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Environmentalist, cancer survivor, Glamour mag winner Honors junior Vanessa Alejandro is already making a difference in her community.

People are starting to take notice. | PG 8

NEWS

Do you know Austin Tice?

You probably haven't heard of him. The former UH student and journalist was reporting in Syria when he was kidnapped. His parents are on a mission to make sure you know his name. | PG. 2

NEWS

A funding crisis that's hard to fight

In Texas, veterans and dependents get a free education. But universities can't afford to keep paying for thousands of veterans' tuition out of pocket. They might need to reach into yours. | PG. 4

2 | Wednesday, April 29, 2015

NEWS

Contact The Cougar

thedailycougar.com/news

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 Joshua Cochran

news@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/news

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

SPORTS EDITOR

EDITOR IN CHIEF Cara Smith

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i

Marc Tice got the call 988 days ago. His son had been kidnapped while reporting in Syria. Three years later, he and his wife Debra launched the nation's biggest campaign for a missing journalist.

TREY STRANGE

STAFF WRITER @TREYNORMAL

At 4:15 p.m., the murmurings of a small group in the Honors Com-

mons faded. Slowly, the shuffling stopped. Tapping feet grew still and quiet. Even the breathing deepened, giving way to the deafening and inconsolable silence.

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The man on everyone's minds was Austin Tice, a former UH student and overseas journalist who disappeared in Syria in 2012.

The Cougar editor in chief Cara Smith's opened the event by reading excerpts from some of Tice's last Opinion pieces he wrote for The Daily Cougar.

Honors College professor Ted Estess called for a minute of silence for Tice, and poetry readings from Honors professor Robert Cremins and Director of the Arab Studies program Emran El-Badawi rounded out the introductory speeches.

“That which we, every day, take for granted — the capacity to speak freely to our loved ones — that is what has been denied to Austin,” Estess said.

After, journalism professor Lindita Camaj — herself a former foreign correspondent — spearheaded a discussion on journalism abroad with Tice's parents, Debra and Marc Tice, and the United States Director of Reporters without Borders, Delphine Halgand.

Working as a freelance photojournalist in Syria, Tice had just decided to leave Damascus when his family and editors lost contact with him nearly three years ago. Anxiety beat at them for four days until Marc received a phone call. He said he still

TICE

Continues on next page

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Sean Alder

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'Are you sitting down?'

713-743-5360

Glissette Santana

713-743-5360

Marc and Debra Tice speak about their son, Austin, who has been captured in Syria since 2012. | Brittaney Penney/The Cougar

OPINION EDITOR

713-743-5362

The Cougar

thedailycougar.com

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

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 | 3

thedailycougar.com/news

TICE

Continued from previous page remembers that the caller ID was simply “Washington, D.C.” “Are you sitting down, Mr. Tice?” the official asked Marc over the phone.

Marc called Debra, who was in Minnesota at the time, explaining to her that their son had been kidnapped. The perpetrators posted a YouTube video, showing what Marc described as armed men “curiously dressed like jihadis” with a single message: “Austin Tice is alive.”

From the beginning Tice grew up in Houston and ventured into journalism with only a decade of children’s wisdom, writing a letter to a nature magazine about a bird he watched with his mother. Years later, Debra tenderly remembered how early Tice realized he wanted to be a writer.

“He was born big, and he lived large — always,” Debra said.

“He was never afraid to have an adventure. His love for journalism, I like to say, began the first time he crawled across the

Sunday paper on the living room floor.”

Austin attended UH for a year and reported for The Daily Cougar. He came to UH at 16 after being homeschooled and created a second home for himself in the Honors College.

Estess, who founded the Honors College, grew fond of Tice during that time.

“I remember when Austin decided to join the Honors College,” Estess said. “We were delighted. We were impressed with the way Austin became a part of this college. He made this place his place.”

When the civil war ripped through Syria, Tice, who had visited the Middle East before during his time as a U.S. Marine, felt sources on the ground weren’t capturing a grand enough picture of the culture or war. Uncertain that all the facts were being shared, he picked up the burden himself.

Through his endeavors, Tice earned the 2012 George Polk Award for War Reporting and, in the same year, the McClatchy Newspapers President’s Award.

Before all of this, though, Debra

Be you. Belong.

said he was humbly “thrilled when he was published on the first page of the Washington Post.”

Reporters Without Borders, the non-profit where Halgand defends speech and the press, has pegged Tice as the headlining case of the foreign and war correspondent’s plight in the modern day.

“Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, press freedom has been declining in the past few years for all countries, not just the U.S.,” Halgand said. “When you see a conflict on the ground, there is (also) an information war. Each party involved wants to see their (reasoning) in the news, so they are targeting journalists.”

Halgand estimated that around 40 journalists have been captured in the last year, especially in war-torn countries like Syria, Libya and Ukraine, and that 180 were imprisoned all over the world.

But Halgand stressed that the greatest volume of victims aren’t usually Americans like Tice. Local journalists, she said, account for nearly 90 percent of

NEWS

news@thedailycougar.com

Glissette Santana, EDITOR

the victims of kidnappings and free-speech violations.

“When journalists are missing, we are all blindfolded,” Halgand said.

