Issue 25, Volume 84

PRINT WEEKLY. DIGITAL DAILY

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Issue 25, Volume 84

uh.edu/csm

coogradio.com

thedailycougar.com

coogtv.com

SWEET

SIXTEEN

NEWS

SPORTS

ITC fire complicates Cougars make commmuting March Madness The on and off chemical fire in Deer Park caused complications and concerns among students from the area. | PG. 2

history

The team will play the University of Kentucky in its first Sweet Sixteen debut in 35 years. | PG. 7

OPINION

Student-athletes should be paid

Collegiate players deserve to be compensated for their dedication and risks taken while on the field. | PG. 10

2 | Wednesday, March 27, 2019

NEWS

GREG FAILS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

CITY

ITC fire causes complications for commuters

713-743-5314

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.

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

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.

Since igniting on March 17, the chemical fire at ITC's Parkway South terminal has sent numerous carcinogens into the nearby air and water. | Corbin Ayres / The Cougar.

LAURA CONTASTI

WEB EDITOR @LAURACONTASTI

When Houston residents looked to the sky on March 18, they were likely surprised to find a trail of black smoke mingling with the clouds.

According to a press release from the Intercontinental Terminals Company, a fire was reported March 17 at their Independence Parkway South terminal where petrochemical liquids, gases, fuels, oils and distillates are stored.

After three days of burning the fire was extinguished, but it reignited at least once on March 20 and has since released numerous chemicals

into the air and water.

"I've been primarily concerned with how this will affect my health going forward,” said biology and Spanish senior Kyle McDaniel via Twitter DM. The chemicals released in the fire were naphtha, xylene, pyrolysis, gasoline and benzene, in some form.

A more recent spill has caused similar chemicals to leak into the Houston Ship Channel.

Many of these chemicals have harmful effects on the body if inhaled. Benzene is a known carcinogen and may be harmful to reproductive organs.

The incident has also left a number of students unable to drive to and from the University of Houston safely.

“When I left church and headed for work, there was already a massive black plume billowing from a site close to the San Jacinto Monument,” McDaniels said.

“At first I was a bit shocked but honestly, growing up in the area, these things aren't that uncommon.”

McDaniels, a Deer Park local, lives less than two minutes from where the fire originated.

The Deer Park and Galena Park areas surrounding the ITC compound were put under

orders to shelter in place as the events were unfolding.

“I was fortunate to have not had classes during the shelter in place, so my class schedule was not affected,” McDaniels said.

Other students, however, would have to juggle a class schedule and emergency management.

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

Getting to class

ADVERTISING REPS

The University of Houston advised its students to “use (their) best judgment” via a Tweet made from the official University Twitter.

London Douglas

ITC FIRE

Continues on page 5

DESIGN TEAM Ram Armendariz Kristen Fernandes

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 3

GREG FAILS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

CAMPUS RECREATION Sam Houston National Forest

713-743-5314

MARCH IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH

INTRAMURALS

Mountain Biking

NEWS

myrec.uh.edu

> ULTIMATE FRISBEE

April 6 $50 Member | $70 Non-Member

Register By March 27 Play Begins March 29

Price includes food, transportation, park fees, gear, and guides.

One day tournament.

COST All events are free for students who have paid the CRWC fee.

Register by 3/29 at 5pm.

COUGAR CUB SUMMER CAMP

NOW HIRING! an experience to remember!

JUNE 3 - AUGUST 2 Impact a Child’s Life this summer! Be a

Beach Excurision

K EY

Crystal Beach

LO G G I N G

April 13

DEADLINE: April 5

C H A L L EN G E

$25 Member | $30 Non-Member Price includes food, transportation, park fees, gear, and guides.

Register by 4/5 at 5pm.

CAMP SUPERVISOR CAMP COUNSELOR

FR IDAY

MARCH 29 4:30 – 6:30PM CRWC NATATORIUM

FIND THE APPLICATION

uh.edu/recreation/about/jobs.html attach resume, 2 professional references:

EMAIL: KGETER@UH.EDU KATHERINE GETER - COORDINATOR OF REC SPORTS & FAMILY PROGRAMS

UHRecreation uh.edu/recreation

STRENGTHENING THE PRIDE

4 | Wednesday, March 27, 2019

NEWS GREG FAILS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5314

CAMPUS

The last major update to the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management came in 2010 with a $12.5 million renovation to the lobby and other amenities. | Courtesy of the University of Houston

Conrad N. Hilton College to recieve $30M renovation MCKENZIE MISIASZEK

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @MISIASZEKUH

The Hilton University of Houston will undergo a $30.4 million renovation and expansion that will add 71 new rooms, almost doubling the current amount, according to a press release.

