Issue 11, Volume 89

SEE YA SOON-ERS

After almost two decades, Kelvin Sampson returns to face old team at helm of No. 1-ranked UH.

PG. 4

TWEEDLEDUM & TWEEDLEDUMBER

Cougar Editor-in-Chief John Lomax and SGA reporter Jordan Navarijo catch heat after recent article

PG. 6

STUDENTS UNITE COUGAR PICK FOR 61st SGA ADMIN

The Editorial Board has chosen to endorse Students Unite for the 2024 Student Government Association election.

PG. 7

Debate recap: SGA presidential candidates discuss parking, safety

REGAN GRANT SGA ASSISTANT EDITOR @THEG8REGAN

As the Student Government Association election approaches its climax, the presidential candidates outlined their visions for the University’s future during Monday’s presidential debate.

At the debate, which was moderated by representatives from The Cougar, candidates Diego Arriaga representing For All Cougars and Cody Szell representing Students Unite faced off over key issues affecting students.

Arriaga’s primary concerns were centered around tackling the parking crisis and prioritizing campus safety. Szell, on the other hand, focused on campus affordability, academic success and community building.

Arriaga criticized the current administration’s perceived inaction reported by The Cougar in a recent article.

“I can promote campus impact, have more students engaged in student government and bring a safer campus,” Arriaga said. “I believe the current administration and Students Unite failed to do that.”

Szell refuted claims that the platform mirrors previous administrations, highlighting novel perspectives brought by the large number of new faces within the party.

“I’m offended that you would say that our platform is the same as last year, when it is not,” Szell said. “We have a new drive, energy and initiatives to tackle with fresh faces.”

Szell challenged the specificity of For All Cougars’ goals, particularly regarding parking affordability. A senator in the current administration, he highlighted their accomplishments.

“They have not laid out any game plans on how they plan to tackle parking affordability,” Szell said. “In the 60th administration, we were able to fill every seat in the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee and solve the Sugar Land Shuttle crisis.”

Arriaga countered by defending the specificity of For All Cougars’ platform, stating that he plans to reevaluate student fees to reduce the price of parking.

The Student Fees and Advisory Committee, of which five student members are appointed by SGA, makes recommendations for student service fee allocation. However, recently SFAC has run into roadblocks in getting their recommendations approved. Currently, Parking and Transportation Services is an auxiliary service that is not allotted student fees.

“It’s an interesting idea to see if you can fund parking through student fees, but I don’t think you have done the math,” Szell said. “By taking it out of student fees you would have to take it away from student services and you would be charging students that don’t park on campus.”

Arriaga elaborated on his plans to increase campus safety

the current administration.

One of the issues brought to attention was how the 60th administration has struggled to maintain active members and fill large amounts of vacancies.

“It can be difficult to organize a massive body of students, so I want to create incentives like offering volunteer hours to entice further attendance,” Szell said. “There are definitely issues with the current administration, and I hope to address them in mine.”

The candidates further discussed their plans for addressing campus challenges, including career fair expansion.

by increasing relations with the University of Houston Police Department.

“We should not simply be reacting to crimes committed, but working with officers to see where they are happening and bringing more officers out there to protect the students,” Arriaga said.

The candidates debated strategies for addressing structural issues within the administration, with Szell addressing existing issues within

“We need to expand a program to all colleges to help students have a surefire job when they get out of college, especially because this is an issue I see many struggle with,” Arriaga said.

As the debate concluded, both candidates underscored their commitment to amplifying student voices and addressing pressing issues facing the University community.

Voting will kick off on Feb. 26 and continue until Feb. 29, providing students with the opportunity to cast their votes via Get Involved.

For All Cougars presidential candidate Diego Arriaga (left) and Students Unite candidate Cody Szell (right) shake hands at the conclusion of last Monday’s debate. | Raphael Fernandez/ The Cougar.

For All Cougars presidential candidate Diego Arriaga. | | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar.

Students Unite presidential candidate Cody Szell. | Raphael Fernandez/ The Cougar.

Board of Regents vote to delay SFAC budget recommendations

ATIRIKTA KUMAR COMMUNITY ASSIST EDITOR @ATIRIKTAKUMAR

Last Wednesday, after a lengthy discussion on the budget proposals made by the Student Fees Advisory Committee, the UH Board of Regents tabled the issue despite SFAC chair and chemical engineering sophomore Yusuf Kadi’s plea to the board to not postpone the decision.

President and Chancellor Renu Khator rejected budget recommendations made by SFAC that would have cut $1.5 million from UH Athletics and diverted the funds to other student organizations.

To protest Khator’s rejection of the proposal, students picketed for hours prior to the meeting and also showed up to voice their concerns during the public forum part of the meeting. Ten student leaders were each given three minutes to present their case.

Protesters were present at the meeting with signs that read: “Students over profit,” “Whose fees? Our Fees. Whose needs? Our Needs,” “UH greed has to go,” among others. Students leaders demanded that the student fees be used to advance academic success and provide mental health resources to students.

Co-president of the Houston chapter of Deeds Not Words Landon Richie spoke before the board and said that student mental health should be a priority.

“Bolstering these essential services through funding cannot and should not be a one-off only by the tragic loss of life. But with the rejection of a recommendation on exactly how to honor the commitment to do better,” Richie said. “It appears that support for student wellness is conditional and limited.”

When a visit to Counseling and Psychological Services can be the

difference between life and death, they should be funded adequately, he said.

The postponed vote on the SFAC proposal came almost a year after two students committed suicide on campus, which sparked debate over the state of mental health on

Ashley Lubben, an SGA Honors College senator and a part of the CAPS advisory committee, said that while there are many gaps to be filled to address the mental health crisis properly, SFAC’s original recommendation provides a direct path for students to

“Renu Khator, you issued a statement saying, ‘Students are our first priority.’ Right now, we, as students, are telling you that statement is not being honored.”