Now, a campaign to raise awareness for Tice thrives. All are encouraged to sign a petition to the U.S. government, encouraging it to take action on Tice’s behalf.

The family also encourages supporters to participate in their social media campaign, where users take a picture of themselves blindfolded and upload it to their social media account using #FreeAustinTice. The act symbolizes the blindness and disjunction people would face in a world where journalists are allowed to be silenced.

“What is important is to live...

Take your shoes off and let the wind blow through your hair," Tice wrote in his column nearly 16 years ago. "Even if that wind is hot, muggy and heavy, and the sweat is rolling down your face and staining your shirt, it shows that you are alive. It shows that you are living.”

#FreeAustinTice Tice's parents, Marc and Debra, have started a campaign in order to raise awareness on his behalf.

Reporters without Borders has teamed up with the Tice family to encourage people to sign a petition to the U.S. government to take action on Tice's behalf.

The blindfold pledge symbolizes Tice's unanswered kidnapping and "tells the world that without journalists, we are all deprived of information, we are all blindfolded," according to Reporters without Borders.

To sign the petition, head over to freeaustintice.rsf.org.

news@thedailycougar.com

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4 | Wednesday, April 29, 2015

NEWS

thedailycougar.com/news

news@thedailycougar.com

Glissette Santana, Editor

STATE

UH's wallet could take 'astronomical' hit

The Hazlewood Act provides an education to veterans who might not otherwise get a degree.

But if public universities are expected to foot the bill, the act might limit college access for non-veterans.

CARA SMITH

EDITOR IN CHIEF @CARA_SMITH5

After paying out nearly $10 million in tuition assistance for veterans last year, the UH System is seeking full coverage of Hazlewood Act revenues from the Texas Legislature.

Without state coverage, it’s unclear how UH and other Texas public higher education systems will continue to pay for veterans’ tuition under the current Hazlewood model.

The rising costs might result in a tuition hike, a University representative said.

“The only two things we get in abundance as far as funding goes is funding from the state and tuition,” said Jason Smith, vice president for Governmental and Community Relations.

“If the funding from the state is decided by the legislature, and the only thing that’s discretionary for us is tuition… We just don’t have any choice.”

The battle in the courts The Hazlewood Act is a Texas benefit that exempts veterans, their spouses and dependents from paying tuition for 150 credit hours at a certified public institution.

But exemption costs aren’t absorbed in the state budget — they fall on the shoulders of the universities, which have shelled out nearly $200 million since the act took effect in Fall 2010.

In January, Keith Harris, a former UH student, won his lawsuit against state agencies and individuals in the United States District Court for his right to Hazlewood benefits.

Harris enlisted in the military

when he wasn’t a Texas resident.

Before Harris’s suit, Hazlewood only catered to veterans who were Texas residents when they enlisted.

Since any U.S. military veteran can get a free education in Texas regardless of where they enlisted, there’s seemingly no limit to the amount of money UH and other public universities will have to spend.

“The scary thing about the recent court decision is that we don’t know the cost that court decision will carry to our universities,” Smith said. “We think (the fiscal impact) could be astronomical. I really can’t compare anything else right now.”

Hazlewood money from UH, state $10 mil $8,285,606

$8 mil

$8,025,036

$7,376,054

$5,800,926

$6 mil

$3,953,231

$4 mil $2,868,544

$2,983,388

$2 mil $735,949

$689,728

2009

2010

$878,751

$1,248,752

$1,478,618

$1,566,708

2013

2014

$1,364,231

What's the catch?

Even before the court decision, university officials around the state have been alarmed by how much tuition revenue the act prevents them from keeping.

Hazlewood benefits cost public university systems $173 million last year, and the Legislative Budget Board predicts that number will increase to $190 million in 2015.

More and more people are utilizing Hazlewood benefits.

In FY14, 39,000 students and dependents received Hazlewood monies, 6,000 more than the previous fiscal year, according to a report by the LBB. So even though Hazlewood was designed to increase institutional access, it might wind up preventing that for non-veterans.

With Hazlewood requiring institutions to shell out tens of millions of dollars, the only feasible way to lessen the damage is a tuition increase, Smith said.

2011

2012

20152/26/16

UH System money used for Hazlewood State Hazlewood money to UH System

Fiscally, Hazlewood isn’t the only legislative woe UH is dealing with. The state’s formula funding allocates 10 percent of the monies to universities based on a three-year average of performance metrics, including graduation rates.

Given that UH caters to nontraditional students, who may not graduate in four years, the University receives disproportionately less funding than other major institutional systems.

In the 82nd legislative session, UH’s state funding was sliced to 22 percent from 55 percent.

The 84th legislative session concludes on June 1. news@thedailycougar.com

Infographic by A. Tomic and Josue Diaz

Equal impact?

UH students often compare the University's problems with those of the University of Texas. But what kind of story does the numbers tell?

$1.8 million: How much the UH System received from the state for Hazlewood expenses in FY14

$7.8 million: How much the UT System received from the state for Hazlewood expenses in FY14

$9.8 million: How much the UH System paid out of pocket for Hazlewood expenses in FY14

1,453: The number of students and dependents that received Hazlewood benefits at UH main campus, UH-Northwest, UH-Downtown, UH-Sugar Land and UH-Victoria*

6,415: The number of students and dependents that received Hazlewood benefits in the UT System *Hazlewood data from UH-Clear Lake was not made available.

