FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT GREEN UH thedailycougar.com/calendar 76/63 WED 77/59 76/61 THU THU HIHI 7722 LO 60 the official student newspaper of the university of houston since 1934theofficialstudentnewspaperoftheuniversityofhoustonsince1934 Issue , Volume 75/56/ SAT EVENTS Architecture Lecture - Brad Cloepl, ‘Occupation’ The College of Architecture is having a lecture on ‘Oc- cupation’ by Brad Cloepl in room 150 of the Architecture Theater from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. FRI Daniel Renfrow
Jose Aguilar THE DAILY COUGAR UH’s student leader isn’t just asking you to sign a petition; he’s also taking the fight against the upcoming budget cuts directly to the State Capitol. In a letter dated Feb. 16, Prince Wilson, president of UH’s Student Government Asso- ciation, highlighted the effects budget cuts would have on the UH community. “We are already facing fiscal issues due to the current state of the economy and it is not acceptable for the state to reduce our source of funding,” Wilson said in the letter. “Our tuition will rise dramatically, important courses will be eliminated, student services will be reduced and many more significant factors of our edu- cation will be either completely removed or will face a reduction.” Wilson has also stressed the additional cuts that are unaccounted for in the estimated cuts to financial aid. The House and Senate budgets both pro- pose eliminating the TEXAS Grant program, which helps many first-time students pay for college. UH is expected to lose up to $65 million for the biennium — and this excludes the TEXAS Grant cuts, which account for $19 million per year, Wilson said. “These cuts will affect the majority of our students who are struggling really hard to earn an education in the midst of this tough economic situation,” Wilson said. In response, Wilson invited the commu- nity to sign ‘Texans Against Higher Education Budget Cuts,’ an online petition created for the cause. “It’s crucial that we as students stand together to say ‘no’ to these budget cuts,” he said. On Feb. 2, Wilson took the first of several anticipated trips to Austin for educational ses- sions with representatives from Houston and Harris County. “The SGA will make several trips to Aus- tin in upcoming weeks to meet with state EVENTS Architecture Lecture - Brad Cloepl, ‘Occupation’ The College of Architecture is having a lecture on ‘Oc- cupation’ by Brad Cloepl in room 150 of the Architecture Theater from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free Instructor-Led, Hands-On Computer Training A class introducing Excel 2010 will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in room 110-6 of the Social Work Building. THE DAILY COUGAR THE DAILY COUGAR ® ® the official student newspaper of the university of houston since 1934 the official student newspaper of the university of houston since 1934 Issue , Volume Tuesday February , news line CAMPUS Panel discussion focuses on the struggles of a deaf black woman A panel titled “The Untold Stories of Deaf Black Women” will oc- cur at 3 p.m. on Saturday in room 101 of the Social Work Building. “The deaf community as a whole is often overlooked, ignored and marginalized by society at-large,” said Sharon G. Hill, an adjunct professor in the department of communication sciences and disorders, in a press release. The discussion, sponsored by the American Sign Language Interpreting Program, will feature speakers including Shirley Allen, the president of Houston Black Deaf Advocates, and Michelle Martin, president of the United Methodist Committee for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Travis Coggin at 713-743-4162. — Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar GREEN UH Caught Green Handed event rewards student recycling The Green UH team will give awards for recycling from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. today and tomorrow. “We want to promote and encourage all UH students to recycle,” said Billy Garner, program coordinator for University Services, in a press release. “What better way than to reward them with a $25 gift card?” Coupon codes will be handed to students found recycling. These codes can then be entered online into the drawing. For information about RecycleMania intiative, visit www. uh.edu/recyclemania. — Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar CORRECTIONS Report errors to [email protected]. Corrections will ! ! appear in this space as needed. thedailycougar.com @thedailycougar facebook.com/thedailycougar Read. Recycle. Repeat daily. Cougars en route to C-USA showdown life+arts sports HI HI 7 72 2 LO 60 today WED 76/ 63 THU 77/ 59 THU / / FRI 75/ 56 / SAT 76/ 61 SA SA SA SA T T Got news? E-mail [email protected] or call 713-743-5314 Clean up your (online) social life Cloudy weather — but hey, at least it’s warm FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUT thedailycougar.com/calendar At a special SGA meeting, Tom Ehardt, associate vice president/vice chancellor of finance, discussed the upcoming budget cuts and what they mean for the UH community. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar FINANCIAL AID FAFSA upgrades promise ling ease Daniel Renfrow THE DAILY COUGAR Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is necessary for many students — and with recent improvements, it can be a much easier process. The Department of Education redesigned the 2011-2012 FAFSA and made it easier to use by adding a taxes import option and by eliminat- ing 22 questions and 17 web screens from the online version. Questions about enrollment status and the TEACH Grant have been removed from the new form, and the work-study question has been revised. Izzy G. Anderson, director of scholarship services, grants and fund management, said that the new form would be less intimidating to applicants. “It should take less time for the applicant to submit the initial information,” Anderson said. One of the new features added to the online version of FAFSA is a tool that allows students to import their tax data from the IRS so they do not have to fill it out themselves. This tool has been enhanced in the 2011- 2012 version through expanded eligibility and Spanish language features. Anderson said that this tool could help elimi- nate minor errors. “Many students are not sure how to fill out Tax forms can be directly uploaded from IRS website GREEN UH SGA Pres travels to Austin for UH students Cordero Jennings THE DAILY COUGAR The UH Sustainability Task Force celebrated the success of the Silver STARS award while continuing its efforts to create a greener campus. Earlier this month, the Asso- ciation for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education acknowledged UH’s sustainability initiatives with a Silver STARS mark of Sustainability, Tracking, Assess- ment and Rating System. To be evaluated, the program requires an institution to record and report its efforts to maintain an ecological balance. “Earning a rating in AASHE STARS signifies that sustainability is no longer a project or one initia- tive at the University of Houston,” said Emily Messa, assistant vice president for University Services. “Sustainability is a part of being a Cougar.” The STARS evaluation measures colleges and universities in three principal categories: Education and Research; Operations and Planning; and Administration and Engagement. UH earned a total of 53.64 points, scoring 57.04 percent in Education & Research, 32.95 percent in Opera- tions and 70.93 percent in Planning, Administration and Engagement. Green UH, a student-developed STUDENT GOVERNMENT FAFSA continues on page 3 PETITION continues on page 3 GREEN UH continues on page 3 Recycling pays off, efforts continue
Transcript
Jose AguilarTHE DAILY COUGAR
UH’s student leader isn’t just asking you to sign a petition; he’s also taking the fi ght against the upcoming budget cuts directly to the State Capitol.
