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
THE DAILY COUGAR
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New York City Mayor’s ban on large soft drinks won’t work
Festival draws 95 talented musicians to UH
June 6, 2012 Issue 115, Volume 77
TIER ONE
UH to be awarded state research funds University grows closer to coveted Tier One status Max Gardner
THE DAILY COUGAR
Access to the National Research University Fund is granted to universities that have proven themselves as emerging research institutions. This accomplishment helps further the university toward Tier One status. | Hendrick Rosemond/The Daily Cougar
The State Auditor’s Office announced May 25 that the University of Houston is one of two schools to meet the state’s requirements to gain access to the National Research University Fund. “The mandatory review by the state auditor’s office is complete, and we are on the verge of accessing additional state money from the National Research University Fund,” said UH President Renu Khator in an email. The NRUF was established in November 2009 under HB 51 as a replacement for the Higher
Education Fund. Its purpose is to encourage state universities to dictate a stronger focus on research and, ultimately, to create more designated Tier One universities within the state, according to the official document. The bill requires that a university achieve four of six set benchmarks as well as have a minimum annual research expenditure of $45 million in order to become eligible for the award money. With a yearly research expenditure of $55 million and four of the required benchmarks achieved, UH is one of two schools out of six total competitors to meet the necessary requirements this year. “I want our university and our
I want our university and our city to be nationally and globally competitive, and this money will help us fullfill that committment.” Renu Khator, on receiving the award money city to be nationally and globally competitive, and this money will help us fulfill that commitment,” Khator said. While there is no confirmation yet of the amount that will be STATE FUNDS continues on page 3
SGA
Senate bill aims to update system of governing bylaws Max Gardner
THE DAILY COUGAR The Student Government Association Senate will introduce and have the first reading of a bill to reform the organization’s bylaws in their fifth meeting 7:30 p.m. today in the Rockwell Pavilion of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library. The proposed SGA Governance, Accountability, and Integrity Reform Act of 2012 states that the current bylaws are outdated and have contradictory and redundant clauses. It aims to replace the old governance system with one that contains an updated document of bylaws and a bylaws edits document which would strike unnecessary information from the original document. “We took apart the whole bylaw starting from the top
and going through the entire thing,” said SGA President Cedric Bandoh. “We removed a lot of redundant phrases and changed some things, making us more efficient and allowing us to understand our system better.” Another notable change the bill proposes is the removal of the trial period in the Court of Appeals in response to the questions raised after last semester’s appeals process in the SGA election scandal, said Bandoh. Special reports will be presented by Bandoh and Assistant Vice President for UH Health Initiatives Kathryn Peak. Senator Eduardo Reyes will move to suspend a bylaw concerning interim appointments in order to allow Bandoh to appoint Jeanette Rivera to the position of Director of Public Relations. news@thedailycougar.com
Khator receives 2 Light of India Awards
P
resident Renu Khator was honored with the Light of India Jury and People’s Choice Awards, making her the only candidate to win in both categories she was nominated in. The Light of India Award recognizes the exemplary work performed by Indians living abroad. “I was fully aware that I was receiving this recognition for the University of Houston, for it is the university’s success that defines my success,” said Khator. | Richard Bonnin/The Daily Cougar
2 ■ Wednesday, June 6, 2012
NEWS
Summer League FUN!!! SUMMER 2012 Two Leagues to Choose From :
on
Unive
rsity
of Houst
Unive
rsity
of Houst
on
Wednesday Night Fun Club 4-Person Teams
Bowls Wednesdays @ 6 PM Beginning June 6, 2012 Ending August 8, 2012 $ 9.00 Weekly Fee Includes: 3 games of bowling Free use of rental shoes League awards End of league party
Double Trouble (No Tap Doubles) 2-Person Teams
Bowls Thursdays @ 12 PM (noon) Beginning June 7, 2012 Ending August 9, 2012 $ 5.00 Weekly Fee Includes: 2 games of bowling (9 pin, no tap) Free use of rental shoes League awards End of league party
Contact Tommy, Jeff, or Bill (Office 713-743-5321) Jeff: jscott3@central.uh.edu Tommy: tamohwinkel@central.uh.edu
THE DAILY COUGAR
®
Invites you and a guest to a special advance screening of
The Daily Cougar
CRIME LOG
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 May 19 and Wednesday. All information is selected from the files of the UH Department of Public Safety. The information in italics indicates when the event was reported to UHDPS and the event’s location. Information or questions regarding the cases below should be directed to UHPD at (713) 743-0600. Assault/Theft: 4:16 a.m. May 19, Calhoun Lofts — A student was assaulted by another student who also stole her purse between 3 and 3:30 a.m. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: 2:59 p.m. May 19, Parking Lot 19B — A student reported that her unattended and unsecured vehicle was burglarized between 10 p.m. May 11 and 3 p.m. May 12. Theft: 2:38 p.m. May 21, Energy Research Park — A staff member reported the theft of an unattended and unsecured UH-owned projector between 8 a.m. May 18 and 2:30 p.m. May 21. Forgery/Theft: 3:09 p.m. May 21, Cullen Oaks Apartments — Two students reported receiving fake money orders for personal property they were selling between 3 p.m. May 18 and 11 a.m. May 21. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: 1:18 a.m. May 22, Cullen Oaks South Parking Lot — A student reported that someone burglarized her unattended and unsecured vehicle between 5 p.m. May 21 and 1:15 a.m. May 22. Assault: 12:55 a.m. May 26, Parking Lot 1E — Three visitors reported that they were assaulted by several unknown people between 12:48 and 12:52 a.m. Criminal Mischief: 2:17 p.m. May 26, Architecture Building — An unknown person removed and discharged a fire extinguisher at 2:20 p.m. Forgery: 1:20 p.m. May 29, Health Center — A staff member reported that a student attempted to pay for services rendered with counterfeit money at 1:20 p.m. Criminal Mischief: 9:37 p.m. May 29, M.D. Anderson Memorial Library — A student reported
that someone damaged his unattended bicycle between 2:30 a.m. May 23 and 9:30 p.m. May 29. Theft: 7:25 a.m. May 29, M.D. Anderson Memorial Library — A student reported seeing a man take a microwave oven from the library at 7:25 a.m. Theft: 9:35 a.m. May 29, University Center — A staff member reported four UH-owned televisions stolen between 1:00 p.m. May 29 and 9:30 a.m. Theft: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Science and Research Building 1 — A UH visitor reported the theft of copper wire at an unknown time between May 23 and May 24. Criminal mischief: 12:33 p.m. Thursday, Cullen Oaks Apartments — A visitor reported that a bottle was broken on her unattended vehicle between 7 p.m. May 29 and 7 a.m. Theft: 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Fleming Building — A contractor reported that an unattended and secured box of scrap copper was stolen between 3 p.m. May 30 and 6 a.m. Theft: 6 p.m. Friday, University Center Underground — A staff member reported that unknown persons stole flags between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 2:11 a.m. Sunday, 3300 block of Adair St. — A visitor was observed conducting an illegal drug transaction and was arrested and transported to Harris County Jail at 2:10 p.m. Criminal Mischief: 1:34 p.m. Sunday, Bayou Oaks Apartments — A student reported that someone damaged his property at 1:35 a.m.
