Issue 14, Volume 89

Corruption allegations rock first special session of new admin

REGAN GRANT, JORDAN NAVARIJO

SGA ASSISTANT EDITOR, SGA SENIOR STAFF WITER @THEG8REGAN, @JORDANNAVARIJO

Accusations of malfeasance and corruption against prominent members of the Student Government Association marred the first special session of the 61st administration, including the impeachment of a Supreme Court justice and the defense of the attorney general, who was suspended in a previous session.

The Senate almost unanimously passed a resolution to impeach senior justice Ansel Aimee Garcia for allegedly violating the election code and bylaws. This resolution came after a presentation by public policy sophomore Kadon Miller, who provided evidence in the form of text messages from Garcia of what Miller claims to be violations.

Miller said that the messages proved that Garcia violated the SGA governing documents by supporting Arriaga during his candidacy, intending to abdicate her position as justice to run for SGA president and admitting to her impeachable offenses.

“It is imperative that somebody who knowingly broke the election code and betrayed the trust of the student body by trying to seek her political agenda to run for president is impeachable, and she knew that malfeasance was an impeachable offense,” Miller said.

Garcia initially responded to the accusations made by Miller after he finished his address, but then abruptly resigned her position as senior justice.

“This is the last thing I would be ready to face. The judicial branch and the students within the judicial branch do not deserve this,” Garcia said. “With that being said, I find no reason for an impeachment inquiry because I have resigned my position as justice effective immediately.”

However, Garcia retracted her resignation, claiming that it wasn’t an

official resignation and that she would have to consult with the court before making it official.

Regardless of her intent to resign, the Senate will still undergo the impeachment process for Garcia, which includes a trial presided over by SGA Chief Justice Carlos Hernandez. However, Miller called into question Hernandez’s integrity by claiming that there is a conflict of interest between him and Garcia due to his membership with SOMOS UH, an organization that Garcia leads as president.

However, Kadon’s surprise revelation to the SGA senate was not immediately well received, and some members questioned the method of Kaden’s timing and the gathering of evidence. Specifically, some senators questioned why Miller was making these accusations now, especially since the texts Miller showed were from last year.

“The reason as to why I did not bring this up earlier was because I was a secondsemester freshman who was not familiar with the governing documents,” Miller said. “It is imperative that I bring this up now.”

Ultimately, the Senate overwhelmingly supported Miller’s bill nominating Garcia for impeachment.

“I definitely think that there was enough evidence for impeachment,” said Speaker of the Senate Sebastian Ballesteros.

Later, Attorney General Matthew Tao defended himself against allegations of procedural misconduct that led to his recent suspension. The controversy, stemming from a dispute over election protocol, unfolded amidst scrutiny and debate within SGA.

The dispute traces back to a ruling issued by Tao on March 7, which alleged a violation of the Election Code by the For All Cougars party, represented by nowPresident Diego Arriaga. Arriaga swiftly appealed the decision, citing procedural irregularities and challenging the validity of

impeach me so that his Supreme Court could choose a new Attorney General under his liking.”

Tao claimed that Arriaga violated the election code multiple times during his campaign. The senate rigorously questioned Tao on the validity of his arguments against Arriaga as he was unable to provide substantial evidence.

“Diego falsified his financial documents and didn’t include all the necessary materials, which qualifies for an immediate disqualification for his candidacy. Additionally, there was a campaign volunteer campaigning on grounds where it is not allowed,” Tao said.

Along with claims of election code violations, Tao claimed that Arriaga had personal relations with the Election Commissioner.

“He should have been disqualified because his girlfriend is a conflict of interest as the Election Commissioner,” Tao said. “If it wasn’t for the institution incessantly pressuring them to get leniency and even straight up lie and cover up for Diego’s violations, he would not be president.”

Tao’s judgment.

The ensuing legal battle culminated in a suspension verdict delivered by the SGA’s Supreme Court. The Court found merit in Arriaga’s claims of procedural misconduct, resulting in Tao’s suspension for 30 calendar days.

“The day before the case, I found Diego not to be in violation; therefore, rendering the court case useless,” Tao said. “When I went to inform the judge that I found Diego innocent, the judge goes on a power trip and refused to let me drop the case and went ahead and took the case on for himself.”

During the meeting, Tao seized the opportunity to refute the allegations leveled against him. He defended his actions, alluding to underlying bias of those in executive positions.

“Corruption is pervasive in this administration. Diego has full control over the Supreme Court, which has drastic implications not only on my case, but it undermines the integrity of all cases,” Tao said. “I believe Diego was looking to

Arriaga claimed that his relationship with the election commissioner did not begin until after the election concluded.

“I have evidence to show that me and her did not start talking in any form of romantic ways until after the election, and I can prove that without a shadow of a doubt,” Arriaga said. “Why should my personal life be brought up to scrutiny?”

However, senators rebutted the claim that the relationship started well before then.

“There is no way in hell that this relationship started the very day after the campaign concluded,” said Sen. Jesus Nieto.

Tao wrapped up his speech by emphasizing his claim of corruption within the bones of the organization.

“I am extremely conclusive on the fact that supreme court senior justice Ansel Garcia has expressed her allegiance to Diego, which overtakes the voting of my case and undermines the integrity of all others.”

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“I find no reason for an impeachment inquiry because I have resigned my position as justice effective immediately,” said Senior Justice Ansel Aimee Garcia (right). | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

“I believe Diego was looking to impeach me so that his Supreme Court could choose a new Attorney General under his liking,” Tao said. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Texas’ recent executive order limits free speech, experts say

ATIRIKTA KUMAR COMMUNITY ASSISTANT EDITOR @ATIRIKTAKUMAR

As the conflict in Gaza continues, university campuses across the globe are reeling with the effects of the international conflict.

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order instructing state universities to revise their free speech policies to address what his office calls a rise in the “acts of antisemitism in institutions of higher education.”

“Texas supports free speech, especially on university campuses, but that freedom comes with responsibilities for both students and the institutions themselves,” the executive order stated.

The executive order singled out proPalestine student organizations, namely the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine, and said that the organizations should be disciplined for violating these policies. Expulsion from colleges should be considered appropriate punishment for violations, Abbott said.

Despite this, the University’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine HTX will not stop advocating for Palestine’s liberation, said SJP representative and art history graduate student Frances, who chose to withhold their last name due to fear of retaliation.

