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CAMPUS

Students mentor youth in Law Center program LAURA GILLESPIE

STAFF WRITER @LAURAEVELYNG

Every Monday, history freshman Chris Chambers wakes up bright and early to bike to the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity – a charter school that stands only a five-minute drive from the University.

By 7:15 a.m. he’s sitting down with eighth grade student Jordan North. They talk about Jordan’s day, his plans for the future, what he wants to do for college. The meetings last a little less than an hour, but the goal is to make a profound difference in students like Jordan.

Chambers is one of 42 UH students, alumni, staff and community members who has spent the past semester volunteering with WALIPP eighth graders.

The meetings aren’t to discuss grades or responsibilities – they’re just to provide a mentor for the students.

“The thing about speaking with someone like an eighth grader is to have a level of mutual respect — not to be too high, not to not be able to listen to them,” Chambers said.

The program, the Juvenile and Capital Advocacy Project, is the pet project of David Dow, a UH Law Center professor who is

seeking to reduce crime through increased education. His 2012 TEDx talk, “Lessons from Death Row Inmates,” expanded on this, and the program quickly followed.

“Everyone needs a mentor, we could all use a cheerleader in our lives, someone to listen to us, to affirm we are great, awesome

“I remember when I was in eighth grade, I saw people in college...I thought they were giants.”

Chris Chambers, history freshman people who have a lot of potential,” said Erin Osborn, director of JCAP’s mentorship program.

“They’re really there to be a supporter and a cheerleader. Not a teacher, principal, parent. Not there to gripe at them. Let them brainstorm on their own, teach them problem solving skills.”

Mentors like Chambers are committed to their students for a full school year. In his time over the Fall Semester, Chambers learned Jordan wants to play for the NBA and become a video

U of H

STUDENTS

game designer, and Chambers has been hard at work telling him to work toward his dreams. “(In) ten years, ( Jordan) would probably be about 23, I would hope that he’s either finishing his senior year or graduating college at a technology school, (studying) computer systems whatever he’s into, that could change,” Chambers said.

The program only began a year ago, and hasn’t seen concrete results yet.

But Osborn is conducting research on the students’ progress into high school and beyond and hopes to gather concrete proof that the program is helping the kids and not wasting resources.

Osborn meets with the students nearly every day, and has built a relationship with them herself.

“I remember when I was in eighth grade, I saw people in college I thought they were up there. I thought they were giants,” Chambers said.

“It’s good to see I’m not too adult, but I’m still mature. It’s always good to have adult mentors, but it’s also good to have (ones your own age). It makes the whole experience less stressful.” news@thedailycougar.com

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Sara Samora, EDITOR

NATION

The 'boomerang kids': How millennials are retaining their independence JENAE SITZES

MANAGING EDITOR @JENAESITZES

For Andy Lu, living at home and working for his parents isn’t a matter of convenience — it’s a necessity.

“Because we’re a first generation of immigrants, they’re dependent on me, so I have to help them live,” Lu said. “Without me, they can’t do the bills, they can’t read the mail, they can’t operate their business.”

After experiencing on-campus life during the second semester of his freshman year and relocating to a rented house for his sophomore year, the 22-year-old marketing junior decided to move back home to help his parents run the Chinese restaurant they purchased in 2012. Lu described his relationship with his parents as mutually beneficial.

“My parents do pay for utilities and everything,” Lu said. “But then in return, I have to manage the restaurant they own, manage the house, all the car stuff. I do pretty much all the chores, and they pay for all the things.

"So it’s like an equal trade, and right now for me and my parents, I see it as a kind of codependent (relationship).”

Despite the fact that his parents support him financially, Lu said living at home has not affected his sense of independence.

“They are more dependent on me, because if I leave, I mean…I have a high school diploma, I’m in college. I could get a job. I could live by myself. But they can’t,” Lu said.

Lu’s situation highlights the financial necessity of living at home that many millennials — those born after 1980 and before 2000 — are facing today as young adults. According to the Pew Research Center, 53 percent of 18to 24-year-olds are living at home.

Considering that 39 percent of millennials within this age group are enrolled in college and that college students are more likely to live at home than those not enrolled at college, it’s clear that pursuing higher education has urged many ambitious young people to stay or return to the nest.

'Boomerang kids' This trend has caused many experts to label millennials as “boomerang kids,” a category that can be split into two different groups: those who are content

What Millennials between age 18 and 24 reported about living at home and their relationship with their parents Young adults living at home who say they’re confident they’ll earn enough money in the future to live the life they want Young adults who live at home or who have moved home for some period of time during the past few years Young adults who say living at home has been positive for their relationship with their parents, versus only 12 percent who say it has been negative

83% 53% 41% 34%

Young adults who say that their parents regularly give them money

Young adults under age 25 who say they pay their parents rent

25% 0%

25%

50%

100%

75%

Infographic by A.Tomic

Source Pew Research Center (2012)

Even though she lives at home, junior Sahar Sadoughi said her mother, Shahine, supports her academic and professional endeavors. Meanwhile, their relationship remains strong. | Courtesy of Sahar Sadoughi

“I think, and my parents somewhat understand, that living out of the home but still in the same city is an adjusting step to what and where I hope to be after I graduate.”

Sahar Sadoughi, political science junior living at home and contribute nothing to the household, and those who have an “exit strategy,” according to CNN.

Lu acknowledged the difference that productivity makes when living in a house owned by one’s parents, even if one calls it

“home.”

“I don’t see a problem with living at home. You can help your parents, they can help you — why not?” Lu said. "If you’re leeching off your parents, it’s not a good thing, because you’re just going to grow lazier and lazier, get comfortable with it. And then if you have younger siblings, I do see why it’s a bad thing, because they’ll be like, ‘My older brother lives at home, (so) why can’t I do it? Why do I have to get a job?’”

Jeffrey Arnett, a research professor at Clark University, said many parents of millennials are so willing to provide financial support to their children because they “invented the idea of striving for a career you really want.” The discomfort some parents feel, then, could be a product of the expectations they grew up with.

"Even though we have this new norm, we don't feel entirely comfortable because we still have this old value that they should kind of be doing this themselves," Arnett said.

Growing pains Despite common perceptions of millennials as being lazy and lacking ambition, recent studies are showing that the closer parental relationship that millennials have developed while living at home is beneficial in the longterm and doesn’t conflict with young adults’ sense of independence.

In 2012, The New York Times reported that young adults who received support from their parents, whether financially, practically or emotionally, said they had clearer life goals and higher satisfaction than those who did not receive as much parental support.

Millennials are now consulting their parents for advice, unlike young people of 25 years ago, who instead turned to their peers.

Experts suggest that the closer parental relationship young people are embracing today is breeding a group of emerging adults that utilize the experience of their middle-aged parents, who are able to draw from their greater life experiences and material resources, to forge successful lives for themselves, according to the Times.

In addition to the rising cost of higher education and a slowly recovering economy, the trend of delayed marriage is also providing incentive for millennials to stay home. Today, the median age of marriage for men is 29; for women, 26, according to the United States Census Bureau.

Because young people are waiting so long to get hitched, usually until after they’ve received their first college degree, parents become crucial sources of support during this dynamic period of life.

Political science junior Sahar Sadoughi has lived with her parents for her entire undergraduate career at UH and said that in her culture, one doesn’t usually move out until married or unless it’s absolutely necessary. A close parental relationship is expected and considered very important.

However, she also emphasized the practicality of her living arrangements.

“So far I have saved more than $25,000 by living at home," Sadoughi said. "It's also definitely a plus for me that I don't live too far away from campus."

Sadoughi said that while her parents expect her to make time for them and be an active member of the family, they respect her educational goals and growing independence as a 20-year-old woman.

“It hasn't been until recently… that my mom will let me come home later so that I can study and…get my work done. My mom

MILLENNIAL

Continues on next page

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 5 thedailycougar.com/news

news@thedailycougar.com

MILLENNIAL

Continued from previous page gives me a lot of space to allow me to work as hard as I can without sacrificing her relationship to me, and I really appreciate that,” Sadoughi said.