For the complete report and to view past reports, go to thedailycougar.com/crime
CONTACT US Newsroom
(713) 743-5360 Editor in Chief
Advertising
(713) 743-5340 ads@thedailycougar.com ■
Victoria Gbenoba (713) 743-5340
Managing Editor
(713) 743-5356
David Haydon (713) 743-5360 me@thedailycougar.com News Editors
vgbenoba@thedailycougar.com ■
Max Gardner (713) 743-5314 news@thedailycougar.com Sports Editor
Andrew Pate (713) 743-5303 sports@thedailycougar.com
Pick up passes in the Student Publications Business Office, Room 7, UC Satellite.
Life & Arts Editor
Allen Le (713) 743-5302 arts@thedailycougar.com
Classifieds
classifieds@thedailycougar.com
Business Office
(713) 743-5350 ■ ■
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2012 Edwards Grand Palace 24 3839 Weslayan St., Houston, Texas
Student Ad Manager
Joshua Mann (713) 743-5362 editor@thedailycougar.com
Fax (713) 743-5384 Mailing address
Room 7, UC Satellite Student Publications University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015
Issue Staff ■
Copy editing
Julie Heffler Amanda Hilow ■
Closing editor
David Haydon Joshua Mann
Opinion Editor
Lucas Sepulveda opinion@thedailycougar.com Photo Editor
No purchase necessary. Limit two passes per person. Each pass admits two. Available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Please arrive early, as seating is limited to theater capacity and is not guaranteed.
OPENS IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE FRIDAY, JUNE 15
Hendrick Rosemond (713) 743-5361 photo@thedailycougar.com
THE DAILY COUGAR IS A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS.
ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://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 first 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 Send news tips and story ideas to the News Desk. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@ thedailycougar.com 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.
NEWS
The Daily Cougar
STATE FUNDS
REQUIREMENTS
continued from page 1
UH achieved four out of six benchmarks
distributed between UH and Texas Tech from the approximated $620 million fund, it is estimated in the press release to be around $8 million over the next two years. “My goal is to use this money to recruit distinguished faculty, especially those in fields such as science, technology and engineering,” Khator said. This along with the Carnegie foundation’s classification of UH as a Tier One research institute is a step forward on the university’s path to a Tier One standing, as many of the requirements reflect the characteristics of a Tier One school. news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 ■ 3
$400 million in endowment assets — In 2011, UH had just over $580 million. J Phi Beta Kappa chapter or membership in the Association of Research Libraries — UH is a member of the ARL. J At least 200 Ph.D.s awarded annually — UH has awarded an average of more than 200 doctorates annually for the past three years. J At least 5 faculty members should be members of National Academies or Nobel Prize recipients — In 2011, the UH faculty includes 11 National Academy members and one Nobel Peace Prize laureate. J
Information taken from uh.edu.
IN BRIEF NSF recognizes professors for development of science ethics course The Natural Science Foundation awarded a group of four University of Houston faculty members for their collaborative effort to create the Ethics in Science course with a three-year grant of $300,000 to be used for further course development. “We are pleased to receive this grant; it took us three years of intensive efforts to obtain it,” said computer science professor Ioannis Pavlidis in a press release. “The novel aspect of the course is the experiential component involving exposure to peer review and human and animal research.” Pavlidis, visiting assistant professor and dean of Natural Sciences and Math Ioanna Semendeferi, educational psychology associate professor Dov Liberman and philosophy associate professor David Phillips all worked together to generate course content, which involves treatment of animals and humans, peer review, conflicts of interest and public health. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to consider the course. “Despite the differences in disciplines, when it comes to research there are two things that are universal – peer review and human and animal experiments,” Pavlidis said. — Cougar News Services
NHARP GRANTS
Three professors receive grants to further develop their research Three University of Houston assistant professors were among 12 chosen by the Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program, run by the Texas’ Higher Education Coordinating Board, to receive $80,000 grants over a period of two years for their research efforts. Assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Jeff Rimer was recognized for his work in developing a method to produce ultra-thin zeolites, nanoporous catalysts used to manufacture different products in the petroleum
and chemicals industries. Gila Stein, also an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, was awarded for her work in using polymers to build electronic devices, rather than inorganic semiconductors. She plans to use the money to study the use of radiation beams in the creation of polymer nanostructures for polymer efficiency. Biology and biochemistry assistant professor Yuhong Wang received the grant for her research on ribosomes and the role they play in protein synthesis. Her research could help in the early detection of diseases. — Cougar News Services
POWER OUTAGE
University experiences temporary power loss A contractor struck a feeder between Calhoun Lofts and Melcher Hall Tuesday, causing a temporary power outage that lasted into the evening. The contractor was onsite to analyze the issue and make repairs, while Facilities Management also helped with the issue. The affected campus buildings were SERC, M.D. Anderson Library, Houston Science Center, Hilton Hotel, Cougar Village 1, PGH, Calhoun Lofts, Athletic Alumni Center, Melcher Broadcasting and Farish Hall. — Cougar News Services
CELEB BASKETBALL
Celebrities to compete in effort to raise funds for future teachers The Amobi Okoye Foundation will host its 5th Annual Kickoff 4 Kids Celebrity Basketball Game Saturday at noon at the Hofheinz Pavilion. Many celebrities, including several NFL stars, are set to appear and compete against each other in order to raise funds for the University of Houton’s College of Education. The proceeds from the event are awarded to a student of the college who is working toward a future career in education. General admission pre-sale tickets are available for $5 on www. k4kgame-zvents.eventbrite.com. — Cougar News Services
Food trucks set for summer, fall
T
emporary food trucks now have a more semi-permanent home in front of the University Center where a large concrete slab has been poured to accomodate the space they are using. Students have already begun utilizing the trucks as they scrounge for lunchtime dining locations in light of the recent closure of the cafeteria inside of the UC. There are currently three options for students, including the Waffle Bus, Beanie’s Burger Bus, and Barebowls Kitchen. UH Dining Services plans to continue the food trucks into the fall semester while construction on the UC continues. There are also plans to add an additional two trucks, according to a May 8 press release.