“We will not secede to these repression and fear tactics as we understand that the movement for the liberation of Palestine is far greater than any fear tactics that the governor could employ,” Frances said.

According to Frances, students across the state have raised their voices in support of Palestine’s liberation and the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement and that the executive order is a way to crack down on these very voices.

“This executive order is an attack on the free speech rights, on the grounds of Palestine. It is not an attack on free speech rights for only the sake of free speech,” Frances said. “But it is an attack on free speech because of the material change that is coming out of students that are calling for BDS in regard to Palestine.”

In an Instagram post, SJP HTX asked students to participate in a mass email campaign to UH and South Texas College of Law administrators, urging them to protect students’ right to assembly and speech on campuses. In addition, they asked that students continue to show solidarity with the movement.

While Abbott’s claim that free speech

“comes with responsibilities,” is all well and good, the executive order seeks to limit the power of pro-Palestine groups on campus, according to Middle Eastern studies program director Emran El-Badawi.

“In reality the executive order seeks to both limit and censor speech on campus, especially with respect to speech that draws attention to the ongoing massacre of Palestinians by Israel in its war on Gaza,” El-Badawi said.

The executive order requires all public state universities to update their free speech policies to address antisemitic speech and establish appropriate punishments, including expulsion. In addition, it mandates that these policies are enforced and include the definition of antisemitism from the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, said assistant political science professor Michael Kistner.

“The executive order named two Palestinian student orgs specifically — Palestine Solidarity Committee and Students for Justice in Palestine, stating that they should be disciplined for violating policies. What this means in practice for Palestinian student orgs depends on what changes the universities themselves choose to make and how they enforce them,” Kistner said.

Abbott has always been a strong supporter of Israel — he even traveled to Israel in November to show Texas’ support for the country. The state has anti-boycott laws that prohibit state agencies and government entities from contracting with businesses that boycott Israel.

In a statement, Abbott said that the executive order will ensure that college campuses are “safe spaces for the Jewish community.” The latest memorandum also came close to a year after the state dismantled universitys’ diversity, equity and inclusion offices with anti-DEI laws.

“The latest executive order takes place in a larger context where conservative politicians and legislatures are attacking the identity and ideas of the younger generation of students and so called ‘liberal-minded’ professors, including in matters such as race, gender and tenure,” El-Badawi said.

Abbott has not commented on if and how the state will protect pro-Palestine students, who have received increased threats of harassment and threats since the war started.

According to the memorandum, the University Board of Regents has 90 days to report their revised speech and disciplinary policies to the state.

The University is aware of the Governor’s

executive order and will add additional language as necessary to the school’s conduct policies to comply with Executive Order GA-44. However, nothing changes right now said university spokesperson Bryan Luhn.

“Our commitment to free speech and free expression is not changing: We are committed to fostering a learning environment where free inquiry and expression are encouraged,” Luhn said.

“The University recognizes and supports the constitutional rights of free speech and peaceful assembly. The University encourages all who engage in expressive activity to do so safely and in a manner that respects the rights of others with differing opinions.”

Despite the push back from the state, SJP said they will keep pushing forward with their demands for justice, equality and freedom in Palestine and their BDS campaign on campus.

“Especially considering the fact that this executive order comes during an ongoing genocide. We will not allow this executive order to freeze our actions because we understand that our campaign for freedom, justice and equality for Palestine is something that cannot secede to any pressure tactics by the state,” Frances said.

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Students gathered outside the Starbucks in the Student Center South to protest the University’s support for Israel in December. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order instructing state universities to revise their free speech policies . | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

FOOTBALL

sports Houston concludes first spring season under Willie Fritz

CAMRYN ALBERIGO ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

@CAMRYN.ALBERIGO

Saturday morning, Houston football took the field at its Spring Game giving fans a look at the Cougars with head coach Willie Fritz in the driver’s seat. The scrimmage capped off a spring schedule consisting of 15 practices over 34 days and was played at Carl Lewis International Complex, the game site amid renovations in TDECU Stadium.

“We won, no question,” said Fritz, who addressed the 2,027 Cougar fans in attendance expressing gratitude for their support. “(This Spring) we installed how we do things here with the Houston Cougars.”

Returning players such as sophomore running back Parker Jenkins and sophomore defensive lineman Anthony Holmes Jr. welcomed the changes their new leader brought to the program.

“Fritz is the type of coach you really want to play for,” Holmes said.  “He is so energized and all into it. He brings you back to that love (for the game).”

With a new coaching staff, the players didn’t just learn a new playbook. They established what it means to be a part of a team.

“Everyone’s coming together, and offense and defense are getting along

better,” Jenkins said. “The camaraderie is greater, you can tell through the vibes everyone has.”

The spring contest started with punts and kickoffs before four seven-and-ahalf-minute quarters of play between the defense dressed in red and the offense in white.

Junior defensive back Jalen Emery picked off sophomore quarterback Ui Ale in the endzone for the first interception of the day. Later, junior defensive back A.J. Haulcy hauled in a ball thrown by sophomore quarterback Zeon Chriss. On the next play, Jenkins reached the endzone on a 60-yard run, providing some ignition for the offense.

“We are a bit ahead defensively,” said Fritz, who worked with three of his defensive coaches at Tulane. “We are playing a bit of catch-up on offense.”

The first and second team units started the game with two consecutive three-and-outs on six passes. Redshirt freshman quarterback Caleb McMickle led the Cougars down the field, allowing redshirt freshman running back Sergio Snider to cross the goal line.

The Cougars’ two other scores came in the second half when Chriss and Ale found senior wide receiver Joshua Cobbs and redshirt freshman tight end Jett Runion in the endzone.

Notably, senior quarterback Donovan Smith was absent from the spring game due to his recovery from shoulder surgery at the end of his 2023 campaign. Still, Smith was present throughout spring practice.

“I feel like he still got a lot done,” Fritz said. “He did a good job of paying attention, asking questions and coaching guys.”

As the Cougars close the chapter on spring ball, they anticipate their second Big 12 season with preseason camp set to begin in early August.

