolutions. | PG. 7

and was a game away from getting into the College World Series.

The football team just made a big head coaching hire, softball has one of the best arms in the country, the track & field team finished No. 3 in the nation last spring, the swim team has won three conference championships back-to-back-to-back and the list goes on.

The teams are doing their part, the fans need to keep doing theirs.

Houston’s next home game — ideally with another sold-out crowd — will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 against the East Carolina Pirates. sports@thedailycougar.com

OPINION

Looking critically at plastic surgery

While cosmetic procedures may seem glamorous, they may instill deeper insecurities in women. | PG. 12

2 | Wednesday, January 16, 2019

NEWS

ALYSSA LETTS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

CAMPUS

New SGA bill offers on-campus resources for homeless students

i

The Cougar

thedailycougar.com

ABOUT THE COUGAR The Cougar is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters and online everyday at thedailycougar. com. The Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost 25 cents.

MCKENZIE MISIASZEK

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @ @MISIASZEKUH

On Nov. 1, 2018, the Student Government Association passed the first major piece of legislation aiming to help homeless and food insecure students on campus. This semester, SGA plans to continue their efforts by holding a food drive and continuing work to set up an on-campus food pantry.

The food drive will be collecting donations from January 28 to February 1. Proceeds will be donated to the Personal Early Educational Performance Support Pantry located in Farish Hall. Students with parking citations who donate five nonperishable food items will receive a credit applied toward their fine.

The creation of an on-campus food pantry, passed by the Senate as part of the Student Hunger Act on Nov. 14, 2018, is still in development. The convenience store by Taco Cabana will house the food pantry, but it is undecided who will operate it, said SGA president Cameron Barrett.

"Will it happen before I leave office? I don't know. If the food pantry happens, it will probably be because of the 55th Administration.

As far as if I'm going to be there when it opens as president, I don't know," Barrett said.

The food pantry is another step toward providing more on-campus resources for homeless students.

The Homeless Student Relief Act signified the first step towards more on-campus resources for students in need. The act focuses primarily on cutting food costs and aiming to help homeless students afford the cost of living on campus.

"I didn't want to run on homelessness," Barrett said. "Who knew what I could've gotten done?

There was no way I was going to tell a homeless student, 'yeah, by the end of my term you'll have free housing and a free meal plan.' Who knew what I really could've gotten done?"

The act will reduce meal plan costs for 50 homeless students by 70 percent and exempt homeless students living on campus from the meal plan requirement that comes with some dorms at no extra cost to other students. The act will also make homeless students a priority for the Cougar Experience Scholarship.

The scholarship awards freshman students $4,000 towards on-campus living, $2,000 per semester. UH also offers an emergency loan of $500 to any student that meet the criteria listed and do not have any past-due loans with the University.

"I had more grand plans, but

713-743-5314

COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the consent of the director of Student Publications.

ISSUE STAFF CLOSING EDITORS

Jasmine Davis Cristobella Durrette COPY EDITING

Morgan Horst COVER

Although he didn't run on a platform to help homeless students, SGA president Cameron Barrett's administration has made strides in bringing resources to help homeless and food insecure students to campus. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar

ultimately it's a matter of what administrators are willing to do," Barrett said.

Some ideas were not financially feasible. In the beginning stages of the project, Barrett said he hoped for a suite or two of free housing for homeless students or for part of the new dorm to be dedicated to homeless students, which would cost the University around $10,00 per person.

Barrett also suggested homeless students could live together with those living in single dorms. Auxiliary Services was concerned about utility cost and about the fairness to students paying for housing, Barrett said.

"There's a natural concern with aid programs for fraud and for cost, which is fair in both cases," Barrett said.

It is difficult to count exactly how many students at UH are homeless. The numbers used in the SGA legislation are based off of individuals that have aged out of the foster care system and are certified homeless. Outside of those reported students, the University does not know how many of its students are homeless.

"Based on the Cal State study and our University's characteristics, there are probably around 200 to 400 homeless students enrolled in courses at any given time."

Currently, on-campus resources for homeless students are limited.

There are no programs that offer free housing to students or free meal plans. If students are in need, the resources offered mainly direct them to outside organizations.

"I know that we have a social worker at the Dean of Students

office, Hope Pacheco, and a lot of what she does is connect struggling students with resources," Barrett said. "As far as I know, the resources she connected them with were external."

Combatting On-Campus Food Insecurity Some UH faculty members have taken matters into their own hands.

College of Education Retention Specialist Laura Lee started a food pantry in room 128 of Farish Hall in February of 2018. The pantry can fit no more than two people at a time and is stacked with nonperishable food items and sanitary products students can get for free.

"I don't know why there wasn't a food pantry," Lee said. "When I first started looking on the internet, because I like to read a lot of articles, I kept seeing food insecurity among college students. Some of the bigger colleges in California, Michigan, some of the really well known ones, all have food pantries. So was I was like, 'where we're situated, why don't we have a food pantry?"

The only time Lee says she heard people talking about food insecurity before her food pantry was when professors mentioned they found out homeless students were sleeping in their classrooms overnight.

In spring 2019, there will be a food drive to help Lee's pantry. SGA and Auxiliary Service have plans to turn the space next to the Taco Cabana on campus into a food pantry, as well.

The Urban Experience Program is another on-campus resource intended to help not just homeless students, but at-risk students overall.

The program offers help applying for scholarships and for identifying the reason behind a student's

homelessness and connecting them with the appropriate resources, be it on or off campus.