| Max Gardner/The Daily Cougar
Where do I get the latest UH news? www.thedailycougar.com
NSF GRANT
Jess Hewitt 413-305-3133 Jess.Hewitt@valic.com Stock Brokerage Accounts Securities and investment advisory services are offered by VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc., member FINRA and an SEC-registered investment advisor. VALIC represents the Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. are VALIC Retirement Services Company. Copyright © The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company. All Rights reserved. VALIC.com VC 19097 (12/2009) J76380
HEALTHY RESEARCH
SUBJECTS NEEDED Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine need healthy, young adult volunteers to participate in a research study to evaluate a vaccine against norovirus, a common cause of short-term vomiting and diarrhea illness that occurs in our community (also comTVUS` RUV^U HZ PU[LZ[PUHS Å\ VY [OL JY\PZL ZOPW ]PY\Z Study requirements involve receipt of two injected doses of vaccine or placebo, an inpatient hospitalization (less than one ^LLR HUK ZL]LYHS V\[WH[PLU[ ]PZP[Z V]LY H TVU[O WLYPVKZ 7HY[PJPWHU[Z ZOV\SK L_WLJ[ [V ILJVTL PSS MVY H[ SLHZ[ H KH` VY TVYL *YP[LYPH MVY WHY[PJPWH[PVU HYL Z[YPJ[ ,UYVSSTLU[ PZ YLZ[YPJ[LK [V X\HSPÄLK Z\IQLJ[Z HUK WHY[PJPWH[PVU PZ HZZVJPH[LK ^P[O ZVTL YPZRZ Compensation will be paid according to the degree of a subject’s SL]LS VM WHY[PJPWH[PVU For further information contact study staff at:
713-798-7542
or e-mail URISTERG@BCM.EDU (best)
2 ■ Wednesday, June 6, 2012
NEWS
Summer League FUN!!! SUMMER 2012 Two Leagues to Choose From :
on
Unive
rsity
of Houst
Unive
rsity
of Houst
on
Wednesday Night Fun Club 4-Person Teams
Bowls Wednesdays @ 6 PM Beginning June 6, 2012 Ending August 8, 2012 $ 9.00 Weekly Fee Includes: 3 games of bowling Free use of rental shoes League awards End of league party
Double Trouble (No Tap Doubles) 2-Person Teams
Bowls Thursdays @ 12 PM (noon) Beginning June 7, 2012 Ending August 9, 2012 $ 5.00 Weekly Fee Includes: 2 games of bowling (9 pin, no tap) Free use of rental shoes League awards End of league party
Contact Tommy, Jeff, or Bill (Office 713-743-5321) Jeff: jscott3@central.uh.edu Tommy: tamohwinkel@central.uh.edu
THE DAILY COUGAR
®
Invites you and a guest to a special advance screening of
The Daily Cougar
CRIME LOG
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 May 19 and Wednesday. All information is selected from the files of the UH Department of Public Safety. The information in italics indicates when the event was reported to UHDPS and the event’s location. Information or questions regarding the cases below should be directed to UHPD at (713) 743-0600. Assault/Theft: 4:16 a.m. May 19, Calhoun Lofts — A student was assaulted by another student who also stole her purse between 3 and 3:30 a.m. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: 2:59 p.m. May 19, Parking Lot 19B — A student reported that her unattended and unsecured vehicle was burglarized between 10 p.m. May 11 and 3 p.m. May 12. Theft: 2:38 p.m. May 21, Energy Research Park — A staff member reported the theft of an unattended and unsecured UH-owned projector between 8 a.m. May 18 and 2:30 p.m. May 21. Forgery/Theft: 3:09 p.m. May 21, Cullen Oaks Apartments — Two students reported receiving fake money orders for personal property they were selling between 3 p.m. May 18 and 11 a.m. May 21. Burglary of a Motor Vehicle: 1:18 a.m. May 22, Cullen Oaks South Parking Lot — A student reported that someone burglarized her unattended and unsecured vehicle between 5 p.m. May 21 and 1:15 a.m. May 22. Assault: 12:55 a.m. May 26, Parking Lot 1E — Three visitors reported that they were assaulted by several unknown people between 12:48 and 12:52 a.m. Criminal Mischief: 2:17 p.m. May 26, Architecture Building — An unknown person removed and discharged a fire extinguisher at 2:20 p.m. Forgery: 1:20 p.m. May 29, Health Center — A staff member reported that a student attempted to pay for services rendered with counterfeit money at 1:20 p.m. Criminal Mischief: 9:37 p.m. May 29, M.D. Anderson Memorial Library — A student reported
that someone damaged his unattended bicycle between 2:30 a.m. May 23 and 9:30 p.m. May 29. Theft: 7:25 a.m. May 29, M.D. Anderson Memorial Library — A student reported seeing a man take a microwave oven from the library at 7:25 a.m. Theft: 9:35 a.m. May 29, University Center — A staff member reported four UH-owned televisions stolen between 1:00 p.m. May 29 and 9:30 a.m. Theft: 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Science and Research Building 1 — A UH visitor reported the theft of copper wire at an unknown time between May 23 and May 24. Criminal mischief: 12:33 p.m. Thursday, Cullen Oaks Apartments — A visitor reported that a bottle was broken on her unattended vehicle between 7 p.m. May 29 and 7 a.m. Theft: 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Fleming Building — A contractor reported that an unattended and secured box of scrap copper was stolen between 3 p.m. May 30 and 6 a.m. Theft: 6 p.m. Friday, University Center Underground — A staff member reported that unknown persons stole flags between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Manufacture or Delivery of a Controlled Substance: 2:11 a.m. Sunday, 3300 block of Adair St. — A visitor was observed conducting an illegal drug transaction and was arrested and transported to Harris County Jail at 2:10 p.m. Criminal Mischief: 1:34 p.m. Sunday, Bayou Oaks Apartments — A student reported that someone damaged his property at 1:35 a.m.
For the complete report and to view past reports, go to thedailycougar.com/crime
CONTACT US Newsroom
(713) 743-5360 Editor in Chief
Advertising
(713) 743-5340 ads@thedailycougar.com ■
Victoria Gbenoba (713) 743-5340
Managing Editor
(713) 743-5356
David Haydon (713) 743-5360 me@thedailycougar.com News Editors
vgbenoba@thedailycougar.com ■
Max Gardner (713) 743-5314 news@thedailycougar.com Sports Editor
Andrew Pate (713) 743-5303 sports@thedailycougar.com
Pick up passes in the Student Publications Business Office, Room 7, UC Satellite.
Life & Arts Editor
Allen Le (713) 743-5302 arts@thedailycougar.com
Classifieds
classifieds@thedailycougar.com
Business Office
(713) 743-5350 ■ ■
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 14, 2012 Edwards Grand Palace 24 3839 Weslayan St., Houston, Texas
Student Ad Manager
Joshua Mann (713) 743-5362 editor@thedailycougar.com
Fax (713) 743-5384 Mailing address
Room 7, UC Satellite Student Publications University of Houston Houston, TX 77204-4015
Issue Staff ■
Copy editing
Julie Heffler Amanda Hilow ■
Closing editor
David Haydon Joshua Mann
Opinion Editor
Lucas Sepulveda opinion@thedailycougar.com Photo Editor
No purchase necessary. Limit two passes per person. Each pass admits two. Available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Please arrive early, as seating is limited to theater capacity and is not guaranteed.
OPENS IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE FRIDAY, JUNE 15
Hendrick Rosemond (713) 743-5361 photo@thedailycougar.com
THE DAILY COUGAR IS A MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED COLLEGIATE PRESS.
ABOUT THE COUGAR The Daily Cougar is published Monday through Thursday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer, at the University of Houston Printing Plant and online at http://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 first 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 Send news tips and story ideas to the News Desk. Call (713) 743-5314, e-mail news@ thedailycougar.com 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.