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015 | 5

thedailycougar.com/opinion

OPINION

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Kelly Schafler, EDITOR

THE COUGAR

After The Cougar's first year, we're not getting comfortable

T

his year has kept my head spinning.

It's incredible what this paper has accomplished. Thanks to a stellar team under Channler Hill's administration and the paper's nearly century-long history of reporting passionately, my administration had a solid foundation laid out for us by former Daily Cougar staffers. The transition from daily to weekly print was going to happen, whether we liked it or not.

Fortunately, I've really grown to like it.

I'm a die-hard lover of print publications — you'll have to pry my piles of subscription magazines and, obviously, The Cougar from my cold, dead hands. I refuse to cancel them, pay less money and get the same amount of content online.

But as a student, having a daily print deadline looming over you is a unique obstacle to cross every night, one that makes it harder to finish that in-depth investigative piece or even find time to breathe.

As student journalists, we need that time to breathe, and we need to be able to write those stories that keep us up at night. We needed the time to focus more on web and engaging with you on social media. We also needed the extra hours it took to plan and produce The Cougar's first-ever Sex Edition. And

B

Coogs Choose, the readers' choice issue that celebrated the best of Houston, wouldn't have been possible last year. In that sense alone, the shift to weekly print has been a huge blessing.

But let's not just look inward. This year has been unprecendented one for UH, and it's been a humbling beast to cover. I know that next year, though, you're going to be in for even more of a treat. Glissette's administration is young and fiery — two qualities that make for a passionate newsroom. I know they've got big ideas for you next year. Like all journalists, their biggest goal is to serve you.

In more ways than one, The Cougar is just getting started.

Cara Smith, outgoing editor and chief

efore I transferred to UH, I had a plan for my time at The Cougar.

I was going to be a staff writer for a year, then move up to an editing position my junior year. It was only after that — after two full years of paying my dues and working my way up — that I would run for editor in chief.

That plan went down the drain when I accepted the position of assistant news editor two months after writing my first article.

Even then, I knew The Cougar was important, both to myself and the University. And in short, the goal of The Cougar is simple: to serve the students of this great University.

On the outside, the newspaper will stay the same next year. We will still serve as a print weekly, digital daily paper. We will continue to emphasize web stories and social media as our primary medium of communicating with readers. We will strive to keep producing breaking news coverage as well as in-depth stories about the UH community.

On the inside, The Cougar will be run a bit differently. We have a new editorial board that is bringing a wealth of knowledge to the newsroom.

Social media will be utilized even more to increase interaction with readers and to

ensure that you are informed with all the latest news in an accurate, consistent way.

Throughout the past nine months I've been at The Cougar, we've gone through a lot of changes, but one thing has remained constant: the hard work, long hours and dedication that our whole staff puts into every print issue and article that goes on the website.

I’m incredibly excited to be serving as editor in chief, and I can’t wait to see all the wonderful things that this new editorial board will accomplish.

I hope that you’ll be riding right alongside us.

Glissette Santana, incoming editor and chief

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OPINION

thedailycougar.com/opinion

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Kelly Schafler, EDITOR

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Cara Smith

MANAGING EDITOR

Jenae Sitzes

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Christopher Shelton NEWS EDITOR

Glissette Santana

COPY CHIEF

Taelor Marquetti-Gadison SPORTS EDITOR

Sean Alder

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Joshua Cochran OPINION EDITOR

Kelly Schafler PHOTO EDITOR

Justin Tijerina

STAFF EDITORIAL The University is slowly progressing, bringing new sights, smells, eats and opportunities to campus living. | Dailey Hubbard/The Cougar

STAFF EDITORIAL

UH sees beginnings of new campus culture

OU OF H (HOUSTON RESTAURANTS) 6” X 7” ver the past year, one thing has made itself clear: UH is rising.

The most visible changes are the numerous new buildings, such as TDECU Stadium and the

Student Center.

The stadium breathed new life into UH football and the University as a whole. Attendees of the games this season saw a long stretch of Cullen Boulevard

closed, with hundreds of students and alumni gathering in anticipation to tailgate. Members of the UH community flooded the streets, blasting music and enjoying food and drinks while

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preparing to cheer on their fellow Coogs.

The Student Center opened on Jan. 21, furthering the trend to revitalize campus. At its most basic level, the Student Center offers a place for students to buy books, enjoy a meal or study — but it is so much more.

It's a huge step toward involving students in the UH community.

What may not be as evident as the new buildings is the beginning of a tangible on-campus student culture.

UH has strived to transform its image from a commuter school to an environment that encourages and gives incentives for students to live on campus and stay for the weekends.

The strip of businesses across from Calhoun Lofts — Calhoun's Rooftop Bar and Grill, The Nook Cafe, Pinks Pizza, Cafe 101 and soon-to-open Bullritos — has given students a plethora of options for both lunch and nighttime fun as well as more choices for weekend dining.

While these new additions serve the University well aesthetically, there’s something more important at the root of it all.