In a letter dated Feb. 16, Prince Wilson, president of UH’s Student Government Asso-ciation, highlighted the effects budget cuts would have on the UH community.
“We are already facing fi scal issues due to the current state of the economy and it is not acceptable for the state to reduce our source of funding,” Wilson said in the letter. “Our tuition will rise dramatically, important courses will be
eliminated, student services will be reduced and many more signifi cant factors of our edu-cation will be either completely removed or will face a reduction.”
Wilson has also stressed the additional cuts that are unaccounted for in the estimated cuts to fi nancial aid.
The House and Senate budgets both pro-pose eliminating the TEXAS Grant program, which helps many fi rst-time students pay for college.
UH is expected to lose up to $65 million for the biennium — and this excludes the TEXAS Grant cuts, which account for $19 million per year, Wilson said.
“These cuts will affect the majority of our students who are struggling really hard to
earn an education in the midst of this tough economic situation,” Wilson said.
In response, Wilson invited the commu-nity to sign ‘Texans Against Higher Education Budget Cuts,’ an online petition created for the cause.
“It’s crucial that we as students stand together to say ‘no’ to these budget cuts,” he said.
On Feb. 2, Wilson took the fi rst of several anticipated trips to Austin for educational ses-sions with representatives from Houston and Harris County.
“The SGA will make several trips to Aus-tin in upcoming weeks to meet with state
EVENTSArchitecture Lecture - Brad Cloep! l, ‘Occupation’ The College of Architecture is having a lecture on ‘Oc-cupation’ by Brad Cloep! l in room 150 of the Architecture Theater from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Free Instructor-Led, Hands-On Computer Training A class introducing Excel 2010 will be held from 10 a.m. to noon in room 110-6 of the Social Work Building.
THE DAILY COUGARTHE DAILY COUGAR®®
t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s p a p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s t o n s i n c e 1 9 3 4t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s p a p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s t o n s i n c e 1 9 3 4Issue !!, Volume "#
TuesdayFebruary !!, !"##
newslineCAMPUSPanel discussion focuses on the struggles of a deaf black woman
A panel titled “The Untold Stories of Deaf Black Women” will oc-cur at 3 p.m. on Saturday in room 101 of the Social Work Building.
“The deaf community as a whole is often overlooked, ignored and marginalized by society at-large,” said Sharon G. Hill, an adjunct professor in the department of communication sciences and disorders, in a press release.
The discussion, sponsored by the American Sign Language Interpreting Program, will feature speakers including Shirley Allen, the president of Houston Black Deaf Advocates, and Michelle Martin, president of the United Methodist Committee for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries.
The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Travis Coggin at 713-743-4162.
— Julian Jimenez/The Daily Cougar
GREEN UHCaught Green Handed event rewards student recycling
The Green UH team will give awards for recycling from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. today and tomorrow.
“We want to promote and encourage all UH students to recycle,” said Billy Garner, program coordinator for University Services, in a press release. “What better way than to reward them with a $25 gift card?”
Coupon codes will be handed to students found recycling. These codes can then be entered online into the drawing.
For information about RecycleMania intiative, visit www.uh.edu/recyclemania.
FOR MORE EVENTS, CHECK OUTthedailycougar.com/calendar
At a special SGA meeting, Tom Ehardt, associate vice president/vice chancellor of finance, discussed the upcoming budget cuts and what they mean for the UH community. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
Filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is necessary for many students — and with recent improvements, it can be a much easier process.
The Department of Education redesigned the 2011-2012 FAFSA and made it easier to use by adding a taxes import option and by eliminat-ing 22 questions and 17 web screens from the online version.
Questions about enrollment status and the TEACH Grant have been removed from the new form, and the work-study question has been revised.
Izzy G. Anderson, director of scholarship services, grants and fund management, said that the new form would be less intimidating to applicants.
“It should take less time for the applicant to submit the initial information,” Anderson said.
One of the new features added to the online version of FAFSA is a tool that allows students to import their tax data from the IRS so they do not have to fi ll it out themselves.
This tool has been enhanced in the 2011-2012 version through expanded eligibility and Spanish language features.
Anderson said that this tool could help elimi-nate minor errors.
“Many students are not sure how to fi ll out
Tax forms can be directly uploaded from IRS website
GREEN UH
SGA Pres travels to Austin for UH students
Cordero JenningsTHE DAILY COUGAR
The UH Sustainability Task Force celebrated the success of the Silver STARS award while continuing its efforts to create a greener campus.