NEWS
The Daily Cougar
STATE FUNDS
REQUIREMENTS
continued from page 1
UH achieved four out of six benchmarks
distributed between UH and Texas Tech from the approximated $620 million fund, it is estimated in the press release to be around $8 million over the next two years. “My goal is to use this money to recruit distinguished faculty, especially those in fields such as science, technology and engineering,” Khator said. This along with the Carnegie foundation’s classification of UH as a Tier One research institute is a step forward on the university’s path to a Tier One standing, as many of the requirements reflect the characteristics of a Tier One school. news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 ■ 3
$400 million in endowment assets — In 2011, UH had just over $580 million. J Phi Beta Kappa chapter or membership in the Association of Research Libraries — UH is a member of the ARL. J At least 200 Ph.D.s awarded annually — UH has awarded an average of more than 200 doctorates annually for the past three years. J At least 5 faculty members should be members of National Academies or Nobel Prize recipients — In 2011, the UH faculty includes 11 National Academy members and one Nobel Peace Prize laureate. J
Information taken from uh.edu.
IN BRIEF NSF recognizes professors for development of science ethics course The Natural Science Foundation awarded a group of four University of Houston faculty members for their collaborative effort to create the Ethics in Science course with a three-year grant of $300,000 to be used for further course development. “We are pleased to receive this grant; it took us three years of intensive efforts to obtain it,” said computer science professor Ioannis Pavlidis in a press release. “The novel aspect of the course is the experiential component involving exposure to peer review and human and animal research.” Pavlidis, visiting assistant professor and dean of Natural Sciences and Math Ioanna Semendeferi, educational psychology associate professor Dov Liberman and philosophy associate professor David Phillips all worked together to generate course content, which involves treatment of animals and humans, peer review, conflicts of interest and public health. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to consider the course. “Despite the differences in disciplines, when it comes to research there are two things that are universal – peer review and human and animal experiments,” Pavlidis said. — Cougar News Services
NHARP GRANTS
Three professors receive grants to further develop their research Three University of Houston assistant professors were among 12 chosen by the Norman Hackerman Advanced Research Program, run by the Texas’ Higher Education Coordinating Board, to receive $80,000 grants over a period of two years for their research efforts. Assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering Jeff Rimer was recognized for his work in developing a method to produce ultra-thin zeolites, nanoporous catalysts used to manufacture different products in the petroleum
and chemicals industries. Gila Stein, also an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, was awarded for her work in using polymers to build electronic devices, rather than inorganic semiconductors. She plans to use the money to study the use of radiation beams in the creation of polymer nanostructures for polymer efficiency. Biology and biochemistry assistant professor Yuhong Wang received the grant for her research on ribosomes and the role they play in protein synthesis. Her research could help in the early detection of diseases. — Cougar News Services
POWER OUTAGE
University experiences temporary power loss A contractor struck a feeder between Calhoun Lofts and Melcher Hall Tuesday, causing a temporary power outage that lasted into the evening. The contractor was onsite to analyze the issue and make repairs, while Facilities Management also helped with the issue. The affected campus buildings were SERC, M.D. Anderson Library, Houston Science Center, Hilton Hotel, Cougar Village 1, PGH, Calhoun Lofts, Athletic Alumni Center, Melcher Broadcasting and Farish Hall. — Cougar News Services
CELEB BASKETBALL
Celebrities to compete in effort to raise funds for future teachers The Amobi Okoye Foundation will host its 5th Annual Kickoff 4 Kids Celebrity Basketball Game Saturday at noon at the Hofheinz Pavilion. Many celebrities, including several NFL stars, are set to appear and compete against each other in order to raise funds for the University of Houton’s College of Education. The proceeds from the event are awarded to a student of the college who is working toward a future career in education. General admission pre-sale tickets are available for $5 on www. k4kgame-zvents.eventbrite.com. — Cougar News Services
Food trucks set for summer, fall
T
emporary food trucks now have a more semi-permanent home in front of the University Center where a large concrete slab has been poured to accomodate the space they are using. Students have already begun utilizing the trucks as they scrounge for lunchtime dining locations in light of the recent closure of the cafeteria inside of the UC. There are currently three options for students, including the Waffle Bus, Beanie’s Burger Bus, and Barebowls Kitchen. UH Dining Services plans to continue the food trucks into the fall semester while construction on the UC continues. There are also plans to add an additional two trucks, according to a May 8 press release.
| Max Gardner/The Daily Cougar
Where do I get the latest UH news? www.thedailycougar.com
NSF GRANT
Jess Hewitt 413-305-3133 Jess.Hewitt@valic.com Stock Brokerage Accounts Securities and investment advisory services are offered by VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc., member FINRA and an SEC-registered investment advisor. VALIC represents the Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, VALIC Financial Advisors, Inc. are VALIC Retirement Services Company. Copyright © The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company. All Rights reserved. VALIC.com VC 19097 (12/2009) J76380
HEALTHY RESEARCH
SUBJECTS NEEDED Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine need healthy, young adult volunteers to participate in a research study to evaluate a vaccine against norovirus, a common cause of short-term vomiting and diarrhea illness that occurs in our community (also comTVUS` RUV^U HZ PU[LZ[PUHS Å\ VY [OL JY\PZL ZOPW ]PY\Z Study requirements involve receipt of two injected doses of vaccine or placebo, an inpatient hospitalization (less than one ^LLR HUK ZL]LYHS V\[WH[PLU[ ]PZP[Z V]LY H TVU[O WLYPVKZ 7HY[PJPWHU[Z ZOV\SK L_WLJ[ [V ILJVTL PSS MVY H[ SLHZ[ H KH` VY TVYL *YP[LYPH MVY WHY[PJPWH[PVU HYL Z[YPJ[ ,UYVSSTLU[ PZ YLZ[YPJ[LK [V X\HSPÄLK Z\IQLJ[Z HUK WHY[PJPWH[PVU PZ HZZVJPH[LK ^P[O ZVTL YPZRZ Compensation will be paid according to the degree of a subject’s SL]LS VM WHY[PJPWH[PVU For further information contact study staff at:
713-798-7542
or e-mail URISTERG@BCM.EDU (best)
4 ■ Wednesday, June 6, 2012
The Daily Cougar
OPINION
EDITOR Lucas Sepulveda E-MAIL opinion@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/opinion
THE DAILY COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF
Joshua Mann
MANAGING EDITOR
David Haydon
NEWS EDITORS
Max Gardner
SPORTS EDITOR
Andrew Pate
LIFE & ARTS EDITOR
Allen Le
OPINION EDITOR
Lucas Sepulveda
STAFF EDITORIAL
Food trucks a boon to the starving student
T
he University Center is closed for renovations and food operations there have ceased. Food trucks circled the wagons as a result, and we could not be more pleased.