Like Lu, Sadoughi described her status as a college student living at home in terms of earning her keep. She said she still does chores, helping to clean the house and washing her own clothes while assisting her mother in any way she can.

Common misconceptions Surveys done by The New York Times have shown that parents have reported uneasiness arising from the closeness of their relationship and the support provided to young adults by their parents, even in instances where the support is mutual.

The fear of 20-year-olds developing an inhibiting dependency on their parents from living at home could arise from images of the disheveled college (or high school) graduate crashing on the couch, playing video games before their shift at Kroger and ignoring their parent’s call to come do the dishes.

The general sense of entitlement observed among millennials contributes to this image.

Susan Ende, author of “How to Raise Your Adult Children,” says this sense of entitlement leads to a lack of shame about receiving support from one’s parents. This is where the distinction between the two groups of “boomerang kids” comes in.

Having an exit strategy and being an active contributor to the household is what sets a wide group of millennials apart from their “perma-child” peers, enabling them to call themselves independent while maintaining residence in their parents’ home.

An exit strategy For her senior year, Sadoughi plans to move into a dormitory on campus or an apartment near campus with one of her close friends, who her parents are familiar with.

“That's the only way my parents would be OK with it, although granted it's still in the mini stages.

I haven't fully persuaded them yet,” Sadoughi said. “When I graduate, I know that I am definitely not going to stay in Houston, so I need to prepare myself for that future."

“I think, and my parents somewhat understand, that living out of the home but still in the same city is an adjusting step to what and where I hope to be after I graduate.”

Lu’s exit strategy is to graduate and save money until he

NEWS

Sara Samora, Editor

can move to Austin and start a business of his own, which he has been planning for years. When his parents sell their restaurant and reach a point of stability without him, he said he will make the

transition.

“For a college student, (living on your own) is almost impossible because you have to focus on school, and if you get a 40-hour job to pay for housing, food and

utilities, you’re not going to be able to hold up your grades like that,” said Lu, whose parents gave him two weeks off from the restaurant to focus on his finals.

The negativity some still harbor

toward millennials living at home is understandable, Lu said.

“It’s because people don’t see what the kids are doing.” news@thedailycougar.com

6 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

NEWS

thedailycougar.com/news

news@thedailycougar.com

Sara Samora, Editor

Sorority members help set up last year's Frontier Fiesta. Greek life regularly helps plan and work Frontier Fiesta and Homecoming festivities. | File Photo/The Cougar

GREEK LIFE

Greek membership increases by 18 percent REBECCA HENNES

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @BECCAGHENNES

As on-campus student living has reached its highest peak so far at UH, so has Greek life.

This past year fraternity and sorority membership has grown by 18 percent. According to Director of the Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life Jason Bergeron, that’s the most significant increase in several years.

“We weren’t necessarily surprised to see that,” Bergeron said of the increase. “We’ve been investing a lot with new organizations coming to campus (and) we’ve been investing a lot in working with students to really improve the quality of the experience.”

Bergeron said a combination of increased campus living and a focus on improving the Greek life experience have led to the rise in participation of these organizations.

“We’re always thinking strategically about adding students and groups to our community,” Bergeron said. “That newness can be exciting for people and kind of re-infuses a sense of interest in not only the new groups coming to campus but also the groups already on campus.”

According to Bergeron, UH is home to several fraternities that have existed nationally from the early to mid 1800s and some that have existed solely on campus from the mid 1900s.

New organizations and chapters are still being “added pretty regularly” today.

“We are incredibly proud of the diversity of our fraternity and sorority community not only in type of organization but also in how long they’ve been here,” Bergeron said.

From the 1800’s to present day, Bergeron said the core values of the organizations on campus have remained the same. What has changed is the way these organizations deliver and cater an experience to students.

“I tell students all the time that the world is shifting beneath our feet, so if we aren’t shifting with it, then we are missing out,” Bergeron said.

“As the students that come to campus change, as their priorities change, as their personal and professional goals change, (these organizations) have the ability to shift how they deliver those things to change with them.”

These organizations not only provide students with

opportunities to give back philanthropy wise but they also allow students to contribute to the university by influencing campus events. Alpha Chi Omega, whose philanthropy is dedicated to victims of domestic violence, gives back by volunteering members to run for Ms. Fiesta to raise money for scholarships for prospective students at UH’s annual Frontier Fiesta.

“All of Greek life comes together to work on Homecoming, Frontier Fiesta and attend sporting events,” marketing and finance junior and Alpha Chi Omega member Tara VanDerpoel said. “As loud and as obnoxious as we may be at those sporting events, we have the best time with each other and we want to spread that fun to the whole student body.”

VanDerpoel said she didn’t plan on joining a sorority when she started at UH, but after a push from a friend to go through recruitment she said she realized she wanted to take part and give back.

“I chose Alpha Chi Omega in the end because every woman I saw and spoke with were women I eventually wanted to grow into - women who could hold themselves with such grace and class and women who helped every

Fraternities, such as Tau Kappa Epsilion, often participate in skits at events meant to raise money for charities. | File Photo/The Cougar

member around them grow stronger,” VanDerpoel said.

Finance senior Sebastian Agudelo joined the Sigma Nu Fraternity in 2011. He thinks Greek life at UH has grown because of the large influence the organizations and members have on campus.

“Most of the student leaders on campus as well as professors, faculty and athletes are members of a Greek organization,” Agudelo said. “Because of all the influence that Greek life has had in UH, students want to become a part of this growing movement. A part of something that is greater than them.”

If current trends continue,

Greek membership is expected to rise even more in the coming semesters. For members like VanDerpoel and Agudelo, the decision to join a Greek organization was one of the best they’ve ever made.

“Joining a fraternity changed my life and there is nothing that I can ever do to repay what I received,” Agudelo said. “Greek life will provide one with the skills necessary to be successful in their future careers, an unforgettable college experience and provide one with a vast network of brothers and sisters that will last a lifetime.” news@thedailycougar.com

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 7

NEWS

The Law Offices of

Ana Maria Schwartz

Immigration Law

Junior Vanessa Alejandro won the environmental policy category last year and went on to create her own non-profit organization. | Courtesy of UH NSM

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ACADEMICS

Udall scholarships bring national recognition REBECCA HENNES

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @BECCAGHENNES

The start of the New Year means that scholarship season is in full swing for students.

Whether you’ve already applied, are in the process of applying or haven’t even started, deadlines for nationally competitive scholarships are looming.

One scholarship in particular, the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Scholarship, will spark a campus competition that will narrow down the top 6 applicants to represent UH nationally.

The Udall Scholarship is geared towards students interested in any one of the areas of environmental policy, Native American health care or tribal policy.

Winners of the national competition are awarded a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to the Udall Scholar Orientation in Tucson, AZ during the summer for a chance to network with influential leaders. “(The winners) will have access to the Udall Alumni Network,” Coordinator of Nationally Competitive Scholarships Jennifer Asmussen said.

“The Alumni Network connects Scholars with environmental and tribal leaders, innovators, and public servants (and) is also a great resource for internship and job opportunities.”

Students have until Feb. 9 to apply for the campus competition and must submit a completed Udall sample application, essay, college

transcript and three letters of recommendation to the Office of Undergraduate Research.

Faculty selection committee members will then review the applications to choose the top 6 contenders.

So far, the only UH student to win the national competition was environmental studies junior Vanessa Alejandro, who was chosen out of 489 applicants from across the United States and Puerto Rico last year.

She won the environmental policy category and has moved on to create her own nonprofit, Warriors of the Wild, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that she co-founded in 2012 in an effort to educate younger generations on the environment.

“I was inspired by nature to pursue a scientific career, and I want to spark that same curiosity in younger students,” Alejandro said earlier in 2014.

“Not every student will be captivated, but it could change the lives of the ones who are. I want to motivate as many children as possible, just like my science teacher in elementary school inspired me.”

