Issue 15, Volume 80

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Issue 15, Volume 80

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Power forward

He's faced more challenges in the public eye than most see their entire life. But whether on or off the court, Devonta Pollard isn't looking to take the easy way out. | PG. 12

NEWS

Another barrier to cross

They come to escape political rule and deplorable living conditions. But the journey for naturalization doesn't stop for immigrants when they hit U.S. soil. | PAGE 4

OPINION

Towing money away

According to one writer, getting your car towed has almost become a rite of passage in Houston. It also might be causing permament damage to our large commuter population. | PG. 7

2 | Wednesday, December 3, 2014

NEWS

thedailycougar.com/news

Contact The Cougar

thedailycougar.com NEWSROOM 713-743-5360

Kelly Schafler

editor@thedailycougar.com facebook.com/thedailycougar twitter.com/thedailycougar

opinion@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/opinion

NEWS EDITOR

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR Paulina Rojas

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arts@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/life-arts

Keeping the grass greener on the UH side ALEXANDRA DOYLE, JOHN WITTINGTON, DANIEL PEREZ

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Most students have never talked to Doris Bermudez, but she helps to make UH’s campus beautiful every day.

Bermudez, a janitor at Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, is one of 160 people employed as janitorial staff on campus. One hundred thirty-four of those are custodians, 21 are groundskeepers, two are grounds supervisors and three are employed specifically for servicing Wortham Theatre.

“I clean here so that the students can have a comfortable environment,” Bermudez said.

“I like speaking with the students and seeing how they are. We don’t talk that much, but I like knowing about students’ lives.”

With approximately $811,000 allocated to grounds keeping by Facilities Management each year — which amounts to around $10 per semester for each student — some are beginning to take notice.

“I applied to several schools around the country, most of them in bigger metropolitan areas, and most schools don’t pay as much attention to green space as UH does,” said vocal performance junior Anna Montgomery.

“I find this campus very aestheti-

cally pleasing.”

A part of students’ tuition goes directly to maintenance and grounds keeping, but Facilities Management receives funding via three routes: state-appropriated funds, local tuition and payments rendered by departments because of unnecessary services, such as events or extra copies of keys.

State-appropriated funds pay for most salaries, as well as the budgets for automobiles and program management. Local tuition covers material expenses for maintenance, including parts,

713-743-5360

SPORTS EDITOR

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Sean Alder

Cara Smith

sports@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/sports

editor@thedailycougar.com

713-743-5360

CAMPUS

713-743-5360

Sara Samora

713-743-5360

A janitorial staff of 160 helps keep UH aesthetically pleasing. | Jenae Sitzes/The Cougar

OPINION EDITOR

i

713-743-5362

The Cougar

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ABOUT THE COUGAR

COPYRIGHT

The Cougar is published in print on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, and updated online daily throughout the year at www.thedailycougar.com. The Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost 25 cents.

No part of the newspaper in print or online may be reproduced without the consent of the director of the Center for Student Media.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Rates are $70 per year or $40 per semester. Mail subscription requests to: Mail Subscriptions, The Cougar, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-4015.

ISSUE STAFF COPY EDITING

Joshua Cochran Alexandra Doyle CLOSING EDITORS

Jenae Sitzes Christopher Shelton Cara Smith

NEWS TIPS Send tips and story ideas to the editors.

Call 713-743-5314, e-mail news@thedailycougar.com. A “Submit news” form is available at thedailycougar.com.

GREENER

Continues on page 5

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ABOUT CSM The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar, Student Video Network and CoogRadio.

Part of the Student Life portfolio in the Division of Student Affairs, the CSM is concerned with the development of students, focusing on critical thinking, leadership, ethics, collaboration, intercultural competence, goal-setting and ultimately, degree attainment. While our students are engaged in producing and promoting media channels and content, our goal is to ensure they are learning to become better thinkers and leaders in the process.

The second goal of the CSM is to manage the revenue-generating activities — advertising and media services — that can be used to grow our student media programs and provide richer experiences to the students involved.

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Wednesday, December 3, 2014 | 5 thedailycougar.com/news

news@thedailycougar.com

NEWS

Sara Samora, Editor

GREENER

CITIZENSHIP Continued from page 4 been in the country for more than ten years, having arrived between 1999 and 2004. The majority of these undocumented are also between the ages of 25 and 44, according to The New York Times.