These aspects work together to foster a new environment of Cougar spirit.

These changes also help instill a new feeling among UH students: A pride in the University, faculty and fellow students.

This isn't the same UH you came to in the fall. Chances are, it'll look even more different next year.

We hope that the University will continue bring in new businesses and opportunities that enrich the life of every UH student.

—The Cougar Editorial Board

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 713-7435384. 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 713-7435384. 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

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 | 7

thedailycougar.com/life-arts

LIFE & ARTS arts@thedailycougar.com

Joshua Cochran, EDITOR

The McHam, The Myth, The Legend The esteemed journalism professor is retiring after a 54-year career, leaving behind a wealth of knowledge.

REBECCA HENNES

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

When Cara Smith first met David McHam, she left his office crying.

She was enrolled in his Intermediate Reporting class — required of all journalism students at UH — and McHam had just told her that she would have to leave the Opinion desk, where she had worked as a top writer since she started at the paper, and start writing for News.

"I thought it sounded like the most boring thing on the planet," Smith said. "Honestly, he put up with me fighting back against his curriculum. I remember him asking me, 'Do you want to grow up and be a blogger?' He said that's what would happen if I didn't learn how to write a news story."

One year later, Smith was chosen as editor in chief of The Cougar, largely due to the news stories McHam forced her to write.

After 54 years of teaching and countless other student experi-

McHam kicks his feet up at the copy desk of The Waco News-Tribune. | Courtesy of David McHam

ences like Smith's, McHam will no longer be around to influence future journalists.

“I set the record for the longest teacher in journalism,” McHam

said. “Nobody has taught for 54 years; I’m the only one in Texas, and I’m proud of that.”

His retirement marks the end of an era at the Jack J. Valenti School

of Communication.

But his teaching career didn’t start there. McHam was working at the Houston Post in 1961 when he was offered a teaching position

at Baylor University. He said he was surprised by how much he grew to love teaching.

“I was in charge of all the student media,” McHam said. “When Kennedy was assassinated, we won the national award for reporting. I was so young, I just took it all in stride.”

While McHam was at the university, Baylor earned countless awards, year after year, drawing attention to the department.

“Everybody would say, 'How do they keep winning?'” McHam said, laughing. “One year, when we won just about every major prize in magazines, photography and newspapers, this one Texas woman said, 'Who are these people?' We just swept the whole thing. It was kind of embarrassing; we were just really good.”

McHam stayed at Baylor until 1974 when he left to teach at

MCHAM

Continued on next page

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8 | Wednesday, April 29, 2015

LIFE & ARTS

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arts@thedailycougar.com

Joshua Cochran, EDITOR

Not your average 22-year-old

Selected out of 2,000 women as one of Glamour magazine's Top 10 Collegiate Women, Honors College junior Vanessa Alejandro made 'the choice to really live' by getting urban kids and adults in the know about the environment.

KARIS JOHNSON

STAFF WRITER

Geology junior Vanessa Alejandro fought thyroid cancer, got back on her feet as soon as she could and doubled her efforts to educate others about the environment. | Pablo Milanese/The Cougar

As a young girl, Vanessa Alejandro roamed the back roads of Pearland on four-wheelers with her cousins and siblings, discovering a love for the world that would culminate in research of uncharted territories of earth science.

“My cousins and I had this amazing opportunity where we could just roam," Alejandro said.

“We spent a lot of time just playing outside.”

That same love for the outdoors led her to succeed in research and create the non-profit website Warriors of the Wild, which has helped thousands of urban youths gain her appreciation of wildlife and earned the geology junior a spot on “Glamour’s Top Ten College Women of America.”

Alejandro did it all after defeating thyroid cancer in 2013, a feat she credits with restoring her passions. She went through a series of radioactive iodine treatments

ASTHMA STUDY Baylor College of Medicine is currently recruiting volunteers for a National Institute of Health (NIH) funded asthma study.

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to combat the cancer, which took a toll on her health and her academic career. She took time off but returned in Fall 2013 with a new perspective.

“When treatment was over and I had to go back to ‘normal life,’ I had to ask myself what type of life I wanted to live,” Alejandro said.

“Basically, I had to make the choice to really live, and I decided by living I wanted to make more of an impact.”

Alejandro was notified that she had been chosen by Glamour out of 2,000 applicants in December.

The official selection was declared in April, and Alejandro traveled to New York City and met with professionals from around the nation who could offer advice and encouragement for continuing to pursue their dreams.

Alejandro and the other recipients spoke on a panel in front of high school girls, answering questions and encouraging teenagers.

“It was very inspiring and empowering,” Alejandro said.

Alejandro and a few of her friends originally began Warriors of the Wild in 2011 when she noticed children in urban areas lacking an appreciation for nature due to having little to no exposure to the outdoors. The after-school club allowed children to hold live animals and see an interactive skit

about the preservation of nature.

After positive feedback, Alejandro and her friends expanded Warriors of the Wild into the non-profit organization it is today.

After graduating high school in 2011, Alejandro solidified her interest in an environmental science career when she traveled to Colorado for the summer to conduct research on native marmots and their habitat.