"We had a student that was referred to our office because she was in need of housing or funds to cover housing," UEP Program Coordinator Tajuanda Montreuil said. "She had come out to her parents and told them about her sexuality and they disagreed, so they cut her off. We worked with the LGBTQ Resource Center and they were able to find money to cover her housing."

The program also keeps snacks and drinks stocked in their office if students want to stop by and not use a meal swipe or money on lunch. Beyond that, UEP helps students apply to government-based programs that can help students in need.

"For those with food insecurity, we have them apply for SNAP, so that's the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and we have someone in our office who will walk them through that process," Montreuil said. "We also have meal cards. Chartwells donates a certain amount of meal cards each semester."

Barrett says he hopes the next administration will continue this important work and make strides to better assist homeless students. For right now, as his administration is coming to an end, there is not much more he can do as president.

"I've heard of there being plans for them to do more in regards to homeless students, but it has yet to be revealed to me," Barrett said. news@thedailycougar.com

Ahmed Gul

i

Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm

ABOUT CSM The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar newspaper, CoogTV and COOG Radio.

Part of the Student Life portfolio in the Division of Student Affairs, the CSM is concerned with the development of students, focusing on critical thinking, leadership, ethics, collaboration, inter-cultural competence, goal-setting and ultimately, degree attainment.

While our students are engaged in producing and promoting media channels and content, our goal is to ensure they are learning to become better thinkers and leaders in the process.

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA

(713) 743-5350 csm@uh.edu www.uh.edu/csm N221 Student Center University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015 ADVERTISING

(713) 743-5340 advertising@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/advertising STUDENT ADVERTISING MANAGER Garreth Marchuk ADVERTISING REPS London Douglas DESIGN TEAM Ram Armendariz Kristen Fernandes

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 3

1/24 VERIDIA 2/4 Yung Gravy • 2/9 DaniLeigh 2/10 The Knocks 2/11 Aaron Carter

THE BOX OFFICE AT REVENTION MUSIC CENTER OR CHARGE BY PHONE AT 800-745-3000

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER FOR SPECIAL OFFERS AND PRESALES

520 Texas Ave Houston, TX 77002 www.ReventionMusicCenter.com All dates, acts and ticket prices subject to change without notice. A service charge is added to each ticket.

4 | Wednesday, January 16, 2019

NEWS

ALYSSA LETTS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5314

HEALTH

Women's Clinic will offer IUDs this semester OWEN ZINKWEG

Providing IUDs to students has been a long time coming, but the @ OWEN_ZINK issue is figuring out the pricing of the The Women's Clinic at the Student devices, Jordan said. Each IUD will Health Center will begin offering cost the clinic $278 to purchase — intrauterine devices (IUDs) this this heavy cost would fall onto the semester, making it the fifth birth student, even through the Student control option offered on campus.

Health Center's student health An IUD is a small, T-shaped form insurance plan. of birth control inserted directly into “We are trying to find a way to eat the uterus. Hormonal IUDs secrete some of that cost, but how much can hormones that prevent pregnancy, we afford to lose?” Jordan said. while copper IUDs prevent the sperm Until IUDs become available, the from swimming to an egg, according Women's Clinic will continue to offer to Planned Parenthood. other forms of birth control.

IUDs have a 99 percent prevention Condoms are always offered rate and can last from 3 to 12 years. for free. A generic form of birth Sixty percent of women in the United control pills is offered for free to States are currently using some form individuals with student health of birth control, and among them, insurance and for $20 for a four-week IUDs are one of the most commonly supply to those without insurance, used contraceptives, according to a said Women’s Clinic Head Nurse study conducted by the Guttmacher Practitioner Virginia Miller.

Institute.

The Clinic also provides Depo"People come to college to learn, to Provera shots, which is a shot that make mistakes. This saves you from prevents pregnancy for three months that mistake, helps you take control at a time, as well as a generic form of your life," said Associate Director of Plan B, otherwise known as the of Student Health Services Roderick "morning after" pill, Miller said.

Jordan.

"I think more readily available Jordan said the Student Health options for students who are Cougar News January_print.pdf 1 1/15/19 5:34 PM Center 10-11752 is still in the process of considering something like that is acquiring the IUDs, so he is unsure always a good thing," said creative when they will become available to writing junior Sarah Garrison. students.

Despite this variety, Miller STAFF WRITER

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

said that IUDs will have many advantages for students.

“They can last from three to ten years. As a bonus, you don’t have to take a pill every day,” Miller said.

Miller said it is important to offer many different kinds of birth control.

“The shoe doesn’t fit all. You have to find what you’re comfortable with,” Miller said.

Miller had been sending students to off-campus doctors to have IUDs placed, because UH facilities did not offer the service.

“Then the cost falls onto the student, and we don’t want that,” Miller said.

Miller recommends that students do the research on their own and try to discover what birth control option will suit them best.

“It’s super helpful knowing I have all these options on campus,” said junior psychology major Kaitlyn Cribbs.

Cribbs said that she liked that IUDs would be among the types of contraceptives offered at the Women’s Clinic.

“For me, seeking birth control is very difficult,” Cribbs said. “Being able to have the school as a resource makes me feel safe and valued as a student and an individual.”

The Student Health Center offers multiple types of contraception, including condoms, free of charge. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar

A reporter from the Cougar reached out to United Healthcare, the provider of the University’s student health insurance, to confirm this information.

A representative with United Healthcare explained that the University of Houston student health insurance plan includes IUDs in their covered contraceptive methods, as per the Affordable Care Act. This coverage ensures that IUDs are available to individuals on the plan at no charge, so long as the insurance plan is accepted.