“We have to continue to move forward and focus on the things we need to get better at for this fall,” Jenkins said. “It’s always a process.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

MEN’S BASKETBALL

UH lands former OU point guard Milos Uzan in transfer portal

UH added an experienced point guard through the transfer portal in OU’s Milos Uzan. | Oscar Herrera/ The Cougar

STARNS LELAND SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND

The Cougars have seemingly found their next starting point guard as former Oklahoma guard Milos Uzan committed to UH via social media Saturday night. Uzan’s addition comes days after First Team AllAmerican point guard Jamal announced his decision to enter the NBA Draft. Uzan played his freshman and sophomore seasons for the Sooners, appearing in all 64 games and making 56 starts.

In 2023-24, the 6-foot-4 guard from Las Vegas, was the only OU player to start all 32 games, averaging nine points and 4.4 assists to go with 1.2 steals and 3.4 rebounds in 31.7 minutes per game. Uzan shot 39.2% from the floor and 29.2% from three for the season, a sharp dip from freshman season splits of 47.0% and 40.7% respectively.

Uzan joins a UH squad that returns four starters, including seniors L.J. Cryer and J’Wan Roberts.

sports@thedailycougar.com

Sophomore running back Parker Jenkins leads the way for the White Team in Saturday’s Spring Game. | Anh Le/ The Cougar

Meet the South African Olympian representing UH on the track

STARNS LELAND SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND

UH sprinter Shaun Maswanganyi was a forearm’s length away from winning the 100-meter NCAA national title in 2023.

He had stepped onto the starting blocks supremely focused, and as the race progressed, he felt himself ahead of his nearby opponents. As he crossed the finish line, he looked up to the scoreboard almost sure he had just won it all.

“I remember standing behind the blocks. I was in the zone, all I could hear were my thoughts and the starter,” Maswanganyi said. “I just remember running through what (UH track and field head coach Carl Lewis) would want: push, power, patience. I remember those words, and everything clicked in my head. At this stage, I’m like, It’s me and the line. I don’t care about anyone else.”

But while he painstakingly waited for the times to come up, Maswanganyi realized he made a mistake: he leaned too early.

“Ninety meters into the race, I started feeling myself naturally start to lean forward,” Maswanganyi said. “I was fighting every urge, but I leaned way too early and I could just feel it. But by the time I leaned, I thought I had it.”

The times came up, and there it stood: third place.

In one of the fastest races in NCAA history, in which seven runners broke the 10-second threshold, Maswanganyi’s school-record time of 9.91 seconds was mere inches away from immortality.

“If I had not leaned, I would have been national champion,” Maswanganyi said. “And that’s the most painful part because I had it in my head.”

Soon after the meet ended, an accepting yet unsatisfied Maswanganyi began going through old text messages with his best friend and late older brother, Mulalo, who died tragically the previous April. He found an old audio message from May 2021 when Shaun ran a wind-assisted sub-10-second race.

It was an emotional, bittersweet moment

intra-school track meet where he won first place and broke the school’s senior record while still just 13 years old. Soon after, he was thrust into lining up against the South African U15 national champion in a race that changed the course of his life.

“I was winning the first 60 meters, but in the last 40 meters, he just blew past me and then I was like, ‘What?’ I couldn’t do anything,” Maswanganyi said. “And after that, I went up to my coach and was like, ‘Yeah, you’ll see me on Monday. I can’t let that happen.’”

With his competitive energy now fully focused and with the guidance of his coaches and his brother, it didn’t take long for Maswanganyi to compete for national titles.

By the end of his high school career, he was the South African U20 60- and 100meter record holder and earned a gold medal in the 200-meter at the 2019 African Junior Championships.

said. “And in my mind, I’m like, I know how my brother was, I know his energy, I know what he would have wanted of me. And he would have wanted me to go out and compete.”

Despite his heavy heart, Maswnaganyi led the Cougars to a first-place finish in the 4x100m to knock off the Tigers on their home soil, finding solace in words from his mentor.

“Coach Carl told me the story about how he had lost his father and he went to the funeral and flew to LA the next day to go compete because he didn’t want to take time off,” Maswnaganyi said. “He knew what it meant to be the best and to compete at the best and he knew the stakes, so I definitely looked up to that.”

for the young South African sprinter, but it was a reminder of just how far he had come and what he had gone through in a tumultuous 2022, as well as motivation for his ultimate goal as a world-class sprinter.

“I was going through our chat and I was just listening to some of those whispers and that one voice noted resonated with me,” Maswanganyi said. “It was windy, but to him, it didn’t matter. He was like ‘Keep breaking sub-10, keep doing what you’re doing. I’m proud of you and I’ll always be there for you.’”

Born into a family of athletes — his mother and grandmother were runners and his father was a professional cyclist — Phatutshedzo “Shaun” Maswanganyi grew up in what he described as “borderline poverty” in the Johannesburg township of Soweto with his two brothers before relocating to Pretoria.

He excelled in just about any sport he tried and exhibited a fierce competitive streak that he credits to spending his days with Mulalo, a standout rugby player himself. By the time he was 13 years old, he was a star soccer and cricket player but had zeroed in on following his brother’s footsteps in rugby or working towards playing college basketball.

However, his grandmother was sure he was destined for much more and told him as much in a phone call just days before she unexpectedly passed away.

“She had a vision that I would represent our family name on the highest stage of the world,” Maswanganyi, now an Olympian who currently ranks 33rd in the world in men’s 200-meter race, said. “She was talking on the phone and she was saying all these things, and I was just like, ‘You’re talking about the future, and I’m just worried about tomorrow.’ It didn’t click with me then that she was going to leave us forever. But she knew something we didn’t. She saw the things I never saw myself when I was 13.”

But Maswanganyi never planned on track being his platform to stardom, though. He was hesitant to even run at all.

At the urging of St. Alban’s track coaches, Maswanganyi reluctantly entered an

With the help of a scholarship agency, Maswanganyi was contacted by then-UH track and field head coach Leroy Burrell while on vacation with friends. The two had a lengthy call before Burrell handed the phone to assistant coach and Olympic legend Carl Lewis, where he was fully sold. Once he arrived in 202, he quickly built a strong relationship with Lewis, helping him adjust to his new training environment and more importantly becoming his “eyes” on the track.

“He always told me that the best athletes know what they did wrong,” Maswanganyi said. “I’ve gotten to a point where I can make a diagnosis of myself before the doctor diagnoses me, and the doctor can confirm, ‘Oh yeah, you did that or you could have done this or did that.’”