"We tied all these things in with science, which really got me because I could do geology and this whole other side to it. In geology you're dealing with things that affect us every day.”

After graduation, she wants to join the Peace Corps or obtain a Fulbright Fellowship and earn her master’s in geology.

Alejandro said her long-term goal is to work in public policy with the United States Department of State on environmental policies while also kick-starting environmental education programs.

Alejandro said she recognizes that her health setbacks had her working harder to achieve her vision for environmental awareness.

“The point is not to focus on what is hard, but to take that hardship and build from it.”

MCHAM

people would hire them.”

He’s had one student win the Pulitzer Prize and taught a few best-selling authors, including Thomas Harris, who wrote "The Silence of the Lambs."

McHam said he decided to stop now while he is still in good health and that he is looking forward to doing absolutely nothing at all.

After writing countless articles, breaking a record and teaching thousands of students who will always remember him, it’s safe to say he deserves it.

“I hope people at UH understand the kind of professor they had, the kind of students he puts out and what an asset he’s been to the University," McClain said.

“There’s never been a better journalism professor than David McHam.” —Additional reporting by Luiza Braga

Continued from next page Southern Methodist University. In 2011, Baylor honored him with the Legacy in Journalism Education Award.

“Baylor has never been the same without David McHam,” Houston Chronicle sports writer John McClain said. “I’ve never seen anyone who knew more about journalism than David McHam.” After teaching at SMU for 23 years, he left for the University of Texas at Arlington and arrived at UH in 2001.

TSU journalism instructor Michael Berryhill met McHam in 1979, after wanting to meet the“best-known journalism teacher in Texas."

“He was very friendly, had a great sense of humor, relaxed, not pompous,” Berryhill said.

Much of his students' success is due in part to his influence.

“Editors respected his judgment so much about references," Berryhill said. "If he said a student is ready to go work at a newspaper,

arts@thedailycougar.com

arts@thedailycougar.com

For the full story, visit thedailycougar.com/arts

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 | 9

thedailycougar.com/sports

SPORTS

sports@thedailycougar.com

Sean Alder, EDITOR

ADMINISTRATION

UH picks 'best man for the job' as athletic director THE COUGAR NEWS SERVICES The season of changes continued for the Cougars, as Hunter Yurachek was named UH's new vice president for intercollegiate athletics and athletic director.

Yurachek joined the University in February 2014 as the associate vice president and chief operating officer for the athletic department. Yurachek was also the only internal candidate under consideration for the replacement of former Athletics Director Mack Rhoades.

“Hunter Yurachek is the best leader and administrator for where we are and where we are going,” said UH President Renu Khator in a news release. “He brings both a fresh perspective and a keen understanding of our strengths and opportunities.”

While at Houston, Yurachek oversaw the grand opening events for TDECU Stadium last fall and worked closely with Rhoades and Cougar

The Yurachek File.

History of winning. Yurachek led the Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers to 29 Big South Championships, including both regular season and tournament wins.

Successful athletes. Under Yurachek's leadership, CCU received 31 All-Big South Player of the Year honors, 13 Big South Freshman of the Year honors and 28 All-Americans.

Named Under Armour FCS Athletic Director of the Year in May of 2014, Yurachek looks to continue making a new for himself with the UH Athletics program that is continuing to raise expectations. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Pride to secure the 10-year, $15 million-naming right for the stadium.

“I want to thank President Khator, Chairman Fertitta and the entire Board of Regents for this tremendous opportunity,” Yurachek said at his introductory press conference. “It is an honor to accept this position, and it

will be a privilege to serve the student athletes, coaches and the entire University of Houston community in this role.”

Before joining UH, Yurachek held positions at the University of Virginia, Western Carolina University, Vanderbilt University and Wake Forest University.

Most recently, he served as the

athletic director at Coastal Carolina University for four years.

During his tenure with Coastal Carolina, Yurachek increased revenue to $1.4 million from $560,000 after just his first year, a skill that will prove essential to the upcoming Hofheinz renovations at UH. For his work at Coastal, Yura-

Revenue generator. Yuracheck increased CCU revenue to $1.4 million from $560,000.

chek was named the 2014 Under Armour FCS Athletic Director of the Year in May 2014.

Tillman Fertitta expressed his confidence in the abilities of UH's new AD. “He’s the best man for the job.” sports@thedailycougar.com

FOOTBALL

After coordinator change, defense keeps high standards ADAM COLEMAN

STAFF WRITER @2_AWESOMEE

Though the Cougars lost talented leaders like Joey Mbu, the squad feels like it has a solid base of returners on defense. Mbu is hoping to be selected in the NFL draft, which begins on Thursday. | File Photo/The Cougar

Ever since Houston football rose up under big name coaches like Art Briles and Kevin Sumlin, the Cougars have been known for their fast-paced offense that annually ranked among the nation's leaders, producing college stars and record holders like quarterback Case Keenum.

Over the last two years, however, the Cougars have been known for their defense, ranking No. 15 in nation, higher than their offense. Although scheme and personnel were important, forming an identity and defensive mindset had an impact.

Now, Texas Tech defensive coordinator David Gibbs helped establish that identity, and new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando hopes to build upon it.