Bare Bowls Kitchen, Bernie’s Burger Bus and The Waffle Bus will be in front of the UC for the next 18 months, offering everything from the cheap-and-healthy to artery-clogging delicious. A student has to eat after all. And yet summer dining options are always scarce, to say nothing of the normal semester and weekends. UH needs more of these mobile kitchens. UH needs breakfast trucks, lunch trucks, snack trucks and taco trucks. We especially need a sandwich truck on campus at four in the morning, preferably near the newsroom. Even with the food trucks, it’s a good idea to have an emergency box lunch in your bag at all times. After all, the C-stores close early during the summer. The UC Satellite cafeteria is a bit pricey and if you’re starving on the eighth floor of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library, you might as well be on a deserted island. Even the facilities that remain open during the summer semesters often do so at drastically reduced hours, and justifiably so; one employee we spoke with said customer traffic had been cut by around half. The Daily Cougar won’t endorse gourmet waffle sandwiches or made-from-scratch cheeseburgers over old-fashioned homemade meals, but we are 100 percent in favor of more dining options on campus. Our only concern is that students who exclusively use Cougar Cash will be at a disadvantage when it comes to the food truck vendors. Another question remains: Will the food trucks be on campus after Dec. 2013? That will be up to student demand. After the renovations, the UC will house a new McDonald’s and Starbucks — not exactly local vendors. After all, who wants to eat ketchup-covered cardboard and dirtflavored coffee when Houston has ample supply of kitchens on wheels? For a comprehensive list of UH dining locations and hours, visit my.uh.edu/mobile-only/ dining/index.php.
E D I TO R I A L P O L I C I E S STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Daily 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 Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect 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 affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to Room 7, University Center Satellite; 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. ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Daily Cougar do not necessarily reflect 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 affiliation with the University, including classification 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 letters@thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.
Lucas Sepulveda/The Daily Cougar
Soda ban: mindful but misguided
N
ew York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has done the one thing that has consistently angered the people since the birth of our country; he told them no. In a slightly random attempt to combat our nation’s obvious obesity problem, Bloomberg has proposed a ban of soft drinks larger than 16 Lucas ounces in all New York Sepulveda City restaurants, movie theaters and delis. It’s hardly surprising that a majority — 63 percent, according to one Rasmussen poll — opposes the ban. However, Bloomberg feels strongly enough about his proposal’s effectiveness to go ahead and spark the flame despite the outcry. Bloomberg deserves applause for his continued concern about our country’s health. The future of our nation’s life expectancy is threatened as the obesity epidemic and Americans continue to grow out of control. Unfortunately, if the mayor
expects significant results from his new soda ban, he will likely be disappointed. Developing a solution to obesity is not easy, and there’s a reason why this problem seems to show no sign of slowing. Banning large, sugary drinks is not going to cut it; the proposal’s value is not worth angering the public like it so adequately has. If anything, the ban serves less as an actual solution to obesity and more of an example to the public and the food industry of a movement toward a healthier policy, an outcome that has substantial value. Whether this results in a positive or negative outcome is left to be determined. Based on the extreme public disapproval of the proposal, progressive health gains are in no way guaranteed. Bloomberg’s intentions are good, but this ban is just a blind jab at a fast-moving, overpowering health crisis that will be left unfazed. What plagues the health of Americans the most seems to simply be a lack of knowledge. Many people just don’t appear to know how destructive some of the food
their eating actually is — not particularly surprising. For now, the most effective way that government leaders can combat obesity is to insist through policies that citizens are properly educated about nutrition and the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. Telling Americans what and how much to consume is not going to work; we have to make those decisions ourselves. There are far too many factors out there that contribute to obesity to single out large soft drinks. While the proposal obviously can’t make things worse for our health, it isn’t going to make things much better. With cheap, fattening meals next to overpriced healthy ones, coupled with the indulgent culture that surrounds us, those who want to eat unhealthy will find ways to eat unhealthy. Banning large soft drinks will not change that. Lucas Sepulveda is a senior Creative Writing student and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
Don’t be surprised by early voting
F
or all of their accolades, early voters aren’t exactly trendsetters. It just isn’t in their DNA. In a year that 40 percent of the city’s votes were delivered through the mailbox, last week’s tally for Houston’s early birds totaled 115,958: a 10 percent increase from the 2010 primary. At a cursory glance, it would appear that we’re evolving from a Bryan city in which cul-deWashington sac cardboard cutouts, elastic stickers on car bumpers and ratty T-shirts with fading letters are the predominant means of getting the vote out, but if you really look, you’ll notice we’re not. In actuality, supposed innovations in forward thinking and agenda setting are just stifled steps in the same direction. The numbers lie. If anything, the various methods of voting are what really tell the story. For the duration of May, the earliest voting
centers were the Metropolitan MultiService Center on West Gray, the Trini Mendenhall SOSA Community Center in Spring Branch, Kingwood Branch Library and the Champion Forest Baptist Church. Their contributions varied from a high of 298, to a low of 261. With only these locations on hand, it’s tough to unbiasedly and correctly say what the voters were thinking; however, replacing the attributes of location with the dictum of previous trends makes the job easier. Harris County’s Clerk Office deems that 30,558 of this season’s 44,855 poll goers cast their ballots in the red. For readers short on the math, that’s 68 percent of the vote. For Democrats short on gas, that means in the first five days of voting alone, Republicans cast twice as many votes as their counterparts. For a city short on tolerance — growing steadily, but short nonetheless — that means further reinforcements along the same lines of thought. Historically, in lower profile elections, the turnout ratio is stagnant at best.
Last year’s welterweight bout — a slugging that extended well into the voting season — between Hillary Clinton and the incumbent saw full parking lots at the polls with record numbers of Houstonians willing to set the record straight. It was truly a spectacle. This year simply isn’t as exciting. That isn’t to say an exhilarating primary is all that’s necessary for an admirable turnout, but it’s certainly an attention getter. Aging voters have proven they can do without; they turn up despite fervor or weather and are consistently one of the largest voting groups in the country. They’re also the least likely to change their minds about anything, and in the absence of a televised outing, pregnancy or colloquial screw up, they’ll have the final say. It could change slightly or even monumentally but probably not. Bryan Washington is a sophomore Sociology student and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 ■ 5
The Daily Cougar
EDITOR Allen Le E-MAIL arts@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/arts
VIDEO GAME REVIEW
Latest ‘Ghost Recon’ edition underdeveloped Fifth installment in game series lags behind the year’s competition Bryan Dupont-Gray
THE DAILY COUGAR There is no “I” in team in the Tom Clancy Ghost Recon series. The tactical squad, third-person shooter is all about teamwork, and video game publisher Ubisoft takes it to a higher level with “Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier” for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. “Future Soldier” combines tactical military combat with advanced technological gadgets. Using these high-tech gadgets and special camouflage, the four man military team of Ghosts set out to seize a Russian threat known as Raven’s Rock. This
alliterative antagonist is apparently responsible for causing terror in a few third world countries and the slaying of some of the protagonist men. The story throughout the campaign mode is nonsensical and hardly interesting. One member in your squad serves as comic relief, but the other three are nearly irrelevant as characters. There are not any redeeming qualities about any of them, and cutscenes try — but ultimately fail — to squeeze a tear out of the player. Luckily, the game’s landscapes are gorgeous. From tropics of Bolivia to the snowy mountains of Russia, “Future Soldier” pops out at you. Enemy character models are pale in comparison, though. You’ll find that the game spawns many doppelgangers throughout, but merely add in a couple glitches and then you’ll see that the
graphical presentation is far from perfect. Throughout the story, players take turns using stealth to their advantage and make noises while engaging in heavily laden gunfights. Players will be able to throw out sensors to get a number of surrounding enemies, even ones behind walls. Using the drones can give you an overhead scan of targets and can also pass through small vents and disable machinery. The optical camouflage — your best gadget — can make you completely invisible and is a nice touch to the interactivity, but firing your weapon or moving too fast can disable that magic and leave you vulnerable. With the Synch Shot ability, up to four enemies can be marked for a hugely satisfying swooping sniper shot, and when marking and ordering shots among your team, your shot triggers a slow-