Asmussen said it’s nationally competitive scholars like Alejandro that shine the spotlight on UH. “Winning a nationally competitive award demonstrates the potential of UH students to the campus and local communities,” Asmussen said. “(And) it is a source of awareness, support, and inspiration for future Cougars.” news@thedailycougar.com

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8 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 9

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OPINION

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Kelly Schafler, EDITOR

CAMPUS

Freshii: Good option for health-conscious Cougars EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

SPORTS EDITOR

Cara Smith

Sean Alder

MANAGING EDITOR

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Jenae Sitzes

Joshua Cochran

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

OPINION EDITOR

Christopher Shelton NEWS EDITOR

Sara Samora CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Kelly Schafler ASSISTANT EDITORS

Glissette Santana, Justin Tijerina

Taelor Marquetti-Gadison

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.

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The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

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REBEKAH RICHARDSON

OPINION WRITER

C

ollege students are notorious for their unhealthy eating habits. They consume junk foods like Ramen noodles, frozen pizza and fast food to satisfy their insatiable appetites and accommodate their tight budgets.

Students don't necessarily eat poorly because they crave the taste of these unhealthy foods, but often because healthy products are hard to find and outrageously overpriced. An online poll conducted

by The Cougar questioned the level of importance people place on healthy eating in their daily life.

Of those who participated, 61 percent said they liked the idea of healthy eating, but that it's inconvenient and there aren't enough options available on campus.

Additionally, 29 percent of the participating students said that they make an effort to eat healthy foods and hardly ever eat food that isn't healthy.

Seven percent of respondents said that eating healthy is unimportant to them and that they don't ever think about how healthy their food is, and three percent said that healthy food doesn't taste good and it's not worth the effort.

Those who do want more convenient and healthy options on campus are buzzing with excitement at the Student Center's opening of Freshii, a restaurant devoted to clean eating and delicious tastes. Freshii’s manifesto says that through their vision of "Eat. Energize.," Freshii is "focused on providing fresh and nutritious meal choices that energize people on the go.”

Freshii is similar to most of the other restaurants on campus in that it is fast and easy for on-the-go college students, but its focus on natural ingredients sets it apart.

“Guests can choose from chef-designed creations or customize any order to fit their specific dietary needs and preferences," said marketing manager for UH Dining Services Amber Arguijo. "With a population as diverse as the University of Hous-

With the opening of the Student Center, Freshii offers Cougars an alternative to fast food on campus. Its menu has salads, wraps, burritos, soups, frozen yogurt, juices and smoothies. | Photos by Samantha Villarreal/The Cougar

ton, this customization is integral in ensuring that our dining program meets the needs of campus.”

Freshii is also a good option for vegetarians on campus. Computer science freshman Darya Balybina, who is a vegetarian, said that she's interested in this restaurant that focuses on fresh and healthy food.

"Even though I can probably get a semi-healthy burrito or something from Taco Bell, I would still love to get more options,” Balybina said. “Having more healthy eating options will be key to expanding beyond places that aren't focused on just serving fast food as quickly as possible.”

Freshii also offers burritos that range from $5.99-$7.49 and salads

“With a population as diverse as the University of Houston, this customization is integral in ensuring that our dining program meets the needs of campus.”

Amber Arguijo, marketing manager for UH Dining Services

that range from $5.99 to $13.99.

These prices are easily comparable to Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds and Panda Express — which are sure to be a primary competitors since these restaurants are all in the Student Center. In comparison, at the two dining halls on campus, it costs $9 to eat dinner without a meal plan.

Freshii is certainly a good start to an affordable and nutritious dining program, but it is still only one restaurant out of more than 30 on campus that is devoted to quality ingredients and healthy choices. For a university that had record enrollment of 39,540 students this semester, more options are not only wanted but they are warranted and necessary.

Students are at the mercy of the University when it comes to their nutrition. In fact, the notoriety that surrounds college students and their eating habits might better be associated with the University itself.

“I'm not a 100 percent healthy eater, because that gets expensive

no matter what, but our options on campus are usually either something that's healthy and doesn't taste great or it's deep fried and covered with cheese," said hotel and restaurant management and anthropology junior Ryan Foley. "I know a decent amount about nutrition, and the fact that we have so few healthy options on campus when a dietitian is working for us just blows my mind.”

Students should always be conscious of their food choices, but they are only able to choose the best of what is offered them. It is up to UH to provide its students with good options.

Hopefully the opening of Freshii will be a step toward a new era of clean eating at UH, and students and administration alike can work together to establish a priority on nutritious foods that taste good and are affordable.

Opinion columnist Rebekah Richardson is a liberal studies freshman and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.

10 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

OPINION

thedailycougar.com/opinion

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Kelly Schafler, EDITOR

CULTURE

Setting aside stigmas to aid in the removal of homelessness

O

n a cold winter morning in January outside of the Central Houston Public Library, a common yet unsettling sight played out for all to see.

A homeless man with a bearded and absent face, clad in ragged and torn clothing meant to shield his skin and bones from the biting wind, roamed in a wide circle.

“Well that’s HENRY the portrayal STURM that journalism OPINION WRITER is set to, to upset, sets up to … prioritize. And, which is, to prioritize itself,” the unidentified man said. “To prolong experimentation and exit a wound, a wound out exit, and a base clock. Or something.”

After his jumbled words, the man shrugged off and in a daze slowly moved away from the library and further into anonymity.

Madness is a frightening prospect. But to be mentally ill without a home and without loved ones or help is even more frightening.

One can barely imagine how it feels to wake up on a bench outside beneath the towering skyscrapers of downtown Hous-

ton in a city of strangers and cold shoulders.

Another issue is that this caricature of the insane — and therefore assumed to be dangerous — homeless man has become a generalization held by many people in society.

According to the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston, “nearly half of the unsheltered homeless population (in Houston) have a mental illness and/or substance abuse disorder.”

But with so many on the streets needing assistance, to be afraid and practice avoidance seems to only add wood to the fire. That fear is a contributing factor to the creation of a mentally ill majority amongst the homeless.

The National Coalition for the Homeless reported that contrary to popular belief, “many homeless people with severe mental illnesses are willing to accept treatment and services. Outreach programs are more successful when workers establish a trusting relationship through continued contact with the people they are trying to help.”

What society gets out of all of this is an endless cycle of woe, in

HOUSTON

Continues on page 11

A haiku about studying for the LSAT: No no no no no No no no no don’t want to No no no no no

BLUEPRINT CAN HELP. 888-4-BP-PREP blueprintlsat.com Spring classes in Houston to prep for the June LSAT start April 4th. Register with the code “SPRING100” for a $100 discount off a live course!

Art by Edith Rubio/The Cougar

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

This year, The Cougar will sweat the small stuff It’s the little things that always worry me. I can make grand, sweeping decisions fairly quickly, but it’s the minutia of a task that trips me up.

When I look back on the state of a newspaper I’ve been leaving my fingerprint on since May, I’m probably going to toil over a fragment of the entire picture.

But what I want to talk about is big... at least it feels that way to me. I’ll be the first to admit that we didn’t get everything right last semester — shockingly, the incredibly driven student journalists of The Cougar are students, and we still have a few things to learn.

A lot happened in 2014, and while it’s not my intention to be insensitive and reduce real events down to their news value, that’s what the job demands sometimes. In my mind, what stands out most from last year

are two senseless tragedies – suicides, both involving University students and both which left the public with lots of questions and few avenues for finding answers.

The Cougar could’ve used our unique platform to express some solidarity with the community struggling to find peace, or even admit that we were just as confused as the public on how to handle this senseless news twice in one year.

Aside from covering these events in a purely objective, journalistic capacity, I chose not to insert my viewpoints and the viewpoints of our readers into the fairly hushed public dialogue on the suicides.

We didn’t do a story on the rising suicide rates that come each winter, and we didn’t talk about the suicides outside of simply explaining to the public what happened. And I regret

that. I regret that The Cougar did not say more about suicide, as a source that you could maybe glean some comfort and insight from. I regret not letting more people be heard, not expressing the confusion and anger that can, and did, grip a community after tragedy.