With Orlando at the helm, the Cougars hope to further their improvement as he implements his defense. Orlando spent his last two seasons at Utah State, where his defense ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (17.1 points) in 2013 and 12th (19.7) in 2014. His aggressive play calling

led them to the second-most tackles for loss (114) and fourthmost sacks (49).

Senior Trevon Stewart leads the secondary this season through the transitional phase between the two very different coaches.

“Coach Orlando and Coach Gibbs are both great coaches, you can’t take that away from them,” Stewart said.

“The defense clicked with both of them, the difference TREVON STEWART is Coach Gibbs SENIOR is a little more DEFENSIVE BACK laid back, while Coach Orlando is a little more in your face screaming. They’re both great coaches, there’s just different ways they coach.”

It’s something that not only the players, but the fans thrive off of. It's common to attend a game and hear the students chanting, "Third Ward D, Third Ward D." The atmosphere in the stadium is intensifying. Stewart wants to continue that persona under the new leadership of Orlando.

“We’re still the same defense,” Stewart said. “Same players still on the defense. We’re all brothers, and you know what we did with the Third Ward D is we made turnovers, so we going to keep our gameplay the same way it was.”

With the loss of key parts to the defense including tackle Joey Mbu and linebacker Derrick Matthews, some may argue that there’s more pressure on the secondary. But senior corner back William Jackson thinks no such thing.

“We got a lot of good guys up front,” Jackson said. “The seniors gave them a lot of wisdom last year, and they’re working hard, so I think we’ll be all right.”

Stewart echoed Jackson’s comments, agreeing that the group isn’t fresh and can easily step in and get the job done.

“I don’t feel it’s more pressure on us. We got young guys up front, but we also got guys like Marcus Dillard who can make plays for us in the secondary,” Stewart said.

“We aren’t rebuilding; we’re just reloading.” sports@thedailycougar.com

10 | Wednesday, April 29, 2015

CLASSIFIEDS HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

thedailycougar.com/classifieds

WORSHIP DIRECTORY

713–743–5356

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

PUZZLES

Discover Gymnastics is now HIRING all positions: Coaches, Instructors, Dance Instructors, Front Desk, Camp, Birthday Parties, and Parent’s Night Out Apply in person or by email: carly@discovergymnastics.com 747 N. Shepherd Drive Ste. #400 Houston Texas (713) 680-0045

MONTESSORI SCHOOL RECEPTIONIST

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

European Auto Shop Looking for Subs/Assistants.

4, 6, and 8 Part-time, hour shifts available M-F flexible hours, Job will answering phones, data entry & IDEAL include FOR STUDENTS! customer service. Close to UH! Call 713-520-0738 Located in the museum district.

SHADYDALE CHURCH OF GOD

713-645-4404

4626 Tronewood St. Houston, TX 77016 Sunday School 9:30am Sunday Worship 11:00am Wednesday 6:30pm Phone 713-631-5767 The Church Where Everyone is Somebody www.shadydalechurch.org

Check us out!

bartuning.com • facebook.com/bartuning

The Briar Club is now seeking:

Available Positions . Servers . Lifeguards . Swim Instructors . Bartenders . Camp Counselors Please submit your resume to: Email: personnel@thebriarclub.com Fax: 713-400-9373

JOB – MUSEUM DISTRICT • Part Time 25-30 hrs/week • Pay based on experience • Long term/work with school schedule • Works well with others.

Description Greeting and assisting patients; scheduling appointments; maintaining records and accounts.

Duties Answering phones, making/confirming appointments, data entry, handling medical records, and other front office duties.

Skills/Qualifications Multi-tasking, flexibility, customer service, organization, professionalism.

To apply, send resume to lashan@tlcsurgery.com or call 713-493-7700

MONTESSORI SCHOOL Located in the museum district.

Perfect Summer Job For Students: Painting. Enjoy working outdoors?

Want to work on a team? $8-$15/ hour. No experience required-Willing to train. Steady summer job-40 hrs/ wk. Work for a cool boss. Promotions available. Must have transportation.

Apply at: http://www.texascwpjobs. com/ Marketing Code: 24325

Looking for Subs/Assistants.

4, 6, and 8 hour shifts available

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APPLY AT: houston-pmg.com - 281-446-5003

CAFE & BISTRO Memorial Location

Hiring for all positions (servers, drivers, host, cocktail waitress and bartenders). Full time and part time available Apply Monday - Friday from 2 pm - 6 pm Ask for Emerson

14714 Memorial Dr. Houston, Tx 77079 Looking for dependable, reliable and modivated.

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

TUTORING Summer Tutor Position, Monday-Friday.

9am-11am.(flexible on days). English/ Math Tutor for 5th & 2nd grader. $20$25/hour Email ranarahman@hotmail. com.

RENTALS Roommate wanted-1 bedroom and bathroom in 1972 sq. ft. home located in Pearland,TX. The house is in a culde-sac and you have access to washer/ dryer, central AC, dishwasher, cable/ Internet, parking, and private pool.

The home is close to the Pearland Recreation Center and Natatorium and you can easily access 610, I-45, or 288. This home is 15 miles from UofH Campus. I am a single mother of one child and I am 40 years old. Looking for respectful, social, kind roommate who is responsible about rent. Perfect for a young professional, grad student, or fellow. This room will is available end of April or early May. $700/month.