motion action sequence. You can tag enemies for your teammates using Focus Fire and lessen the pressure when things get nasty. The downside is that you cannot directly control any of your teammates. The AI can also put you in a tough spot if you are reckless, but stealth smart players may feel that enemies are a walk in the park, making the campaign too easy. The online multiplayer mode pushes teamwork as well. You can jump right into one of four multiplayer modes and try your luck at being a one-man show, but you will seldom get very far. Luckily, the game readily gives you the option to form squads with you and your friends online. You can take on the scout, rifleman or engineer classes and level them up during matches and by completing objectives. From holding down resupply spots to compromising VIP targets,
completing objectives gives your team the upper hand. The online mode is deep and exciting, but Ubisoft’s server issues can abruptly end the game and cause all your progress to go to waste. Ghost Recon has had its hit and misses, and “Future Soldier” seems to land right in the middle. You can spend a lot of time on this game given the extra campaign challenges and the “Guerilla” mode, but the game could have been greater had there been more development time. The glitches and the blandness of the game taint the experience. If you do not care about graphic setbacks, this is probably the best third-person squad-based shooter game currently out. However, it is far from being the best all-around shooter that players have seen or will see this year. arts@thedailycougar.com
MUSIC
Orchestra strings together talent Foreign students invited to perform at classical concert at Moores School of Music Bryan Dupont-Gray
THE DAILY COUGAR The gathering of professional musicians around the world every year drives the Texas Music Festival as they quickly learn and perform pieces of music that shape the foundation of the classical music culture. This year is no different. After a two week run through of more than 400 tape auditions, Moores School of Music Conducting Chairman Franz Krager and Special Projects Director Alan Austin have narrowed it down to 95 talented musicians. These lucky few have been chosen to assemble and perform as the Texas Music Festival Orchestra. “The good news for the students who get selected is that once they get to Houston, they don’t have to pay for anything else,” Krager said. “They get a full scholarship, this way we can compete with other big music festivals in America.” The festival, which will be held until July 1, is peppered with performances that have been practiced by local and international students over the course of just one week. From the jazz performances in the opening night to the chamber music
The 23rd season of the Texas Music Festival will feature more than 20 performances, which will include the Houston Symphony. The weekdays will feature evening performances while the weekends have been reserved for daytime shows in the Moores Opera House. | Allen Le/The Daily Cougar given by the students and faculty members, all of the music will have been thoroughly mastered and ready for performance. “It usually takes about six weeks to prepare for a concert,” Krager said. “The TMF festival does all of this in one week. The first time they see the music is seven days before they perform it. You couldn’t do that with most university groups. The learning curve goes much quicker and you’re able to do major, difficult work in such a short amount of time.” The international element that fused
with TMF 20 years ago was not at its highest peak like it is now. Very few foreign students played their role while the rest of the orchestra’s musicians came straight from UH. Now, plenty of conductors and topnotch musicians from around the world have arrived in Houston and Krager feels that this aspect is what makes learning music a rewarding experience. One student, who has taken part in many international competitions and festivals, said she is both excited and focused for what is ahead. Flying in from New York is prize-
winning flute performer and instructor Caity Piccini, who looks to expand her horizons and hone her skills. She is also thrilled about meeting new international talent. “The other festivals that I’ve been to have a lot of international students. Often you find that you’re able to connect with them through the things you have in common and music is that connection. My main goal is to gain more personal experience and to become a better player,” Piccini said. arts@thedailycougar.com
6 ■ Wednesday, June 6, 2012
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012 ■ 7
The Daily Cougar
EDITOR Andrew Pate E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/sports
COMMENTARY
Poor off-field decisions cost college, NFL phenom During his three seasons as former-Oklahoma State receiver, Justin Blackmon appeared unstoppable most of the time, scoring 38 touchdowns Joshua and hauling in Siegel 232 passes during his final two college seasons. The Jacksonville Jaguars
rookie picked as fifth overall looked anything but invincible this weekend — cut down to size by a stupid decision. Early Sunday, police in Stillwater, Okla. pulled Blackmon, 22, over at a traffic stop after he was driving 60-mph in a 35-mph zone and refused to yield to officers for four blocks. He blew .24 on a breathalyzer, was arrested and later released on a $1,000
bail. Blackmon’s alleged response to the officers was, “I just flew in. I don’t know why you’re harassing me.” It was the second time in the last two years that Blackmon was arrested for DUI — the first coming in 2010 when Blackmon was 20 years old. For an athlete to reach the professional level and compete
the way that someone like Blackmon does on the field, they usually have an incredible amount of self-confidence, some sort of unwavering super-human swagger and a you-can’t-stop-me attitude. That sort of aura of invincibility they feel they have is great on the field, but doesn’t translate so well to other life situations, like when you decide you’re “cool to drive” with a BAC
that is three-times the legal limit, especially after getting arrested two years earlier. Just two weeks earlier, former Jaguars lineman Richard Collier addressed the team about making smart decisions off the field. In 2008, Collier was shot six times while waiting outside of a Jacksonville apartment building. BLACKMON continues on page 8
SOCCER
UH soccer names Akron’s Pfau newest head coach
The University of Houston men’s and women’s track teams follow up a successful season with a trip north to Des Moines, Iowa where they will compete in front of thousands against the best in the country. | Stock photo/The Daily Cougar
SOFTBALL
TRACK AND FIELD
NCAA Championships Coogs compete on national stage Christopher Shelton
THE DAILY COUGAR The UH track and field team is gearing up for another challenging run. The team will be sending seven individuals and two relay teams to compete at the NCAA Championship, which begins today and ends Saturday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. The Coogs are coming off another successful season with the men conquering their fourth consecutive Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the women finishing fourth. Errol Nolan performed well at the C-USA championship, comfortably winning his third consecutive 400-meter title, and will attempt to continue to run with that momentum. The speedy junior will take his talents to Des Moines for the 400-meter dash and as a leg in the men’s relay team. Nolan, an All-American, is one to watch. Grecia Bolton has been a standout performer as well; she has qualified for 100-meter, 200-meter and the 4x100-meter relay. She posted personal
The Houston Cougars officially named Chris Pfau head soccer coach on Friday, making him the fourth coach in the program’s history. Pfau spent his last four seasons at Akron, where he helped the Zips to a 2009 MAC East Division championship and three straight Mid-American Conference tournaments. Prior to his arrival, Akron’s soccer team had produced only one winning season and no tournament births through the program’s first eight years of existence. Throughout his seven years as a coach, Pfau has produced a 60-58-1 record with stints at Princeton, Evansville and, most recently, Akron. At Evansville, Pfau posted a 30-22-4 record, winning ten-plus games per season including a No. 7 regional ranking in 2007. He attended college at Old Dominion where he was a team captain and four year starter. Upon graduation, he spent ten years in the APSL, NPSL and WSL. Pfau was hired following the resignation of Susan Quill who held the reigns for five seasons compiling a 33-50-11 mark over her tenure. — Andrew Pate
bests in the 100-meter and 200-meter during the C-USA championships. This will be Bolton’s third trip to the NCAA championships. UH also qualified for the NCAA championships in the men’s 4x400. The quartet is comprised of Xavier Boyd, Doug Kelley, Dominique Charles and Nolan. Thomas Lang and John Horton will represent UH in the triple jump. The women’s team is also full of star-studded athletes. DeMeeka Jones qualified in the 100-meter hurdles and Tai’shea Reese will be competing alongside Bolton in the 200-meter. Reese and Bolten coupled with Kiersten Brewer and Alicia Perkins are the foursome that will run the 4x100-meter. Head coach Leroy Burrell has overseen the growth of the track and field program for eleven years, and 39 AllAmericans and a combined 19 C-USA Team Championships are among the list of accomplishments made during his tenure. Burrell will attempt to add a few more pelts on the wall as the Cougars attempt to hit their stride in Des Moines. sports@thedailycougar.com
Conference best In his 11th season, head coach Leroy Burrell men’s squad has won each Conference USA outdoor title since 2009. The Coogs most recently continued its dominace with a 38.50 point victory. J Leroy Burrell
UH SCHEDULE
Day 1, Wednesday 4x100m Semifinal..................................... 5:45 p.m. T. Reese, K. Brewer, A. Perkins, G. Bolton 400m Semifinal ......................................... 6:30 p.m. E. Nolan 100m Semifinal ......................................... 7:30 p.m.
