Issue 24, Volume 81

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Issue 24, Volume 81

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The final homecoming Fifth-year senior LeRon Barnes played his final game as a Cougar this week, but he isn't finished with the game yet. | PG. 9

NEWS

Musician inspires others to relax, jam

One Cougar is making the most of his time between classes by starting jam sessions outside Agnes Arnold. But it's about more than just the music. | PG. 4

OPINION

Equal in diversity, separate in class

As a city praised for being diverse, Houston still has a problem when it comes to class separation. So is it really an accomplishment? | PG. 6

2 | Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NEWS

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Professors react to campus carry advice to curb curriculum, carefully discuss sensitive topics GREG FAILS

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STAFF WRITER

COPYRIGHT

The debate over campus carry gained international attention last week after an instructional slide about changing policies to address teacher safety concerns leaked online.

The slide, which was part of a faculty forum on campus carry, detailed possible ways professors could change their teaching policies to address concerns over personal safety.

Throughout the presentation, which was given by Faculty Senate President Jonathan Snow, teachers were advised to "be careful discussing sensitive topics" and "drop certain topics from your curriculum." The language of the slide prompted national media attention and was met with vocal opposition from several faculty members.

“There were a couple that said they would never change what they teach, but that was (not) exactly the point," Snow said. “That slide was meant to initiate discussion, not tell them what to teach because that’s not my role.”

Snow said he isn’t worried about

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ABOUT THE COVER

LeRon Barnes has played his final game as a Cougar, but he looks to make an impact through the postseason. —Justin Tijerina/The Cougar Associate professor Margot Backus said she only knows of four faculty members who are enthusiastic about the campus carry bill. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

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removing controversial subjects from his material, but he is concerned about grading.

“When it comes time to talk to students about grades or their future in the program it can be significantly bad news for some people," Snow said. “When there’s

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more guns around on campus, there’s a greater chance that a student in an impulsive moment harms themselves or has an accident.”

Associate professor of English literature Margot Backus opposes the bill and agrees about grading concerns, but said she isn't changing how she teaches.

“In English, it’s very hard for us to envision how we could change our classes to avoid controversial or sensitive subjects or avoid having anyone be mad,” Backus said “Writing is a very intimate thing and being graded on it feels different than being graded on math or chemistry. It feels closer to the self.”

Backus has been teaching at UH for 25 years and said she receives at least one to two student evaluations every semester accusing her of “shoving her propaganda down (students') throats."

She teaches courses focusing on LGBTQ literature as well as Irish studies, both of which involve controversial topics.

"You don’t know what people are expecting, and I absolutely know that how I teach strikes some people as very surprising and maybe upsetting," Backus said.

Backus said she even promotes students to "push back" when they don't agree with something.

"I feel like I’m empowering them if they feel free to say 'I disagree with that,' and some of my most memorable experiences have been when students pushed back on a subject that they knew more information about than me,” Backus said. “If they feel free to

push back, then I feel that means they know that I’m open to getting to the clearest understanding of the subject at hand.”

Faculty Senate subcommittee chair of Core Curriculum and chemistry professor Simon Bott said he worries about students dealing with the stress of finals, and though he doesn't know the legality of the bill, he doesn't think that the Texas legislature has "worried too much about legality, ethics, morals or hypocrisy in many of their actions.”

History professor John Moretta said he thinks the law is wrong, but he does not find UH at fault.

“I fault the Texas legislature, those idiots are the ones," Moretta said. "How stupid can you be? It’s simply inviting a catastrophe."

UH's Campus Carry Work Group released a draft on the campus carry policy Wednesday, Mar. 2. listing exclusion zones in the draft.

According to the draft, guns will not be allowed in university housing, spaces used for discussion of grievances and disciplinary hearings, areas containing critical university infrastructure and areas used for day care and school activities, including areas used by minor children.

Backus said she feels disheartened by the draft and asked, "So the professors aren’t key infrastructure for the university?"