Email or call 713-304-9268

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category 29 Commercials 30 Paving stone 31 Type of onion (Var.) 33 Tucked in for the night 34 Plating material 36 Coffee, slangily 37 Functions 38 It prevents exposure 39 In the way of 40 Emulate a rabbit 43 Forwarded 44 Plowable snowfall 46 Kind of oil 47 Not hip 48 Perfumes 50 Type of “bear” .51 Anxiety 54 Unit measuring loudness 55 Kings Dominion attraction 56 Eye up and down 57 Make a cuff 58 Eggs, to biologists 59 Big Apple athlete 60 Meal source?

Call 713-520-0738

TELL ’EM YOU SAW IT in The Cougar Classifieds!

WHAT’S YOUR SUMMER JOB? • Lifeguard • Pool Manager • Swim Lesson Coach • Service Tech

HELP WANTED

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Get more Classifieds daily at thedailycougar.com/classifieds

Puzzle answers online

thedailycougar.com/puzzles

Wednesday, April 29, 2015 | 11

thedailycougar.com/sports

sports@thedailycougar.com

SPORTS

Sean Alder, EDITOR

BASEBALL

Dedication and repetition key for Vidales HARRISON LEE

STAFF WRITER @HARRISONCLEE

Josh Vidales is more intimidating in person than the 5'8" listed on his stat sheet. In his divide between first and third, the second baseman tends to seem the perfect hybrid of Gazelle and Olympic gymnast.

Vidales, the young man with the glove of gold who has started every game since 2013, makes the delicate but maddening nature of baseball, hitting and fielding look frequently easy. His tumblings on defense and his disciplined slashings at the plate have led him to be a star in scarlet for UH. "The game doesn't owe you anything," said Vidales. "You just have to go out and earn it.

Throughout the streak, everyone talked about it, (but) honestly I wasn't thinking about anything at the plate. It was see ball, hit ball."

The Streak, already a latter day fable in UH baseball lore, involved 33 consecutive games where Vidales, by any means

Hustling on offense and defense, Vidales has made an impact on the Cougars' success as he reached a .320 plus batting average. | File Photo/The Cougar

available, got on base.

"You end up just staying in the present moment. It's good to bring support for the team and not just myself," Vidales said.

Coach Todd Whitting saw in the performance the baseball

deities rewarding a player for dedication.

"His work ethic has been tremendous," Whitting said. "I tell him all the time that you get what you deserve, and he deserves success because he's

GOLF

Cougars' success sets up course for future

worked so hard."

Through three years at UH, Vidales' work ethic has been frequently noted, making his streak and over .320 batting average seem more based in reality than the airy realms of baseball grandeur.

"I think he's the epitome of a guy that works hard. Every rep in practice he takes is with an intent," Whitting said. "With practice it can be an activity or

an accomplishment. It's not just physical activity when he's out there. He's trying to learn and get better with every rep he takes."

For his part, Vidales held up his 30-odd game gift to baseball as a workman-like affair.

"I felt like once I got on base, I had contributed to the team and helped us get where we needed to go," Vidales said. "You leave every aspect of the outside environment outside. Leave your phone in the cubby, and go about your business between the lines."

The process of tuning it all out and reaching a mental nirvana didn't come easy.

"I was pretty stubborn as a freshman and sophomore," joked Vidales. "I think it took two years."

Vidales's teammates, who had the best seat in the house to witness the Streak, were left impressed.

"It was awesome," said pitcher Andrew Lantrip. "The guy just found ways to get on base. He would grind out at-bats and that'll frustrate a pitcher to where he'll eventually make a mistake. That's how you play baseball." sports@thedailycougar.com

SEAN ALDER

SPORTS EDITOR @SEAN_W_ALDER

The Houston women’s golf team is looking forward to not only the NCAA San Antonio Regional with Monday's announcement of their No. 12 seed, but a legacy of success as they competed in the American Athletic Conference Championships for the first time as a team in their second year as a program.

The No. 48 Cougars finished the AAC Championships in third place this year, 10 strokes behind the winning No. 23 UCF. For the first time there, the Cougars were forced into a balancing act between enjoying the experience and the competition.

“It’s just experience building, and it’s a lot of fun,” said junior Raegan Bremer, who finished sixth individually. “We don’t feel like a brand new team, and we feel that we have a great coach to help us along.”

Head coach Gerrod Chadwell came out happy after last week’s finish, looking at the AAC Championships as more of a stepping stone than a one-time occurrence.

Chadwell believes that the showing at the conference level was necessary to continue developing the program nationally.

“I think that it means that it’s

HOUSTON COUGARS @UHCOUGARSB

@UHCOUGARBB

Chadwell and Bremer are ready for a strong future. | Sean Alder/The Cougar

finally here, that we’ve finally arrived, and we can make our mark on the conference,” Chadwell said.

“To give ourselves a chance was something that we talked about before we got there, and if we can start to do that more, I think we’ll be able to come out ahead more times than from behind.”