Day 2, Thursday 200m Semifinals ....................................... 5:45 p.m. T. Reese 100m Hurdles Semifinals ....................... 7:10 p.m. D. Jones 4x400m Semifinal..................................... 8:05 p.m. X. Boyd, D. Kelley, D. Charles, E. Nolan
Day 3, Friday Women 100m Finals ................................ 7:02 p.m. Men 400m Finals....................................... 7:55 p.m.
Day 4, Saturday Triple Jump Trials/Finals ....................... 11:45 a.m. T. Lang Women 4x100m Finals ........................... 1:10 p.m. Women 200m Finals ................................ 1:47 p.m. Men 4x400m Finals .................................. 2:40 p.m.
UH softball great Valis promoted within coaching staff Former UH softball volunteer assistant coach Jessica Valis was promoted to an assistant coach Friday and former assistant coach Kristin Vesely has been named recruiting coordinator. Valis, a former Cougar softball player, had an exceptional playing career with Houston, named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team following the 2006 season and earning First Team All-Conference honors each of her four years with UH. She will now oversee slap hitting and infield defense. Following her graduation in 2009, Valis spent one season in the National Pro Fastpitch league with the Akron Racers, helping her team reach the NPF Championship series. Valis continues to hold several program records for UH including career batting average (.379), season batting average (.431, 2008) and career hits among others. — Andrew Pate
SOFTBALL
UH catcher named All-American University of Houston softball player Haley Outon has been named Third Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Outon tied a NCAA record during the 2011 season around with a home run in six consecutive games between May 1 and May 11. She was also named Conference USA player of the week on May 7. She was also a master of the base path stealing 10-of-11 bases and gunning down nine runners. Outon led the Cougars in home runs (22), RBIs (64), runs (49), batting average (.368) and slugging percentage (.805). She caught every game this season for UH including two no-hitters on the way to becoming the fourth Cougar to be named an NFCA All-American. — Andrew Pate
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 ■ 7
The Daily Cougar
EDITOR Andrew Pate E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/sports
COMMENTARY
Poor off-field decisions cost college, NFL phenom During his three seasons as former-Oklahoma State receiver, Justin Blackmon appeared unstoppable most of the time, scoring 38 touchdowns Joshua and hauling in Siegel 232 passes during his final two college seasons. The Jacksonville Jaguars
rookie picked as fifth overall looked anything but invincible this weekend — cut down to size by a stupid decision. Early Sunday, police in Stillwater, Okla. pulled Blackmon, 22, over at a traffic stop after he was driving 60-mph in a 35-mph zone and refused to yield to officers for four blocks. He blew .24 on a breathalyzer, was arrested and later released on a $1,000
bail. Blackmon’s alleged response to the officers was, “I just flew in. I don’t know why you’re harassing me.” It was the second time in the last two years that Blackmon was arrested for DUI — the first coming in 2010 when Blackmon was 20 years old. For an athlete to reach the professional level and compete
the way that someone like Blackmon does on the field, they usually have an incredible amount of self-confidence, some sort of unwavering super-human swagger and a you-can’t-stop-me attitude. That sort of aura of invincibility they feel they have is great on the field, but doesn’t translate so well to other life situations, like when you decide you’re “cool to drive” with a BAC
that is three-times the legal limit, especially after getting arrested two years earlier. Just two weeks earlier, former Jaguars lineman Richard Collier addressed the team about making smart decisions off the field. In 2008, Collier was shot six times while waiting outside of a Jacksonville apartment building. BLACKMON continues on page 8
SOCCER
UH soccer names Akron’s Pfau newest head coach
The University of Houston men’s and women’s track teams follow up a successful season with a trip north to Des Moines, Iowa where they will compete in front of thousands against the best in the country. | Stock photo/The Daily Cougar
SOFTBALL
TRACK AND FIELD
NCAA Championships Coogs compete on national stage Christopher Shelton
THE DAILY COUGAR The UH track and field team is gearing up for another challenging run. The team will be sending seven individuals and two relay teams to compete at the NCAA Championship, which begins today and ends Saturday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. The Coogs are coming off another successful season with the men conquering their fourth consecutive Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and the women finishing fourth. Errol Nolan performed well at the C-USA championship, comfortably winning his third consecutive 400-meter title, and will attempt to continue to run with that momentum. The speedy junior will take his talents to Des Moines for the 400-meter dash and as a leg in the men’s relay team. Nolan, an All-American, is one to watch. Grecia Bolton has been a standout performer as well; she has qualified for 100-meter, 200-meter and the 4x100-meter relay. She posted personal
The Houston Cougars officially named Chris Pfau head soccer coach on Friday, making him the fourth coach in the program’s history. Pfau spent his last four seasons at Akron, where he helped the Zips to a 2009 MAC East Division championship and three straight Mid-American Conference tournaments. Prior to his arrival, Akron’s soccer team had produced only one winning season and no tournament births through the program’s first eight years of existence. Throughout his seven years as a coach, Pfau has produced a 60-58-1 record with stints at Princeton, Evansville and, most recently, Akron. At Evansville, Pfau posted a 30-22-4 record, winning ten-plus games per season including a No. 7 regional ranking in 2007. He attended college at Old Dominion where he was a team captain and four year starter. Upon graduation, he spent ten years in the APSL, NPSL and WSL. Pfau was hired following the resignation of Susan Quill who held the reigns for five seasons compiling a 33-50-11 mark over her tenure. — Andrew Pate
bests in the 100-meter and 200-meter during the C-USA championships. This will be Bolton’s third trip to the NCAA championships. UH also qualified for the NCAA championships in the men’s 4x400. The quartet is comprised of Xavier Boyd, Doug Kelley, Dominique Charles and Nolan. Thomas Lang and John Horton will represent UH in the triple jump. The women’s team is also full of star-studded athletes. DeMeeka Jones qualified in the 100-meter hurdles and Tai’shea Reese will be competing alongside Bolton in the 200-meter. Reese and Bolten coupled with Kiersten Brewer and Alicia Perkins are the foursome that will run the 4x100-meter. Head coach Leroy Burrell has overseen the growth of the track and field program for eleven years, and 39 AllAmericans and a combined 19 C-USA Team Championships are among the list of accomplishments made during his tenure. Burrell will attempt to add a few more pelts on the wall as the Cougars attempt to hit their stride in Des Moines. sports@thedailycougar.com
Conference best In his 11th season, head coach Leroy Burrell men’s squad has won each Conference USA outdoor title since 2009. The Coogs most recently continued its dominace with a 38.50 point victory. J Leroy Burrell
UH SCHEDULE
Day 1, Wednesday 4x100m Semifinal..................................... 5:45 p.m. T. Reese, K. Brewer, A. Perkins, G. Bolton 400m Semifinal ......................................... 6:30 p.m. E. Nolan 100m Semifinal ......................................... 7:30 p.m.