Earlier this month, the Asso-ciation for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education acknowledged UH’s sustainability initiatives with a Silver STARS mark of Sustainability, Tracking, Assess-ment and Rating System.
To be evaluated, the program requires an institution to record and report its efforts to maintain an ecological balance.
“Earning a rating in AASHE STARS signifi es that sustainability is no longer a project or one initia-tive at the University of Houston,” said Emily Messa, assistant vice president for University Services. “Sustainability is a part of being a Cougar.”
The STARS evaluation measures colleges and universities in three principal categories: Education and Research; Operations and Planning; and Administration and Engagement.
UH earned a total of 53.64 points, scoring 57.04 percent in Education & Research, 32.95 percent in Opera-tions and 70.93 percent in Planning, Administration and Engagement.
Green UH, a student-developed
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
FAFSA continues on page 3
PETITION continues on page 3
GREEN UH continues on page 3
Recycling pays off, efforts continue
If You Are Required to File an Income Tax Return, (Form 1040NR
or 1040NR EZ) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)* VolunteersAre Available to Assist You!
This free service is available in the Bayou City Room (Room 202),
University Center, 2nd Floor on the following Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm: February 26; March 19, 26; April 2, and 9 (Saturdays only)
How do you schedule an appointment? You will need to go in person to the Bayou City Room to make an appointment. Bring the following: Your passport, Visa, Immigration Documents such as Forms I-20, or DS-2019; Any Forms W-2 and/or 1042-S; Forms 1099, if any; Records of all income and expenses, and
The Houston CPA Society will sponsor this service. Plan to go on February 26 to schedule your appointment. At that time you will be given an appointment to return on one of the dates listed above. Appointments will be made on a first
come, first served basis.
For additional information, please call the International Student and Scholar Services Office at (713)743-5065.
*Houston Asset Building Coalition (HABC) is now responsible for all phases of the VITA Program.
YEARBOOK + SENIOR PORTRAITSTHE TIME IS NOW FOR
GRADS: TAKE YOUR CAP & GOWN PHOTO!
Class of 2011 seniors and yearbook portraits are being photographed FREE ALL WEEK!
The photographer will be available at the following locations from 9am-2pm & 3pm-5pm each day.
RUYOUOT YATAY ALYNNOO UUOOOOOOOO OOOO RRRRYYTTAAAAYYLLNNN UUUOOOO RRRRRO YY OYYN A YYO RROOONNLYLYLY LY ATAAT T YOYOYOOUUUURRRR I RRTTNCW CWAWAAE TT N NNEEWWWWAALLEEHHHHTTNNNNIIII CCCCCCLA EWW CCCCWW C NN WWIINNNN TTHHE E LLLAWLAAW W CCCCEENN RRRRREETTERRTTEERRRR!!!!!!
We’d love to hear
from you.Share your
thoughts, opinions, cheers and jeers with the Cougar and the campus:
2 ! Tuesday, February !!, !"## CRIME LOG The Daily Cougar
ISSUE STAFF
ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters, and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://www.thedailycougar.com. The University seeks to provide equal educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or veteran status, or sexual orientation. The Daily Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The ! rst copy of the Cougar is free; each additional copy is 25 cents.
SUBSCRIPTIONS Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Daily Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015.
NEWS TIPS Direct news tips and story ideas to the News Desk. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail [email protected] or fax (713) 743-5384. A “Submit news item” form is also available online at thedailycougar.com.
COPYRIGHT No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the written consent of the director of the Student Publications Department.
!"Copy editing Bethel Glumac, Reesha Brown!"Production Ben Muths!"Closing editor Jack Wehman
Business Office!"Phone (713) 743-5350!"Fax (713) 743-5384!"Mailing addressRoom 7, UC SatelliteStudent PublicationsUniversity of HoustonHouston, TX 77204-4015
contact us:
crime log
Theft: 1:07 p.m. Feb. 17, Campus Recreation and Wellness Center — A student reported that someone stole his cellular phone. There are no suspects. The incident occurred between 5:30 p.m. and 5:32 p.m.
Tra! c O" ense: 8:42 p.m. Feb 17, Lot 1A RHE — A student reported that someone struck and damaged her vehicle while it was parked in lot 1 A RHE. The striking driver failed to leave the state required information. The incident occurred between 4:30 p.m. 2/12/11 and 7:40 p.m. 2/17/11.
Tra! c O" ense: 4:08 p.m. Feb 16, Lot 12A — A student reported that her vehicle was struck and damaged while it was parked in lot 12 A. The striking driver did not leave any information as required by Texas law. The incident occurred between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. 2/16/11
Assault/Threatens or Offensive Contact: 3:45 p.m. Feb. 16, Welcome Center Parking Garage — A student reported that her ex-boyfriend touched her in an inappropriate manner in the Welcome Center parking garage. The student refused to pursue charges in this case. The incident occurred between 1:30 p.m. and 1:35 p.m. 2/16/11.
Possession of Marijuana: 2:29 p.m. Feb 16, Taub Residence Hall — A student was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and transported to Harris County Jail. The student also received Student Life and Residential Life Referrals. The incident occurred at 2:29 p.m. 2/16/11.
Tra! c O" ense: 1:19 p.m. Feb 16, Welcome Center Parking Garage— A student reported his vehicle was struck and damaged while it was parked in the Welcome Center parking garage. The striking driver
failed to give their information as required by law. The incident occurred between 8:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. 2/16/11.
Tra! c O" ense: 5:51 p.m. Feb. 15, Lot 15D — A student reported that someone struck and damaged his vehicle while it was parked in lot 15 D. The striking driver did not provide the information required by Texas law. The incident occurred between 2:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. 2/15/11.