Among many things, one thing I want The Cougar to do is just that – to make sure that all voices are heard.

And I’m not advocating advocacy, as that’s neither my prerogative as an editor or within the bounds of this publication’s mission to do so. What I’m calling for is for this news organization to be used in the way that its founders intended, which is to serve as a public forum for members of the UH community.

Here’s to getting the little things right in 2015.

-Cara Smith, editor in chief

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 11

thedailycougar.com/opinion

HOUSTON

Continued from page 10 which the misfortunate end up on the streets and receive judgment instead of assistance. The result of this judgmental image can be seen in the isolated petri dish of the winter holiday season.

According to a local radio station in Wilmington, Del., in December 2014, resident Matt Senge “wanted to give six homeless people a Christmas present."

Senge said he booked a suite at a local hotel for two men, a woman and her three children, all whom were homeless and living under a bridge.

But this act of holiday kindness — something all hope to see and wish to do themselves — did not see completion. The hotel cancelled the reservation for fear that the homelessness of the individuals would result in the endangerment of the other guests.

In the end, the majority of situation’s are the same year after year. A few acts of kindness, if they are able to survive the crucible of panic and judgment, reach the individuals who are homeless and hungry.

But for the most part, the only difference during the winter holiday for the homeless is that

opinion@thedailycougar.com

OPINION

Kelly Schafler, EDITOR

it is winter and it is colder, thus making life on the streets all the more difficult. “(Homelessness) can happen to anybody,” said Carl Thomas, who said he has been living on the streets for three years.

Thomas began his dance with misfortune when he was 16 years old after he ran away from home.

Since Thomas was a teenager, he said he has lost jobs and has dealt with an unhealthy affinity for "booze, liquor and wine," the same triad of vice that hurt many others in his family.

But over the holidays, Thomas “just (sat) back and wished (he) was connected with family” and spent his time “harbored in lunch lines.”

In his well-known book "Leviathan," famed English philosopher Thomas Hobbes calls life, as it is for human beings, “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” These definitions seem to ring true when one takes a walk through downtown Houston or in the areas near UH. Homeless individuals are abundant; however, this abundance — and the supposed truth of Hobbes’ statement — does not mean that nobody cares and nobody helps. There are many people like Senge who do the

best they can to put a dent in the homeless population or a dent in the back luck of those less fortunate.

According to a May 2014 article by the Houston Chronicle, “the homeless population in the Houston metropolitan area has continued to decline, prompting advocates ... to declare they are on track to meet a federal goal of housing virtually all chronic and veteran homeless by the end of 2015.”

This is good news for Houston and for the fight against home-

lessness. Yet such news is the kind that can nudge people into complacency.

According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, “even if homeless individuals with mental illnesses are provided with housing, they are unlikely to achieve residential stability and remain off the streets unless they have access to continued treatment and services.”

There is more to homelessness and the fight to end it than when a few good citizens achieve such results, even if they aren’t perfect.

Houston making a dent in the homeless population In 2014, there were a total of 5,351 homeless individuals in Harris County and Fort Bend County There has been a 37 percent decrease in homelessness since 2011 and a 16 percent decrease since last year.

There has been a 50 percent drop in unsheltered homeless population since 2011.

The number of homeless veterans decreased by 22 percent between 2013 and 2014.

Of chronically homeless individuals, 30 percent are unsheltered.

Information gathered from homelesshouston.org

The whole stigma that surrounds the homeless population needs to change before proper aid can be funded and administered.

Generalizations, whether dealing with homeless individuals or college students, always fall flat.

These stereotypes are based off of narrow views and miscommunication and are perpetuated by ignorance. So when real facts and real people get involved, such a basis for a perspective crumbles into dust.

The homeless demographic is like any, especially in Houston: diverse. There are the mentally ill, the disabled veterans, the substance abusers, the families that are victims of poverty and so on.

If this diversity was more widely understood, then maybe more people would feel comfortable in providing assistance to the homeless.

Maybe that homeless man, mentally ill seemingly beyond relief, wouldn’t have faded into anonymity, with just a ramble of what sounded like nonsense remaining as his epitaph.

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

12 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

LIFE & ARTS thedailycougar.com/life-arts

arts@thedailycougar.com

Joshua Cochran, EDITOR

PROFILE

Meet the Brand behind @UHouston Thanks to one woman, UH's social media presence is trending upward JENAE SITZES

MANAGING EDITOR @JENAESITZES

When she’s not handing out free t-shirts on Cougar Red Friday or live-tweeting an event on UH’s official Twitter account, there’s a good chance you’ll find Jessica Brand in some remote part of nature – probably reading a classic piece of Russian literature.

That’s one of the rare times Brand allows herself to turn off her phone. As UH’s social media manager, Brand’s job forces her to be constantly tuned in to what’s happening on and around campus by monitoring UH’s many social media platforms and tracking several hashtags.

#CreatingAPresence When Brand came into her career at UH in January 2010, UH was not active on any social media, other than having a longterm YouTube account.

Five years later, UH has over 112,000 likes on Facebook, almost 27,000 followers on Twitter and over 157,000 followers on LinkedIn. Brand has also expanded UH’s social media presence to include newer platforms, such as Tumblr and Pinterest, and, with her involvement, UH was the first among universities to begin using Snapchat.

Her first obstacle was getting the word out. Brand's small team set up booths around campus, urging people to “like” and “follow” UH on its new accounts. But this was 2010, a time when smartphones were not yet the norm.

“Maybe 10 percent of students on campus had smartphones,” Brand said. “So we had these really old and very slow computers, and very slow Wi-Fi and long lines…

But people were really excited.”

Last year, UH competed in the 7th Annual Shorty Awards, a competition honoring the best in social media within dozens of categories. Social media coordinator Tiffany Norman recalled how fiercely their team fought to have UH recognized as Social Media’s Best Barnes & Noble College, determined by how effectively the University uses social media to engage with students, faculty

Above: Social media manager Jessica Brand and her team, social media coordinator Tiffany Norman and intern Guillermo Pereira, reward business administration sophomore Madison Richard for wearing red on Cougar Red Friday. Below: Brand (right) and Norman work together to plan events. | Photos by Jenae Sitzes/The Cougar

and the campus community. UH placed as a finalist, and despite the team’s disappointment, Norman said Brand reminded everyone how much they have to be proud of.

“Even though we didn’t win, Jessica went to a thrift shop, purchased a random trophy, decorated it and presented it to us as our own Shorty Award to honor how hard we had worked,” Norman said. “It made us feel like winners.”

#ACareerThatDidn’tExist Brand graduated from UH in 2004 with a bachelor’s in communications and a focus in media production. Back then, there wasn’t much social media happening. For about six years, Brand worked several different jobs, honing skills that would later be useful in her social media career, such as video production, media monitoring and news editing.

In her free time, however, Brand was directly preparing for her career at UH without even realizing it.

“On the side, I was doing a lot of social media promotion for music. I’m a musician, and I have a lot of friends who are musicians and artists,” Brand said. “I was helping everybody promote what they were doing and trying to get people to show up for these events, like concerts and art showings and stuff like that. So I had been doing

social media marketing without realizing that that was what it was.”

Brand said gaining her position as UH’s social media coordinator was unexpected– she initially applied for a videographer position at the University. After a friend urged her to apply for the social media position, she was called back for an interview and soon hired.

“My career in social media has been kind of an accident and kind of organic,” Brand said. “When I applied for this job, it was the end of 2009 and there weren’t a lot of people who had that kind of experience. The title of social media coordinator was kind of made up at the time.”

There was no precedent for Brand’s position. UH threw around several ideas for her title, such as community manager or digital media manager.

“They didn’t exactly know because everybody was making it up at that time,” Brand said. “It was kind of like, ‘Well, we’ll hire somebody to do something with our social media and hope that it’ll go well.’”