Day 2, Thursday 200m Semifinals ....................................... 5:45 p.m. T. Reese 100m Hurdles Semifinals ....................... 7:10 p.m. D. Jones 4x400m Semifinal..................................... 8:05 p.m. X. Boyd, D. Kelley, D. Charles, E. Nolan
Day 3, Friday Women 100m Finals ................................ 7:02 p.m. Men 400m Finals....................................... 7:55 p.m.
Day 4, Saturday Triple Jump Trials/Finals ....................... 11:45 a.m. T. Lang Women 4x100m Finals ........................... 1:10 p.m. Women 200m Finals ................................ 1:47 p.m. Men 4x400m Finals .................................. 2:40 p.m.
UH softball great Valis promoted within coaching staff Former UH softball volunteer assistant coach Jessica Valis was promoted to an assistant coach Friday and former assistant coach Kristin Vesely has been named recruiting coordinator. Valis, a former Cougar softball player, had an exceptional playing career with Houston, named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team following the 2006 season and earning First Team All-Conference honors each of her four years with UH. She will now oversee slap hitting and infield defense. Following her graduation in 2009, Valis spent one season in the National Pro Fastpitch league with the Akron Racers, helping her team reach the NPF Championship series. Valis continues to hold several program records for UH including career batting average (.379), season batting average (.431, 2008) and career hits among others. — Andrew Pate
SOFTBALL
UH catcher named All-American University of Houston softball player Haley Outon has been named Third Team All-American by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Outon tied a NCAA record during the 2011 season around with a home run in six consecutive games between May 1 and May 11. She was also named Conference USA player of the week on May 7. She was also a master of the base path stealing 10-of-11 bases and gunning down nine runners. Outon led the Cougars in home runs (22), RBIs (64), runs (49), batting average (.368) and slugging percentage (.805). She caught every game this season for UH including two no-hitters on the way to becoming the fourth Cougar to be named an NFCA All-American. — Andrew Pate
8 ■ Wednesday, June 6, 2012
SPORTS
The Daily Cougar
BLACKMON
Because your words matter.
continued from page 7
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He was paralyzed from the waist down and had to have one of his legs amputated. The prosecution in the case said the shooting was a result of Collier knocking the shooter out in a bar fight previously. If that tale didn’t reach Blackmon, hopefully the consequences of his latest actions will. Blackmon has yet to reach terms on his rookie contract with the Jaguars and certainly cost himself several million dollars in guaranteed money. Last year’s fifth overall pick, Patrick Peterson of the Arizona Cardinals, signed a four-year deal worth $18.4 million with $11.9 million guaranteed, but Blackmon has given himself no
leverage to approach that number now. On Monday, Blackmon pleaded not guilty in court and was back with the team on Tuesday. In the hallways of the Jaguars’ facilities, Blackmon bumped into former Jaguars running back and potential Hall of Famer Fred Taylor. According to NFL.com, Taylor said that Blackmon seemed “humbled” and he advised Blackmon that this doesn’t have to be “the defining moment” of his career. It doesn’t have to be. That is a decision that Blackmon has to make. I don’t know Justin Blackmon. I have no idea if he’s a genius or dumb as a doorknob, but for columnists like the Florida Times-Union’s Gene Frenette to infer that he is an “alcoholic” is
stupid. Blackmon is a 22-year-old kid who made some really dumb decisions. Blackmon is lucky that he is the only person paying the price for his actions and that no one else was physically harmed by his decisions. Like Taylor said, this doesn’t have to be the defining moment of Blackmon’s career. Hopefully he has learned from this incident and others will learn from the poor example that he has set. In 2010 when he ran into trouble, he was only suspended one game. Apparently that wasn’t harsh enough. Maybe the financial consequences of his decision will motivate him to be smarter in the future and others can learn from his poor choices. sports@thedailycougar.com
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THE DAILY COUGAR
SUMMER 2012 Learning Support Services WORKSHOPS
Need help with your courses?
FREE TUTORING Learning Support Services Room N109 Cougar Village (Building # 563) Schedule available at www.las.uh.edu Mon and Tue 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Wed and Thu 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Friday 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: N112 Cougar Village (Building 563) Length: 50 min. Please be on time. No admittance after 5 min. past the hour. Register:“Workshop Signup” at www.las.uh.edu/lss On-line registration is necessary to optain a spot
Week Topic
Time
1
Making connections on campus
T6/5 @4pm; Th6/7 @2pm
The Challenger Program
2
Time management
T6/12 @11am; F6/15 @1pm
The Challenger Program is designed to assist you in every way possible to complete a post-secondary education at UH.
3
College level reading
M6/18 @2pm; Th6/21 @11am
4
Note Taking
T6/26 @2pm; W6/27 @4pm
5
Studying in the Natural Sciences
M7/2 @2pm; F7/6 @10am
6
Overcoming Procrastination M7/9 @10am; W7/11 @1pm
7
Improving memory
T7/17 @9am; W7/18 @3pm
8
Critical Thinking
T7/24 @12pm; F727 @2pm
9
Time Management
T7/31 @4pm; F8/3 @4pm
(Use your myUH (PeopleSoft) ID or CougarNet ID to login)
9
Improving Concentration
M7/30 @11am; Th8/2 @2pm
HELP US HELP YOU BY GIVING US YOUR OPINION SURVEY.UH.EDU
10
Goal Setting
T8/7 @11am; W8/8 @1pm
Tutoring Free Academic Skills Course Social Enrichment Scholarship Opportunities Mentoring
Study Skills Workshops Academic Counseling Financial Aid Advisement Support System Priority Registration
To request an application or for more information, contact the Challenger Program at (713) 743-5420
www.las.uh.edu Faculty/Course Evaluation
http://accessuh.uh.edu
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