Tra! c O" ense: 3:28 p.m. Feb 15, Cullen Oaks Garage — A student reported that someone struck and damaged her vehicle while it was parked in the Cullen Oaks parking garage. The striking driver did not provide the information required by Texas law. There are no suspects. The incident occurred between 3 a.m. 2/13/11 and 10 p.m. 2/14/11.
Robbery: 8:03 p.m. Feb. 14, Farish Hall — A student reported that two men robbed him with a knife while in a Farish Hall restroom.
Theft: 3:14 p.m. Feb 13, Moody Towers — A Horizons cafeteria employee reported that someone stole her unattended and unsecured wallet. The wallet and its contents were later recovered and returned to the owner. There are no suspects.
Criminal Trespassing: 12:09 a.m. Feb 13, Cougar Village — A visitor, previously issued a Criminal Trespass warning by UH DPS, was arrested while trying to enter the cafeteria at Moody Towers. The visitor received a Harris County citation, an additional Criminal Trespass warning and was released.
For the complete report and to view past reports, go to www.uh.edu/police/home.html
Have information on these or other incidents of crime on campus? Call 713-743-0600
The following is a partial report of campus crime between Mon., Feb. 14 and Wednesday, Feb. 16. All information is selected from the $ les of the UH Police Department. The information in bold indicates when the event was reported to UHPD and the event’s location. Information or questions regarding the cases below should be directed to UHPD at (713) 743-0600.
Sound like you? These symptoms could be more than just PMS — they can also describe PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder).
Baylor College of Medicine is conducting a clinical study of FDA-approved drugs ,YAZ and YASMIN, to determine
if they are effective in relieving PMDD stress in women ages 13 to 20. Participants will complete a diary in addition to receiving medication in this study.
Females between 13 and 20 experiencing these symptoms and comfortable with tampon use may be able to
participate. Parental consent is required under age 18.
The Daily Cougar NEWS Tuesday, February !!, !"## ! 3
and student-run organization, rec-ognizes this need.
“We are constantly pushing UH to go green and create new initia-tives,” said Courtney Anzalone, Green UH student coordinator. “Last week at Recycle mania we had 1,921 pounds recycled, which is amazing and shows that more students are joining the green initiative.”
Green UH and the Sustainability Task Force will continue to develop a thriving campus sustainability effort, according to Messa.
“Our next steps will be to con-tinue to focus on resource man-agement, as we have always done — recycling, reducing how we use energy, and how we commute.”
legislators, and will fi ght for the future of Texas,” Wilson said. “We have to unite as one voice in the state of Texas and say ‘no’ to these budget cuts.”
During his trip to Austin, Wilson met with state senators Rodney Ellis and John Whitmire.
He also met with the staffs of sena-tors Dan Patrick, Judith Zaffi rini, Steve Ogden and Mario Gallegos.
For more information on the UH budget crisis, visit www.uh.edu/af/budgetbiennialFY12-FY13.htm. To sign the petition, go to SGA’s website at www.uh.edu/sga.
the information about adjusted gross income, or simply make data entry errors,” Anderson said. “Additionally, applicants utilizing this feature will not be required to submit a hard copy tax form to the University if selected for verifi cation.
“This results in a more streamlined verification process, reducing the workload and reducing time spent on each individual application.”
The new version of the online FAFSA has also been streamlined through a single login page and mes-saging that guides applicants through the process.
Gilberto Marmolejo, an unde-clared sophomore, said it took him thirty minutes to complete the old FAFSA, but the new one is much easier to fi ll out.
“I needed help fi lling it out before,” Marmolejo said. “Now it’s a fi ve min-ute process. They have a side tab that guides you through it now.”
Prospective UH student, Laurie
Hill, completed a FAFSA form for the fi rst time last week and agrees that it was an easy process.
“It was really easy and simple,” Hill said. “It only took about five minutes.”
The new version of the online FAFSA also fi lters out questions that do not apply to students and will not affect their eligibility. However, Ander-son believes that this change will not speed up the application process.
“The need to report those data elements have not been changed,” Anderson said. “It is possible that
it could increase the burden of documentation collection down to the school level and subsequently increase the number of corrections that need to be made to the initial application.
“The Department of Education is moving in the right direction,” Anderson said. “But the regulations remain the same and as financial aid administrators, we must remain alert to guarding compliance with all regulations.”
W hile UH sports fans eagerly await updates on the plans for a new football stadium
to replace Robertson and renovate Hofheinz Pavilion, we at the Daily Cougar would like to propose that the athletics department take advantage of the limited time the facilities have.
Both Robertson and Hofheinz could be ideal places for high school football, soccer or basket-ball games. They could also be a fun place to see a concert or other form of entertainment.
Robertson has already proved to be useful, serving as the home for the Houston Dynamo since 2006, and it is transformed into Frontier Fiesta every March.
More events like this on campus could lead to increased student involvement and would give commuter students a reason to consider UH as a destination for something besides classes and studying.
Recently there was a high school basketball game at Hofheinz between Galveston Ball and La Marque on Feb. 12 after the UH game against Tulane. While the Cougars pulled in an announced — and likely exaggerated — atten-dance of 5,134 fans, the high school game was the more popular draw.
Approximately 7,000 fans showed up, but some spectators felt the fi gure was even higher. While UH had to split some of the revenue from the game with Galveston ISD, more arrangements like this could be a successful way to raise funds.
The idea of more fans showing up for a prep game than a UH game is a little unsettling, but if people will come to campus and spend money, why not take advantage of the situation?
When Rice Stadium hosted a playoff game between Katy and Pearland during the 2010 play-offs, a whopping 41,368 people showed up. The 5A state championship between Eueless Trinity and Pearland brought in 43,321 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Texans being adamant about high school sports is nothing new, and UH capitalizing on it would be a positive opportunity.
Venues need more love than just UH games
STAFF EDITORIAL The Sta! Editorial re" ects the opinions of The Daily Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons re" ect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily re" ect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Daily 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 a# liation with the University, including classi$ cation and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to [email protected]; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.
ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements published in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily re" ect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.
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 a# liation with the University, including classi$ cation and major. Commentary should be kept to less than 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies to material already printed in the Cougar, but rather should present independent points of view. Rebuttals should be sent as letters. Deliver submissions to Room 7, University Center Satellite; e-mail them to [email protected]; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
THE DAILY COUGARE D I T O R I A L B O A R DEDITOR IN CHIEF Jack WehmanMANAGING EDITORS Newton Liu, Christopher LoseeNEWS EDITORS Jose Aguilar, Cristi GuerraSPORTS EDITORS John Brannen, Joshua SiegelLIFE & ARTS EDITOR Mary BaakOPINION EDITOR Andrew Taylor
E D I TO R I A L P O L I C I E S
opinion EDITOR Andrew TaylorE-MAIL [email protected] www.thedailycougar.com/opinion
A n alarming amount of children are going through the school system, only to be taught a short-
sighted education. Among the most shortsighted aspects
is science. Recently, the National Research Council conducted a sur-vey that found that nearly 60 percent of high school teachers fail to teach evolution adequately
and in doing so give tacit credence to creationism. More alarmingly, 13 percent of public school biology teachers openly and deliberately promote creationism and denounce evolutionary theory.
This educational shortfall is a result of the contentious debate among educators over science versus faith. While the facts may lean toward evolution, faith still wins out because taking a hard stance against the majority isn’t always easy. Outside of the academic science community, the majority holds faith-based Christian beliefs.
Creationists are steadfastly opposed to evolution, one of the basic tenets of
biological science. Evolution explains the origins and development of life at both the molecular and macroscopic level and is supported by a preponderance of evidence that includes fossil records.
Creationists are inherently against sci-entifi c discourse and suppress legitimate forms of thought and understanding. Despite this, teachers are reluctant to pro-mote evolution out of fear of controversy.
As a scientifi c theory, evolution can only be challenged by another scientifi c theory. Since no other credible alternative exists, creationists have invented a fi ctive explanation based on religion in a poor attempt to explain how life exists today. It is centered on the notion that only a higher power can account for the forma-tion of life and the diversity of species on Earth. Only through deception do creationists try to pass off their beliefs as evidence-based.
Schools must address this issue by dismissing those teachers that advocate religion over science, and ensuring that those remaining are adequately prepared to teach evolution. In addition, it would
serve the students well if teachers derided creationism as being intellectually lazy, unscientifi c and detrimental to genuine learning.
Students should not be held hostage by Christian extremists simply out of reluctance to confront a blatant example of religious subterfuge.
At their worst, Christian extremists or creationists promote bigotry and igno-rance, stifl e intellectual development and advocate dogma over reason. However, we accommodate them at our own peril.
In order for the US to remain an intel-lectual leader in the world, such deference must end.
If we value our ability to think critically and form evidence-based beliefs, we must stand up to these religious ideologues and refute their unscientifi c doctrines. Otherwise, America risks becoming a fun-damentalist state where facts are replaced with faith.
Marc Anderson is a cell biology graduate student and may be reached at [email protected].
This is a conversation that I over-heard the other day while walking through one of the science build-
ings last week.“This beer is going to
have to be perfect if we want to get the highest grade on the mid term.”
“Yeah, one of the other classes has a pale ale that is supposed to
be ridiculously good.”Okay, I made that conversation up,
but could you imagine if it were real? The students at Appalachian State
University may not be too far away from hearing their student peers discuss similar matters.
A new honors course has been added to the University’s chemistry program.
The course is called intro to beer brew-ing, according to an NPR report.
According to the report by Steve Inskeep, when the professor came up with the idea “his department chair and other faculty members didn’t think he was seri-ous. You can’t be serious. Teaching college kids how to make their own beer?”
The professors, department chair and fellow professors uncertainty was soon quelled by the amount of interest from students. Since then there has been talk of beer brewing developing into an actual major, and even the possibility for a campus brewery.
Think about that. In addition to the Den, UH could have its own brewery. You could certainly fi nd me there — maybe even in the process of getting a second degree — supporting the students and
tasting the school spirit.With the growing interest in craft beer
and the already evident popularity of beer among college students, this may be a brilliant idea. Students could learn an applied view of science, responsible drinking and a popular science that could have great business potential. Additional classes could include beer economics.
Appalachian State University offi cials are now looking into acquiring the federal and state licenses to sell beer, according to the NPR report. Cheers to the professors and school offi cials of Appalachian State, who see the prover-bial glass full of opportunities and beer.
Andrew Taylor is an economics senior and may be reached at [email protected].
Creationism hinders intellectualism
Beer class leaves student interest brewing
AndrewTaylor
SOMEONE ALWAYS GETS THEIR WAY Courtesy of USBICEF
MarcAnderson
8
13
6
10
15
2
13
6
APRIL 4
1111
14
3
777
AAAPPRPRIL 2-444
WIN PRIZES. TALK SMACK.
111666
11SIGN UP TODAY: thedailycougar.com/bracketchallenge
Sign up and play our March Madness Bracket Challenge. If you don’t, you’re a wuss. That’s right, we said it.
The Daily Cougar Tuesday, February !!, !"## ! 5
sports EDITORS John Brannen, Joshua SiegelE-MAIL [email protected] www.thedailycougar.com/sports
overtime
BASEBALLJensen nabs o! ensive award
Shortstop Chase Jensen is just one of the new faces in the Cougars’ (3-0) clubhouse making an impact in the young season.
After clobbering UTA pitching to the tune of a .600 batting average (nine-for-15) to go with four runs scored and ! ve RBI, Jensen’s performance earned him the title of Conference USA Hitter of the Week.
Jensen will look to lead the Cougars to their fourth straight victory at 6:30 p.m. tonight against Stephen F. Austin at Cougar Field.
Freshman right-hander Chase Wellbrock will make his UH debut as he takes the hill against the Lumberjacks.
SFA (2-2) comes into the game with a .500 record after split-ting four games with Arkansas-Little Rock over the weekend.
The schedule will resume this weekend when the Cougars host Southern Miss. for a three-game series at Cougar Field.
— Cougar Sports Services
SOFTBALLPitcher honored for standout weekend
In two appearances this weekend senior Amanda Crabtree had her first career no-hitter, allowed no runs and three hits, earning her the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week award.
Crabtree improved to 4-0 on the year. Crabtree struck out 11 batters in both of her appearances.
The senior pitcher has 46 strikeouts for the season and an ERA of .052.
Bailey Watts was the last UH pitcher to win the award on April 12, 2010.
The Cougars (8-1) will play a double-header at 4 p.m. tomorrow at Sam Houston State in Huntsville. The Bearkats are 5-8 after a 5-4 loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Sunday.
— Cougar Sports Services
CONFERENCE USA BASKETBALLUCF upsets Miners
In the past week UTEP was in ! rst place in Conference USA, lost the top spot, then regained it — only to fumble it again.
UCF pulled away to win 74-68 over the Miners on Monday at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso. UTEP (20-7, 8-4 C-USA) fell to third in the conference standings, tied with Memphis and Tulsa.
Southern Miss. (20-6, 9-4) and UAB (19-7, 9-4) are tied for ! rst place.
— Cougar Sports Services
AARON CISNEROS/THE DAILY COUGAR
MEN’S BASKETBALL
UH tries to keep up with TigersJesus AcevedoTHE DAILY COUGAR
Consistency, turnovers and defensive lapses are what worry head coach James Dickey going into today’s matchup against Memphis.
The Cougars (12-13, 4-8 Conference USA) will travel to take on Memphis (20-7, 8-4), and are looking to end their two-game losing streak.
“We have got to play more consistently,” Dickey said. “Defensively, we have to quit giving easy baskets and make people earn them. We didn’t do that against SMU or UTEP.”
The Tigers’ fast pace is another of Dickey’s concerns.
“Transition defense and one-on-one containment is going to be key, as well as not giving easy baskets in the transition or in the half court,” Dickey said.
The Tigers are a young team led by leading scorer freshman Will Barton. His 13.2 points per game are also the second- best mark for a freshman in C-USA.
The Cougars have lost seven of their last eight games, and Dickey has consid-ered making changes to his rotation to fi nd a combination that works.
“We think about making changes everyday and we’re going to continue to look at that,” Dickey said. “We’ve talked about changing our defense as well.”
Senior Adam Brown said he has to hold himself accountable before he can hold his teammates accountable.
“You can’t talk about others doing something without you doing it yourself,” Brown said.
“I just got to go out there and lead by example and if it means that I need to yell at some players or whatever I need to do
Diver’s goals go beyond conference Lance Jaramillo THE DAILY COUGAR
Lacey Truelove isn’t satisfied with being a two-time first team All-American or being named Conference USA Plat-form Diving champion twice.
The London, Ontario, native has attained a number of achievements since coming to the University four years ago, but has an insatiable appetite for bigger rewards.
“I’m looking forward to the NCAA Championships this March where I am really going for the win on the 10-meter platform,” Truelove said. “This is the first time that I truly believe it is within my grasp, and I am hungry for it.”
After competing in the NCAAs, True-love will continue working toward her ultimate goal.
“Ever since I was three years old, I knew I wanted to go to the Olympics,” Truelove said. “A year and a bit from now
I am hoping to step foot in London.”Truelove has posted personal bests
in all of her events. She dives off the one and three-meter springboards, as well as the 10-meter platform.
Inspiration and a blueprint for reach-ing the Olympics are not hard to find.
Truelove turns to her roommate, Anastasia Pozdnia-kova, silver medalist in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, for motiva-tion. Pozdniakova also won the one and three-meter NCAA championship while at UH in 2009.
“I have had the privilege of diving
with her for the past four years that I have been here in Houston,” Truelove said.
“She is so motivating and inspira-tional. She’s a humble individual who
would go to the moon to help me out with my diving. She makes it look so easy. I aspire to be as beautiful as she is in the water.”
Truelove balances her sport and academics with the support of the UH diving coaches, led by eight-time Confer-ence USA Diving Coach of the Year Jane Figueiredo. Truelove said Figueiredo always keeps her and her teammates in check and makes sure they have a smile on their faces.
“Not only is she the best of the best in terms of coaching diving, she is the most outstanding individual I have ever met,” Truelove said. “There is never a dull moment with Jane; she is a strong believer in positivity and it shows in her daily life.”
Truelove and the Cougars are preparing to host the Conference USA Championships at the CRWC Natatorium from Wednesday through Saturday.