#UnderstandingTheField Managing social media for a major university involves more than simply posting information and interacting with followers; it requires strategy, planning, multitasking and knowing the strengths

and weaknesses of each platform.

Over the years, Brand has truly become a guru in her field.

“Being in social media, you really have to know what’s going on all the time, everywhere, because if you say the wrong thing at the wrong time, it can really offend people,” Brand said. “It can come off as, ‘Why are you tweeting about free t-shirts when there’s an earthquake going on?’ Nobody cares.”

“If you’re going to manage social media, you really have to be a jack of all trades.”

Every day, her team receives requests from departments and colleges across campus about events and opportunities that they’d like the UH social media accounts to promote. Brand said they carefully consider which platforms are appropriate for distributing such messages.

“Occasionally we might agree to promote something that’s for a niche audience, but only on a platform that targets that niche audience. Other than that, we try to keep it pretty broad,” Brand said.

“On Snapchat in particular, our audience skews younger, so that tends to be a bit more playful and we don’t post as much serious stuff there. For LinkedIn, clearly our audience tends to skew a bit older, so we put a lot of alumni-focused stuff there. Instagram was skewing younger for quite a while, but we’re seeing a lot more alumni engagement there now… Tumblr is also fairly young.”

#OffTheGrid For someone whose job widely involves interacting in the digital BRAND

Continues on page 15

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 13

WHAT SHOULD YOU MAJOR IN? MAJORS

MINORS

ART Art* Art History Studio Art - Graphic Design - Painting - Photography/Digital Media - Sculpture COMMUNICATION Advertising Corporate Communication Health Communication Integrated Communication Interpersonal Communication* Journalism* - Broadcast - Print Media Media Production Media Studies Public Relations COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS American Sign Language Interpreting Communication Sciences & Disorders COMPARATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES Anthropology Liberal Studies Religious Studies ECONOMICS ENGLISH Creative Writing* Literature* HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Human Nutrition and Foods Kinesiology - Exercise Science - Fitness and Sports - Sports Administration

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HISPANIC STUDIES Spanish* HISTORY* MODERN & CLASSICAL LANGUAGES Chinese French* Italian Studies* World Cultures and Literatures -Ancient Studies -Francophone Cultures Studies -German Studies -Global Cinema Studies -Middle Eastern Studies -Studies in Global Modernity MUSIC Applied Music -Brass -Keyboard -Percussion -Strings -Voice -Woodwinds Composition Marketing Teacher Certification Theory Religion PHILOSOPHY POLITICAL SCIENCE PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY THEATRE & DANCE Dance* Theatre - Acting - Playwriting and Dramaturgy - Design and Technology - Stage Management - Theater Education

AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES AIR FORCE LEADERSHIP ART Art History Studio Art COMMUNICATION Advertising Corporate Communication Film Studies Health Communication Interpersonal Communication Journalism Media Production Media Studies Public Relations COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS COMPARATIVE CULTURAL STUDIES Anthropology Global and International Studies India Studies Religious Studies ECONOMICS ENGLISH Creative Writing Literature* HEALTH AND HUMAN PERFORMANCE Human Nutrition and Foods Kinesiology HISPANIC STUDIES Spanish Spanish for Global Professions HISTORY American Cultures History Latin American Studies HONORS COLLEGE Creative Work Energy and Sustainability Leadership Studies Medicine and Society Phronesis, Politics, and Ethics

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INTERDISCIPLINARY ART MILITARY SCIENCE (ARMY ROTC) MEXICAN AMERICAN STUDIES MODERN & CLASSICAL LANGUAGES Arab Studies Chinese Studies Classical Studies French French for Business Professionals German German Area Studies Greek Italian Studies Jewish Studies Latin World Cultures and Literatures MUSIC Music Literature/History Music Theory NAVAL SCIENCE (NAVY ROTC) PHILOSOPHY POLITICAL SCIENCE Law, Value, and Policy National Security Studies Quantitative Social Science PSYCHOLOGY SOCIOLOGY THEATRE & DANCE Dance WOMEN’S, GENDER & SEXUALITY STUDIES Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies Women’s Studies

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Please Consult the Department Advisor for More Information.

AGNES ARNOLD HALL, ROOM 320

14 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

LIFE & ARTS

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

arts@thedailycougar.com

Joshua Cochran, EDITOR

EVENTS

MLK Day of Service allows for giving back THE COUGAR NEWS SERVICES UH will honor Martin Luther King Jr. and commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on Jan. 27 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre as it holds an MLK Day Celebration, featuring Sister Outsider Poetry.

Light refreshments will be served, and no seating reservations are required.

MLK Day of Service Preceding MLK Day and UH’s MLK Celebration, students, faculty, staff, alumni and others will have the opportunity to volunteer in the Houston community thanks to the combined efforts of seven university departments.

Volunteers will work for organizations including Forge for Families, the Houston Food Bank, Generation One, and the Houston Public Library. Activities include painting, neighborhood cleanup and organizing, and will occur regardless of the weather.

Dress comfortably in work attire and closed-toed shoes.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for the morning shift, and lunch will be provided for the afternoon shift. Volunteers should register by Jan. 23. arts@thedailycougar.com

One activity volunteers may engage in during the MLK Day of Service is neighborhood cleanup throughout the city. | File Photo/The Cougar

They might seem like a waste of time, but video games are proven to be a challenging medium for the mind, giving players countless puzzles and situations without the real world-consequences they might face outside the screen. | Joshua Cochran/The Cougar

STUDENT LIFE

Video games: A playground for the mind JOSHUA COCHRAN

LIFE AND ARTS EDITOR

If you live in an on-campus dormitory, chances are you’ve seen them, sitting around and usually making an uproar while mashing away at their controllers, manipulating images you may not quickly comprehend on the television screen.

What may be surprising is that gamers are not lagging behind the average student when it comes to learning effectively; in fact, they might be ahead of the learning curve.

Ask a responsible student gamer about their habits, however, and you get the sense that gaming is somewhat a guilty pleasure.

“Time management was, and still is my biggest issue with games,” said pre-pharmacy junior Akshith Yellapragada.

“Because of the fact that whenever I play a game, I don't want to just "play" it, I want to get really good at it, I end up practicing with friends a lot, and that's time that can easily be spent in more productive ways.”

Some students aren’t able to balance the time spent playing games and studying, either.

“When I started gaming freshman year (and) sophomore year, I kind of forgot that I had classes to go to and things to study for,” said biology and human nutrition and food studies junior Jeri Altizer.

“I found out the hard way that I can’t work efficiently if I game during school.”

“Everything in moderation” is the adage best applicable to hobbies, including video games.

But video games are carving their own niche by allowing players to build skills in multiple cognitive areas. Games have long been recognized as effective virtual problem solving tools, allowing players to build on past experiences to solve current problems without realworld repercussions and the chance to keep working at the problem until they can solve it.

According to New York University, games allow “continual monitoring of learning as a process—not simply the learner’s ability to perform at one point in time.” Many college courses consist of few real assessments, giving fewer chances to assess a student’s status as the course progresses.

NYU’s list of positive attributes for video games includes “creating communities of practice,” wherein students learn beneficial skills.

For Yellapragada and others, it’s as easy as plugging in a console and pressing Start.

The modern college campus isn’t scarce for gamers either — according to the Pew Research Center, more than 60 percent of college students report playing

video games. A 2003 Pew study reported that “college student gamers’ reported hours studying per week match up closely with those reported by college students in general.”

Gamers don’t study any less, but in some instances, they engage in critical thinking a lot more — New York University’s publication noted the “highly engaging, individualized learning” and bridging in- and out-of-school learning.

“Being a gamer has… allowed me to use in-game strategies to efficiently navigate around campus and finding the safest routes during night-time commutes,” said computer engineering technology junior Stillwell Pan. Unlike Yellapragada and Altizer, who devote free — and sometimes study — time to playing video games, Pan said he “plays video games during class time only,” though he says he has had no challenges concerning his schoolwork. He falls into the 2003 Pew survey’s 32 percent of students that play video games that aren’t a part of the instructional activities during classes.

