Wednesday, April 17, 2013 // Issue 107, Volume 78
THE DAILY COUGAR
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 T O N
CRIME
S I N C E
1 9 3 4
OPINION
Two arrested in drug-related residential robbery Joshua Mann Editor in chief
Police arrested two men, one of them a student, in connection with Saturday’s robbery at Cambridge Oaks Apartments. James Manns was arrested at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday in Pearland and has been charged with aggravated robbery with a pending additional aggravated robbery charge, said UH police chief Ceaser Moore in a press conference. At 7:30 a.m., Samy Gharbaoui was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana, Moore said. Gharbaoui, a student living in Cambridge Oaks, had sold drugs to Manns earlier the day of the robbery, Moore said. Later on, Manns texted Gharbaoui asking for more, but Gharbaoui was not at his apartment. Manns and three others then
went to Gharbaoui’s apartment and proceeded to rob the other two residents at gunpoint and search for the drugs. “This crime was not a strangeron-stranger crime,” Moore said. “He was going back to get more drugs.” Moore said that because the crime was not random, students don’t need to take this as an indicator of personal danger. “Other students on campus are not at risk of being victimized by other people invading their residences,” Moore said. Through the course of the investigation, police uncovered a safe full of Adderall, ecstasy, LSD and marijuana. Manns was already on bail for possession of marijuana, and police are seeking to have that revoked in addition to the charge already CAMBRIDGE continues on page 3
AP Stylebook nixes entry LIFE+ARTS
UH Police Chief Ceaser Moore said in Tuesday’s press conference about the Cambridge Oaks robbery that students’ fears should not be heightened because the crime was not random. | Mahnoor Samana/The Daily Cougar
SCIENCE
SGA
Astronaut moon walks into hall of fame
Senator running for city council
Rebecca Hennes Staff writer
Bonnie Dunbar
New UH faculty member Bonnie Dunbar will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Saturday at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, the center announced Tuesday. “I’m very honored,” Dunbar said. “This is an old tradition, starting with the Apollo astronauts. Quite frankly, there is probably nothing more special than being selected by your peers for some sort of acknowledgement.” Dunbar was recently invited by President Renu Khator to join the UH faculty as head of the new Science, Technology, Engineering and Math center that will specialize in research. Dunbar said one of her goals is to help undergraduate students become more math and science literate. “There’s not a day that goes by that doesn’t involve something being technologically or scientifically discussed,” Dunbar
said. “As an adult, it’s your responsibility to ask yourself if you’re prepared to make sound judgments on these discoveries so that you can understand the world around you.” Dunbar is working on developing a massive open online course to teach classes to a wider audience of students. She says one of her goals through this course is to help more young people understand the physics of the world so they go on to graduate as more well-rounded individuals. “We want to bring the best and brightest to UH,” Dunbar said. “If you are willing to apply yourself, you can help solve some of the world’s problems. Science is about discovering ‘what is,’ and engineering is about designing ‘what isn’t.’” Being inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame is fulfilling her childhood dreams, as Dunbar said she wanted to be an astronaut since she was nine years old. “People always talk about finding their passion in life. I was very lucky because I found mine so early,” Dunbar said. “It was so exciting and interesting that I wanted to be a part of it.” Dunbar grew up on a cattle ranch and says her family instilled in her the values she thinks helped her become successful. “I learned a good work ethic, and I think that’s really important,” Dunbar said. “You have to be able to work on your own and push DUNBAR continues on page 3
Q&A with theater director SPORTS
Stadium rising from the rubble GET SOME DAILY
Katherine Morris Staff writer
A UH student is going from books to ballots, hoping to gain a seat in the Pearland City Council in the upcoming election. Political science senior Mark Solano is running for council position 5 — a three-year term seat held by Greg Hill, who is seeking re-election. If elected, Solano will represent Pearland residents, aiming to satisfy their needs and work with the council Solano in handling city growth. “Overall, this is something that I’ve wanted to do for a while, I’ve always had a desire to serve and participate within governmental relations,” SOLANO continues on page 3
thedailycougar.com
TOMORROW Volleyball player reveals she has brains to go with her skills.
ONLINE XTRA CLASS dean praised for promoting Turkey on campus.
COUNTDOWN
12
Days until the last day of classes.
These dozen days will go faster than a dozen donuts in a police station.