The student health insurance plan

specifies that all preventive care services, including contraceptive methods, will have “no deductibles, copays or coinsurance...when the services are received from a Preferred Provider.”

The spokesperson then clarified that under no circumstances should students be charged for IUD services on the UH campus, contrary to fears by clinic administration that students may be responsible for the nearly $300 contraceptive cost. news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 5

ALYSSA LETTS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

LIFEGUARD

TRY-OUTS

713-743-5314

JANUARY 25 | 11AM - 1PM We will certify you!

“I love the daily interaction with patrons, it has really taught me how to communicate professionally. The skills I have developed at the Rec have been invaluable. ”

JOB FAIR

AMERICAN RED CROSS

LIFEGUARD

CERTIFICATION STUDENT RECREATION POSITIONS

JANUARY 17 4:00- 7:30PM | REC CENTER ON-SITE INERVIEWS

FEBRUARY 1 - 3 FRIDAY | 3:00 — 10:00PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY | 8:00AM — 8:00PM

INTRAMURAL SPORTS WANT TO BE A FITNESS LEADER? IMLEAGUES.COM

BASKETBALL (5V5) M/W/G OUTDOOR SOCCER (8V8) M/W/CR/G REGISTER DEADLINE PLAY BEGINS THURSDAY 1/23 | 5:00PM 1/28 M MEN ∙ W WOMEN ∙G GREEK ∙ CR CO-REC EXTREME VOLLEYBALL (4V4) 1/18, 3 - 7PM

GROUP FITNESS INSTRUCTOR CERTIFICATION PREP COURSE

FEBRUARY 27—APRIL 24 Wednesdays 3:00–5:00PM CRWC Rm 1038 Register by 3/6

$35.00 Registration fee Required textbook @ acefitness.org * FREE TEXTBOOK rental to the first 5 students registered.

check the website for a full SP19 IMS schedule.

CAMPUS RECREATION

STRENGTHENING THE PRIDE

UH Recreation

#UHREC

UHRecreation

uh.edu/recreation

6 | Wednesday, January 16, 2019

NEWS

ALYSSA LETTS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5314

CAMPUS

Transgender Inclusion Act increases representation on campus HADRIAN BARBOSA

STAFF WRITER

@ HADRAINSWALL_

Student Government Association recently passed the Transgender Inclusion Act with the aim of increasing representation for the LGBT community on campus, while also refreshing the system for name change requests at UH. The Transgender Inclusion Act has been made to work exclusively with the new Cougar Card system, which will now update a student’s name throughout the system whenever a name change request is made.

“The goal of this bill is to make the process of changing names throughout the University easier for students,” SGA Chief of Staff Allison Lawrence said.

“The LGBTQ Resource Center told us about this ongoing problem for transgender students and through my time working as an ambassador for the Resource Center, I met many students who struggled with the process.”

The act is intended to resolve students' concerns with the old name change system, concerns heavily present in the transgender community on campus. Whereas the old system involved filling out a form and submitting it to the Office of the University Registrar for approval, this new system is implemented through the Cougar Card office and is designed to work much faster.

“Some students felt that this issue was widely ignored,” Lawrence said. “SGA tried to create this policy in honor of the transgender community on campus – the group most widely affected by the problem.”

The policy allows students to request a preferred name to appear on more than just a class roster or their Cougar card.

“The new Cougar Card and Cougar Card System will include the ability for students who do not identify with their birth sex to indicate a preferred name both within the system and on all University of Houston documentation,” according to the new act.

Although named in honor of the transgender community,

the act is not exclusive to them and will impact all students on campus who want to change their name with the University.

The new policy will allow name changes to be uploaded automatically through the PeopleSoft system, eliminating any glitches students may have faced regarding their new name, Lawrence said.

“Students wanting to use this ability provided by the University must go through the new Cougar Card system,” Lawrence said. The new Cougar Card system was implemented August 1, 2018.

While the system is designed for automatic name change uploads to the new Cougar Card system, the new names may not always be uploaded immediately.

“I would caution students against expecting immediate results. Depending on the Cougar Card office, this process may take a bit longer to fully upload throughout the whole system,” Lawrence said.

Under the new policy, there will be no harsh restrictions on where the new name can or cannot go. The new name will appear on all University documentation with the exception of financial records due to a possible violation of legal rules, Lawrence said.

For students wanting to apply for a name change under the new policy, the process itself will be quite simple.

“The process is to contact the Cougar Card office and specify your preferred name,” Lawrence said. “The preferred name should be changed throughout the PeopleSoft system, University documentation, and will be included in all course roster sheets.”

After learning that his name could be changed, the overall college experience got much better, psychology junior Dane Ashton said.

“I had my name changed with the University in the fall of 2016, my freshman year,” Ashton said. “At that time I could only get my name changed on Blackboard and by extension, class rosters.

To get my name changed on my Cougar Card I had to visit the LGBTQ Resource Center and get a letter signed by the director.”

Dane Ashton believes the act will show prospective and current students they are free to be themselves at UH. | Courtesy of Dane Ashton

Before that, he had crossed out his old name on his Cougar Card and was worried about getting in trouble or turned away from on campus services because of that, Ashton said.

“Before I learned that getting my name changed on campus was an option, I was incredibly

anxious about having to explain myself to each and every one of my professors for my entire college career,” Ashton said.

His new name is used in most instances, but there have been a few occasions in which certain offices don’t

use preferred names, opting instead to use the old name, Ashton said.