“What we want is a system in which people are held accountable, a system in which those who have broken the law have to make some amends and get right with the law,” Obama said in a video released on the official White House website. “But also, we want a system that takes into account that there are good people out there who made a mistake but are very much our neighbors, our friends.”

Continued from page 2

husband. I got here in the most humane way possible, and it really hurts that I think they just threw me in with the rest of the ‘illegals.'

filters and contracted services like pest control or custodial work.

“Facilities Management is charged with the responsibility of maintaining all campus buildings, infrastructure and grounds,” said Director of Business Services for Plant Operations Georgeann Smith.

As with many organizations, the most visible part of Facilities Management is the people, especially the custodial and grounds-keeping staff. As difficult as cleaning up after students may seem, these custodians take pride in making the campus a place for students to keep learning.

Rosa Morales, a janitor for Wortham Theatre, likes her position because it brings her closer to art and theatre. She has been employed by the University for 12 years, and has held her post in the Wortham for 6.

“I like all of my job. I enjoy doing the cleaning,” Morales said.

“I don’t speak with the students, but most of them wave hello to me. Everyone is really friendly.”

news@thedailycougar.com

news@thedailycougar.com

Bumps on the Road Fernandez was a permanent resident for seven years before he was able to apply for and gain citizenship in 2012. Since moving to the United States, he has not returned home to Venezuela.

“I want to (go back to Venezuela) just to see family,” Fernandez said. “I’m never going to be embarrassed to say that I am from there. I’m never going to forget. I’m proud to be from there, to have been born there and to say that I have family there. But it’s just that the country that it could be today is not; it’s just a really horrible place that could be so much better – that to just go there would make me utterly depressed, so why even bother?”

On the other hand, biology junior Julie Garcia — who chose to have her real name withheld for fear that her citizenship experience would be further delayed — tried to obtain a green card for three years with

Fernandez went through his citizenship ceremony in 2012, applying after being a permanent resident for seven years. | Courtesy of Jonathan Fernandez

little success before being able to acquire one. Garcia, a Mexican native, has been living in the U.S. since she was six.

“The process is a little disheartening,” Garcia said. “All I want is to be able to get the benefits that you get from becoming an American citizen. It really sucks that the process took so long.”

Garcia suspects that she was unable to get her green card in an orderly fashion because she is from Mexico and married her American-born husband at the age of 18. She said that she felt alienated by the fact that a stigma about Mexicans preceded her and may have delayed her green card application. Garcia has had her green card for four years, and recently started the process of acquiring naturaliza-

Meeting the qualifications

Foreign-born immigrants have to meet a long list of eligibility requirements before they can apply for naturalization.

Below are just a few of the requirements: Must be at least 18 years old Be a permanent resident Immigrants have to have been a permanent resident for at least three years. Others may have to wait a bit longer depending on the circumstances in which they obtained permanent residency.

Read, write and speak basic English Have a physical presence and continual residence Potential citizens must have a physical presence for at least 18 months and hold a continual residence before being able to apply Have a basic knowledge of U.S. government One half of the naturalization test consists of U.S. government and history, making this a crucial portion of the checklist.

For more information, visit www.uscitizenship.info/Apply

tion. She hopes that this process will be easier than the first.

“I think they just thought that I was another person who jumped the fence,” Garcia said.

“I came to school here on a Visa, and that’s how I met my

4 | Wednesday, December 3, 2014

NEWS

thedailycougar.com/news

news@thedailycougar.com

Sara Samora, EDITOR

Immigration and citizenship have recently been brought to light by an executive order by President Barack Obama, providing amnesty for five million undocumented immigrants. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

The road to citizenship

For some students, naturalization is easy. For others, it's an arduous process.

GLISSETTE SANTANA

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @GSANTANA347

“(People) have no idea how good you have it here (in the United States) compared to other parts of the world.”

Venezuelan native Jonathan Fernandez is an immigrant. The media production senior came to the United States as a 10-yearold after his mother and father sought political asylum from the harsh rule of socialist Hugo Chavez.

His journey to becoming a citizen was an easy one in retrospect. Others, includinmedia production freshman Marius Klovning, have had more troubling experiences with the process of obtaining citizenship or a green card.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, approx-

imately 6 million petitions for citizenship are made by potential candidates and their employers. Because of the lack of dual citizenship from Norway, Klovning is not able to obtain American citizenship, instead opting to receive a green card — which allows an immigrant to gain permanent residency without the advantage of gaining citizenship.