The Campus Carry Work Group is hosting an open forum to discuss the draft from 3 to 5 p.m. today in the Student Center South Theater. news@thedailycougar.com

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ADMISSIONS

Study suggests changing admissions process, UH doesn't follow suit MARISA RAMOS

and the Common Good through College Admissions,” advocates After Harvard's Graduate School that what's important in college of Education released a report admissions is not achieving high on college admissions, several numbers of impressive accomschools around the nation made plishments, but rather embracing changes to their application ethical engagement, promoting process to create a more holisgenuine concern for others and tic approach placing a heavier acting for the sake of the common emphasis on community involvegood. ment. The University of Houston, Young said UH doesn’t need to however, is standing by its critemake drastic changes in order to ria. find a genuine and caring student.

The report includes "concrete “Ideally, it’s great. It’s what we recommendations to reshape the all what our student body to look college admissions process and like,” she said. “But I believe our promote greater ethical engageApplyTexas applications already ment among aspiring students, give an accurate snapshot of a reduce excessive achievement student’s character.” pressure and level the playing If a student made a mistake, field for economically disadvanif they could not get involved in taged students." extracurricular activities because “Our students are already living they were working 30 hours a a lot of what the Harvard report week or if they have a real passion is talking about,” UH executive for the University, the application director of admissions Djuana can see all of those things, Young Young said. said.

The report, “Turning the Tide: Despite that, Turning the Tide March 9 Brand Ad Half Page-final.pdf 3/8/16 Inspiring 10596-Cougar Concern forNews Others suggests several changes, 1includCONTRIBUTING WRITER

ing limiting spaces for courses and extracurricular activities on the application, valuing the unorthodox ways that students contribute to their families and communities, making the SAT and ACT optional and focusing on authentic community service.

“I think there is definitely more that colleges should look into,” marketing junior Marissa Montoya said. “I liked how they asked about my hobbies, and I can see how the essay really helps.”

Young said ApplyTexas gives students the option to fill in the gaps their application may leave with an essay. It allows students to explain what the numbers couldn’t say.

“The application speaks for itself,” Young said. “You have the flexibility to give us whatever you want.”

According to the College Board, class rank, rigor of secondary school record and standardized test scores are classified as very 12:04 PM important factors for high school

applicants at UH. Freshmen must submit an application fee, their high school transcript, standardized test scores and the ApplyTexas application to be considered for admission. Students have the option to submit an essay, but it is not required.

Although the admissions office stresses how much essays can help a student's application, students like Kin Wong, an information and logistics technology junior, recall the essays being the most stressful part of the process.

“I didn’t even know what to write about,” Wong said. “I think I just wrote about my mom and how I admire her.”

Montoya felt the same way.

Although she was able to reuse her essays for all her college applications, coming up with an idea was difficult because she knew what she wrote mattered.

"I wanted to paint the best picture of myself." news@thedailycougar.com

Universities in support of a more holistic admissions process: *Based on endorsements from dean's and directors of admissions, undergraduate admissions and enrollment services.

Rice University University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Pennsylvania Michigan State University Dartmouth College Cornell University Columbia University Brown University Trinity College Purdue University Princeton University Yale University Source: http://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/

4 | Wednesday, March 9, 2016

NEWS

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Rebecca Hennes, Editor

STUDENT LIFE

Street spirit: Musician inspires students to relax, join jam sessions DMITRIY BOROVYKH

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As students pass by the Agnes Arnold Auditoriums on their way to class, they can sometimes hear acoustic covers of Radiohead or Sublime songs.

The source of the sounds, a group of students occupying the stone benches, is jamming out in the open air.

Jack Hubbard, an undeclared sophomore, seems to be in his element, with his long hair and curled-up mustache, as his tenor rings out in the air.

He started bringing his guitar to campus during his first semester at UH in the fall of 2014. He had a break between his classes and decided to spend that time singing classic rock songs for anybody who would listen.

“I used to carry the guitar around my senior year of high school and play during lunch,” Hubbard said. “This just seemed like a natural extension of that.

I had a three-hour break my

first semester here, so I needed something to do, and playing guitar seemed as good as anything else.”

Hubbard said his musical endeavors started with him joining the choir in middle school. During his high school years, he learned to play guitar to accompany his voice.