The 6-foot-1 sprinter hit his stride in the outdoor season, eventually winning the AAC title in the 100-, 200- and 4x100-meter and bursting onto the national scene by just missing out on gold in the 100-meter NCAA title. Months later, Maswanganyi made his grandmother’s words ring true when he represented his country on the world stage in the Tokyo Olympics, reaching the semifinals in the 100- and 200m.

“That was one of my most special moments,” Maswanganyi said. “Because my family was so proud of me.”

The 20-year-old phenom elected to return to college for the 2022 season to continue developing under Lewis’ tutelage and look to earn the 100-meter national title, a feat he had never achieved as a teenager in South Africa. But a day before Maswanganyi was set to compete in the LSU Joe May Invitational, he received terrible news.

On April 8, 2022, Shaun’s brother Mulalo was shot and killed at age 29. Unable to fly back to South Africa to mourn with family or even attend his brother’s funeral, an inconsolable Maswanganyi was stuck in a Baton Rouge hotel room, unsure of what to do next with a relay race as the anchor leg less than 24 hours away.

“I remember just hearing the news, I was devastated. I was in my room, Coach Burrell was with me, and Coach Carl was with me. They asked me what I wanted to do. They were like, ‘You don’t even have to run. We can fly you back,’” Maswanganyi

Still, the rest of the year remained a brutal struggle for the sophomore. Injuries derailed what was a promising start to the outdoor season and Burrell resigned after the season, having stepped away earlier in the year due to his son Cameron’s untimely death in August of 2021, and was replaced by Lewis.

Through all of it, Maswanganyi grieved the loss of the brother who helped shape him into a world-class athlete.

“It was definitely tough for me. Still today I think about it. I still feel like calling. It’s just a battle every day,” Maswnaganyi said. “But I understand that things happen in life, and you can never really prepare for it. But how you bounce back is the biggest thing for me.”

He did just that the next year en route to his record-breaking national title race. Maswanganyi blew through the 2023 AAC Indoor Championships with gold in the 60and 200m and won three more conference titles in the outdoor season. But yet again, the 22-year-old was struck by tragedy when he learned of the passing of his grandmother on his mother’s side. “It was tough missing both the funerals in back-to-back years,” Maswanganyi said. “But just that motivation that they gave me, that extra push just to keep doing what I do. And to remember that every day, I’m running for a bigger purpose.”

That purpose now drives the sprinter in his final year in college as he looks to finally make things right at the NCAAs before he enters the Paris Olympics. Food poisoning prevented Maswanganyi from running at top form in the World University Games and World Championships in the summer of 2023, and a virus kept him from making the final in the Indoor NCAAs. But since the outdoor season began, the senior has shown out with back-to-back 100-meter first-place finishes in the Tom Jones Invitational and Texas Relays, two of the largest track meets in the country.

Even as he’s entered a crucial stretch of his young career, Maswanganyi’s mind has gone back to that old voice message from his brother. The one that told him to keep going.

“I don’t even need to listen to it because it keeps playing in my mind,” Maswnaganyi said. “Every day when I step on the track, when I just need motivation to get through a rep, I think about how much it would mean to me to make him proud.”

Shaun Maswanganyi has fought through loss and injuries to become Houston’s star sprinter. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

opinion

CULTURE

Accusing celebrities of queerbaiting is invasive, can be harmful

PARKER HODGES-BEGGS STAFF WRITER @KIFYKI

Anyone who’s familiar with popular queer media will undoubtedly remember the release of “Heartstopper,” a smash hit romantic comedy that gained a large following spanning many demographics due to its heartwarming story and realistic depiction of queer relationships.

With its third season right around the corner, the show has had a largely positive reception and has arguably been one of the most popular series on Netflix since its release. Unfortunately, as with a lot of queer media, this mass reception came with its own set of consequences.

One of the most controversial discussions surrounding the show centered on Kit Connor, a 20-year-old actor who plays the role of Nick Nelson, a rugby player who starts asking questions about his sexuality after meeting his classmate Charlie Spring.

While the series itself is a heartwarming romance with amazing storytelling and representation, many fans of it seemed to have, in the words of Connor himself, missed the point of the show.

Not long after the first season aired, Connor was accused of “queerbaiting,”  or acting like you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community to draw viewers to the show,

after a video came out of him holding hands with Maia Reficco, his co-star on another project.

Connor eventually responded to the onslaught of accusations on Twitter by coming out as bisexual and condemning those who pressured him to do so. He used his “coming out” tweet to accuse fans of missing the point of the show, which is a fair statement considering that his “Heartstopper” character was reassured on multiple occasions that he didn’t owe anyone a label.

Since the incident, while he’s continued to play the character of Nick, Connor has significantly dialed back his online presence.

This isn’t the only case of online attention and accusations pressuring a celebrity to publicly label themselves. For example, the Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny has been hit with many allegations of queerbaiting after kissing a male backup dancer of his, performing in drag and wearing skirts.

Another example is Billie Eilish, who faced backlash after sharing behindthe-scenes images from the music video for her single “Lost Cause” alongside a caption that said “I love girls.”

In the case of Bad Bunny, the accusations were based on gendered and homophobic stereotypes. Why, especially

as a queer person, would anyone feel the need to police what someone’s allowed to wear or do based on their gender or orientation? LBGTQ+ or not, enforcing rigid gender roles on anyone is backward and harmful to everyone, not just queer people.

Now, there are certainly some benefits to celebrities being openly queer. Many outwardly LGBTQ+ artists and actors have used their platforms to educate viewers and contribute to LGBTQ+ resources. Take Elton John, who’s been out since the 1970s and created his own foundation to support those with AIDS, or Elliot Page, who is a supporter of several LGBTQ+ foundations.

The difference between those two and the aforementioned individuals, however, is that they came out on their own terms.

Accusing real people of queerbaiting not because of something genuinely harmful they’ve created but because of their style or roles they’ve taken, is a regressive practice that reduces queerness to a spectacle. Being queer is not about conforming to a certain way of living based on what others perceive you to be, nor is it a requirement to make yourself known in your labels.

An individual cannot queerbait, and it’s dangerous to push the idea that this isn’t the case or use the term improperly to pressure someone into coming out.

So, what is queerbaiting really?