“My only complaint is the inconsistency of where a student’s name is or isn’t changed, which is why I’m happy to help the Transgender Inclusion Act,” Ashton said.

“Hopefully, this act will either see that set right or provide framework for future initiatives.”

Ashton hopes the act shows transgender students applying to UH that they are welcome to be their authentic selves at the University.

“This bill is a part of a progressive movement that reflects the values of the University to support diversity and create a comfortable environment for its students,” Lawrence said. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 7

EMILY HUBBARD, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

LIFE & ARTS

ARTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5302

RESOLUTIONS

New Year's resolutions to spruce up your 2019 BINISH AZHER

Doing things for pleasure is a habit we all need to get in touch with a little more.

STAFF WRITER

As time feels more and more like the construct it really is, New Year’s Eve dulls in its specialties and resolutions are often written off as performative and un-transforming. The NYE excitement isn't as exciting because by now we’ve learned how little the new year makes a new you. "If I was going to change, I would have by now. What's the new year got to do with it?" Right? Not always.

Although you might think I’ve started 2019 off on a bleak note, my point is to remind you that although the new year doesn't necessitate a new you, that doesn't mean it can't or shouldn't. By now we must know that January 1 marks a figurative beginning more than a literal one, and what's so wrong with that? Some of us need one, and you might, too.

Sure, if you were really going to start waking up at 7 a.m. every day, you would be by now, and if you aren't, then maybe a New Year’s goal won’t cut it either.

It’s time to stop forcing our New Year's resolutions into a box of pseudo-productivity because how often do you really stick to it anyway?

So, let's start off the new year right. Many of us are in need of revamped resolutions, ones that

Spice up 2019 right by taking these steps to enforce a better year and you. | Illustration by Fiona Legesse/ The Cougar

will get us excited for the new year. When did our resolutions become so boring? If the new year is a chance for a new you, you might as well have fun with it. Below are five resolutions to keep you feeling positive about the new year.

Grow a plant Nurture yourself through the act of taking care of another living thing. It's hard maintaining your own well-being, so take care of something else's and learn how to be kinder to yourself and the things around you in the process. Having pets in college isn't as feasible, but a plant? You

can pick any, and it’ll brighten up your space. Water it before class, and add it to your morning routine.

Read more books, especially ones written by women It’s time we stop telling ourselves we don't have time to read the way we used to when we were young. If you're anything like me, every year you tell yourself you'll get better at time management, and it never happens. Instead, you should try reading more and let the rest follow. Adding a few time slots here and there allows you to have more structure in your day.

I say read more books written by women because it provides a different perspective you can learn from. Maybe by 2020 you'll think differently about something you were dead set on before.

Learn a new sport, and play it for fun Another thing that might force you to manage your time better is getting a new hobby, any hobby. Buy a bike, a penny board, a basketball. Anything works, and you'll have yourself something to actually do when you're bored instead of just sitting on your phone for hours.

Start saving, and humble your wallet Maybe you're someone who wants something and has the ability to get it right away, either from your parents or your job or your trust fund. Either way, if every paycheck or allowance you get is immediately distributed for your desires, try saving a little.

Even if you don't have something to save for, maybe you will in the future. I recommend having at least $1,000 as an emergency savings. Be thoughtful with your money, it won't hurt.

Make one new friend that you will keep for life Are the people you surround yourself with ones you'd like to keep around forever? Ones you'd invite to your wedding? Or your funeral? If you're not regularly around at least one person that fulfills such criteria, you might need to make some new friends, ones that are worth the time investment. It's not that having company is worthless otherwise, but having a friend is very different from having a close friend. arts@thedailycougar.com

ART

Creative blocks: How to overcome artistic obstacles JANET MIRANDA

become too self-aware. When an artist starts to fear not being able to produce worthy pieces or goes through a period of stress and trauma, a creative block can prevent them from being productive.

Some of the most common reasons for a creative stump for artists are fear of putting themselves and their ideas out there, harsh perfectionism and excessive self-criticism.

These ideas can freeze out an artist’s creative and explorative side, and they eventually lead to a fear of a blank piece of paper or canvas.

STAFF WRITER

Anyone dabbling in the creative arts, whether it be writing, sketching or composing, has experienced the dreaded creative block.

A creative block can manifest in different ways for different artists, but the result is the same: the ever-consuming anxiety that freezes the creative process and eliminates any chance of meeting ever-approaching deadlines.

A creative block can have numerous causes, including a lack of confidence in one's abilities or perceived pressure to come up with great ideas. The fields of psychology and neurology explain the causes for a creative block and strategies to overcome it.

Neuroscience studies on imagination, creativity and improvisation give us a fuller

Whether you are going through a creative block or have experienced one before, you know they can crush an artistic flow.

Take these tips to get out of the rut and get back into the swing of things | Illustration by Fiona Legesse/ The Cougar

picture of what's going on in the brain. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tends to be less activated when people are engaged in improvising or creative notions.

This portion of the brain controls one's sense of self and serves as one's "inner critic." Essentially, a release of inhibition correlates with higher levels of creativity.

When not suffering from a creative block, creativity can feel as natural as breathing.

The problem with creative blocks stems from when we

To read the remainder of the article and for helpful tips please visit thedailycougar.com/life-arts/ arts@thedailycougar.com

8 | Wednesday, January 16, 2019

SPORTS ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

TRACK & FIELD

Q&A: All-American sprinter happy to be home Arkansas. I learned a lot, but there are just certain things that this program has. I’m just blessed to have some great coaches over here. It’s just so great to be back home. I never felt like Arkansas was home. This place has always been home.