Hubbard said he would be happy if this musical hobby turns into a career, but he isn’t planning to actively pursue that. Instead, he is considering focusing on interpersonal communication.

The music he plays primarily consists of rock from the ‘70s to ‘90s, with occasional blues or punk tunes. Hubbard said he learns any song that would sound good on an acoustic guitar and plays the songs he enjoys listening to himself.

Since Hubbard started playing music between classes, several other students have joined him for the jam sessions.

Some just sit and listen while

Jack Hubbard is a guitarist who often performs in between classes. Hubbard said students sometimes join in or just sit and listen. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar.

others perform as well, sometimes even bringing their own instruments.

“Anybody who wants to join is welcome,” mechanical engineering senior Josh Cronk, another student who often participates, said. “It’s a nice little stress relief between classes.”

Cronk plays a variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo, harmonica and the djembe, a West African goblet drum played with bare hands.

Others have brought their ukuleles, mandolins, bongos and, on at least one occasion, even an electric guitar with an amplifier.

According to the Code of Ordinances of Houston, Sec. 28-6, it’s illegal to perform music in public and collect money from bystanders.

However, neither Hubbard

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nor others are asking for any donations. Their intentions are to have fun, socialize and entertain.

History professor Robert Buzzanco teaches at a classroom in Agnes Arnold Hall around the same time Hubbard and others gather just outside. He doesn’t find the music to be too much of a nuisance.

“I think it’s great, actually,” Buzzanco said. “It’s an old tradition of people sitting outside. I think it’s cool.”

Hubbard and others can usually be found on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1-2:30 p.m. between Agnes Arnold Hall and the Agnes Arnold Auditoriums. news@thedailycougar.com

DIVERSITY 101* Thursday, March 24th Noon-1:30pm - Student Center South-Downtown (Room 261) *What does diversity even mean, and why does it matter? This workshop will discuss the meaning of diversity and explore the multiple diversities that exist. Participants will also identify the relevance of one’s own cultural identities and leave with an enhanced understanding of how to embrace diversity in order to work more effectively across differences.

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Hubbard and Cronk can be found playing music in between the Agnes Arnold Auditoriums. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

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NEWS

Rebecca Hennes, Editor

ACADEMICS

Presidential debate class analyzes elections, communication impact ALEX MEYER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the midst of UH's close encounter with the presidential debate process, the Honors College is providing an opportunity for students to analyze political debates from present and past elections with a new class: Presidential Campaigns and Debates.

The course, HONS 3397, asks students to critically observe the televised presidential debates for insight into how the design of the debate, from chosen moderators and quantity of audience members to stage design, affects the overall outcome of campaign communication.

Taught by Speech and Debate program director Sarah Spring, the course asks students to maintain a documentary-style blog, recording their observations about the candidates' dialogues.

The blogs are also used to apply theories about impacts on the election cycle.

The idea for a course interpreting ongoing civic discord presented itself in October, when

Honors professor Sarah Spring is teaching a special topics class that analyzes presidential debates. | Pablo Milanese/The Cougar

UH announced it would host the RNC debate before Super Tuesday.

“I was working on course descriptions for the spring, and I decided that teaching the class would be timely and a nice adaptation of the argumentation and debate classes I typically teach,” Spring said.

As a special topics class, the course is only taught once or twice, but the motivations behind it are longstanding topics of interest that have captivated the nation for decades. Spring found a way to highlight their academic value.

“I'm interested in the increasing national prominence of presiden-

tial debates, for both the general election and the primaries, in American political culture,” Spring said. “The course provides me with an opportunity to look at these debates along with the students from an academic perspective that considers their function beyond the sound-bites.”

The goals of the class include learning about the history and context of presidential debates, engaging with and applying theories of political communication and using students’ knowledge to contribute to contemporary political discourse.

“Presidential debates have become cultural norms in American politics,” communications junior Lubna Qadri said. “I think it is crucially important for students to learn and analyze the process of debates for the sake of democracy in the future.”