The road has been a nightmare for senior forward Maurice McNeil and the Cougars, who have won just two of 11 contests played away from Hofheinz Pavilion. The last time UH notched a win on the road was six weeks ago against SMU. | Courtesy of Je! Taylor/Minerillustrated.com
Lacey Truelove"!
hopes to compete in the 2012 Olym-pics in London.
classifieds jobs, housing, services & more !"#-!$#-%#%& classi'[email protected] thedailycougar.com/classi'eds
HELP WANTEDHELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTED HELP WANTEDBULLETIN BOARD
YOUR SOURCE FOR JOBS, APARTMENTS and MORE THE DAILY COUGAR® classifieds
O! campus? Online. Ó Get more Classi!eds daily at thedailycougar.com/classi!eds
THE DAILY COUGAR®
classifieds
Find a place to live — and a job to pay the rent.
Egg Donors Needed. Ages 21-32. Earn $5,000+, High demand for Asians.
individuals who have the desire to change the lives of children & their families living with autism. Great experience for individuals
with Psychology, Social Work, Education and Speech
communication majors. Contact KJ Whitman at 281-894-1423
or spectrumofhope.com
In the heart of downtown Houston
is currently seeking individuals for the following positions:
Front Desk Agent
Housekeeping Supervisor
AM Restaurant Server
All posit ions require proof of work el igibi l i ty upon hire date. Magnolia
Houston performs criminal background checks and is a drug free workplace.
Apply in person at 1100 Texas Avenue. HR hours: Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, from 11am to 1pm. Email resume to [email protected] or applications can also be f i l led out
onl ine. AA/EOE
RENTALS
MONTESSORI SCHOOL in Museum district. Looking for Subs/Assts. Flex hrs. Excellent for child dev, Education or Psy majors! Call 713-520-0738
*STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM* PAID survey takers needed in Houston. 100 percent FREE to join! Click on Surveys.
FIND YOUR NEXT JOB. Read The Daily Cougar classifieds every day — in print or online.
Nicely furnished bedroom in Alief/ Mission Bend. Cable, private bath. $450-500 monthly. For details call Mary (281)498-2418
HELP WANTED FIND YOUR NEXT BACHELOR PAD. Read The Daily Cougar Classifieds.
FULL TIME CARETAKER NEEDEDFemale needed to assist partially disabled wife during the day/early evening and weekends. Days off to be arranged. Must be able to assist with showering, dressing, driving to store, moving from
wheelchair to seat etc.Galleria area apartment.
Call Brian 713 298 8783
SELL YOUR STUFF. Buy a Classified ad and reach thousands of potential buyers in the UH community.
6 ! Tuesday, February !!, !"## LIFE&ARTS The Daily Cougar
RESTAURANTS
Middle Eastern gem hidden in BellaireJorge PorrasTHE DAILY COUGAR
Droubi’s is a bakery, grocery store and restaurant located in Southwest Houston at 7333 Hill-croft between a used car dealership and a ratty-looking strip of shops. Some look at this setting and think they must be in the wrong part of town, while others see character.
Though the decor is not much to look at, the cultural experi-ence Droubi’s offers is what is attractive.
From the fresh-baked Middle Eastern pastries, the isles of groceries of dried spices, to the wall of hookah pipes, the culture is what decorates.
As for the food, it is never disappointing, with a menu full of roasted lamb shanks, kibbeh in yogurt sauce, roasted eggplant and turmeric rubbed potatoes — not to mention the chicken, lamb and beef shawarmas.
I have to go for the kibbeh every time I see it there. A kibbeh is a Lebanese meatball with shell of ground beef and bulgar wheat, which is then filled with seasoned lamb and pine nuts, then covered with a dill and yogurt sauce called Taziki. Stuffing meat with more meat is a practice I am happy to see thriving to this day.
If kibbeh is not your thing, there is always a falafel sandwich, a glob of chickpeas and veggie
puree formed into a patty then thrown into hot oil and fried. The outside turns to golden, crunchy perfection, yet leaving the inside moist and soft. It’s usually served with tomatoes, onions and tahini, a roasted sesame seed sauce. I could become a full-on vegetarian as long as I am within walking distance of a good falafel.
The roasted lamb shank at Droubi’s is the way all lamb shanks should be cooked, requir-ing only a fork to peel off the strands of meat that have been simmering with a kick of cumin in their own juices.
To finish off the meal you should find your way over to the pastry display where there are racks of various kinds of cook-ies, baklava, and other sweets. The classic baklava is a chunky paste of pistachios or some other nuts mixed with honey and sandwiched in-between flaky and crisp filo dough — almost like a Mediterranean peanut butter sandwich.
Truly a great place to go for lunch or an early dinner and just grab something to take home and eat later.
The only shortcoming of Droubi’s is that there is no food truck selling this stuff just outside of my favorite bar so I can grab a beef shawarma or falafel for the road.
You might be right, but there’s only way to prove it. Join The Daily Cougar sta! today. We o!er paid positions for reporters, photographers, columnists and editors. For more information, e-mail
a FREE 16gb Apple iPad — surely the year’s hottest
tech toy. More importantly, you’ll be investing in a
keepsake you’ll cherish for a lifetime: your college
memories encapsulated in the Houstonian Yearbook.
Learn more about the yearbook and our iPad giveaway @
You heard right.