Queerbaiting is a marketing technique and is not meant to be applied to individuals. When used correctly, the term is used to describe fictional media introducing characters or relationships with queer undertones to attract LGBTQ+ audiences while never confirming their queer identity as canon. This is not to be confused with subtext, which is used to hint at an underlying message and is often used to tease relationships before explicitly canonizing them.

Some examples of queerbaiting come from shows like Netflix’s “Wednesday,” BBC’s “Sherlock” or “Merlin.” Notable

examples in animated shows include “Voltron: Legendary Defenders” and “The Legend of Korra.”

While shows like Korra have queerbaited out of necessity, as depicting same-sex couples in children’s television is difficult for a number of reasons, there are plenty of examples of flippant and even malicious uses of queerbaiting that aim to entice an audience that the creators never intend to fully appease. Creators intending only to pull in LGBTQ+ audiences without following through is a real issue that is worth calling out, but there’s a fine line between creating a problematic piece of media and simply existing without immediately labeling yourself for the public eye.

Conclusion

The desire to relate to celebrities is valid, and wishing to be represented in different media is even more so. However, that desire should never reach a point of policing the identities of others, especially not to the point where you’re pressuring them to come out when they’re not ready.

Being queer is not about making a statement or proving your queerness to others. It’s important to remember that there’s community in queerness, and rather than singling each other out, we should work to foster that community and create a safe place for any LGBTQ+ identifying person.

Coming out is a difficult journey for anyone, and it’s especially hard when so many eyes are on them. Sexuality is incredibly personal, and the risk of backlash is a terrifying scenario to consider for anyone, let alone someone so heavily scrutinized by the public.

It’s important to remember that, whether famous or not, no one owes us a label. No one should have to justify the way they dress, act or exist just to appease an audience.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Ask the Cougar: Dealing with being ghosted, procrastination, graduation

ATIRITKA KUMAR COMMUNITY ASSISTANT EDITOR @ATIRITKAKUMAR

In this week’s Ask The Cougar, Community Assistant Editor Atirikta Kumar answers some questions about early career advice, procrastination and anxiety.

How do I get A’s in my classes if I’m too lazy? Tips for combating procrastination please.

While I don’t have any advice for you to get As in your classes when you’re lazy, I do have you covered when it comes to procrastination. Procrastination is my old and annoying friend. We know each other too well and that means over the years I have come up with ways to combat it. First, make a to-do list of everything you need to get done and cross off the easiest task first and then make your way through the list. Crossing off one item will give you momentum to keep going through the rest of the list.

Another tip is to break down the big intimidating tasks into smaller fractions. For example, if there is a semester-long research project you have to do, it can be a recipe for epic procrastination tactics. It’s easier to break down the work by dividing the work you have to do.

One of my least favorite yet effective ways I have found to keep myself accountable is to put time limits on my social media apps. If I’m unable to use the apps, I am less likely to procrastinate while scrolling through TikTok. Having study buddies to work with can also help to keep you on track and not swerve off the road and procrastinate.

Good luck with the rest of the semester.

How can you move on after been ghosted?

Hello anon, I’m so sorry that this happened to you. Not knowing why someone you’ve been talking to for so long suddenly

disappears is hard. I’m sorry I wish I could tell you why people ghost, sometimes people just suck and they do things that might not make sense to you. But most of the time it’s a reflection of their actions and not necessarily something you did.

Having anxiety is difficult, sometimes it’s difficult to navigate relationships with it, especially when it’s with someone who you hardly know. I think it’s best to manage your anxiety through either exercise or doing something that makes you happy and keeps your mind off of this. In addition to that, if someone only adds on to your anxious feelings, then maybe it’s better to evaluate if they are someone you want to keep in your life.

The best way to move on is to do things that make you happy. Spend time with your family and friends, watch your favorite TV shows, and invest your energy in things that help with your anxiety.

I hope I could help; hope you feel better soon.

What advice do you have for graduating seniors/any early career advice?

Hi, congratulations on your upcoming graduation! My biggest advice for graduating seniors is to take one day at a time. Leaving school is a big step and even if you have been living on your own during your undergraduate years, chances are you’ll still

be overwhelmed with the changes in your life. Take a deep breath and don’t leap into big decisions, rather take one step at a time.

As for your career, if you have a job already lined up for you, make connections within your new workplace. Talk to your new coworkers and build relationships at your job. These people will be a part of your dayto-day life for the foreseeable future, being friendly will make your experience better. If you do not have a job yet, don’t stop the grind. Keep applying for jobs and reach out to professionals in your field to network.

I hope I could help and I wish you the best of luck in your future career and life.

editor@thedailycougar.com

Engage in what makes you happy. Choose to explore possibilities, live in the moment and enjoy what life has to offer. Expansion and exploration will encourage new beginnings and give you a better understanding of your purpose, while showing you how to quench your thirst for knowledge and new solutions.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Set your sights on something you like and be relentless in making it yours. Your enthusiasm will be infectious, making it easy to convince others to take on your responsibilities. Be wary of Pisces — they will attempt to lead you astray with their words.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Direct your energy wisely. Refuse to overreact. Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself until you have had time to process them. Control and patience are your best options. Don’t be afraid to use time to your advantage in order to wait out your opponents. Be careful in who you place your trust in, and keep a

respectful distance from Libras.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Put more time and effort into personal gain. Engaging in educational pursuits and updating your look will boost confidence and push you in the right direction. Cut your losses if needed. Consider taking advantage of any defensive failures in Scorpio.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Don’t quit prematurely. Look at all your options and figure out the best way to get what you want. Use persuasive tactics and incentives, and don’t be afraid to take advantage of Sagittarius’ ignorance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Preparation is everything. Don’t expect things to come to you; prepare to fight for what you want. If you want it, go after it with a vengeance — even if the thing you want is jealously guarded by Capricorn.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Follow through, embrace change and create opportunities that offer you a new

lease on life. Attending an event that provides connections and options will help you form your plans. But beware of Aquarius’ beguiling and manipulative nature.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Think before you act. Don’t apply pressure to an explosive situation. Look for calmer alternatives using common sense and understanding to ensure your success. Personal gains are apparent. Taurus’ may be distant this month, but do not let that deter you from interacting with them.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- A change in your routine will be uplifting. Activities that challenge and excite you will spark your interest in something you hadn’t thought of doing before. An awakening will change your perspective. Ensure you are ready for any attacks from Gemini.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -Refuse to let outside influences confuse you. Rely on your intelligence and ability to figure out the best path forward.