The weekend success was capped off by freshman Yuka Kajiki finishing in a tie for third place individually. Kajiki was accompanied in the top-20 by fellow freshman Megan Thothong, who finished in a tie for 17th.

“The thing with the freshmen is they’ve been able to play so much golf that you almost don’t view them as freshmen. I saw it coming,” Chadwell said. “They’re a big part of what we’re doing, and it’s cool to

see because it’ll be a big chunk of what’s going to be getting the job done for us in future years.”

The Cougars are still a work in progress, despite the big first-year showing in the AAC Championships. The lone senior on the team, Courtney Ferguson, is looking forward to her remaining time as a Cougar but knows that things can only get better after this season.

“I really don’t think that we have a place that we don’t want to go to,” Ferguson said. “I really think that we can compete anywhere, and it’s an exciting time because it’s the first time. So we’re excited to be going anywhere, and we’ll take whatever comes and play our hearts out.”

V S. L AMAR

VS. MCNEESE STATE

4:00 PM & 6:00 PM

6:30 PM

sports@thedailycougar.com

FREE ADMISSION WITH STUDENT ID

APRIL 29

MAY 5

12 | Wednesday, April 29, 2015

CALENDAR

 Sports |  Campus events |  City events | TODAY

 The Who- Joan Jett & The

Blackhearts

The popular UK rock band celebrates five decades of music production with their "The Who Hits 50" Tour. Catch them as they bring in the old with new by featuring songs from their classic albums as well as some of their newer songs at 7:30 p.m. at the Houston Toyota Center.

 "The Miser" The UH School of Theatre and Dance hosts a made-for-Houston original adaptation of Moliere's seventeeth-century comedy "The Miser" from 8 to 10 p.m. today through May 2 in UH's Quintero Theatre.

See more upcoming events at thedailycougar.com/calendar.

cause. To view the list of restaurants, head to diningoutforlife.com.

 Kentucky Derby PreParty Celebrate the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby by enjoying some complimentary hors-d’oeuvres, drink specials and possibly a game of bacchi ball. So saddle up, bring your friends and enjoy the Southern festivities at 6 p.m. at the Brooklyn Athletic Club. Admission is free.

 UH Alumni and Graduating Seniors Networking Reception

THURSDAY, APRIL 30

This reception will serve as an opportunity for Spring 2015 graduates and alumni to connect with employers and learn about upcoming positions from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

 Dining Out for Life

FRIDAY, MAY 1

The AIDS Foundation Houston will host a fundraiser committed to preventing HIV/AIDS infections and helping those who are infected. A variety of Houston restaurants are participating for the cause, with a percentage of sales donated to the

 Start Smart: Salary Negotiation Workshop Join the Women and Gender REsourceCenter as they present a workshop designed to give college women strategies and resources

in order to earn fair compensation from 9 a.m. to noon in the Student Senate Chamber #204. RSVP is required for attendance.

SATURDAY, MAY 2

 Houston Dragon Boat

Festival

Dragon boating is a traditional art that is today's fastest growing water sport. This free festival at Buffalo Bayou offers races every 15 to 20 minutes, cultural performances, food vendors and live music as well as volunteering opportunities (see website for details) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 901 N. York St.

TUESDAY, MAY 5

 UH Baseball Come join the Cougars, 29-15, as they face McNeese State at 6:30 p.m. on Cougar Field.

STRESS FREE FINALS WEEK As final papers loom and stress levels skyrocket, we could all use a breather. Fortunately, a host of upcoming campus events are intended to help students de-stress from finals. For the full list of events, check out uh.edu/studentcenters/stressfreefinals.

BIKE TO UH DAY

FRIDAY, MAY 1

The inaugural Bike to UH Day is hosted by the UH Office of Sustainability and Bike Houston. The social ride around campus will start at 1 p.m. in Butler Plaza, with refreshments and food provided for anyone who bikes to campus, starting at 8 a.m.

PAWS AND RELAX

MONDAY, MAY 4 THROUGH THURSDAY, MAY 7 UH collaborates with Faithful Paws to bring in certified cute and cuddly therapy dogs to diffuse the stress of finals. These certified canine companions will be available to feed, pet and even cuddle as students take their study break in the M.D. Anderson Library.

The times are as follows: Monday: 7 to 9 p.m., Tuesday: 5 to 8 p.m., Wednesday: 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday: 3 to 5 p.m.

FINALS MANIA

TUESDAY, MAY 5 Promote your organization's events by emailing us a description of the event with its place and time: copychief@thedailycougar.com

The highly anticipated Finals Mania is held every semester in M.D. Anderson Library from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Take a break from studying to enjoy a free night-time breakfast of pancakes (toppings of your choice), turkey sausage, beverages and more.

CAMPUS

LIFE IN YOUR

HANDS

Download the latest version of Redline, your dashboard for student life at UH, now for iOS and Android devices. Check on the latest campus alerts and events, tune in to student media, catch the next bus and more! You don’t have an Android or Apple phone?

That’s OK. Go online and tap the web app version of Redline at:

www.uh.edu/redline CALENDAR • ALERTS • CAMPUS MAP • BUS ROUTES • SOCIAL MEDIA • COOG RADIO • CAMPUS NEWS