Spring’s students paid particular attention to the debate held on campus. In the midst of the CNN campus takeover, they wrote realtime blog posts discussing their views and deliberations on the

event. Throughout the remainder of the semester, they will critique it from a historic viewpoint and explore how primary and general election debates differ.

“I've never considered the fact that modern political debates are not necessarily structured as actual debates, or the level of influence the media has in controlling debates and their outcomes,” decision and information sciences sophomore Nicole Churbock said.

Millennials' supposed disinterest in politics is just one of the cultural insights Spring’s course challenges, initiating change in broader cultural issues.

“I hope that students will come away from the course as more engaged, informed and responsible citizens,” Spring said.

If enough demand arises, Spring may offer a variation of the course in the fall within the general trajectory of Argumentation and Political Communication courses. news@thedailycougar.com

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OPINION

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Anthony Torres, EDITOR

CITY

Houston: equal in diversity, separate in class LEAH LUCIO

OPINION COLUMNIST

H

oustonians can relish in the fact that 2015 was a big year for Houston, having received sweeping recognition as a national-metropolitan heavyweight contender.

January kicked off with Forbes saying Houston was the fastest growing city in terms of population and economy. Then in May, WalletHub released a study revealing that Houston finally cinched a top 10 spot for the most diverse city in the U.S. In September, Reuters announced LEAH that Houston LUCIO was set to blow OPINION Chicago out of COLUMNIST the top three most populated cities in the U.S. before the decade is up. December closed out with an honorable mention from Huffington Post for the Buffalo Bayou’s notable development in landscape architecture.

And just last week U.S. News & World Report ranked Houston 17th on its Best Places to Live list.

But what does all that mean?

Yeah we’re bigger, but are we really

better?

For years Houston has been dubbed the future of America, from scholars, architects, businessmen and immigrants. Seventy-eight percent of the under-30 population is non-Anglo, and we have Nigerians, Ecuadorians, Pakistani, Indonesian, Bangladeshi, Iranian, Mexicans, but what else is there?

“The great danger for the future of America is not ethnic divide but class divide,” said Stephen L. Klineberg, sociologist and co-director of the Kinder institute. “Houston is on the frontline, where the gulf between rich and poor is widest.

We have the Texas Medical Center, the finest medical facility in the world, but we also have the highest percentage of kids without health care. The inequality is so clear here.”

While Wallethub ranked Houston 7th overall, the complete survey has Houston ranked at 257 in worker class diversity and 221 in income diversity. The lowest ranking for income diversity was 350, in Flint Mich. Only four years ago, Houston ranked as the leading metropolitan for economic segregation.

The 2012 Pew Research study found that population growth and a rise in income segregation went hand in hand and Houston was edging out all the competition.

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Glissette Santana

COOGLIFE EDITOR

Karis Johnson PHOTO EDITOR

MANAGING EDITOR

Justin Tijerina

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Anthony Torres

Mónica Rojas Sean Alder

NEWS EDITOR

Rebecca Hennes CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Emily Burleson

OPINION EDITOR

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Leen Basharat Efren Diosdado Brittaney Penney Trey Strange Sonia Zuniga

SPORTS EDITOR

Bryce Dodds

Houston is bigger, but does that mean it's better? | Justin Tijerina/ The Cougar

Let's also not forget that the data for these were taken before our oil bust numbers rolled in, which have resulted in an estimated 30,000 layoffs. After Houston had already lost the ranking of leading Metropolitan in job creation, which it held in 2013 and 2014.

Now, Houston must see if its economy is as diversified as it’s population.

What does this diversity even look like? In 2010, the Center for Urban Research released a map of Houston that indicated the changes in race and ethnicity that’d occurred over the decade via

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coloration. The product was a map of condensed color clusters, with statistically insignificant pockets of “no plurality.”

I’m not saying it’s segregation, but I’m not saying Houston isn’t segregated – especially when you view it next to Pew Research’s map of residential segregation, where the red of lower income overlaps mostly with minority colors.

Still, our population map is more colorful than most.

“Texas has a long tradition, and Houston has it in spades, that we are not so much interested in where you are from. We want to know what you can do,” said former Houston Mayor Annise Parker in an interview with Reuters.

It seems that the lack of zoning is the perfect metaphor for Houston.

In many ways it’s augmented the city’s urban diversity from the bottom-up and shows what hard work and diversity can get you. But there are these seemingly inevitable income and racial/ethnic zones that aren’t self-imposed anymore.

And they are growing into chasms that threaten the unity and strength of the city.

This concern extends beyond the qualms of a soon-to-be college graduate.

The future of America is being worked out here. Where blue and red collide. Where foreign and native work side by side. Where arts and sports compete for international recognition. Where education swells and segregation lingers. Where economies boom and gentrification follows. In a city, where a polity elects a lesbian mayor but rejects HERO. Where some histories are remembered and others forgotten.

Houston, we still have a problem.

Opinion columnist Leah Lucio is a journalism senior and may be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com

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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Bryce Dodds, EDITOR

TRACK AND FIELD

Trio of Cougars prepping for Nationals PETER SCAMARDO STAFF WRITER

The men’s track and field team ended its indoor season by defending its Indoor Conference Championship.

The Cougars did that and captured four championships, numerous top five finishes and 152 points to finish at the top of the standings.

But with the conference title in the bag, the Cougars now shift their focus to the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Birmingham, Ala. this Friday and Saturday.

The Cougars have 10 athletes in the top 50 across eight events.

But to qualify for nationals, they have to rank in the top 16 in the nation.

Three athletes are definitely traveling to Birmingham for the championships, while the others require people ahead of them to drop to qualify.

The three athletes, junior

sprinter Cameron Burrell, senior sprinter LeShon Collins and freshman hurdler Marcus McWilliams, will carry heavy expectations for themselves and the program when they travel to Alabama.

Burrell has qualified since his first meet this season at the Leonard Hilton Memorial where Burrell ran a 6.55 in the 60m to win the event.

This was the fastest finish across all levels at the time, but it is now the fourth-best in the NCAA. Coming off of a sophomore year that saw Burrell limp through the indoor season before redshirting the outdoor season, the performance immediately put him back in the spotlight.

Winning the American Athletic Conference 60m championship has only made this season better for Burrell, who made it clear that the champi-

Freshman Marcus McWilliams continued to build on his strong freshman year with an American Athletic Conference championship title in the 60m hurdles. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

onship is only a part of a larger goal.

“I’d say it’s part of the process of going off to do what I want to

do,” Burrell said. “It feels pretty and stands as the 12th best good to win conference nonefinish this year. theless. I’d say it’s a short term McWilliams topped off his goal compared to my long term season by winning the confergoals, but it feels good.” ence 60m with a time of 7.74.

At the Leonard Hilton Memo“Marcus (McWilliams) has rial Invitational, Collins also a good chance of making that gave a perforhurdle final,” mance worthy Collins said. of an invite “So we’re to the Indoor expected to nationals. score points His time and maybe of 6.64, also even get top in the 60m, four, top five is listed as at nationals if the 12th best we can.”

LeShon Collins, senior sprinter performance But Burrell in the NCAA. is making Collins finsure he and ished second in that meet. his teammates are focused on For Collins, being consistent their task when it comes to in the 60m and in the 200m has nationals. been crucial for him in his final "Right now, let’s take it one Indoor season, despite losing step at a time,” Burrell said. “My his conference title to Burrell. goal is to repeat my perforCollins sees himself and mance of what I did to get there Burrell being held to a higher in the preliminary round in expectation when they go to order to earn a spot in a prenationals because they come ferred lane in the final. That will from Houston. be step one. Step two would be “Ultimately, I want to win to go out and set a personal best nationals,” Collins said. “As far in the final and win it.” as the team, me and Cam are With the amount of talent and expected to go one, two.” depth that the Cougars have, Despite thoughts that he they will be primed and ready would finish behind senior for the Outdoor season once leader Issac Williams, McWilnationals wrap up. liams defied expectations by “I’m very impressed by the qualifying for nationals after the talent that has come out,” ColHowie Ryan Invitational, where lins said. "I’m very happy as far he ran a time of 7.72 in the as them coming to the team; not preliminary rounds of the 60m just them in particular, but all hurdles. the freshmen. I love this team.”

This tied the school record for sports@thedailycougar.com fastest time in the 60m hurdles, a record shared with Williams,

“Ultimately, I want to win nationals.

As far as the team, me and Cam are expected to go 1,2."

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SPORTS

Bryce Dodds, EDITOR

MEN'S BASKETBALL

Senior leaves a mark bigger than wins and losses SHARDANNA JONES STAFF WRITER

At one point during his sophomore year, LeRon Barnes was ready to call it quits as a member of the men’s basketball team.

After twisting his ankle repeatedly, a teary-eyed Barnes told Houston assistant coach Alvin Brooks that he didn’t believe he could continue battling injuries.

On crutches and crying his eyes out, Barnes made the decision to tough it out.

“I was always taught that when things get difficult, tough it out and don’t try to run away from your problems,” Barnes said. “I thank my parents for teaching me that.”

Not only did he decided to stick it out and battle his injuries, he was one of only a handful of players who decided to remain with the program two years ago after former head coach James Dickey resigned.

His decision paid tenfold and his fondest memory would come on the last home game of his career, when Houston beat conference rival Cincinnati.

He was also honored for senior night, which he admits brought tears to his eyes.

It isn’t his greatest memory for personal reasons.

The men who played beside him are what made him feel as though he was a part of something bigger than when he started.

“We talked all week about winning this game and we won,” Barnes said. “We have 22 wins and we did it as a team. No one thought that we'd beat Cincinnati, but we all believed it as a team and we went out and did it together. I’ve never had a team like this and it just feels so good.”

As a two-time captain, Barnes has heard the praise from his teammates as well as his coaches. But for Barnes, they’re the reason why his smile reached his eyes during his last game.

“In the five years that I’ve been here, we’ve never had a team like this,” Barnes said.

“We’re all so close, very close.

If we go somewhere, it’s all of us together. No one is separate.

It makes it a little tough and bittersweet to have to leave.”

Barnes attributes a great part of that to head coach Kelvin Sampson for believing in him and thinking so highly of him.

“Throughout my entire career,

Red-shirt senior guard LeRon Barnes will never play another game on the floor of Hofheinz as a player on the Cougars' roster again, but his impact on the program is huge. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

I’ve never had a coach like Coach Sampson,” Barnes said.

“His enthusiasm, how smart he is. He’s a great teacher. He’s a role model for me. I respect him so much and I try to take after him. For him to believe in me like he does is a feeling I can’t even describe.”

He credits Sampson for turning the program around and for changing the culture of the program, but Sampson is just as thankful for Barnes as Barnes is for him.

“I thank the good Lord for Coach Dickey recruiting LeRon Barnes. This kid is solid,” Sampson said. “You could coach for 30 years and never inherit a kid that has all the check marks that LeRon has; good player, good character, great teammate, great leader, mature beyond his years, team-first kind of guy, and coachable. We just got lucky.”

Barnes said he does whatever is asked of him, and most importantly, he works hard every day and respects those around him just like they respect him.

Barnes’ fellow team-captain from last year and current graduate assistant Mikhail McLean, says Barnes just leads by example in all things.

“He’s a silent leader who doesn’t speak much, but when he does speak, guys listen,” McLean said.

“He plays hard, and he even plays with injury. He’ll play through it just to show guys that if you have an injury, you

can play through it instead of trying to sit out. He’s basically a voice of Coach Sampson.”

Although his time as a Cougar is almost up, Barnes hopes to continue his career and play

basketball overseas.

Once that’s done, he said he plans to put his degree in health to use, continue in a leadership role and become a coach.

Before that happens, he wants to leave his teammates, coaches, and fans a message.

“Thanks for all the support and being loyal to me,” Barnes said.

Although he won’t be stepping back on the Hofheinz Pavilion court as a Houston Cougars player anymore, guys will be hearing about the 6’5” guard from Stonewall, La. for years to come.