It’s your life; choose your terms and build your future. Be on guard for any manipulative tactics or Cancers seeking to lead you astray.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -Step out of the line of fire. Refuse to let someone bait you into an argument. Initiate positive domestic changes that will encourage the lifestyle you want. Don’t give up; get moving, stay moving don’t allow Leo to catch you unawares.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Remain focused and ready for action. Fine-tune your thoughts and plans, and be prepared to counter anything that gets in your way, especially if a Virgo is blocking your path.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Keep your emotions to yourself. Don’t mix business with pleasure or leave yourself open to criticism or accusations. Stick to your plan and focus on getting ahead financially. Don’t be afraid to voice your opinions, especially around fire signs and hot-headed individuals.

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

letter from the editors

As Vol. 89 comes to close, Cougar welcomes new top editor

JOHN LOMAX V, CINDY RIVAS ALFARO CLOSING STAFF @THEDAILYCOUGAR

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my time as a student journalist, it’s that you never really get comfortable.

As a staff writer, by the time you’ve really nailed down your beat you’re already well on your way to becoming a section editor. As an editor, by the time you’ve figured out

how to run your section effectively, you’re already on the short list for an executive position.

Further compounding this is the sense of genuine responsibility any journalist feels toward their community and the stories they’ve been entrusted with telling and preserving. This feeling, at times, can be suffocating — like you’re never really able to process your accomplishments because you don’t have a spare second to catch your breath.

But it’s a feeling I wouldn’t trade for anything else in the world.

Sitting here now, in one of just a handful of remaining days as editor in chief, I am left with an overwhelming sense of pride in having been a part of The Cougar. Every missed class spent meeting with sources, every long night in the office and every smile, laugh and tear I shared with my fellow reporters along the way — all now part of a beautiful mental tapestry I will cherish forever.

When I started here in the spring of 2022, I had one thing to my name: an idea. I knew I wanted to become a writer, but at the ripe old age of 24, had little to show for it. Two years later, I have close to 100 bylines under my belt and what I would consider to be a decent start for a fledgling journalist. I owe it all to The Cougar.

Later that same year, when I took over as news editor, I was an estranged commuter

student whose campus experience was defined entirely by my class schedule. Now, I have a network of friends and colleagues — many of whom I know I will continue to speak with long past graduation. This too, I owe to The Cougar.

When I was selected to be editor in chief in May of 2023, I was grappling with the death of my father, who was and still is one of my main sources of inspiration as a journalist. The Cougar offered not only a distraction from the despair I felt at the time, but one where I felt I was honoring his memory through my work. I owe that to The Cougar.

Now, as my time here comes to an end, I realize I was never suffocating, never drowning — I was swimming. I didn’t know where or why, but now that I’m here it’s like I’m where I was always supposed to be, doing what I was made to do. This is perhaps the greatest gift I’ve received from The Cougar — a sense of meaning and purpose in the world.

This debt, no matter where life takes me, is one I will never forget. No matter if I end up at the New York Times or some struggling local paper in rural Texas, I will always remember the place where it all began.

For the greater UH community, all I am currently able to offer you in repayment is my successor. There is not a single person on this campus more qualified for the role than her, and I have no doubt in my mind that she will exceed the standards of those who came before her.

Onwards and upwards, Coogs, and until we meet again.

— John Lomax, outgoing editor in chief

tive class I took my last semester in high school. I was clueless, did not know a hint of AP style and could not seem to shake off my habit of writing like a wannabe Shakespeare.

It was horrendous if I’m being honest, but I knew that I wanted to do something when I joined the Cougar: I wanted to make people feel heard and reassure them that their stories do matter, even when the world says they don’t.

I have laughed and learned in my three years at The Cougar as an opinion writer, opinion editor and most recently, the managing editor. As the eldest daughter of Salvadoran immigrants who used to rely on my mom to get me to campus during my first year of college, I struggled a lot to find my place at UH.

Before officially joining the editorial board, I would spend hours sitting alone in the Student Center South or the library. I would feel upset watching all of my dormer friends eating waffles at Moody at ungodly hours while I was stuck at home. I felt like I was robbed of my college experience.

However, joining the editorial board in May of 2022 changed everything for me. I finally had a support group, a safe space. It wasn’t just a place where I would go work and go straight home. Instead of sitting alone waiting for my mom to pick me up, I was at the office, laughing, crying, smiling, going through it and then not going through it.

As I’m writing this letter, I am overwhelmed by the responsibility of leading the Volume 90 newsroom into the start of another decade of its life. The Cougar has done so much for me professionally, academically and personally. Sometimes I get intense bursts of imposter syndrome as I’m sure every editor-in-chief before me has felt.

But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I will put my mind, heart and soul into The Cougar. There is nothing I want more than to make sure The Cougar is what it was made to do: to inform the student body while documenting the history of our University.

I have spent an alarming amount of time wondering how I would start this letter so I’ll start from the beginning.

I entered the staff room in the fall of 2021 with practically no knowledge of journalism unless you count that one elec-

Many people say journalism is a dying field. If that were true, then my heart, John’s heart, Donna’s heart, Jhair’s heart and the heart of every other editor-in-chief before us would have stopped beating a long time ago.

The state of the matter is that journalism is alive because we keep it alive. Journalism is not just the news. It’s the old, crinkled-up newspapers you find locked away in your family’s basement or the scanned files buried on JSTOR to learn more about something that happened long before you were alive.

Journalism is essential to our history and our democracy and I can assure you, the students of UH, that I will keep it alive.

— Cindy Rivas Alfaro, incoming editor in chief editor@thedailycougar.com

John Lomax V, outgoing editor in chief. | Anh Le/The Cougar

Cindy Rivas Alfaro, incoming editor in chief. | Anh Le/The Cougar

parting ways

The Cougar bids farewell to valued staff, friends of Vol. 89

Malachi Key

Outgoing opinion editor

When I first walked into the Cougar office, I remember looking around at all the students typing away at their desks and just thinking “I have to be a part of this.” While being on the editorial board of a college paper might not sound like the highest aspiration in the world, there’s something magical about this place that’s hard to describe if you’ve never experienced it for yourself.