In addition to skill-building, video games have carved their own niche in the competitive industry, with players able to earn thousands of dollars.

On Dec. 5, the Military Times reported that Robert Morris

University in Chicago would offer a gaming scholarship to prospective students, and though the trend seems to be growing to the point where even ESPN President John Skipper had to address it, he was cited as declaring video games a “non-sport.”

“I’m mostly interested in doing real sports,” Skipper said to the Associated Press after comparing video games to other mental games like chess and checkers. However, Skipper acknowledged their significance.

“You can’t really ignore it.”

Games are an effective way of working on cognitive skills and building on them, whether they are a recreational hobby or a destructive habit. Though students may not feel like they are learning from what they play, they are getting a lot more out of it than time away from school — and it is more socially constructive than once believed.

“It’s allowed me to meet a lot of new people, making friends that I’d most likely never be able to meet in any other way,” Yellapragada said.

“It’s basically a sign that says, ‘We have the same interests, come over and let’s be friends’ when I’m playing games in public.” arts@thedailycougar.com

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 15

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

arts@thedailycougar.com

LIFE & ARTS

Joshua Cochran, EDITOR

BRAND

Continued from page 12 world, it’s surprising that many of Brand’s hobbies have little to do with modern technology.

“If I’m going to turn off my phone, a lot of times I’ll be hiking, or in a forest someplace,” Brand said. “I’m very much in touch with technology, but I like to remind myself occasionally that nature is awesome.”

In addition to hiking, she loves biking and making music. For over three years, she’s been taking Russian classes with her boyfriend in the hopes of being able to read the works of her favorite Russian author, Dostoyevsky, in his native language.

If she’s out and about in Houston, you’ll most likely find her in the museum district. Rather than relaxing on her couch watching Netflix – she doesn’t own a TV – Brand said she loves watching movies at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston as part of its film series.

She said she tries to strike a balance between her work, which could potentially follow her home and into the night, and her social life.

“I do have to admit that I have my phone on me at all times. I have Twitter notifications set so

that whenever (UH President Renu Khator) tweets, I get a text message. I’m basically on the alert mostly all day, every day,” Brand said.

“But when I know that I won’t access to my phone, like if I’m going camping or something, then I’ll let the other people on my team know.

Brand said emergencies don’t usually come up during afterhours and weekends, luckily.

“One time I got a tweet notification at like 1 a.m. on a Saturday night, and this guy was like, ‘I broke my leg – do I need to go to class on Monday?’ And I’m like, ‘Um, you should probably contact your professor,’” Brand said, laughing. “But I think most people know that the University of Houston Twitter account is just going to be able to get them the same info you could find researching on your own.”

#WorkHardLearnForever Brand is a live-in-the-moment type of woman. Ask her where she wants to be 10 years from now, and she’ll tell you that’s not a question she’s asked herself.

“I tend to go with the flow of things. What I would like to have

experienced is a lot more travel, absorbing books, just learning and meeting new people,” Brand said.

Today, Brand is no longer a social media coordinator, but UH’s first social media manager.

She leads a small team of two social media coordinators and three student interns. While her team handles most of the day-today posting and interacting on social media, Brand coordinates with the many social media departments around UH and plans big projects, such as the UH1UP Challenge.

Her direct boss, Director of Web and New Media Bill Herndon, called Brand’s enthusiasm “contagious.”

“I can honestly say that she is one of the best social media managers I have ever met because she’s interested and enthusiastic about the medium,” Herndon said.

“Jessica is continually exploring ideas and asking students what they want. That hard work is one of the things that keeps UH rising as one of the top social media universities in the country.”

Brand said the environment at UH suits her perfectly.

“I want to keep learning for the

Brand and her team can be seen all over campus at major events, live-tweeting and live-snapping for @UHouston. | Jenae Sitzes/The Cougar

rest of my life. If I had to choose my favorite thing, it’s learning,” Brand said. “I want to push more information into my brain all the time, and that’s what students are focused on… It’s a very interesting time in people’s lives, and to get to experience that with them is special.”

“There’s a special kind of energy around campus, versus if I were working in the Medical Center or in oil and gas. I wouldn’t have that kind of spark of people looking at the world with new eyes every day.” arts@thedailycougar.com

University Eye Institute

Students!

Do you need eye care but

don’t have health insurance?

The UEI can help!

We have a vision program designed just for you.

Please call for details.

To schedule an appointment, please call 713.743.2020 or visit uei.uh.edu Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m 4901 Calhoun Road, entrance 2A (on the corner of Calhoun and Wheeler) Free patient parking

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The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.

1/16/15 11:00 AM

16 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

LIFE & ARTS

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

arts@thedailycougar.com

Joshua Cochran, EDITOR

MOVIES

Coming home isn't the same in 'American Sniper' SARA SAMORA

NEWS EDITOR @THEREINVENTIONS

As the war in the Middle East winds down, many individuals have made history throughout the 10-year conflict. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle was one of them.

In Academy Award-winning director Clint Eastwood's newest film, “American Sniper,” Bradley Cooper stars as Kyle, known by the Navy as the deadliest sniper with the most kills.

Because of Eastwood’s Republican background, some wonder if he utilizes his ideology to justify the war in Afghanistan.

However, Eastwood's film delves into an exploration of the service member’s mental and emotional journey rather than focusing strictly on politics and policy.

The real story isn't about Kyle’s high number of sniper kills or his road to “success"; rather, it’s a story about Kyle’s and countless other service members’ combat mindset — before, during and after his time overseas.

The view that Eastwood and Cooper try to portray is not whether the deadliest sniper was a hero, but that he was human.

He — like many of us who deployed before and after him — are not going because of any hyper-patriotic “'Murica" sentiments, or to blow up buildings.

The film serves to remind moviegoers that in any war, service members hold protecting their comrades above all else.

Kyle’s number one priority — regardless of whether he loved to kill "savages,” as reported in The Guardian — was to protect those on foot. When he is unable to save everybody, he considered it a failure. This is taught in every military branch: having accountability, taking responsibility and constantly remembering that one mistake can cost a life or a limb.

Despite one’s views on the conflict in the Middle East or whether Kyle is worthy of praise, the majority of moviegoers can agree on this: war is ugly and

horrible.

When Vice President Joe Biden spoke at the Student Veterans of America national conference this month, he reminded the service members-turned-students that, although they were out of the military, their job was not done.

“America needs you, your brother and sisters need you,” Biden said, referring to the growing veteran population and their transition upon returning home.

The unfortunate demise of Kyle was not during war, but while helping his comrade who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

While the number of PTSD patients grows, along with criticism of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' handling of medical treatment, the film is a reminder to its audience, including veterans, that the job of caring for their comrades is never finished. arts@thedailycougar.com

Written by Jason Hall and directed by Clint Eastwood, "American Sniper" has sparked a national dialogue on war and politics. | Courtesy of Village Roadshow

ACTIVITIES

MEETING

DATES SPRING 2015 ALL MEETINGS ARE MONDAY FROM 7:00 PM-8:30 PM AT THE SENATE CHAMBER LOCATED IN THE UC-NORTH, 2ND FLOOR

JANUARY 26

MARCH 23

FEBRUARY 9

APRIL 6

FEBRUARY 23

APRIL 20

MARCH 9

MAY 4

SOCIALS WILL BE HELD A PINKS PIZZA STARTING AT 8:30 PM

WE WILL HAVE FREE PIZZA

SC Grand Opening Festivities Even if you can't stay the whole day, take some time to come out to the Student Center's Grand Opening. Take advantage of some sweet student discounts and get to know the new corners of the SC on Wednesday.

SC Open House

Sweets, Selfies, Signs

SC Takeover

The Student Center's new motto is "Connect. Eat. Relax. Shop." Students interested in any of these activites should explore the Student Center for discounts, new venues and new spaces for some old faces.