The Hilton is part of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and offers its students the opportunity to learn and work in a full-service hotel, where many will go after they graduate. The program is one of the best in the world, and the expansion could elevate its ranking even more.

“This expansion is our future.

The constraint of having only 86 rooms has made us an anomaly in the marketplace, but we are, in fact, a full-service Hilton franchisee,” said the dean of Hilton College, Dennis Reynolds.

“Our new 151-room hotel will provide for a more realistic learning experience for our students because we will be operating in a manner more typical of a full-service, non-teaching hotel.”

The average Hilton hotel has more than 400 rooms. The Hilton University of Houston will still be smaller than most, but with the possibility for more guests comes the increased odds that more

students will have the opportunity for hands-on experience.

“Our Hilton hotel is our ‘teaching lab.’ One hundred and fifty rooms is the ‘sweet spot’ for a college campus hotel in an urban setting,” said Director of Communications for the Hilton College Debbie Maurer.

“Structurally, this is also as big as it can go. One hundred and fifty rooms compares to one-third of Hilton hotels.”

Increased capacity The hotel is not often fully booked. Usually, the spring has the most amount of guests at 80 percent occupancy, fall has 70 percent and summer has 60 percent, said Miguel Cabrera, director of Development & Alumni Engagement for the Hilton College. “(Guests come from) city compression and overflow from Downtown,” Cabrera said. “The increased participation from CVB and booking events within Downtown have allowed us to capitalize, as we are the closest Hilton full-service next to the Hilton Americas, which benefits us.”

The hotel is paying for the expansion through a revenue bond, which means it will be repaid by funds earned from the hotel over time.

The project does not yet have an architect but is slated for completion by early 2023. The 71 rooms will be added via a five-story tower over the south wing — the part of the hotel closest to Cougar Grounds — and the existing 80 rooms will be renovated. Along with room renovations, the courtyard will also get a face-lift.

Student-life impact While the hotel is under construction, it will still be up and running. Guests and students alike will still be able to stay, work and learn during the renovation.

Students will even have the opportunity to expand their knowledge surrounding the construction process, preparing them for more real world experience.

“The hotel will continue to operate during the addition of the new tower,” Cabrera said.

“The learning will actually be amazing, as the renovation will be integrated with class projects so students can learn what is involved.”

Students comprise the majority of the hotel’s staff. Many work in housekeeping, at the front desk or with food and beverage, Cabrera said.

“They have the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to a real-world setting,”

he said. “This makes them more marketable as potential employees and reduces their learning curves as they begin their careers.”

The last time the hotel was renovated was in 2010, but there has never been an expansion, Cabrera said. The school was built in the 1960s and has been in use ever since. The college consistently ranks among the best in the world, according to a press release.

The college is not sure yet how the renovation will impact traffic around the hotel and, by extension, the Student Centers.

“We will be working with the University’s Facilities Planning and Construction and the general contractors to minimize any disruption to our neighbors,” Cabrera said.

Exciting opportunities The Hilton College is not planning on increasing enrollment as a result of the larger learning space. The college will continue to experience a steady increase in enrollment, as it already occurring unrelated to the construction.

“We continue to purposefully grow our enrollment — a bigger hotel doesn’t mean a larger college,” Maurer said. “The two are not related.”

Students have heard the buzz

around renovation. While many will not be around to see the end result, they are still excited for the idea of improving the learning area.

“I think it’s a monumental step that the Hilton is taking,” said hotel and restaurant management junior and President of the Hilton College Ambassadors Alexsandra Macias.

“It’s really going to benefit the students’ learning environment because more rooms are being added.”

She also hopes the renovation will benefit current students by increasing the standing of the college.

“Everything is being expanded altogether to give students more industry experience in our own hotel,” Macias said. “This is also going to bring more well-deserved recognition to the college from industry leaders and future students worldwide.”

Some students are worried about the cost of the renovation but are still optimistic about the possible end result.

“It’s $30 million, can’t we use it somewhere else?” said HRM junior Huda Sidiqui. “But now that I know it’s going to help with the schooling and make the major look better, that’s amazing.” news@thedailycougar

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 5

GREG FAILS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

NEWS 713-743-5314

Renovations to the College of Hotel and Restaurant Management's courtyard will include trees and a cover put on the south wall. Overall, the renovations are expected to improve the already nationally-recognized restaurant and hotel management program by better showing students what it's like to work at a full-service hotel. | (Left) Corbin Ayres/The Cougar. (Right) Courtesy of the University of Houston

ITC FIRE

Continued from page 2 Denny Wilson, a 22-year-old management information systems senior, tweeted the University asking how students were expected to get to their classes if there was an active shelter in place in their city.

“The UH account responded back by telling students to use their best judgement,” Wilson said.

“But by saying that, they're telling students to put themselves at risk to attend class.

In addition, the roads in my neighborhood were completely closed down, so had I tried to get to school, I wouldn't have been able to.”

The shelter in place may have affected only a handful of students, but students should have the opportunity to attend class and learn, Wilson said.

She would have to miss class and get notes from fellow classmates in order to not fall behind. “(My professors) were understanding, but it is frustrating that I wasn't able to go and learn myself,” Wilson said.

McDaniels, who was in Deer Park during the first round of shelter in place orders, recalls smelling benzene in parts of his house and having to seal open spaces underneath doors and windows with wet towels. “(It) was surreal,” McDaniels said.

“I ended up leaving my

house around 10 a.m. while the (shelter in place) was still in effect in order to get to my internship. When I left, I took with me two changes of clothes, not knowing if I'd be allowed to return.”

Lingering smoke The trail of smoke lingered in the Houston area after the fire was initially extinguished.

“The weather was perfect to help lift the plume to several thousand feet altitude, where it did not affect people at ground-level,” said Robert Talbot, director of the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science.

“As long as the plume stayed aloft, it was not dangerous locally.”

The plume of smoke is expected to have very little to no effect on local climate, Talbot said.

Despite the altitude of the plume, students were advised by officials in their respective cities to shelter in place while the fire was burning.

Since the fire has been extinguished, a breach of the secondary containment wall has caused a release of product that has elevated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the area.

This has led to the Independence Parkway, the San Jacinto Monument, the Battleship Texas State Parks and the Lynchburg Ferry crossing to be temporarily closed.

The Houston Ship Channel has also been affected.

Portions of the channel have been closed, and the U.S. Coast Guard was called in to assist in cleanup efforts after

VOCs leaked into the water resulting in closures that are projected to cost the energy industry at least $1 billion,

according to the Houston Chronicle. news@thedailycougar.com

THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE presents,

THE DEAN’S AWARD To promote service to the University of Houston by recognizing students for their outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life through service, leadership and spirit.

Online applications are available on the Campus Leaders Reception website at:

WWW.UH.EDU/CSI/CAMPUS-PROGRAMS/CLR For more information call:

832.842.6183 CRITERIA INCLUDE: • Demonstrated significant service and/or leadership; enthusiasm • Minimum 3.0 GPA; enrollment in at least 9 hours • Junior or Senior classification at the University of Houston

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 28, 2019

6 | Wednesday, March 27, 2019

NEWS GREG FAILS, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5314

ARCHITECTURE

In 2016, the University of Houston Design/Build Studio constructed a covered outdoor seating area at Lockhart Elementary School, which contained solar panels in the original rendering, However, those didn't make it to the final design. The following year, they constructed an entrance area for the Port Authority of Houston as part of the program. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar

Students building outdoor classroom for local school BRANDON GAMEZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

@ BRANDONGAMEZ

Seven Master of Architecture students are building an outdoor classroom for students at Frank Black Middle School in northwest Houston as part of an annual program from the Graduate Design/Build Studio, which gives students real world experience while also impacting the community.

This year's project is allowing UH architecture students to create a nontraditional learning space for middle school students, and will serve as the first time most of the students have worked on an architecture project from beginning to finish.

“It is exciting to see each student’s ‘aha’ moment," said Studio Director Patrick Peters.

“When they see their work prefabricated and erected full scale, they realize what they were

drawing and making models of.”