Countless hours of wrestling with InDesign and sorting through angry comments is enough to drive anyone crazy, but I got to do it surrounded by some of the greatest journalists I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.

No one does this for the fame and money, they do it because they know UH students deserve a voice, and getting to be a part of that has contributed to some of the best years of my life. There’s a big part of me that’s going to miss late nights at the Den and chasing down sources.

But the best part about the Cougar is that it keeps going no matter what. With all that being said, thank you for everything. I’m gonna miss this. Farewell, and good luck!

Logan Linder

Outgoing campus assistant editor

After two and a half years, my time with The Cougar must come to an end. When I first came to The Cougar, I was freshly out of high school and had left the safe space I built at its newspaper and desperately wanted to recreate that. I was a freshman who didn’t know anyone, only that I wanted to continue writing.

The Cougar has allowed me the space to grow as a writer and as a person, and the experience I’ve gained will stick with me throughout whatever career I choose. The people here have become my new safe space, and I’ve established close relationships that I didn’t see coming.

In an ideal world, we would all be able to continue working here and leave things unchanged but unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. I know our friendships won’t end and we’ll lift each other up as we advance in our careers, but it’s an unfortunate switch from constantly interacting with everyone.

Thank you to The Cougar for helping me hone my AP style skills to make Crixell proud and thank you John for becoming like a brother to me and always encouraging me.

Robert De La Garza

Outgoing news editor

After transferring from community college in the fall of 2021, I was nervous about the transition period. My commute was much longer and the workload would be more demanding. I knew I wanted to join a student org know for putting out news content but wasn’t ready my first year. With a little push from a friend, I started at The Cougar in August 2022. I came in knowing nothing about journalism, just a young pup in the game. There were times I questioned if I was good enough, but with a great supporting cast around me I was able to learn more and more with each story.

I can say joining the student paper was the single greatest decision of my life and I wish I would have joined the minute I stepped on campus. I have built a portfolio, gained reallife experience in my field, made lifelong friends, met so many new people from hearing their stories, and landed an internship at my favorite news station in Houston. Leaving is bittersweet. I hate to leave but it’s my time. Long past my time. I’m excited for the opportunities this publication has created for me and I look forward to continuing to support and read The Cougar long after I’m gone.

Jordan Navarijo

Outgoing SGA senior staff writer

People often like to say that they have no regrets in life, but I do. Looking back at my four years at the University of Houston, the one thing that I regret the most is not joining The Cougar sooner. Whether it is the quality work experience or the friends and people I’ve met along the way, being a part of The Cougar editorial board has been my favorite part of college.

I am so blessed to have joined an organization with the best and brightest people working in it. I couldn’t have done my best work if not for the caliber of people working with and around me.

There are so many things that I will miss about the Cougar, but perhaps the thing I’ll miss the most is being connected with a community like UH—that and going to The Den for Long Island Tuesdays.

There are also many people to thank, but writing it all out wouldn’t make for good reading, so I’ll thank those I’ll need to thank in private.

I don’t know about my future, but I do know that the future of The Cougar is in good hands.

Starns Leland

Outgoing sports editor

My only regret about joining The Cougar is that I didn’t join earlier. I knew from the moment I became an editorial board member as assistant sports editor in the Spring of 2023 that this was the place I wanted to be. The people I got to meet and become friends with, the places I got to go and the things I got to experience will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I’m truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing newspaper with such amazing people.

As for the sports section, my only hope is that I left it better than I found it. Covering UH in its first season in the Big 12 Conference was an absolute joy, and I’m extremely proud of the work we did these past 12 months. I can’t wait to see what the future brings for The Cougar!

Riley Moquin

Outgoing assistant sports editor

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve gotten over the last three years at The Cougar. I’ve been challenged to grow not only my writing, but my selfconfidence — in the process meeting some amazing people and making memories that I’ll keep with me for a very long time.

From speaking with coaches and student-athletes to getting to travel to the NCAA Tournament, my time at The Cougar has opened doors for me that in turn built some of my best memories of my last four years at the University of Houston.

All I can really do is thank those who have helped me along the way, such as Starns Leland and Anh Le, who I have gotten to spend plenty of time working with over the last year. Additionally, I have to thank former Sports Editor James Mueller who first brought me onto the Sports Staff back in 2021. Thank you to everyone.

Behind the scenes: How Frontier Fiesta comes together

with the spring event right around the corner.

Students get to enjoy a weekend in the “Frontier Fiesta City” right on campus,

The student-led festival is the University’s oldest tradition. However, the weekend of fun comes from the hard

work of the board’s yearlong efforts. The work to put on Frontier Fiesta goes from May to May, said public relations junior and Fiesta board chair, Bailey Payne.

“We usually get 13,000 to 15,000 attendees. So that’s a really big event and we need a lot of time to plan it. So, we have to start planning in the summer, which is super fun, a little stressful but super fun,” Payne said.

An eight-person board is in charge of putting together the entire weekend. From making reservations for performances, and security to food, these students work for the entire year to build the spring festival on campus. Each director on the board has a unique set of responsibilities that they need to fulfill for the event, Payne said.

The director of productions works with Greek life organizations for their variety shows and performances. The marketing and carnival booths for Fiesta are overseen by the director of outreach. The fun events such as the mechanical bulls are taken care of by the director of special events.

The director of development works with sponsors and looks over any organization that would want to table at Fiesta or donate money. The vice chair works on the scholarship as well as the volunteer opportunities at Fiesta, while the chair oversees all departments and represents the organization at the Student Fees Advisory Committee and stakeholder meetings, Payne said.

“Something that’s super unique about Fiesta is that every single one of the directors can look at Fiesta and be like, this is my piece that I did,” Payne said. “As well as look at it as a whole and be like, this is this huge thing that we all did together.”

The director of performances Calvin Pham is in charge of making sure that there are opening and headline acts throughout the weekend. Additionally, Pham works with the Student Program Board to put on the Fiesta concert, arguably one of the highlights of the weekend.

“I’m on a committee of people who choose artists. So, we know that this artist specifically has been trending a lot on TikTok. So, because of good trends, we believe that they make a valuable selection,” Phan said.

On Friday, Fiesta and the Division of Student Affairs announced the Atlantabased rapper JID will be the headliner for the free annual concert at the Fertitta Center.