“My dad’s company is the one that took care of everything for us,” Klovning said. “I’m trying to get my green card, and if I don’t get it by the end of this school year, I’m going to have to leave the (United States) for an entire year. It’s a process that I really don’t have any control over.”

For Fernandez, gaining citizenship wasn’t a hassle. With his father being an engineer, his family was able to make a case

to immigration authorities that their lives in Venezuela had been compromised due to political persecution and that they were able to apply for residency in Florida.

“When I moved to the U.S., it was like a huge culture shock.

I had no idea this country existed,” Fernandez said. “Things like ketchup — I thought that

was invented in Venezuela, and then I moved here and I was like ‘What the hell?’ ”

Back to Basics A total of 11 million undocumented immigrants are living in the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security. President Obama recently announced plans to

“I know a lot of people that were born here and they hate it here and they want to move and they complain and I'm just like, 'If you were from another part of the world, you would be surprised at how many people want to live in this country.'"

Jonathan Fernandez, media production senior

issue an executive order that would keep approximately five million these undocumented immigrants from being deported, which received backlash from Republicans. Of those five million, four have had children —born American citizens because they were born on U.S. soil — giving them incentive, according to Obama, to stay in the United States.

The President’s executive order could pave the way to a bill being passed about comprehensive immigration reform.

“Pass a bill,” has been continually repeated by Obama as critics, and mainly Republicans, have weighed in with their opinions.

About 54 percent of those undocumented immigrants have

CITIZENSHIP

Continues on page 5

6 | Wednesday, December 3, 2014

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Over Thanksgiving break, we asked our readers to use the hashtag #Coogsgiving to show us how they celebrate the holiday. Below are some of the responses we received. Thanks to all who participated!

@cpdhil Thankful for family and babies. #Coogsgiving

@uhcougarwbb The Cougars are enjoying their tropical Thanksgiving in Puerto Rico! #GoCoogs #Coogsgiving

@decodedfromspace Served. #Coogsgiving

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Thanksgiving with family, homework, and an Orphan Black Marathon! #Coogsgiving

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@Cephira This is how my family celebrates Thanksgiving! #Coogsgiving

@sean_w_alder How I'm spending my Thanksgiving! #Coogsgiving

@nataliejharms Don't you wish your plate was as photogenic as mine? #Coogsgiving #happythanksgiving

Wednesday, December 3, 2014 | 7

thedailycougar.com/opinion

OPINION

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Kelly Schafler, EDITOR

CAMPUS

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Cara Smith

Paulina Rojas

MANAGING EDITOR

PHOTO EDITOR

Jenae Sitzes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Christopher Shelton NEWS EDITOR

Sara Samora CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Joshua Cochran SPORTS EDITOR

Jimmy Moreland OPINION EDITOR

Kelly Schafler ASSISTANT EDITORS

Glissette Santana, Justin Tijerina STILL AN EDITOR

Andrew Valderas

Sean Alder

STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The 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 Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The 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 N221, University Center; 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.

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 limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; or fax them to 713-743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.

The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

studentpress.org/acp

Towing: The unjust, unnecessary vulture of Houston

O

ne may find it hard to imagine that some of the laws put in place in American society use a form of blackmail as a consequence. On campus, in Houston and across the country, a person can be bombarded with the sounds and sights of such sketchy ineptitude.

Students are well aware of the danger of HENRY STURM towing — one COLUMNIST mistake and a person’s car will be gone when they return, dragged off by strangers of the Paleolithic persuasion.

In order to see the car again, that person must pay the requisite fine, which is often expensive; however, it isn’t paying the fine that is the problem. It's the often unnecessary circumstances under which vehicles are towed that is problematic.

With UH having such a large commuter population, losing one’s only means of transportation can have a devastating impact. This is especially frustrating when a car is towed from a parking space in a half empty lot, and cases of similar triviality.

There are many valid instances in which there is sound reason to deliver a ticket.

UH Parking and Transportation Services Director Robert Browand said vehicles are subject to be towed when they violate fire zones, reserved spaces, disabled parking or the parking permits are lost, stolen or altered.

However, there are times when tow truck operators somehow unlock a person’s car and rummage around inside it.

"This is done to avoid damage to vehicles," Browand said.

"For example, if the vehicle is a manual shift, the wrecker driver needs to put the car in neutral before it can be towed.”

This is all well and good, but with the absence of permission, situations like these begin to feel dishonest and illegal.

Browand's examples of towing are understandable, as they are incidents in which safety is threatened. In these cases, the towing serves the purpose of removing the obstruction so that safety is secure once more;

At UH, some students are frustrated with the towing policies. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

however, there are many cases in which there is no such obstruction is there.

It seems like many miscreants have found the towing game an easy one to use for their advantage — instances of illegal towing pop up in the news and in conversation.

It is common knowledge that tow truck drivers race to the scene of an automobile accident.

This not only causes anxiety for surrounding bystanders who might be stuck in traffic as the tow trucks hurtle by, but it increases the threat of more physical harm.

Towing seems to increase the amount of negative situations, rather than the proposed goal of decreasing them. However, the towing industry doesn’t have to be this way.

According to IBISWorld, an online publisher of business intelligence, there are 8,465 tow truck companies in the U.S. and 52,716 jobs spread out across these companies. Jobs are a good thing, especially as the economy slowly licks its wounds and rises from the dust.

The Houston Chronicle reported that Houston officials are making plans to ease congestion by "reviving and expanding a successful freeway-clearing program." This plan would require tow trucks to quickly remove any vehicle that

is broken down on travel lanes or freeway shoulders without the drivers having to pay a fee.

Instead, the towing companies would be paid by transportation officials for the cost of the service.

Towing should be used only for these situations in which the towing of a car will lead to the safety of others. This includes removing cars from fire zones, removing involved cars from the scene of an accident and towing a car for someone after it broke down.

The reasons for towing a car in a parking space that wasn’t being used doesn’t make sense.

Monetary gain is the only true reason — and it's a crooked one at that.

“When you say congestion, I think traffic jams, long lines (and) standing stationary for long periods," Browand said.

"We do not tow to alleviate any of those. I would say we tow for compliance."

The snatching and holding of a person’s car until mandatory funds are paid doesn’t really sound like the best way to instill compliance of the law within people. Proof that the law is vital to the safe and efficient running of a campus, city or country seems like a better route to take.

“The charge for a towed vehicle is $96.25. The money goes to Parking and Transportation Ser-

vices and is used to fund parking services, which includes parking enforcement,” Browand said.

The towing of vehicles pays the wage of those towing the vehicles. Instead of violating the privacy of people’s property to keep the towing market going, divert the skills and employees towards helping rather than hurting.

If someone breaks the law, give them a fine, but people shouldn’t be treated as children for a mistake. Those involved in the towing of cars should put away their wallets, wipe away that drool and act as humans towards those they take from, rather than as mongers of discontent.

If it’s anything for a buck, then society is in freefall.

Capitalism can only be healthy in a country of honor, integrity and goodwill. Though it may sound like a Hallmark card — albeit a strange one at that — the fact is a good one. It is also a large one, as everything in this nation, all of the debates, are connected like links in a chain.

Just look at the minute instances, the individual situations and make the choice to be a good person.

Opinion columnist Henry Sturm is a journalism junior and may be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

8 | Wednesday, December 3, 2014

LIFE & ARTS thedailycougar.com/life-arts

arts@thedailycougar.com

Paulina Rojas, EDITOR

CULTURE

'Glass Mountain' tackles hurdles head-on, succeeds PAULINA ROJAS

LIFE &ARTS EDITOR @PERPETUALLYPAU

Managing a student-run publication can be a challenge, and undergraduate-run literary journal "Glass Mountain" is no different — even though it publishes once a semester.

“It is very hectic for us, and we are constantly dealing with deadlines,” said co-managing editor and creative writing senior Shania Fraizer. “It gets more and more hectic as the semester closes.”

This semester, there have been new opportunities for the journal to get its name out and build a bigger audience.

“We have a class now for journal editing, and it has made it a lot easier to communicate and coordinate what we are going to do with the journal,” Fraizer said. “Having the class also gives us a lot more opportunities to expand.”

The publication held its biggest fundraiser, Write-a-Thon, last month, and it raised about $10,000 — not too far short of the initial goal of $12,000.

“It is typically how much money we raise every year,” Fraizer said.

Giving staffers incentives helps keeps spirits high through the year, especially during fundraisers and special events.

“We try to give our staffers incentives since we cannot pay them... like getting free access to the Boldface convention which is typically $100 per person,” Fraizer said.

The proceeds of Write-a-thon go

"Glass Mountain" hosts readings throughout the school year. Some are held on campus, while others are held off campus. These help build the journal's audience and get its name out in the community. | Courtesy of 'Glass Mountain'

to cover the costs of the conference.

The journal also hosts a reading series that many students are unaware of, as the readings are held off and on campus.

“We usually have a graduate student, one staff member and

one community member read.

We also always end with an open mic, which is a big crowd-pleaser,” Fraizer said. “Readings are starting to pick up this semester, but they usually have a low turnout. They do not think it can be a fun event.

Readings are on and off campus.”

Even for those who are not studying creative writing, Glass Mountain provides a unique outlet for experiences.

“It is a platform for undergraduates and emerging writers,” said Fraizer. “It gives people the oppor-

tunity to get their feet wet.”

The journal is always looking for new talent regardless of major or classification.

Interested students can apply at www.glassmountainmag.com. arts@thedailycougar.com

MOVIES

'Foxcatcher' brings out best in actors NICK TIFFANY

STAFF WRITER @NTMOBILETEEN

Channing Tatum (back) has arguably one of his best performances as Mark Schultz in "Foxcatcher." | Courtesy of Sony Classics

"Foxcatcher" is a meticulously crafted dark film that leaves you with an unsettling feeling by its close.

Unlike any film you’ll see in the theater this year, "Foxcatcher" takes its time unraveling its complex story and provides a wealth of information to the audience.

Its story is also one of disparity, psychology, physicality, and the effects that humans can have on one another.

The film boasts three of the

strongest male performances of the year, with two coming as huge turns for the actor’s careers. I’m not in the “ 'Foxcatcher' is a masterpiece” camp, but it’s certainly one of the better films this year.

After winning a gold medal for wrestling in the Los Angeles Olympics, Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum) returns to a relatively quiet life, barely making it by on his own. Each day, he goes to train at a nearby university with his older brother and gold medalist, Dave (Mark Ruffalo). Dave has a wife (Sienna Miller) and kids, and is constantly surrounded

by people, unlike Mark. A series of phone calls trouble Mark and eventually a man named Jack (Anthony Michael Hall) speaks and invites Mark to meet John du Pont (Steve Carell) at his Foxcatcher estates. Once there, Mark is invited to live and train on the grounds and forms an unusual bond with the mysterious du Pont.

Steve Carell leaves the jokes at home and dawns a prosthetic nose that only increases the level

ACTORS

Continues on next page

LIFE & ARTS

Wednesday, December 3, 2014 | 9

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ACTORS

Continued from previous page

of creepiness and fright that his character’s stares evoke. Slow with his speech and unflinching with his eyes, Carell observes and responds to the characters and settings around him in the most calculated of ways.

His deep-seeded familial issues and struggle to strive in a sport he’s no good at leaves him emotionally fragile and mentally unstable, posing a threat to anyone who disobeys him. The character is eerily brought to life by the brilliant Carell, who never misses a beat and finds his way into the the thoughts of his pupils and the audience.

Channing Tatum also reinvents himself as a dramatic leading actor, proving that he’s more than just a pretty face. His physical and emotional dedication to this role is unbelievable, as he adds so much extra depth and character to the wrestler living in his brother’s shadow.

Tatum’s understanding of and reaction to events and characters separates this work from everything else he’s done, and his chemistry with Ruffalo is really something special. Ruffalo’s big brother is not the obnoxious type most know, but is instead a gentle and caring companion that loves Tatum’s character. Ruffalo is the only one who ever stands up against Carell and in those instances, you’ll be holding on to your seat for dear life.

Director Bennett Miller has only directed three feature films thus far, with both "Capote" and

"Moneyball" finding their way to Academy Award Nominations.

With "Foxcatcher," Miller ventures into his darkest territory yet, slowly building a story around three very different men. The film progresses in a somewhat unusual fashion, but it’s exhilarating as we get to watch Tatum and Ruffalo wrestle in real life. The focus on Foxcatcher farms, the history of the du Pont family, and the focus on John du Pont’s fascination with the Schultz brothers sets some freaky undertones, which gradually grow larger over time.

For a film stretching a little over two hours, Miller takes his time with this story and loses some steam in the middle. The initial set-up is slow, but interesting enough to carry us into the main events in the film. Accompanying the slow pace is a relatively quiet score that’s overcome by the little dialogue and long stares. There’s some analysis and exploration of du Pont’s character and his current state, but Miller chooses to focus more on the Schultz brothers, leaving many unanswered questions about what really went on. It’s obvious that du Pont isn’t completely sane, but it would have been nice to see more of what makes his character tick and to see more of how he affects his wrestlers.

This film doesn’t flow as well as it could have and would have benefited from more character study, but "Foxcatcher" is an extremely thrilling film which certainly leaves its mark in your mind. arts@thedailycougar.com

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10 | Wednesday, December 3, 2014

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Looking for a fun, part-time job? The Children’s Museum of Houston has openings for outgoing, energetic individuals to work with children to ensure a fun, positive and educational visitor experience.

21 Full-time- Server 1 Full-time- Busser 1 Part-time/Full timeLocker Room attendant

Please submit your resume to: Email: personnel@thebriarclub.com Fax: 713-622-1366

MONTESSORI SCHOOL Located in the museum district.

IDEAL FOR STUDENTS! Call 713-520-0738

$15/HR + 50 CENTS/MILE

$8:30am-12:30pm M-F. Assistant property manager: Inspect vacancies, meet venders, place for rent signs, must have a vehicle managerenthouses.com 713-528-5311

Off campus?

Online.

Get more Classifieds at thedailycougar. com/ classifieds

HELP WANTED

Discovery Guides (Part-time)

The Briar Club

Looking for Subs/Assistants.

4, 6, and 8 hour shifts available

thedailycougar.com/classifieds

Gift Shop Associate Children’s Museum of Houston Fiddlesticks Toys needs a friendly individual to help stock, organize and clean the Museum gift shop .Will operate cash register and work 20 hours per week and must be able to have a flexible year round part-time schedule. Requires ability to work Thursday nights and weekends. Min. HS diploma required as well as previous retail experience.

Bilingual a plus!

Online applications only at:

Requires interacting with visitors, leading interactive group and school tours and providing information and assistance. Applicants must be customer-service oriented and have excellent public speaking skills. Bilingual skills (Spanish, Vietnamese, etc.) a BIG plus!

Online applications only at: www.cmhouston.org /careers

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY IN MEDICAL OFFICE:

Part time position available for student in Cardiology / Internal Medicine Office & clerical duties. Some flexibility.

Spanish/English required.

Call 713-522-9934 for appointment.

RENTALS

RENTALS

IT’S HARD TO FIND GOOD HELP these days, but not with The Cougar Classifieds. One ad can reach thousands! Call 713-743-5356.

Find a home. Find a job. Find it here.

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

APARTMENTS & HOUSES for rent or sale. FREE realtor assistance. Call or Text 281-897-9964.

APARTMENT FOR RENT. 2 bdrm, Central A/C & Heat. Hardwood Floors. $675. 713-598-8901.

Cottage 2BR/1BA

within blocks of UH. Convenient to Downtown & Med. Center. $700/mo. + electricity. Separate House at back of lot, quiet residential street. Deposit/Good Credit required. Furnished or unfurnished. Available 12/15 or before.

Call Jack at 281-591-6964 or 832-212-0436.

BULLETIN BOARD Phone Repair and Pre Paid plans!

Mobile Phone Repair- The best little cell phone shop in Texas has your needs to fix your phone and make free long distance calls around the world (China, India, Mexico...) with prepaid services. Student discounts are available for all repairs. Contact us at (713) 510-8590 810 Richmond Ave. Houston Tx, 77006. Email fernandogarnica@ yahoo.com

www.cmhouston.org/careers

MALE LEASE TRANSFER AVAILABLE 1/1/15. 2b/2b 893 sq ft apartment at Cambridge Oaks. Full kitchen; pets allowed; no meal plan req'd. On campus of U of H.Email for showing.

See apt website for details. Email ignoringranger@hotmail.com

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Log on to thedailycougar.com/ classifieds to post online and print ads

CATHOLIC MASS ON CAMPUS SUNDAYS: 10:45 AM - Religion Center 6:00 PM - Catholic Center WEEKDAYS: M, T, W, Th -12:00 Noon CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER Confession: Before or After Masses Office # (713) 748-2529

BULLETIN BOARD Fertility Resources of Houston

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BUY YOUR NEXT CLASSIFIED AD in your pajamas. Log on to thedailycougar.com/classifieds to begin posting online and print ads, 24/7/365.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014 | 11

thedailycougar.com/sports

SPORTS

sports@thedailycougar.com

Sean Alder, EDITOR

VOLLEYBALL

Platt looks back on Cougars’ season, anticipates bright future MICHAEL CALDERON

leading the conference in most offensive categories, so the defensive end is where we are seeing improvement and still need to improve.

STAFF WRITER

@MWC0052

The Cougars' season came to a close this past weekend as the Houston volleyball team fell in four sets to Temple. The Cougars end the year with an overall record of 14-18 and 6-14 in AAC play to put them in ninth place.

Head coach Kaddie Platt sat down with The Cougar to reflect on the season and what it meant while looking ahead to the offseason.

TC: Where will the team have to improve in order to be ready for next season?

KP: Being physical at the net, definitely.

Just having other options as far as terminating and running a good, clean system offensively.

TC: Who do you expect to be your key players to build around?

The Cougar: Several senior players have had outstanding careers, how do you plan on replacing their impact going forward?

KP: We will see how they iron out here in the spring. Spring practice will really be key to answering that question for us.

TC: What are your expectations for this team in the 2015 season?

Kaddie Platt: Natalie Keck has been an anchor for the team defensively for four years now. She and Kadi Kullerkann have had an impact on our program from day one. Courtney Warren and Katy Waters have come in and played great roles, been good teammates and have been leaders on the court and in the locker room. In the off season, we just have to develop and get better. As

Platt closes her third season as head coach at Houston, leading the Cougars to an overall record of 14-18 and 6-14 in conference. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar far as recruiting for next fall, we definitely have to have some people come in and contribute like they did.

strength of the team this season?

KP: We improve all the time, following a game plan for example. If there is something we have been working on

TC: What has been the biggest

in practice, you can see the players apply it to the game. Defense as well, we have improved a lot there. We have always had good offensive play. We’re

KP: There is a long time between here and there, but we definitely want to focus on being competitive and prepared. Working hard and being disciplined are anchors us as a program, and those things we try to instill in our student athletes.

sports@thedailycougar.com

WEEK IN SPORTS

Big holiday road trips for Cougars SEAN ALDER

SPORTS EDITOR @SEAN_W_ALDER

With the fall sports coming to a close, the Cougars are finding a lot to be proud of and a lot to look forward to after last week's Thanksgiving road trips.

Give other women the chance of becoming a mother through the donation of eggs. A donor will be monetarily compensated for their time and efforts, but the greatest reward is giving an infertile couple the blessing of parenthood.

The Houston volleyball team played their final game of the season against Temple on Friday, finishing the year 14-18 overall.

Senior libero Natalie Keck finished her final season at UH with 654 digs, the third most digs in a single season for a Cougar. Houston women's basketball traveled to Puerto Rico this past weekend to play in the San Juan Shootout and fell in two close contests against Idaho State (73-67) and No. 25 James Madison (84-60) The Cougars furthered their bowl eligibility as they picked up their seventh win over the SMU Mustangs. The 35-9 victory propels Houston football into its final game against Cincinnati on Dec. 6.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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12 | Wednesday, December 3, 2014

SPORTS

thedailycougar.com/sports

sports@thedailycougar.com

Sean Alder, EDITOR

MEN'S BASKETBALL

After challenges, Pollard plays with perspective Since starting over at UH, one of the newest members of the team hopes to triumph after tragedy CONRAD SCHAFMAN, LEAH LUCIO AND JASSIEL LOZANO

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Devonta Pollard sits in an empty Hofheinz Pavilion after practice, watching teammates and coaches make their way to the locker room one-by-one. The newest star of the Cougar basketball team may be over 500 miles from his hometown of Porterville, Miss., but he feels most at home on the court.

“Basketball is where I lose myself, but it’s also where I find myself,” he says with a soft-spoken Mississippi drawl. “It’s a place where I can focus on me and the things I want to accomplish in life.”

Ambitious to-do list Right now he’s focused on good grades, getting better on the basketball court and winning games. In the long run he hopes to add “first-round NBA draft pick” to his already extensive basketball resume. But each of his goals take him back to where he started, to the person who taught him to play the game: his mother.

“I want to get my mom from where she is and take her home… to her own house," he said.

Currently, his mother, Jessie Pollard is the federal prison. In February, she was sentenced to 25 years in prison for a kidnapping that spiraled out of control.

It started as a dispute over foreclosed land between his mother and a cousin. It ended with his mother kidnapping the cousin’s child. The child was dropped off the next day unharmed.

Devonta was charged with a role in the crime and had to testify against his mother to prove his innocence. The judge agreed to drop the charges against him in exchange for his testimony, as long as Devonta manages to keep his nose clean for the next two years.

He doesn’t remember parts of that day in court because it was “a lot to handle.”

Long road to UH The former McDonald’s All-American was a high school superstar in Mississippi, but struggled during his freshman season at Alabama. His on-the-court struggles and off-the-court legal problems made the decision to transfer back home to East Mississippi Community College easy.

Junior forward Devonta Pollard hopes that one day he will be a first round draft pick, primarily so he can help his mother, who is incarcerated. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

“I knew I couldn’t go straight to another Division-1 school because of what had happened,” he said.

“I would’ve had to sit out, and I couldn’t imagine being away from the game for a year… I had to keep playing.

Devonta chose a community college close to home because he wasn’t ready to leave his family.

It was an up-and-down year. He struggled emotionally without his mother, whom he also calls his “best friend,” but he persisted. He kept going to classes and working on his game, once again finding himself through basketball. He waited. Then one day, he got a call from new UH head coach Kelvin Sampson.

A family environment “The main reason I signed with UH was how close I grew to Coach Sampson,” Pollard said. “He doesn’t just treat you like a basketball player. He treats you like a human being.”

Sampson faced an uphill battle of his own after being hired by UH in April. Several of the team’s best players transferred away after last season, and he had to recruit eight

new faces before the school year.

Devonta, he said, is “truly unique.”

“He’s a great kid,” Sampson said. “Having a dynamic guy like Devonta allows you put the ball in his hands and let him close out games. He can score from anywhere.”

Sampson knew nothing of Devonta’s past when he started recruiting him. But Sampson says that his off-the-court woes had no impact on the decision.

“I started coaching to help kids like Devonta, and you can’t lose sight of that," Sampson said.

Sampson is also starting over. He resigned as head coach of Indiana in 2008 due to recruiting violations.

A stint as an assistant in the NBA followed, including a 3-year-run working for the Houston Rockets.

According to Pollard, Coach Sampson is hitting the ground running.

“Everybody believes in what coach is selling,” Pollard says. “I can talk to the staff about anything, even if it’s an off-the-court issue.

They treat you like family, and you don’t find that everywhere.”

It didn’t take Pollard long to make a name for himself at UH. In his first official game back, Devonta

led a thrilling comeback against Murray State. The Cougars went into halftime with a four-point deficit, the same number of points Devonta had individually. But he rallied in the second half to finish with 19 points and five rebounds.

The Cougars won 77-74.

“I wasn’t playing that game for the individual stats. I’m not the type of guy that wants all the fame,” Pollard said. “I just really hate to lose.”

Succeeding on the court When he walked onto the court at Murray State, he said, the reality of his journey “became real.” The bright lights became brighter, the fans in the stands sounded louder and the game jersey on his chest felt heavier. He was “overwhelmed,” he said.

At halftime he snapped out of it. Once again, he found himself through basketball. In the Cougars' three games this season, Devonta is averaging 14 points and seven rebounds and has led the team in scoring twice.

Off the court, Devonta comes off as soft-spoken and courteous. On the court, said teammate Danrad Knowles, Devonta pumps up his

teammates and acts as a team leader.

“You know a lot of people think he’s a quiet guy, but when you get to know him he’s really loud,” Knowles said. “He’s a great player.”

Devonta was also named AAC conference player of the week for his performance against Murray State. Sampson recalls asking him about the honor, only to realize that Devonta hadn’t heard about it.

“He didn’t even know, but that’s the kind of kid he is,” Sampson said.

“First thing he said was ‘I wish I could tell my mom about this,’ But she was out of phone minutes for the month. So I called him into my office and we wrote up a letter and sent it to her.”

While Devonta’s mother remains close to his heart and in his thoughts, he is building a new life at Houston. Porterville is an eighthour drive from Houston, and he said the distance makes him focus on bettering himself every day, as both a player and a person.

“I want to start over,” he said.

“And I don’t just mean with basketball. I want to start over in life.” sports@thedailycougar.com