The project, funded by the Frank Black Middle School PTO, is going to be a sheltered, openair classroom in the school's arboretum with a raised deck and butterfly roof. It will also include features that incorporate other aspects of the schoolyard, such as the pond and plants that are already there, Peters said.

Master of Architecture student Abraham Tanvir said the design, rooted in with the characteristics of the school, will feature a 1,000-gallon water collection tank that can be used for educational purposes at Frank Black Middle School.

“The structure is actually going to harvest rainwater,” Tanvir said. “Students will be able to use the collected rainwater for their garden at a later time. This will allow them to see the cycle that water goes through.”

The graduate students took the environmental aspects of Houston into major consideration during the design process, Tanvir said.

“We accounted for the southeast winds to make sure this project is comfortable during the summer,” Tanvir said.

“We also have the pitched roof design, which gives additional square footage of shade. We wanted to design in a way that would give a lot more space to the students while also providing a lot more shade than a traditional roof would.”

Tanvir said one of his personal favorite parts of this project is working with a group of graduate students who all come from different backgrounds.

“It will be cool to leave a physical project in the city of Houston that we were able to create from the beginning,” he

said.

Graduate student Nora Segura, who helped design the outer graphics, said working with her peers and professionals has been one of the best parts of the experience.

“I am gaining excessive knowledge in the field of architecture that is not quite granted in any other program,” Segura said.

Segura said another gain

The Frank Black Middle School project is set to be completed by the end of the summer, | Courtesy of Patrick Peters / Design/Build Studio

from this project is having the hands-on experience of working with a real school.

“What we are building and designing is going to be put to use in a positive way for the education of young people,” she said.

Graduate students in this program put together a project similar to this one every spring semester. This year marks the program's 30th year. Past projects by the Design/Build Studio include the main entrance for the Port of Houston Authority and an outdoor seating area at Lockhart Elementary School.

The group of graduate students are currently finishing up construction documents and attaining permits. The structure is expected to be complete by the end of the summer, just in time for the 2019-2020 school year. news@thedailycougar.com

SPORTS

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 7

ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Houston and Kentucky to meet in Sweet Sixteen Two of the best defenses in the tournament face off

Senior Corey Davis Jr. has averaged 23.5 points per game so far in the NCAA Tournament and the Wildcats could focus on trying to shut him down and force other Cougars to step up. | Ahmed Gul/The Cougar

ANDRES CHIO

SPORTS EDITOR @CHIOANDRES

The Cougars made history by advancing in March Madness after wins over the Buckeyes and the Panthers this weekend.

Houston will be making its first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 35 years and will face the traditional powerhouse, No. 2 seeded Kentucky from the Southeastern Conference.

High level of defense Kentucky will be the third team Houston has faced in the top 30 defensive teams, with UCF and Cincinnati being the other two.

The Cougars went a combined 3-2 against those opponents and will have its toughest test yet with the Wildcats.

Houston itself is No. 7 in the country and has allowed just over 60 points per game, while Kentucky has allowed about 65.

"I haven't seen any weaknesses where we can exploit them,"said head coach Kelvin Sampson.

Kentucky kept Wofford senior Fletcher Magee to just eight points when his season average

was more than 20, and he was 0-for-12 from three-point range.

While Houston has not normally relied on a single individual to score that much, senior Corey Davis Jr. put up 26 and 21 points in its first two NCAA Tournament games.

Kentucky may opt to focus on guarding Davis Jr. and force another guard to step up in his place.

Senior Galen Robinson Jr. and junior Armoni Brooks have both had 20 or more points in a game this season and could take over if left with space to drive or shoot threes.

Houston has had mixed success in shutting down opposing top shooters this season.

UCF senior B.J. Taylor scored 21 and 11 points against Houston, Memphis senior Jeremiah Martin scored 16 and 23 points, Cincinnati junior Jarron Cumberland scored 27, 20 and 33 points and Ohio State sophomore Kaleb Wesson hit his average of 15.

The first two players had performances well below and well above their season averages

while Cumberland was above all three games.

If Houston cannot stop a player from dominating the game, it may not have an answer for them.

Headliners Kentucky's potent offensive playmakers are not the only athletes that Houston has to worry about on Friday.

A player Houston will have to be ready for is SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year freshman Ashton Hagans, who Sampson praised in a Tuesday interview.

Hagans has been one of the best defensive guards in the country this year and is one of four players on the Wildcats' roster expected to be drafted into the NBA in a few months.

Hagans is a force on defense and even tied the school's record for steals in a game with eight of them against North Carolina, a No. 1 seed in the tournament, which was set by Wayne Turner in 1997 and Rajon Rondo in 2005.

SEC Freshman of the Year Keldon Johnson is another player expected to go high in

the draft, and he can completely take over the team's scoring.

A wildcard for Kentucky is sophomore PJ Washington, another player expected to go to the NBA after this season, who injured his foot against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament and has been out since.

If he plays, that adds another big scoring threat to an already potent lineup.

Sampson said the Cougars would game plan for Washington and think that he will play on Friday.

"He's a four, but they could play him anywhere," Sampson said.

Kentucky's starting guards are also a few inches taller and have longer wingspans than the Houston starters.

Houston is not unfamiliar with this situation, as it has happened more often than not during the season, but it may utilize its depth more to compensate.

Freshman Nate Hinton and redshirt sophomore DeJon Jarreau usually start on the bench but are 6'5" and could

be rotated in earlier to match up better against the taller Wildcats.

Even though Sampson called Kentucky the best team Houston played all year, the team's pregame preparation will not change.

"It doesn't matter who we play.

Today's practice won't be any different than the ones we had at the beginning of the season," Sampson said. "When you win 33 games, it means that you're preparing to win every game you play."

The game could go a lot of different ways with all the different variables, but it should be close the whole way through.

The Cougars have shown the ability to go toe-to-toe with anyone and will get another chance to prove it in Kansas City, Missouri.

Houston and Kentucky tip off at approximately 9 p.m. CT Friday, and the game will be broadcast on television at TBS and on the radio at KPRC 950 AM. sports@thedailycougar.com

8 | Wednesday, March 27, 2019

SPORTS ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Photo Gallery: Houston blasts past the opposition

Senior center Breaon Brady had a double-double and just two fouls against Georgia State. | Kathryn Lenihan/The Cougar Senior guard Corey Davis Jr. scored seven 3-pointers in his 26 point performance on Friday. | Kathryn Lenihan/The Cougar

The Cougars were dominant in the paint on both nights and were reminiscent at times of Phi Slama Jama, the last UH team to make it to the Sweet Sixteen. | Kathryn Lenihan/The Cougar Sophomore forward Fabian White Jr. led Houston in rebounds with 11 against Georgia State. The Cougars outrebounded the Panthers 51 to 27 combined. | Kathryn Lenihan/The Cougar

Senior guard Galen Robinson Jr. broke the UH record for career games on Sunday.

The Ohio State game was his 135th game as a Cougar. | Ahmed Gul/The Cougar

Junior Armoni Brooks was one of four players to reach doubledigit scoring against the Buckeyes. | Ahmed Gul/The Cougar

After the whistle blew, Houston was quick to celebrated the team's first Sweet Sixteen appearance in 35 years. All of this season's starters were on the team last year and endured the Round of 32 Michigan loss. | Ahmed Gul/The Cougar

SPORTS

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 9

ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Cougars' wins over Panthers and Buckeyes by the numbers TRENTON WHITING

ASSITANT SPORTS EDITOR @TRENTONWHITING

Houston had a pair of big wins over the March Madness weekends and neither game was close at the end.

Georgia State UH once again showed off its rebounding prowess in its 2019 NCAA Tournament debut against Georgia State.

Even though the Cougars have one of the shortest teams in the tournament on average, Houston is still effective on the boards.

The Cougars claimed a rebounding advantage of 51-27 over Georgia State.

Houston led in both offensive and defensive rebounds. The Cougars had 13 offensive rebounds and 38 defensive rebounds to the Panthers' seven and 20, respectively.

UH had four players grab five or more rebounds, and March 10-11857 Cougar News sophomore forward Fabian

White grabbed 11 boards.

UH was also effective with sharing the basketball. Three players threw out six or more assists.

Senior Corey Davis Jr. was the team's standout player as he picked up 26 points, six assists, seven rebounds and one steal.

The Cougars' point total marked the fourth time UH has scored over 80 points in March.

Ohio State Throughout the years, head coach Kelvin Sampson has put great emphasis on the importance of defense and rebounding.

With this guidance toward a defensive edge, the Cougars claimed the win against Ohio State.

In the first half, the Buckeyes shot a scorching 47 percent from three-point range.

In the second half, the Cougars locked in on defense 2_print.pdf 1 3/13/19 1:18 PM and kept their opponent to just

above 16 percent from deep.

UH also got cold in the second half, as it shot a poor 12.5 percent from deep.

An area the Cougars excelled in was the paint. Houston had 34 points in the paint compared to Ohio State's 12.

The Cougars also had 16 fast break and 16 bench points. Ohio State had just 15 points in those categories combined The Cougars were also able to force many turnovers.

The Buckeyes committed 14 turnovers in the game while UH committed only six.

UH's defense is becoming a postseason trend. Since the AAC Tournament began, UH has allowed only one of its five opponents to score more than 60 points.

The Cougars will try to carry its defensive success into the Sweet Sixteen when it faces the Wildcats of Kentucky. sports@thedailycougar.com

Houston's bench players like freshman Nate Hinton(above) and sophomore DeJon Jarreau have been huge assets all season. | Ahmed Gul/The Cougar

10 | Wednesday, March 27, 2019

OPINION JORDEN SMITH, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

OPINION@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5304

POLITICS

Senator Elizabeth Warren needs to say UH's name JORDEN SMITH

OPINION EDITOR

T

he University of Houston has a multitude of notable alumni who we should be proud to call themselves Cougars. Luckily, most of those alumni are also proud to talk about their alma mater. A few that come to mind include Board of Regents Chairman Tilman Fertitta, Emmy Award-winning actor Jim Parsons and the voice of CBS Sports, Jim Nantz. We even get the honor of calling resident crazy person Randy Quaid an alumnus.

But none of these distinguished alumni are running for president of the United States.

No, that honor is left to one of the senators from Massachusetts, Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Now, unless you actually care about Sen. Warren and have done an in-depth look into her history, you may not have any clue that she ever lived in Texas, let alone graduated from UH. Surprisingly, after a quick search on the internet, you’ll find that Sen. Warren graduated from UH with a Bachelors of Science in speech pathology and audiology.

But, you wouldn’t know that listening to her speak about her college experience.

You also wouldn’t know that after checking out her website, where she describes her undergraduate college as “a

SPORTS

commuter college in Texas that cost $50 a semester.” She has described it as such on multiple occasions.

More than her words This is a problem.

Whether she is referring to us as a "small commuter school" to bring some sort of clout to her campaign or because she truly is ashamed of coming to UH, it's an issue. As a student, you should be annoyed by the fact she won't mention UH by name. UH is great.

I could give reasons why UH is great, but I think we all know some.

This does not have to do with Sen. Warren's political stances, nor does it have to do with trying to write some hot take. This is an issue.

I am proud to attend this University. I know a lot of alumni who are proud to have attended this University. My grandmother and grandfather are proud alumni. They always mention they went to UH, and they even went here when it was still called "Cougar High."

We all know UH does not have the history of some other Texas schools, so for some in the older generation, calling UH a "small commuter school" may work. But in reality, Sen. Warren's claims of UH being small are just untrue.

In 1970 — the year she graduated

from UH — enrollment was roughly 22,500. That is nowhere close to small.

And these days, as we all know, UH is anything but small.

Remember your roots If Sen. Warren is calling us a "small commuter school" to try and appeal to lower-income families, why? Seriously. UH does a lot for lower-income students and has done a lot for lowerincome students in the past. UH strives to be an institution that anyone can attend, no matter their background.

Isn't that a message Warren should want?

But, if it's because she doesn't think anyone would know our name, that's just dumb. Right now, the UH men's basketball team is in the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since the '80s — that's phenomenal. Not to mention the host of other alumni who do great things and have proudly defined themselves as UH alumni.

UH is not, nor was it at the time of her graduation, the small commuter school Sen. Warren describes. We are so much more than that, and UH was more than that when she attended.

I would hope if Sen. Warren joins in with other candidates and comes to Houston (like Kamala Harris and Beto O'Rourke), she makes a stop at

Sen. Elizabeth Warren makes her history an important part of her campaign message for President. | Illustration by Cristobella Durrette/The Cougar

UH. Not because of any of her policies, or because we need a candidate on this campus, but because she should remember her roots. UH has churned out a lot of amazing alumni who are changing the world.

worship

Say our name, Sen. Warren.

You know you should.

Opinion Editor Jorden Smith is a political science and creative writing senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

DIRECTORY In the midst of March Madness, let’s revisit paying student-athletes KRISTIN CHBEIR

OPINION COLUMNIST

M

arch Madness is back, and the CBS networks are working overtime to catch every facet of every game, and Zion Williamson.

During this season of joy and heartbreak, the NCAA will be making millions and millions of

dollars. the hottest industries right now. don’t have the NCAA breathing During all this, the players — Coaches, players and sponsors down their necks expecting them the spectacle of March Madness alike are all rolling in money from to follow every rule perfectly.

— get paid in exposure. The the line of work.

Students on scholarships NCAA recently released a video That is, as long as they are not for other reasons get the full entitled “Student and athlete — a a college athlete. ability to market their skills MASS day in the life.” CATHOLIC In that video, theyON CAMPUS Students who attend college as and expand their influence, yet SUNDAYS: paid the actor more than any a future professional athlete do student-athletes are forced to 10:45 AM - Religion Center 6:00 PM - Catholic Center student-athlete has ever WEEKDAYS: been not receive compensation. Most stay in their lane and work within Tuesday—Friday 12:00 Noon athletes practice for 30 paid. college the arbitrary system provided CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER Confession: Before or After The players are not the ones toMasses 40 hours a week, sometimes to them. There is no way for a getting the benefits of the multimore, excluding time spent in student-athlete to grow outside Sunday Bible Class million dollar television deal class. Tie in homework, time to of the university unless they want or the millions in merchandise relax and — get this — a partto be hit with a violation from the sales. The players are just playing time job so they have money shadowy NCAA. the sport, the very sport they for themselves, and you’ve got a spent years perfecting, bleeding pretty packed schedule.

Endorsement deals and struggling for. And yet, they By comparison, music majors To put it into perspective, head are expendable. with scholarships have total coaches for college teams make freedomINtoADVERTISING play in locations millions each season. Not to IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN WORSHIP DIRECTORY, No room to grow CONTACT A SALES outside of their university to mention, while student-athletes REPRESENTATIVE AT 713-743-5356 Sports, inarguably, is one of make extra money. Music majors are not officially professionals

yet, that does not take away from the fact that these individuals are still performing the same tasks as their professional counterparts.

There’s still intense physical contact and even life-impending injuries.

Students should at least be compensated for the risk.

Likewise, imagine the advantage for both the students and the university if students could sign endorsement deals with the likes of Nike, Gatorade and any other sports-related firm.

Yet there are still those who argue students should keep their non-profit footing so they can learn effectively. These student-

STUDENT-ATHLETES

Continues on next page

Wednesday, March 27, 2019 | 11

JORDEN SMITH, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

STUDENT-ATHLETES

Continued from previous page EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Jasmine Davis MANAGING EDITOR

Cristobella Durrette

SPORTS EDITOR

Andres Chio

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Vacant

PHOTO EDITOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Corbin Ayres

CAMPUS EDITOR

Jorden Smith

Fiona Legesse Hadrian Barbosa

FEATURES EDITOR

Greg Fails

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Morgan Horst

OPINION EDITOR

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Trenton Whiting, McKenzie Misiaszek, Trevor Nolley, 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

athletes are learning effectively while their head coaches and universities, and not to mention the NCAA, roll in their successes and hard work. All they can earn are scholarships that, more often than not, cover just room, board and tuition.

Players already wear gear sponsored by Nike, Adidas and others. In late February, Duke University freshman forward Zion Williamson lost Nike $1.1 billion in market value by breaking through his shoe early in a game. Think about the absurdity of that: an unpaid college player lost a company more money than some small countries see in a year.

Also, don’t forget, the same companies that can lose billions of dollars because of a broken shoes also rakes in millions of dollars by selling college merchandise. Right now, a Duke basketball jersey costs $120 on the Nike website.

Career-ending injuries Nothing, though, compares to the possibility that every studentathlete faces of a career-ending injury. Every time a studentathlete steps on a field or a court or a pitch, they face the very real possibility that they could never play the sport again. According to the Pro Athlete Law Group, there are 20,718 football injuries a year. Just football injuries.

That doesn’t include the 23 other sports that comprise the NCAA. This speaks nothing of the lifedamaging or life-ending injuries.