Besides the headliner, the theme for the weekend is, “In my Fiesta Era.” The board wanted to do something that was relevant to the current population and the ongoing era’s theme from Taylor Swift’s tour was a favorite from marketing meetings, Payne said.

“Taylor Swift inspired, but the theme is not Taylor Swift. The theme is just like being in your Fiesta era because I think the internet has kind of taken that turn and ran with it,” Payne said.

The three-day spring festival will be held from April 18-20 and students will be able to attend for free. The oldest tradition on campus is aimed at students to have fun and relax at the end of the school year.

“When you come out to Fiesta, don’t stress about finals, don’t stress about the end of school. Don’t stress about moving out — just come and have a good time and be in your Fiesta era,” Payne said.

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

ARCHIVES

The history behind UH’s longest running tradition

1959.

As the end of the spring semester approaches, the longawaited Frontier Fiesta week is here. The student-led and student-run spring festival runs from April 18-20 and is the oldest programming tradition at UH, which has been celebrated since 1939. The event is free and open to all and filled with numerous activities to enjoy. Here is an inside look at the tradition and history surrounding Frontier Fiesta.

Then

The spring festival was discontinued during World War II and resumed in 1947 through

FRONTIER WEEK

Frontier

MALACHI KEY

Organizing and planning for the event took months and raised significant funds for the University as well as the city of Houston.

After resuming in 1946, the program gained national recognition in 1953. It drew attention and huge crowds with nearly 200,000 attendees which included celebrities like James Garner, Humphrey Bogart and more.

Welcome Wilson, a former member of UH System Board of Regents who recently passed, Johnny Goyen, past Houston City Councilman and Jack Valenti, Frontier Fiesta Director and night editor of The Daily Cougar, were the student leaders in the

Fiesta’s

Recently, the Frontier Fiesta committee announced the theme for this year’s event: “In My Fiesta Era.” Serving as an homage to Taylor Swift’s Eras tour, the theme might be fun for the Swifties in the house, but it leaves a lot to desire for any students that aren’t all in for our girl Tay Tay.

For one thing, how are you supposed to dress for a “Taylor Swift” themed Fiesta? There’s a lot of notable aesthetics from Taylor’s discography that you could draw from, but it’s hard to not feel like the options are a bit limiting.

You’ve got the adorkable glasses-wearing look from “You Belong With Me” or the gorgeous white dress from “Style,” not to mention her various outfits from the most recent album, but it’s hard to pick one theme that

1940s and early 1950s, according to the Frontier Fiesta website.

By the end of the decade, the festival discontinued for various reasons in 1959. The Fat Stock Show, which later became the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, took over the spot previously held by Frontier Fiesta.

Dubbed “The Greatest College Show on Earth,” by LIFE magazine, the festival, cherished by students, continues to provide a place for students to relax and have fun before exam season hits.

Now

Resurrected in 1991, Frontier Fiesta has since become a long-standing tradition at the University. The event was first held again in the spring of 1992 as a student and alumni event. Today, the carnival expects about 15,000 attendees and hosts numerous events for everyone to participate in and enjoy.

One of the most common and oldest traditions of Frontier Fiesta is the Variety Shows. Registered student organizations create short productions based on Broadway shows and bigscreen hits to compete against one another for the Joel Koppel Award.

Frontier Fiesta now emphasizes diversity and community at UH through

student performances. It serves as a platform for showcasing a wide range of student talents, and any student or organization able to participate for free.

Other attractions at Frontier Fiesta include the various carnival booths, which are often used by student organizations to showcase themselves on campus.

Frontier Fiesta is famous for its “World Class Cook-off,” where over 40 cook-off teams compete in six different food categories like Chef’s choice, chili, chicken and more.

Apart from this, the carnival offers food and other attractions like rides, celebrity performances and more.

Despite the many challenges, Frontier Fiesta has grown over time. It has become more inclusive and evolved with the changing times, especially with the intention of giving back to the community.

The carnival awards scholarships to incoming freshmen and current students. The money is fundraised through the Frontier Fiesta Royalty competition and later the candidate who raises the most money is crowned the title of Frontier Fiesta Royalty. news@thedailycougar.com

theme should be more inclusive

really unifies all of them.

Even if you just go off looks from the Eras tour, it’s a lot of sparkles, crop tops and purple, which feels hard to evenly apply onto Fiesta’s usual red hues and cowboy-inspired aesthetic.

Beyond that, Taylor’s looks only work on a certain kind of person, namely the gals and the gays. All love to my straight dudes trying to dress for the festival this year, because there aren’t exactly a lot of notably dressed Swiftie men to draw inspiration from — unless you count Travis Kelce.

In defense of the organizers, Fiesta hasn’t always had a super fleshed-out theme, so “In My Fiesta Era” is likely more of a cute tag line than anything else.

Taylor Swift isn’t even featured in any of the marketing — but maybe that’s a sign that Fiesta has the potential to go in a different direction.

After all, this year’s show features an exciting lineup of major artists including Atlanta’s JID as the headliner. It’s sure to draw the kind of crowd that hasn’t been seen at Fiesta in some time, and maybe a more creative theme would help boost those numbers even more.

Frontier Fiesta is for everybody, and the theme should be something that should work for everybody. Previous years have used broad themes such as “Out of this World” to encourage Coogs to get creative with “Space Age Silver” colors on their outfits or cute accessories like astronaut helmets and alien antennas. Even in years with a more toned down theme, they’ve always strived to stay true to Houston, masterfully mixing hip hop and Western aesthetics.

Of course, you can’t please everyone, and the job of

selecting a good theme is no doubt difficult, but this year’s pick feels like it should’ve been run by a few more students to get a second opinion. After all, there was a great pick available right there.

I mean, come on, what’s more perfect than silver-y cowboy hats that represent a Houston legend who’s making major waves and coming back to her roots this year? We could have had an immensely hype “Cowboy Carter” themed Fiesta, for crying out loud!

As it is, this year will likely be fun regardless, as Fiesta always is. But in the future, it might be good for the organizers to try something new. Fiesta is already amazing, but with a little more imagination, it has the chance to become something truly memorable.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

GUARAANGI GUPTA

CAMPUS SENIOR STAFF WRITER @GUARAANGIG

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar