THE DAILY COUGAR DiverseWorks to showcase ‘Mind’ over matter /LIFE & ARTS
Golden Eagles sink talons into Women’s Basketball /SPORTS
Friday, January 23, 2009
Issue 77, Volume 74
TODAY’S WEATHER
3-day forecast, Page 2
Hi 77 Lo 60 www.thedailycougar.com
BP donates buggy University of Houston has served as a prime pool for petroleum professionals By Holly Prevost The Daily Cougar
TONY NGUYEN THE DAILY COUGAR
Khator’s solar-utility vehicle, which she received from BP at Thursday’s basketball game, will be showcased as she drives it across campus.
BP America presented University of Houston President and UH Systems Chancellor Renu Khator with a “solar utility vehicle” and a $300,000 donation at halftime of the men’s basketball game on Wednesday in Hofheinz pavilion. The donation is part of BP’s initiative to contribute to student research. “Funding programs to get students involved and interested in energy science is important,” said Gabe Cuadra, BP manager of compliance and UH alumni. The funds will be disbursed among the Cullen College of Engineering, the College of Natural
Sciences and Mathematics and the Bauer College of Business. It will also be used to recruit and retain students with diverse research interests, attract National Merit scholars and support an internship program. “The University is a big source of recruiting for us,” Cuadra said. “We recruit almost 30 students a year and feel it is important to get students involved in energy research as early as their freshman year.” Cuadra presented the check to Khator along with two other UH alumni — BP chief commercial officer of power Gerald Balboa and BP compliance manager Lizzie Nguyen. The solar utility vehicle, which Khator will use to cruise the
campus, was placed on display in Hofheinz Pavilion during the game. The four-passenger all-terrain buggy is equipped with two electric motors with 30 horsepower and more than 170 foot-pounds of torque. It is one of the most powerful all-terrain vehicles available and includes four-wheel drive and a capacity of up to 880 pounds as well as a photovoltaic solar panel that augments the vehicle’s battery system. “BP is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world,” Cuadra said. “We are committed to protecting the environment.” BP’s contributions have gone to energy-related programs at UH for more than 30 years allowing it to become the most diverse research university in the country. see BP BP, page 3
UHD renamed to quell confusion By Jasmine Harrison The Daily Cougar
being the necessity of distinguishing itself from the University of Houston’s main campus. In an effort to distinguish itself “UHD is a separate university from other UH System branches, with its own budget, admission UH-Downtown administrators have requirements, degree programs and officially decided the university will tuition-and-fee structure.” undergo a name change, despite The similarity between the facing opposition from students and names of the two schools has led to faculty. confusion when it comes to potential “It helps when you’re able to donors. Those who mistakenly distinguish yourself to donors associate UHD for the main campus because they give to people and branch think that by giving to UH, things they’re interested in,” said Sue they are also benefiting UHD. Davis, executive director of public “When we go to foundations, affairs for UHD. we hear ‘we’ve already given’” Davis The Systems Board of Regents said. “But they gave to the University passed a resolution on Dec. 16 that of Houston and don’t realize there’s requested UHD’s name be changed. a separate organization they could The issue has come before the consider donating to.” board before, Mix-ups also but was always occur when set aside in lieu “It helps when you’re able students apply of more pressing to distinguish yourself to for admission. business. UHD said some donors because they give to Davis President Max students think Castillo has people and things they’re that admission lobbied to to the University interested in.” rename the of Houston — Sue Davis, UHD executive diretcor of D o w n t o w n university since public affairs means they will the beginning of his presidency, also be able to which is now in its fifth and final attend the University of Houston year. main campus. “There was a different leadership “Some people think it is a location and chancellor at the time,” Davis where University of Houston main said. “But it’s something (Castillo) campus conducts classes,” Davis has thought about many times, and said. “The Board of Regents realized now since he’s getting ready to retire the confusion creates difficulties for it’s something he wanted to address students.” again.” UHD officials think this Though Castillo will be stepping confusion keeps UHD from receiving down from his administrative the benefits and recognition for position, Davis said that the achievements of its faculty, staff and president plans to remain involved students. with UHD affairs. However, not everyone is on The UHD Web site lists reasons board with the name change. for name change, the first of which see UHD UHD, page 3
JONATHAN TRAN THE DAILY COUGAR
Candidates for UH-Downtown’s new name include Seguin State University, Texas Gulf Coast State University and University of South Texas.
Auditions open for Greek classic The Honors College translates tragedy through modern dance By Gordon Furneaux The Daily Cougar The Center for Creative Works in The Honors College is holding auditions for its debut production of The Children of Herakles Saturday in The Honors Collge Commons. The play interprets Euripides’ ancient tragedy about the plight of the displaced offspring of d e m i - g o d , g g Harvey Herakles for the modern audience. Rarely performed on stage, the play will be choreographed by Katelyn Halpern, who looks to reinvent the tragedy into a work of
motion and intrigue. “It’s nothing like trying to create new choreography for something like Chicago, which everyone has seen. I’ve got a real advantage in the freshness of this show, and I’m looking forward to creating an original choreographic score,” Halpern said. Seventeen available positions are open to all students and faculty who wish to audition. Those with a background in dance are encouraged to try out, as the performance will be choreographed-dance intensive. “I’ll be creating contemporary movement, so that the show will look like a hybrid between a play and a dance concert,” Halpern said. Sharing casting duties with Halpern will be Artist in Residence at The Honors College, John
Harvey, who along with associate professor of modern and classical languages Richard Armstrong, translated the version of the text that Halpern will direct. Harvey is a well-known decorated poet and playwright in Houston and co-founder of Mildred’s Umbrella, an experimental theater company known for its ability to shock an audience and stretch a dollar. In composing the new translation of The Children of Herakles, Harvey said he and Armstrong went to lengths to ensure they did not dilute the story. “Our translations embrace the strengths of poetry in the English language while relying upon the nuances of the original Greek and the grounding pulse of choral movement,” Harvey said. see AUDITIONS AUDITIONS, page 3