Some of the day-long activities include opportunities to sign up for the MLK Day of Service, a room devoted to desserts, mobile violinist Rhett Price, a video game lounge, caricature artists and even custom street signs and license plates.

The Grand Opening culminates with an array of events, including a cooking demo presented by the Council of Ethnic Organizations, a Greek Showcase, karaoke, a preview of this year's Frontier Fiesta and a showing of "Guardians of the Galaxy" from 8 to 10 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre.

Each location is having its own game, giveaway or activity, so don't miss the chance to grab some free stuff and engage with people you'll be seeing for the rest of the semester.

— File photo/ The Cougar

Visit the Student Center's grand opening website for more details about the activities.

— Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Be warned, you might not be able to attend everything!

— Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Tweet us your photos during the Student Center Open House @thedailycougar.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 17

SPORTS

thedailycougar.com/sports

sports@thedailycougar.com

Sean Alder, EDITOR

COMMENTARY

Herman ready for action from Ohio to Houston CHRISTOPHER SHELTON

CREATIVE DIRECTOR @CHRISSHELTONTDC

Houston head football coach Tom Herman made his mark as an offensive coordinator at Ohio State, leading the Buckeyes to a national championship, and now looks to develop the Cougars similarly. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Tom Herman passed his final test at Ohio State, so why haven't the all-nighters stopped?

Herman, 39, was the busiest man in college football for about a month, serving as Ohio State's offensive coordinator by day and the Cougars' 13th head coach in the wee hours of the night.

But even after he helped the Buckeyes defeat Oregon in the National Championship Game, allowing him to focus solely on UH, sleep is still elusive. And with National Signing Day less than three weeks away, Herman isn't expecting a full night of sleep anytime soon.

"We’ve got a lot of work to do here in terms of recruiting," Herman said. "There will be a lot of early mornings and late nights still, but it might be a little bit more toned down than what it was the last month or so."

With every position on the staff filled except offensive line coach, Herman and his crew have shifted their focus toward protecting UH's current commits while improving the recruiting class.

He identified a high school quarterback as the team's No. 1 priority and expects to sign six or seven players to compliment the 15 who have already committed.

"When people say, 'Who's the best recruiting staff in Texas?' the University of Houston better be first on everyone's list because (we're only as good as) the players we bring in," Herman said.

Recruiting will be an integral factor for Herman, who said he wants to create a championship contender — the new standard at UH. The University made that clear when it fired former coach Tony Levine.

Though Levine helped improve the Cougars' recruiting reputation and had the support of his players, his 21-17 record wasn't

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good enough for UH's Tier One aspirations.

Levine’s team lost all three Homecoming games it competed in and dropped two season openers to heavy underdogs — including the opening of UH’s $120 million-plus football stadium. Both season-opening losses were to teams that won four games that respective season.

"The expectations for this program have changed. We want to be nationally relevant. We certainly believe that we can be (nationally relevant) here. We will be (nationally relevant) here," said Athletics director Mack Rhoades, after Herman was hired December.

Herman and Co. isn't shying from those high expectations.

They believe a staff deeply rooted with Texas connections — defensive coordinator Todd

HERMAN

Continues on page 21

18 | Tuesday, January 20, 2015

SPORTS

thedailycougar.com/sports

THE COUGAR NEWS SERVICES

FOOTBALL

O'Korn's bid to transfer from Cougars approved

The Cougars’ former starting quarterback John O’Korn has been approved to transfer and will not return to UH next season, according to the University.

sports@thedailycougar.com

The news comes on the heels of a rough season for O’Korn, whose starting position was replaced by Greg Ward Jr. with seven games left in the season.

O’Korn announced his departure via Twitter Saturday night,

!

S G O O C K C A B E WELCOM THE DEAN DEAN OF OF STUDENTS STUDENTS OFFICE OFFICE HAS HAS MOVED MOVED THE Join Us for an Open House 11 am - 2 pm, January 21 Room 256, Second Floor, Student Center South

MEET YOUR YOUR ADVOCATES ADVOCATES MEET William Munson

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Customer Service Rep.

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Sean Alder, EDITOR

thanking fans for making his time at UH “a memorable one.”

The Houston Chronicle reported that O’Korn has been approved to visit four schoolsTexas Christian University, the University of Texas at Austin, University of Florida and the University of Wisconsin.

He is also considering Syracuse, according to reports.

Syracuse and Wisconsin are the favorites to land O'Korn, the Chronicle reported.

Due to JOHN NCAA rules, O'KORN O'Korn will QUARTERBACK have to sit out during the 2015 season.

He will have two seasons of eligibility beginning in 2016.

O’Korn’s departure follows an overhaul of UH’s football program, with the firing of Tony Levine and his replacement by former Ohio State University offensive coordinator Tom Herman. Todd Orlando has replaced former defensive coordinator David Gibbs, who accepted an offer at Texas Tech University.

The former three-star quarterback became the Cougars' starter three games into his true freshman season after an injury to David Piland.

In his first season at UH, O'Korn completed 58 percent of his passes for 3,117 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, earning the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year award.

He set nearly every freshman passing record in the process.

O'Korn's sophomore season was a bit more rocky The Fort Lauderdale, Fla. product doubled his interception rate and was benched.

O'Korn finished his UH career with more than 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns. sports@thedailycougar.com

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twitter.com/UHDOS The once-promising QB John O'Korn will transfer. | File photo/The Cougar

Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 19

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SPORTS

Sean Alder, EDITOR

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Rose returns with tenacity and commitment SHARDANNA JONES

STAFF WRITER @SHAYGOTIT

Houston fans had much to be excited about.

The Cougars had a new coach and were looking to embark upon a new era, but for the start of the 20142015 season, they would be without the presence of junior starting point guard L.J. Rose.

L.J. ROSE Rose injured POINT GUARD his foot last summer while he was a member of the Bahamas national team in the opening game of July’s Caribbean Basketball Championships in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. After being out four months, Rose was only one week away from being cleared when he experienced a re-fracture, landing himself in a boot for nearly seven months.

Although disappointed, Rose was no stranger to this type of injury. He says he immediately knew that he had to get back up and do the best he could, so that he could help his teammates whenever was cleared to play again, and that he has no reservations going further into his collegiate career.

“There’s not really a fear for me going forward,” Rose said. “Sometimes when I want to make a move or play a certain way, I kind of second guess myself, so these games and practices are good for me because I get more experience under my belt. If Coach (Kelvin) Sampson would let me go there and play again like he allowed me to do this past summer, I would definitely still do it.”

While out, Rose said he tried to do the best he could to stay in shape by eating well, but he hadn’t been able to do much else to prepare himself for his return due to the walking boot.

The Cougars got an early

Christmas gift.

Rose was cleared to play against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 17 and played 30 minutes, totaling four rebounds, four assists and a steal in his return to action.

“I felt good and I am feeling better each and every day, but I have to keep on working,” Rose said. “I’m still trying to get through some growing pains, but other than that I am glad to be back out there.”

Finally able to rejoin his team, Rose quickly realized he’d be playing alongside new faces after the departure of several teammates, including All-Conference forward TaShawn Thomas and Danuel House, one of the team’s leading scorers. For Rose, however, the hiring of Kelvin Sampson made the process easier.

“Those two are great players and teammates,” Rose said. “I

ROSE

Continues on page 21

TRACK AND FIELD

Cougars set for indoor season JD SMITH

STAFF WRITER @JDSMITH_08

Coming off third place finishes in both men’s and women’s indoor track & field in the inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference, the Cougars look poised to continue to improve on the program’s strong history.

“We want to stay there and we want to continue to get there,” Coach Leroy Burrell said regarding the program’s history. “We want to exceed what we’ve done on a regular basis, and it’s not always easy. It’s important for us to develop the athletes that we have and get them to compete at the level we feel they’re capable of, and we feel that will lead to success in the program.”

Quite a few Cougars have already gotten off to a quick start this season as junior hurdler Isaac Williams and sophomore thrower Damon Thompson set new school records in the 60m hurdles and men’s weight throw, respectively.

