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Agora opens its doors once again
Our team wins, so why does no one go?
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t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s to n s i n c e 1 9 3 4
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STUDENTS
Team members take first in national competition The UH Forensic team won first place overall at The Great Salt Lake National Tournament earlier this month. UH student Lee Arnold was named the most outstanding competitor out of over 300 students competing. Team members Tanreka Smith, Edwin Hoff and Alex Lacamu also won first place awards in their categories. Some of the other teams at the competition included UCLA, the University of Colorado, Pepperdine, U.S. Air Force Academy and the University of Wyoming. The Forensic Society is a student-fee funded organization that travels around the country for national speech and debate tournaments. Team members participate in a variety of individual and group categories. The society also hosts tournaments on campus and at other locations for students of middle school, high school and collegiate level. To find out more about the organization, contact Mike Fain at drmikefain@aol.com.
COMMUNITY
UH professor to speak today on race at local public libarary UH professor and author Tyrone Tillery will present “What would King say about race in America today?” at a forum celebrating the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The forum, sponsored by UH and the Houston Public Library, will take place today from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Smith Neighborhood Library, located at 3624 Scott St. Tillery is the author of “Claude McKay: A Black Poet’s Struggle for Identity,” which received a book of note award from the New York Times. For information, visit www.houstonlibrary.org/mlk-day
today
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ON CAMPUS IT Training on Spreadsheets - A free class for students and faculty introducing data manipulation in Microsoft Excel will take place in the Social Work Building in room 110-L. The class will be held from 10 a.m. to noon. IT Training on Adobe Photoshop - A free class for students and faculty introducing intermediate Photoshop CS5 skills will take place in the Social Work Building in room 110-L. The class will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.
CORRECTIONS J
In Tuesday’s story “Cut salaries, not student programs,” we reported Salvador J. Loria’s salary incorrectly. Loria makes $180,000 a year, not $395,199.16. He was on contract with the University for PeopleSoft implementation when he earned $395,199.16.
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Issue 75, Volume 76
Wednesday ®
January 19, 2011
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Coogs still seeking cards Despite acts of Congress, students still eager to spend, play with credit Jourdan Vian
THE DAILY COUGAR A recent survey by a UH professor found that almost half of 300 freshman, polled in November, had credit cards issued in their name. The survey, released earlier this month, was conducted by Jim Hawkins, an assistant professor at the UH Law Center. Aiming to curtail the number of students going into debt, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act in 2009.
However, by the end of the The survey found that 64 percent Fall 2010 semester, the survey of the students polled planned to found that 49 percent of freshpay their own debt while 21 percent men at UH had a credit card. of students believe someone else will “The act should make it pay it for them. harder for people under 21 “My survey found that some peoto get credit cards,” Hawkins ple are using cosigners and some are said, “because it requires using income/assets from a variety someone under 21 to either J Jim Hawkins of sources to apply for credit cards,” have a cosigner or have an Law Center asHawkins said. ‘independent means of repay- sistant professor According to Hawkins’ survey, 29 ing any obligation arising from | Courtesy UH.EDU percent of students counted student the proposed extension of loan proceeds as income when applycredit.’” ing for credit cards. The act also forbids credit card compa“The Act, and the regulations promulnies from mailing pre-approval offers to gated to implement it, allow credit card anyone under 25 or offering tangible gifts to companies to consider a student’s assets,” students on college campuses in exchange for signing up for a credit card with them. CREDIT continues on page 3
AWARDS
$5 million to assist graduates, training Philanthropic donation aims to improve both UH standing, Houston Darlene Campos
THE DAILY COUGAR A $5 million grant is primed to impact the success of UH graduate students, which is an important step in fulfilling the University’s Tier One aspirations. The grant, provided by Houston Endowment Inc., will be spread among departments across campus. “The recruitment, retention and success of graduate students is a major priority for our department and for the University as a whole,” Biology and Biochemistry program director Dan Wells said. Graduates, Wells said, become leaders in their respective fields and also go on to guide and enhance the social, cultural and scientific fabrics of Houston. “Their vital role in our knowledgable society is a key reason why the generosity of the Houston Endowment is so meaningful,” Wells said. Wells, who currently has 95 graduate students in his program, is looking forward to the help the money will provide in retaining strong graduate students. “We desperately need more money to train Ph.D students. We have the GRANT continues on page 2
The UH Law Center was ranked 22nd nationally for the number of law degrees it awarded to Hispanic students. In 2009, 10 percent of graduating law students identified as Hispanic. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar
STUDENTS
Center recognized for diversity Efforts to reflect community, attract higher number of Hispanics pay off Lauren Mathis
THE DAILY COUGAR The UH Law Center was ranked 22nd nationally for the total number of law degrees conferred on Hispanic students in 2009, according to a study by the Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. “The UH Law Center is pleased to be recognized as a top school for educating Hispanic students,” Jamie West Dillon, director of law school admissions, said. “We strive to recruit a diverse student body with excellent credentials.” Of 341 degrees granted at the UH Law Center, 10 percent were awarded to Hispanics. “Our school tends to reflect more the community, and there are a lot of Hispanics
in Houston,” Dillon said. “With that being said, we have quite a few Hispanics in our school.” Research by the Law School Admission Council found a 30 percent increase in Hispanic law students since 2000. “Evidently, the reason we have such an increase in Hispanic students at the law center, has to do with the fact that we have made all sorts of efforts to attract Hispanic, along with black, students,” Raymond Nimmer, dean for the law center, said. “And that effort has been successful.” The admissions office attracts Hispanic students to apply through recruiting and campus visits. “Our office does recruiting at Hispanicserving universities across Texas, we invite high-performing Hispanic (and other) prospective applicants to apply to our school and provide fee waivers,” Dillon said. “We also reach out to accepted applicants, LAW continues on page 2