The Daily Cougar COMICS & MORE Tuesday, February !!, !"## ! 7
crosswordcomics
sudokuHow to play Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3-by-3 boxes must also contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Robbie + Bobby by Jason Poland
Chili Fingers by Nam Nguyen
ACROSS 1 “I, —” (rock autobio) 5 Turnpike
rumblers 10 Aim toward 14 Rainbow
goddess 15 Piece of lumber 16 Stage award 17 Crooked 18 Designer Nina 19 Manner 20 Vim and vigor 22 Inveterate 24 Pine secretion 25 Forceful removal 26 Oater showdown 28 Like a melon 32 “Hey —”
G O A L E L L D A L EO L L A S O R E O I B E XW E A R Y N O D S S A T EN OW A D A Y S T A C T I C
N I X S T S E N SA R C H E R A L I A SD E L A Y C L A M P I N GD A I S S H O N E R E A LR O T A T I N G S E R G E
A B O V E P A N D A SM A D B C E H A SA N O R A K M A C H I N E SS I Z E C L E F A G A P EO M E N A I N T Y E M E NN A R D R V S T E E D
Coupons and specials every Tuesday in The Daily Cougar!Coupons and specials every
FREE BONELESS WINGS
5 FREEwith any Wing purchase on
your next visit to this Wingstop:8326 Broadway St., Broadway
Belfort Center, Houston, TX 77061 (713) 847-9464
10 FREEwith purchase of any Family
Pack on your next visit to this Wingstop:
712 Gulfgate Center, Gulfgate Shopping Center, Houston, TX 77087
(713) 643-9464
FR
One coupon per guest, per visit. Valid only on future visit. Coupons may not be combined. Valid at participating Wingstop Restaurants thru 03/31/11.
WWW.UH.EDU/RECREATION7 1 3 - 7 4 3 - 7 5 2 9
Outdoor Adventure
Trip ScheduleSaturday, February 26 Farmer’s Market Bike Tour -- $10/$15Explore Houston’s historic neighborhoods as we bike to several Farmer’s Markets and relax at Discovery Green.Friday, March 4 – 6 Climbing and Bouldering at Enchanted Rock -- $80/$90 (Mandatory Meeting 3/1 @ 5pm)Join us for a weekend of climbing, bouldering, hiking, and caving in Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.
Saturday, March 12 – 18 Spring Break National Parks Tour-- $210/$230 (Mandatory Meeting 3/8 @ 5pm)Spend spring break exploring Carlsbad Caverns, climbing Texas’s highest peak, sledding down the Monohans sand dunes, and swimming in Balmorhea.
Saturday, March 26 – 27 Huntsville Trail Bike Ride -- $50/$60 (Mandatory Meeting 3/22 @ 5pm) Hop on a bike and cruise around Huntsville state park for a weekend of cycling and relaxing by the lake.
For more information contact Caleb Wells at (713) 743-0808 or stop by CRWC Room 1007.
Intramural Sports
Sport Entry Deadline
Softball 2/21Golf 2/21
Badminton 2/28Dodgeball 3/73 Pt. /Dunk 3/7
SandVolleyball 3/21For additional information, please contact IM Sports
at 713-743-8041 or visit the website www.uh.edu/recreation
Adult & Youth Swim Lessonsbegin March 2nd - 30th
CRWC Members: $35/45Non-Members: $45-55
Lifeguarding TrainingApril 23 and 30; May 7 and 14
Masters Swim Who: Adults 18+ (all skill levels!)
Where: CRWC NatatoriumWhen: Monday - Friday
6:00am-7:15am and 11:45am- 1:00pmCost: Students $35/month,
Member $40/ month, Non-Member $45/month plus $150 annual joining fee
For class times information, visit our webpage at www.uh.edu/recreation
Joe Woodson at 713-743-9509
Aquatics & Safety
8 ! Tuesday, February !!, !"## LIFE&ARTS The Daily Cougar
Join the conversation.
Comment on any article at thedailycougar.com
Mary BaakTHE DAILY COUGAR
In the age of technology, social networking has long been a source of entertainment and, of course, distraction — especially for college students.
With all the photos, wall posts and tweets posted on different websites, it’s easy for inappropriate material to show up on students’ profi les. Where people go wrong is in thinking that only their friends can view the content they post.
Now more than ever, employers have started looking through appli-cants’ profi les, which has cost a few qualifi ed candidates jobs.
What some mistake as a harmless photo or comment can actually hurt a person’s reputation as a responsible, well-rounded
employee. For this reason, Priyan-shu Harshavat and UH alumnus Hassan Gurshi founded socioclean.com in October of last year.
This website is geared toward college students who are close to graduating and beginning the after-graduation job search.
The service allows users to scan their profi les for 5,000 pre-defi ned words that could be considered inappropriate or even incriminating to onlookers.
“It doesn’t matter how tight your security settings are,” co-founder Hassan Gurshi said. “No one wants to admit it, but Facebook stalking is probably the No. 1 activity in the world.”
What sets socioclean.com apart from other services is that it is self-governing and completely free. It scans through your profi le
and provides links to inappropriate words, but it is entirely up to the user to delete the content. Users are also allowed to adjust words on the list, which provides real-time results.
After the search is complete, it shows the user a detailed report of all the material that has the potential to ruin your social reputa-tion — complete with pie charts and graphs that show you different catagories of offensive data.
Before you start your job search, it would behoove you to make sure your social networking sites won’t give you a bad reputation.
“Facebook and other social net-working websites are often the fi rst impression,” Gurshi said. “In some cases, they can also be the last.”
As reports of people losing jobs because of social media websites surface, having a clean social networking pro! le is becoming increas-ingly important. Socioclean.com provides clients with the tools necessary to protect your reputation. | Mary Baak/The Daily Cougar