Williams’ time of 7.72 gave him the second fastest time in the world, according to IAAF. “It illustrates the kind of talent we have on the team first and foremost,” Burrell said. “It gives us

Junior point guard L.J. Rose made his long-awaited return to action with the Cougars over the holiday break. Rose fractured his foot while playing on the Bahamas national team this past summer. | File Photo/The Cougar

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Sophomore Cameron Burrell and junior LeShon Collins hope to lead the sprinters through the upcoming indoor season. | File Photo/The Cougar

some really lofty goals and expectations for later on this season, and if we can open up at the best we’ve ever had here, we certainly should be able to improve throughout the season and put ourselves on the national list to win a championship or two.”

The Cougars post one of the

best rosters in the country top to bottom and look to make a big impact at the AAC championships and NCAA championships.

“We have a really good roster of athletes who can seriously

INDOOR TRACK

Continues on page 21

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 21

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HERMAN

Continued from page 17 Orlando is the only current coach without work experience in the Lone Star State — can make some positive strides.

“With the recruiting ties that we have, with what this University has to offer, with the location, with the new stadium, with the vision of President (Renu Khator) and (Athletics director) Mack (Rhoades), this is the right time and the right place to get some

ROSE

Continued from page 19 just feel with Coach Sampson coming in, he would definitely give us a good opportunity to win because he is a no-nonsense guy and he demands a lot from everyone whether you are a player or a trainer. I feel like that would still give us a chance to win.”

Although he led the Cougars and the American Athletic Conference, as well as finishing No. 29 nationally with 5.5 assists per game last season, Rose admits that he sometimes feels as though he isn’t as hyped as other college point guards.

“That’s just part of the game,” he said. “I have to do something

SPORTS

Sean Alder, EDITOR

big things done,” said assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Craig Naviar.

Herman and his crew are expected to bring a potent offense to UH, an era where the previous regime struggled. The offense was boring at times — a Cardinal sin at UH. After leading the nation in scoring in two of the three seasons before the Levine era and never dipping below 13, the Cougars were never higher than 37 in Levine’s tenure. Herman’s Buck-

eyes finished in the top 10 of both, scoring offense and total offense in each the past two years.

Herman said the team would run a fast-pace spread offense, but he cautioned fans not to necessarily expect a reincarnation of the Air Raid. He said his version of the spread will be adaptable to the personnel. More important than the run/pass split is developing a “culture of toughness and accountability,” said Herman.

The cupboard isn’t bare for UH. A team that was expected to com-

“I felt good and I am feeling better each and every day, but I have to keep on working.”

L.J. Rose, point guard

for our team to win. We haven’t been winning and that’s on me, so the next few games are really key for us. They could really be a stepping stone for all of us as individuals and also as a team.”

His focus is on team goals, but Rose understands that this season and the next are both critical for him. With Sampson’s guidance, Rose is set out to better himself and those beside

Be you. Belong.

him.

“Coach Sampson tells us almost every day that what we are doing right now is critical,” Rose said. “He tells me things I need to do to become a better leader and a better point guard.

I work on them daily so that this year and next year my team can win. That’s the ultimate goal as point guard – to make your teammates better and win.”

pete for a conference title before the season began had seven players named to the All-American Conference first or second team.

Herman acknowledged that the team has talent, but also that talent only gets you so far. Exhibit A is the 2014 Cougars.

Herman needs to improve the offense and get the most out of his players, or he’ll be getting a full night of sleep like the rest of us observers.

INDOOR TRACK

Continued from page 19

Since high school, Rose has gone through five different coaches, four different schools, many changes in teammates and an injury that has hindered him from being able to showcase his talent as much as he wants to.

Throughout it all one thing has remained true: Rose has tenacity and is committed to becoming better than he was yesterday.

“It has been a long road and a lot has happened. My path has helped me grow a lot in the past three years, and I believe that ultimately it’ll help me in the long run. I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

contend and be among the top 16 in the nation to qualify for nationals,” Burrell said. “We just want to put ourselves in position and we feel we have a really well-rounded group... We need to make sure to prepare them properly and give them the best possibility to show what they can do.”

Overall, the upcoming indoor season should be one of accomplishment for the Cougars and will be a preview of things to come this outdoor season.

“We feel like we have a really talented group, so through the early portion of the indoor season we want our athletes who we feel can compete at a national level to put themselves in a position to qualify for NCAA indoor championships,” Burrell said.

“The rest of our athletes who we feel can be a factor (at the) conference level we want to establish positioning for seeding for conference championship.

Our whole goal is to show what we can do throughout the season and prove it at a few key meets, namely conference and nationals.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

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sports@thedailycougar.com

JUMP HEADLINE

WELCOMING ALL I’MREADY-TO-GET-BACKON-TRACK COUGARS. Continues on next page

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Tuesday, January 20, 2015 | 23

CALENDAR TODAY Mel Chin: "Rematch"  Blaffer Art Museum is showcasing "Rematch," the most expansive survey of Chin's work to date and a homecoming for one of the city's most renowned artists.

Janet Biggs: "Echo of the 

Unknown"

A multidimensional exhibition combining video, sounds and objects that explore the role of memory in the construction of identity that will be showcased at Blaffer Art Museum.

Broadway at the Hobby  Center presents "The Book of Mormon" "The Book of Mormon" is a nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical from the creators of "South Park." This production will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.

l Sports | l Campus events | l City events |

whether you wish to connect, eat, relax or shop. There will be free giveaways, food, discounts, door prizes and more.

This event will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout the Student Center.

Cat's Back Student  Organization Fair As a tradition for over a decade, this event welcomes new and returning students to campus every semester.

This year's Cat's Back will feature a Student Organizations Fair, free food, fun interactive activities, chances to win great prizes and FREE T-shirts (while supplies last). This event will be from 2 to 4 p.m in the Houston Room.

CEO Cooking Demo  The Council of Ethnic Organizations will host a cooking demo on how to make Russian blinis and their cultural significance from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Skyline Room of the Student Center South.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21

The blinis will be served with drinks from other cultures as well, including jasmine milk tea and Brazilian limeade.

Student Center Open 

UH Men's Basketball 

Explore the many different offerings in the newly-renamed Student Centers,

The Cougars, 7-10, will play the Cincinatti Bearkats at 6 p.m. in Cincinatti, Ohio. The game will be televised on

House

ESPN.

GloCade Party  As the sun goes down and night settles, drop by the Houston Room from 7 to 10 p.m to take part in a full GloCade, which will include mini golf, foosball, darts, ping pong, labyrinth, shuffle board and an oxygen bar. Get ready to party in the GloCade with DJ Ramping.

Free food and photo giveaways will be provided.

THURSDAY, JAN. 22 Gulf Coast Blood Drive  Ready to donate blood to those in need? The Gulf Coast Blood Drive will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m in front of the Student Center South.

FRIDAY, JAN. 23 Indian Street Food  Cooking Demo This event will showcase Indian street foods and how to make many popular recipes. To join the fun, head to the Space City room of the Student Center between 5 and 7 p.m.

Dean's Marathon  Reading: Holy Places, Scary Spaces

See more upcoming events at thedailycougar.com/calendar

Students, faculty and staff will collectively read short works and selections

by Homer, Henry James, Herman Melville, T.S. Elliot, Flannery O'Connor and Edgar Allen Poe. This event will begin at 5 p.m. in the Honors Commons on the second floor of M.D. Anderson Memorial Library.

Light refreshments will be served.

Concert Chorale with 

MONDAY, JAN. 26

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Don't forget: This will be the last day to add a class for the Spring 2015 semester.

SATURDAY, JAN. 24

Celebration

MLK Day of Service  Join students, faculty, staff and alumni as they gather to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event will be from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with breakfast, lunch and free T-shirts provided.

UH Men's Basketball  The Cougars, 7-10, will play the SMU Mustangs at 6 p.m. in Dallas. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This is a celebration to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King. This event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre. Light refreshments will be served.

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