“He’ll be someone that I’ll hold up two years from now, five years from now, seven years from now, when we recruit, and we’ll say ‘we had a guy here back in 2014 and 2015 named LeRon Barnes, and here’s his story’,” Sampson said. “This is the kind of kid that he was. We want you to be like him.” sports@thedailycougar.com

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10 | Wednesday, March 9, 2016

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PUZZLES

ACROSS 1 Speak in the Senate 6 Upside-down sixes .11 Luau instrument, briefly 14 DNA curve 15 Take in, as a stray cat 16 Keanu in “The Matrix” 17 Repeatedly 19 Last mo.

20 It may have an attachment 21 Oregon city 23 Chip veggie 26 Satie or Estrada 28 Erin of “Happy Days” 29 Two or more eras, in geology 30 Zig’s companion 32 Complexion affliction 33 What a cow chews 34 Type of lens 38 Fast vibrato, in music 40 Clergymen 43 Make a copy of 45 Hawaii’s Mauna ___ 46 Turkish high official (var.)

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Wednesday, March 9, 2016 | 11

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sports@thedailycougar.com

SPORTS

Bryce Dodds, EDITOR

COMMENTARY

Bounce-back weekend for Cougars powered by their bats REAGAN EARNST

STAFF WRITER

The baseball team welcomed the Baylor University Bears to Schroeder Park last weekend hoping to return to their winning ways.

The team entered the weekend on a four game losing streak in which they could not seem to get their offense going. On the losing streak the Cougars were outscored by a combined 28-8.

The first game of the series did not go well. Despite a great pitching performance by junior Andrew Lantrip, the team was shutout in the first eight innings of the game.

When Cougar catcher Connor Wong hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to keep his team’s hopes alive, he ended a streak of over 12 scoreless innings for the Cougars. His efforts were not enough, however, as Houston fell to Baylor 4-2, extending the ball club's losing streak to five games.

“We’re scuffling right now,” head coach Todd Whitting said after News March 9 Auto the loss10596-Cougar Friday night.

“Baseball can be extremely cruel, and it’s

The Cougars' big bats powered them to a 2-1 series win over Baylor. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

kicking us in the tail right now.” a five-game losing streak with The next two days were far less two big wins shows the resiliency cruel to the Cougars. this team possesses. Where other The team's scoring drought teams may have been discouraged came to an end when the Cougars by losing the first game narrowly, earned a 10-4 victory on Saturday, the Cougars dug in and took the followed by an 11-2 win on Sunday second and third games of the in which they rained five home series.

Adruns.

Half Page-final.pdf 1 3/8/16 12:05 “It’s PM huge. We were in a tough Being able to bounce back from patch there,” Whitting said. “To be

able to not only win, but win big in both games against a really good in-state team tells you that this team keeps fighting.”

Sophomore outfielder Clay Casey played an instrumental role in the routs. Casey shined bright Sunday when he belted two home runs, his third and fourth in the young season.

“We had great practices all week,” Casey said in regards to the team’s success. “Coach sat all of the hitters down and told us we had a talented team, we just needed to get our confidence back, find our swag and be the Coogs again.”

The return of sophomore pitcher Seth Romero on Sunday helped to not only down the Bears, but will also add experience to the young pitching rotation moving forward.

Romero was masterful as he pitched five innings of one-hit baseball on his way to earning his first win of the season Sunday.

“I thought Romero was good,” Whitting said. “For the most part he threw strikes, his secondary

stuff will get a little sharper, but I thought he competed well.”

In addition to improved pitching, freshman phenom Joe Davis has shown that he will be a major key to Cougar success throughout the season.

After the weekend, Davis is hitting an outstanding .467 with three home runs and team-leading 18 RBI. “The jury is still out, but to this point he is as advertised,” Whitting said. “He has been a good player and is a big part of our team.”

The two wins were instrumental for getting the team back on track, with the bats finding their rhythm again.

To this point, the team has played all of its games in Houston, but they will soon be tested on the road.

The Cougars will see how they fare as a visitor for the first time this weekend when they head to Tuscaloosa to take on the University of Alabama Crimson Tide. sports@thedailycougar.com

12 | Wednesday, March 9, 2016