There is an unfortunately long list of players whose lives were forever changed because of an accident on the field. There are 841 spinal injuries a year in college football according to the PALG. Spinal injuries aren’t just career-ending, they’re life changing.

Think of how big a deal some sort of pay could help a studentathlete deal with the possibility of never playing their sport again. Of saving for a future where they may not be able to play the sport they’ve worked their whole lives to play.

While the NCAA makes millions on athletes playing for free in college, those athletes face a real risk of an injury ending their career before they can even profit off it.

One-and-Done The top echelon of players in the NCAA have the

OPINION

OPINION@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

opportunity to further their athletic endeavors and play professionally, but there’s a catch. In 2005, the NBA created the “One-and Done” rule that changed the draft eligibility age to 19 years old and required prospects be one-year removed from high school.

This does not force prospects to attend college, but it does highly incentivise them to do so. The athlete’s stock can rise tremendously given the amount of exposure the NCAA receivesut trading exposure for hard cash is no trade at all. High school athletes like Zion Williamson didn’t need the exposure the NCAA has to offer. Thanks to the smart-phone era, many knew who Williamson was before attending Duke, but due to this rule Williamson lost out on a likely first-round selection and the millions of dollars that comes with it.

As mentioned previously, when Williamson broke through his shoe, he suffered a minor knee injury. But if he had torn his Achilles tendon or suffered an ACL tear, his draft stock would have plummeted and the money he could have made would have

713-743-5304

Both the NCAA and major sportswear companies profit off student-athletes.

These student-athletes put their body on the line wearing the gear of multibillion dollar companies, yet they're not paid. | Fiona Legesse/The Cougar

decreased significantly.

There is too much money in sports for the NCAA and the major companies that sponsor the NCAA to not begin to consider paying players. As March Madness continues, as the student-athletes put their bodies on the line, remember that an education will not cover everything these athletes go through.

So, while you watch that gameending shot or the Cinderella Story of the tournament, think of the students on the court. Think of the billion-dollar corporations profiting off every movement, every success, every failure.

Opinion columnist Kristin Chbeir is a psychology senior and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.

worship DIRECTORY

CATHOLIC MASS ON CAMPUS 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 Sunday Bible Class

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

12 | Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg March 27, 2019

ACROSS 1 “Othello” manipulator 5 18 or 21, by law 10 Island near Java 14 Celine of pop 15 Passion 16 Composer Satie 17 Receding tide?

18 Family fights 19 Brand with a swoosh 20 Jeans fabric 22 Trains above Chicago 23 Hit home?

24 In the thick of 26 ___ Tac mints 27 Small taste of wine 28 Jumbled 32 A cow chews it 33 Doubtinvoking question end 35 Reusable bag 36 Straddling 38 Sing like a bird 39 Inflatable pilot in “Airplane!”

40 Together, musically 41 Feels bad for 43 Largest three-letter number 44 Zilch 3/27

46 App with left-swipes 48 “Sprechen ___ Deutsch?”

49 Moved to the runway 50 “Victory is ours!”

53 Dudes 54 Pinball fouls 57 Tucson’s state: Abbr.

58 Post-coup group 60 Deep mud 61 Place 62 Ring-shaped island 63 Handling the task 64 Far from grainy 65 “The Post” star Streep 66 Big truck DOWN 1 Picked from a lineup, briefly 2 Congressional staffer 3 Enter, then quickly exit 4 Like efficient trains 5 Clumsy character 6 Uninhibited one 7 18-year-old, by law 8 Hermes and Hades 9 Triage places, for short 10 Treat kindly 11 Moisturestarved

12 Facebook verb 13 Furniture giant 21 Sushi bar soup 23 Two times three 25 Dessert with gummy worms 26 Gender equality law represented by this puzzle’s diagonals 27 Perform better than 28 In a rebellious way 29 Where to sign 30 Downright 31 Lowly assistant 32 James who was Sonny Corleone 34 Form a lap

37 Like small hail 42 Agitated state 45 “Bargain” receptacle 47 Mars moon 49 Voice above baritone 50 “You were talking to yourself” response 51 Activist Brockovich 52 What “w/” means 53 Sound-off button 55 Cut, as bangs 56 Alienseeking org.

58 Strawberry spread 59 ___ of the above

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

3/26

© 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com

“X-Ray Eyes” by Greg Johnson