TC: Balancing student life with the life of an athlete must be difficult. Can you talk about that?

Igbokwe: At first, it’s difficult

Senior Obi Igbokwe is a seven-time All-American and has also competed for the United States at international events. | Courtesy of Arkansas Athletics

JACKSON GATLIN

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @JTGATLIN

With the departure of star runners Cameron Burrell and Elijah Hall, the Cougar track and field team was ripe for a newcomer to step up and take a spot.

Seven-time All-American sprinter, senior Obi Igbokwe, returned home to Houston for his final year of collegiate competition and instantly meshed with the team.

Igbokwe started his season the right way by running the then-fastest 200m dash time in the collegiate world Saturday at the Corky Classic in Lubbock.

It is now the second fastest

of the season, but Igbokwe will have plenty more chances to take No. 1 as he plans to compete in the 200m dash, 400m dash and relays with the Cougars. He will try to improve a Cougar squad that finished No. 3 nationally last outdoor season.

The Cougar caught up with Igbokwe and he spoke about coming home, the opportunity to run for UH and the challenges of trying to be a new leader.

The Cougar: Coming home to spend your last year of college at the University of Houston, how does that feel?

Igbokwe: It’s good, man. I’m thankful for my three years at

because you have to set your own schedule up and hold yourself accountable for everything. I got really good at compartmentalizing and just being able to separate my personal life from school and track so whenever I was doing one thing, it would just be me in that moment.

In practice, no matter how hectic life was, I was just in that moment. You just have to clear your mind. When there are deadlines or a project due, people sometimes feel that anxiety, but when it’s practice time that’s all I’m worried about. I’m there 100 percent in the moment.

TC: Last year’s team had guys like Cameron Burrell and Elijah Hall who are now gone. With your history, has the rest of the team looked at you for some guidance and leadership?

you at first as a leader, but I’ve done good things, I’ve had a good career and I think people recognize that and respect that.

TC: Do you view yourself as a leader?

Igbokwe: Definitely. I strive to

We all feed off each other. Everyone is hungry and ready to compete.

TC: The new indoor banked track, can you tell me a bit about it?

Igbokwe: I haven’t had a chance to

be that. I try to make an impact, especially on the lower-classmen.

They seem really receptive, which is great because I have a lot of advice and a lot of knowledge. I was once in their shoes. I just want to see them be great.

run on it, but man I love indoor. Some people just don’t like indoor, but I feel like indoor season should be an indicator of what happens in outdoor season. Indoor is just a lot of fun, like in the 400m you get to cut in and everyone is going so fast and then it all cuts into one lane.

I want to make an impact on this team not just in points. I want to bring everybody up and lead by example.

It really separates the boys from the men, you really have to be a dog out there. It’s just the best feeling to me.

TC: The team is supposed to debut ranked No. 6 nationally.

What does that mean to you and to this program?

TC: What would you want to say to students who haven’t been to a meet before to encourage them to come out and support the team?

Igbokwe: It’s always a bitter taste not being ranked at the top. Six is definitely up there, but up there isn’t what we want, we want to be No. 1. If it’s not one, then we’ll show you. Predictions are cool, but predictions aren’t going to save anybody once we get on the line.

TC: How well do you think the team has prepared going into indoor season?

Igbokwe: I think there’s a lot of guys

Igbokwe: Everyone has been putting

on this team that have done a great job stepping up like Amere (Lattin) and Kahmari (Montgomery). Coming in as a new person, people don’t look to

in a lot of work. The team dynamic is great. We have so many people pushing and pushing each other. It’s like that saying, “steel sharpens steel.”

Igbokwe: Football, basketball and baseball are big sports, and I love going out and supporting those teams, but track meets are just as much fun. Watching a race, you get so into it. You get like an anxious, edge-of-your-seat feeling when you’re at a track meet. Especially during indoor season because the fans are so close, you can just feel everyone’s energy. You’re able to hear every single step and how much power goes into each one. You will be pleasantly surprised. sports@thedailycougar.com

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Men's basketball's toughest games left on the schedule BRAYLEY CROWE

STAFF WRITER @BRAYLEYCROWE

Coming into conference play, the men’s basketball team was off to a monumental 13-0 start.

No. 21/17 Houston roared through its demanding nonconference schedule with victories over three majorconference teams: Oregon, Oklahoma State and LSU. The team also had resume-boosting victories over BYU, St. Louis and Utah State.

But the undefeated streak ended when UH lost at Temple after a game-tying bucket from senior Corey Davis Jr. was called off due to an offensive foul.

The American Athletic Conference is tallied as the No. 6 most difficult conference, which

actually tops the PAC-12.

Of the 14 games remaining for UH, Houston is only underdogs in two, as predicted by ESPN’s Basketball Power Index, at UCF Feb. 7 and at Cincinnati March 10.

While these two games are definitely the toughest games for UH, a trip to Dallas against SMU on Wednesday could also be a serious test.

Texas rivals The Mustangs have found their rhythm with a respectable 11-5 record and are tied with UH and three other schools at third in conference.

SMU has two preseason allconference players, second-team junior Jahmal McMurray and first-team senior Jarrey Foster, so

Houston's great defense will have its hands full.

McMurray splashed onto the national scene early in the season with a stellar 34-point performance against Western Carolina, while Foster has slowly established himself as a key figure after missing the first six games of the season.

McMurray leads the Mustangs in points per game and is a lightsout shooter with 45.1 percent accuracy. Junior Jimmy Whitt Jr. stepped in while Foster struggled, averaging 12.8 points per game and leading the Mustangs in assists per game.

As a team, SMU is shooting 45.1 percent from the field, but Houston is top 10 in the nation in defensive effective field goal percentage, top 20 in Ken

Pomeroy's adjusted defensive efficiency and are top 10 in points allowed per game.

It will be a challenge for the Mustangs to put up such numbers against the Cougars.

Knights rallying The Knights were the preseason favorite to win the AAC in the conference coaches’ predictions, and the squad is meeting those expectations thus far.

UCF has dropped just two games by a combined three points, and the talking point of the Knights has been its towering 7'6" center, senior Tacko Fall.

Guarding Fall is no easy task.

The senior is averaging 10.5 points per game on a mindboggling 80 percent shooting accuracy.

With the tallest player for UH with significant minutes being senior Breaon Brady at 6'8" tall, Houston will have their hands full. Oregon’s 7'3" freshman Bol Bol scored 23 points against Houston in the team's meeting earlier this season.

Even more surprising may be that Fall is only UCF’s third leading scorer, with guards B.J. Taylor and Aubrey Dawkins leading the way for the Knights.

Taylor, the preseason conference player of the year, has averaged 17.3 points per game while Dawkins has scored 15.9 with a red-hot 47.2 percent field goal.

While UCF does score well, what makes this game so

TOUGHEST OPPONENTS

Continues on page 10

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 9

LA

T N N N

D W 2BR L E OHTX M T T N COUCH OR

INSURANCE

CREDIT

R W MONTROSE O A D A/C PARKING P D $ A GYM

THE HEIGHTS

FURNITURE

TENANT

DEPOSIT LEASE POOL PET-FRIENDLY DRYER RENT MI CASA ES SU CASA WASHER&

ROOMMATES

Find your next Coogs House!

Join us for the Cooglife Housing and Decรณr Fair

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th / 10 A.M. - 2 P.M. / Butler Plaza

CONTACT COOGLIFE www.cooglife.com

Like us on Facebook

facebook.com/ cooglife

Follow us on Twitter

@cooglifemag

Follow us on Instagram

instagram.com/ cooglifemag

10 | Wednesday, January 16, 2019

SPORTS ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Women's Basketball struggles early in the season TRENTON WHITING

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @TRENTONWHITING

UH’s women’s basketball team has been a mixed bag this season. The Cougars have played tougher teams than they have in past seasons, but sitting at 8-8 on the year, UH is hoping to get on a hot streak and string together some big wins.

The Cougars fell short against a ranked opponent in the first game of the season but recovered to win a doubleovertime thriller against Georgia Tech.

UH has yet to gain any meaningful momentum since then. The Cougars have only had two wins in a row once this season and have been up and down.

The team still has a chance to turn its season around, but there are some glaring deficiencies the Cougars need to address.

For one, the only losses in the Fertitta Center have been taken by the women’s basketball team.

The men’s team has had welldocumented success at home and has not lost at home this season.

The women’s team has not won a single home game since

TOUGHEST OPPONENTS

Continued from page 8

intriguing is each squad's defense.

The Knights are only allowing 63 points a game and have blocked 16.2 percent of opponents’ shots at the rim.

This statistic might not be too important though, because only 25.5 percent of Houston's shots are at the rim.

The Cougars love to shoot the three, as 44.5 percent of their shots have come from deep, and have drained 33.3 percent. On the other hand, UCF has allowed its opponents to shoot 32.6 percent from three-point range.

The best bet for Houston to grab another resume-boosting

Junior guard Angela Harris is one of the players that needs to hit their stride for the Cougars to make a run up the standings.

Harris' shooting has fallen from 14.9 points a game in 2017-18 to 9.7 this season. | Kathryn Lenihan/The Daily Cougar

its victory over Georgia Tech.

The Cougars have a positive road record at 6-3, but until UH can solve its home struggles, it will not achieve the success it had last season.

The Cougars are also lacking in production from its most influential players. Most of the team returned from last year, but the Cougars are experiencing a team-wide slump.

Last year, the team had three

players that averaged doubledigit scoring. The scoring leader, junior guard Jasmyne Harris, averaged nearly 20 points a game in the 2017-18 season.

This year, Harris is scoring 16 points per game and is the only player on the team averaging more than 10 points per game.

Harris will need more production from her co-star, junior guard Angela Harris. She has given up more turnovers

than thrown assists this season.

The Cougars are counting on her to play through her struggles and help the team get to the heights it is seeking.

Even with all the struggles the team is experiencing, there are still some silver linings the Cougars can take away.

Many of the teams that UH has faced this year had at least 20 wins last season. The competition has been intense,

win is to stick with what gave the team its 15-game winning streak to open the season: shoot the ball from behind the arc.

and to come out of the heap with a nearly .500 record is something the Cougars can live with as long as they perform well against inter-conference foes.

Another silver lining is the Cougars are keeping most of the games competitive. Even in Houston’s game against UConn, the first half was relatively close until the Huskies pulled away late in the half and in the second.

The 20-point loss was the closest Houston has even been to beating Connecticut. The Cougars’ previous five losses were by 60, 49, 39, 59 and 50 points, which shows that this team has strong aspects compared to past years.

As long as UH can continue to keep games close, chances are it will be able to get a couple of morale-boosting wins.

The Cougars still have a lot to prove to be considered one of the top teams in the conference, but there is still time left in the season. If UH can turn its season around, it will continue the recent trend of successful UH basketball teams. sports@thedailycougar.com

however, is his frequency to turn the ball over, as he averages 2.4 turnovers per game.

This could be one of Houston’s strongest counters to such an Revenge evenly matched opponent, as the Houston’s journey to Cincinnati Cougars are averaging 7.4 steals is its toughest remaining game. per game.

Last season, the squads met three Along with the promising times with each winning its home factors in swiping the ball, game and the Bearcats winning three-point shots will be huge the third in the AAC Tournament if Houston will leave Cincinnati Championship game by one with a victory. point.

The Bearcats are tied at No. CATHOLIC MASS ON CAMPUS The teams mirror each other 190 for three-point percentage SUNDAYS: 10:45 AM - Religion Center almost identically on paper. allowed, which is of course 6:00 PM - Catholic Center WEEKDAYS: At time of writing, Houston the Cougars’ strong suit. In Tuesday—Friday 12:00 Noon CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER has averaged 75.3 points a Cincinnati’s three losses this SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE Confession: Before or After Masses Office # (713) 748-2529 game. Cincinnati has averaged season, it has allowed its First Service: 7:15 am 74.7. Houston has allowed opponents to shoot a blistering Second Service: 9:00 am Thirdpercent Service:from11:00 opponents to score 60.6 a game, 44.4 deep.am Fourth Service: 1:00 pm and Cincinnati has allowed 60.3.

The Cougars certainly have the Houston has shot 43.6 percent pieces play type toam defeat the Sundayand School: 9:00 from the field. Cincinnati has Bearcats in Cincinnati, and the WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY shot 46.2 percent. Houston has key to executing will be sticking 12 noon & 7:00 pm shot 33.4 percent from three, and to their rugged defense and Cincinnati has shot 34.1 percent. lights-out three-point shooting.

Sunday Bible Class This will be a game of splitting If Houston can do so in the hairs. final game of the season, then it Preseason first-team allwould bode well for any potential conference junior guard Jarron playoff matchup and could help Cumberland has averaged 17.3 the team achieve its first AAC Houston's forwards, IF YOUhas ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN WORSHIP DIRECTORY , like sophomore Fabian White who is coming off a foot points per game and already regular season championship. surgery, will need to keep down the other bigs across the American Athletic six 20-point games. The biggest CONTACT A SALES REPRESENTATIVE AT 713-743-5356 Conference for UH to win its first AAC title. | Kathryn Lenihan/The Daily Cougar sports@thedailycougar.com hiccup in Cumberland’s play,

worship DIRECTORY

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 | 11

WAFA KAZMI, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

OPINION

OPINION@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5304

POLITICS

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Jasmine Davis MANAGING EDITOR

Cristobella Durrette

SPORTS EDITOR

Andres Chio

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Emily Hubbard PHOTO EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Corbin Ayres

CAMPUS EDITOR

Wafa Kazmi

Fiona Legesse Alyssa Letts

FEATURES EDITOR

Vacant

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Morgan Horst

OPINION EDITOR

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Trenton Whiting, McKenzie Misiaszek, Billion Tekleab, Tony Cianciulli

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major.

Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.

The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

studentpress.org/acp

Public defense system needs an overhaul RYAN NOWROUZI OPINION COLUMNIST Historically, public defenders are drastically overworked and alarmingly underfunded, and, as a result, many defendants are being underrepresented and forced to take plea deals or serve pre-conviction prison time. Allocating more money and resources to these problems is necessary in order to combat a large problem in how we treat the accused.

In the United States, more than 80 percent of those charged with felonies are indigent and therefore cannot afford to pay for legal counsel. Because the Sixth Amendment guarantees a right to counsel, this means that many are provided with what is known as a public defender to provide them with fair treatment under the law.

The need for a public defense system was made clear long ago in the historic Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright. In the case, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that states are constitutionally required to provide an attorney to defendants in criminal cases.

More than 50 years later, however, many believe that the public defense system has failed to uphold the Supreme Court’s decision in action.

The first, and arguably most important, reason the public defense system is in need of repair is because of the sheer caseload. The system is so jam-packed with cases that many defenders aren’t able to properly perform core functions like undergoing a factual investigation into guilt or innocence. In states like Florida, the problem is so severe that the caseload of the average public defender has risen to 500 felonies and an astonishing 2,225 misdemeanor cases each year.

Unfortunately, this example presented in Florida is not unique. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Justice reported that 73 percent of country public defenders had far surpassed the recommended maximum caseload standards of 150 felonies and 400 misdemeanors.

With this dangerously high caseload in mind, a reasonable question would be to ask why public defenders don’t turn down cases they can’t adequately defend.

The unfortunate answer is that many have no choice. In

The public defense system is broken and flawed. The gaps in our justice system need to be addressed immediately before more lives become casualties of an inefficient system. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/user: Ucliker

fact, 60 percent of states don’t allow public defenders to turn down cases — an idea with good intentions, but horrible results.

In theory, these states appear to

be upholding the right to counsel by letting no case go undefended.

In practice, however, these states are actually doing more harm than good. Through this system,

there is no avenue for alternative measures.

PUBLIC DEFENSE

Continues on next page

Progress necessities micro-finance; emergency response board of directors. resolution. | Courtesy of Name Lastname or Organization

worship DIRECTORY

CATHOLIC MASS ON CAMPUS

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE

SUNDAYS: 10:45 AM - Religion Center 6:00 PM - Catholic Center WEEKDAYS: Tuesday—Friday 12:00 Noon CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER Confession: Before or After Masses Office # (713) 748-2529

First Service: 7:15 am Second Service: 9:00 am Third Service: 11:00 am Fourth Service: 1:00 pm Sunday School:

9:00 am

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 12 noon & 7:00 pm

Sunday Bible Class

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING IN WORSHIP DIRECTORY, CONTACT A SALES REPRESENTATIVE AT 713-743-5356

12 | Wednesday, January 16, 2019

OPINION WAFA KAZMI, EDITOR

PUBLIC DEFENSE

Continued from previous page Such measures include offering private attorneys the cases for an hourly fee, the use of contract attorneys and other non-full-time defenders who can help out.

Another reason why our public defense system is failing is due to the meager budget allocated to them. Not only does the United States fall behind every European country in terms of per capita spending on public defense, but

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

budget cuts around the nation continue to add insult to injury.

In states like Texas, where more than 50 percent of indigent defense funding comes from counties, it’s clear that more contribution from the state would make a difference.

A possible proactive solution includes decriminalization of small misdemeanor charges that flood the system. For example, the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana and opting for counseling or therapy for

OPINION@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

other drug-related charges could potentially help others in the system who are at risk of graver consequences without adequate representation.

Additionally, this severely backed up system is in large part responsible for the massive pre-trial jail time assigned to those who have not even yet been deemed guilty of a crime.

According to the Department of Justice, approximately 500,000 people are in jail at any given time without having been convicted

or tried. We cannot realistically claim that the Sixth Amendment is upheld when perversions of the right to counsel and due process are being committed on a large scale.

The indigent and those accused of criminal wrongdoing are a segment of the population that is largely voiceless and is one that many people do not sympathize with. So while the approach to a solution is varied, its necessity is clear. Counties, states and the federal government need to

713-743-5304

address this problem as an urgent constitutional crisis.

Whether it be investing in alternative methods to supplement public defenders, allocating larger budgets or decriminalizing misdemeanors that only serve to clog the public justice system and fill up prisons, something must be done now.

Opinion columnist Ryan Nowrouzi is a biomedical sciences junior and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.

CULTURE

Look critically at plastic surgery and its effects ADISON EYRING OPINION COLUMNIST

W

e absolutely shouldn't shame the choices women make concerning their own bodies, but we should remain critical of an industry that profits off of systemic insecurity. As of 2017, women account for 92 percent of all cosmetic procedures performed in the United States. This statistic makes sense, not because women are inherently vain or image-obsessed but because of the reality we face.

Women are typically given greater opportunities and social mobility the more they adhere to mainstream standards of attractiveness. Though the media has typically shamed female celebrities for getting cosmetic procedures done, these women often see greater success afterward.

Kylie Jenner seems to be the clearest and most relevant example of this. Jenner famously built a makeup empire off of her lip kits, which became highly sought after thanks to her cosmetically-altered pout.

With this cultural context in mind and celebrities like Jenner serving as examples of the societal benefits cosmetic surgery can bring, it seems obvious why women get work done at such high rates.

In a society in which women are often treated according to their appearance, we shouldn’t cast judgment on the ways women consciously or unconsciously navigate these social constructs. However, we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking we are making these decisions free of outside pressures.

Plastic surgery rates among

While plastic surgery should be critically examined and addressed. Cosmetic procedures often further insecurities, not alleviate them. | Art by Fionna Legesse

young people ages 13-19 have been rising. For comparison, the human brain continues to develop in vital areas like decision making, logical thinking and identity until the mid-twenties. When asked why they underwent cosmetic procedures, many teenage patients claimed that it was for their own self-confidence or happiness. Some patients even cite feminism.

As one Twitter user aptly states, “It’s so I can look in the mirror and love who I see.” Though this may be true and many women do genuinely enjoy beauty rituals like makeup, skincare and even plastic surgery, we are also socially trained to.

The rise of social media has intertwined cultural beauty ideals with our lives in an

unprecedented way. In a lengthy Twitter post explaining the reasons behind her decision to get lip injections, beauty influencer Gabi DeMartino cited Instagram comments and a desire to become a better influencer alongside her own private insecurities.

Within the past decade, researchers, journalists and recipients of operations, whether they’re famous or not, have cited social media as primary factors in patients’ decision. Psychologists back this up with correlations between frequent social media use and heightened insecurities or depression.

The decision to get plastic surgery doesn't exist in a vacuum and is often made hand-in-hand with exposure to conventional, European stan-

dards of beauty. Every woman I know is able to look back at her life and pinpoint the exact moment she first felt pressure to change something about her appearance for external approval.

These external pressures can become internalized and ingrained, especially when they come at fundamental developmental stages. We begin to place these external standards of beauty on ourselves and become hyper-critical of our own appearance.

That doesn’t mean that every time we put on makeup or shave our legs we’re doing it for external approval, but saying that we do it for ourselves feels like a dishonest and shallow argument. When I put on makeup, I do it in part because I enjoy the ritual, but also

because from a young age I was taught to cringe at my undereye bags, acne-scarred skin and weird-shaped eyebrows. There’s a $445 billion industry counting on the fact that I feel the need or desire to put concealer on every morning.

I don’t mean to write this from any sort of moral high ground. I recognize the major impact such procedures could potentially have on your self-confidence and social stature. If you want to get surgery, go for it, it’s your body, but be aware of all the powerful people, industries and cultures that profit off of you doing so.

Opinion columnist Adison Eyring is a media productions and political science sophomore and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.