Ashley Lubben, Honors College senator

campus. Khator pledged to increase student outposts for mental health services and created CoogsCare in response to it.

During the meeting, students questioned Khator about caring for students and making them a priority when her actions have shown otherwise.

allocate needed resources toward mental health.

“Renu Khator, you issued a statement saying, ‘Students are our first priority.’ Right now, we, as students, are telling you that statement is not being honored. SFAC is recommending an avenue to show your students just how

much of a priority they are,” Lubben said. “If you claim that Coogs care, it is time to put your money where your mouth is.”

Student complaints aside, UH Chairman Tilman Fertitta made it clear that athletics will receive its funding. In an exchange with Kadi, Fertitta agreed that, despite SFAC’s objections, Athletics would receive the funding it needs regardless of if it came out of student fees, CAPS or another campus resource.

Fertitta moved to table the motion and said he would form a four-person committee consisting of Kadi, Vice President of Student Affairs Paul Kittle, Administration and Finance Vice Chancellor Raymond Bartlett and General Counsel Dona Cornell to meet and come up with a solution.

Kadi said that he hopes that the board members will come to the table and be ready to tackle the problem.

news@thedailycougar.com

Protest held to oppose rejection of committee’s fund recommendations

JORDAN NAVARIJO

SENIOR SGA STAFF WRITER @JORDANNAVARIJO

Chants erupted outside the UH Hilton hotel as protesters gathered to demonstrate against President and Chancellor Renu Khator’s rejection of the Student Fees Advisory Committee’s recommendation.

The protest came after Khator rejected the committee’s recommendations to increase funding to many student services and programs and cut student fee support to Athletics. Fearing the possibility of the Board of Regents increasing the Student Service Fee or reducing the funding of services such as Counseling and Psychological

Services, the protesters called on the administration to place student voices over monetary gain.

Some chants were directed at the athletics program, while others advocated directly for University mental health programs such as CAPS.

“Athletic funding, we won’t pay! Let them find another way!” the protesters said. “Mental Health is a right! This is why we have to fight!”

Many of their complaints against the president referred to the suicides on campus last year. The protesters saw Khator’s rejection as refusing support for CAPS and other mental healthrelated organizations funded by

the student fees.

“How many people have to die before you hear our needs and rights?” the protesters said.

Prominent members of the Student Government Association were also present during the protest. SGA President Benjamin Rizk, Vice President Tyler Luc, Speaker of the Senate Sophia Wilson and many senators joined the protesters in chants.

SGA presidential and vice presidential candidates Cody Szell and Mohammed Tabarra were also present. SGA Vice Presidential candidate Austin Craig also attended for a short time, but his running mate, Diego Arriega, was not present.

The Cougar reached out to officials within For all Cougars but at time of publication, none have responded for comment.

SFAC members Spiro Hoxha and Anahi Ortega were dispersed throughout campus, giving protest flyers

The protesters also occupied the Board of Regents meeting itself, with students and demonstrators lining the walls and seats of the meeting room. The protesters remained at the meeting and cheered when SFAC members addressed the board.

“We secured some form of negotiations because a lot of people showed up,” Hoxha said. “If we show up in droves, we can get everything we want.”

to students.

“We want to make sure that this is not the opinion of just the committee but also the entire campus,” Ortega said.

Another complaint among the protesters was the lack of support and advising programs for some majors. According to some protesters, Khator has threatened to remove this advising support.

“This protest shouldn’t have to involve advising,” said former SGA president and former SFAC chair Charles Haston. “When SFAC made their recommendations, her response was, ‘I can’t let you cut the athletics budget. If you do, we’ll have to find the money elsewhere, and students are going to pay, only now they’re gonna lose their academic advisor.”

Spiro Hoxha, SFAC member

Kadi and UH Board of Regents members debated the issue of student fees during their meeting, which the board tabled for a later session. Kadi claims that had there not been pushback from protesters, the board would have voted to side with Khator’s decision.

Organizers such as Hoxha were satisfied with the number of student groups attending the protests. For Hoxha, the success of the protest serves as a call to action for other progressive organizations that hope to make a change in the University.

“We secured some form of negotiations because a lot of people showed up,” Hoxha said. “If we show up in droves, we can get everything we want.”

news@thedailycougar.com

CAMPUS

“Athletic funding, we won’t pay! Let them find another way!” the protesters said. “Mental Health is a right! This is why we have to fight!” | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar.

sports

Oklahoma game a homecoming for UH basketball

STARNS LELAND SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND

On Saturday, head coach Kelvin Sampson and the No. 1 Cougars will travel to Norman, Okla. to play the Oklahoma Sooners in the team’s penultimate road game and first game in March.

It’ll be a tough game for a Houston team that looks to further tighten its grip on a potential Big 12 regular season title against an equally tough opponent inside Lloyd Noble Arena. But for Sampson, it’ll be the first time back in the gym he coached in for 12 years.

“I probably grew more as a coach there than anywhere I’ve been,” Sampson said. “I learned a lot about coaching and life.”

Two decades before Kelvin Sampson was hired in 2014 and built Houston into the bona fide, perenially-title-contending men’s

basketball program that it is today, a then-38-year-old coach did the same thing in Norman.

The hires were made almost exactly 20 years apart — April 2, 2014, at UH and April 25, 1994, at OU — and yielded similarly successful results.

In 12 years at OU, Sampson’s Sooners made 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including Final Four and Elite Eight berths in 2002 and 2003. They battled in a notoriously tough Big 12 conference against plenty of bitter rivals.

Sampson has led the Cougars to six conference titles, five straight tournaments, four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances and consecutive Final Four and Elite Eights in 2021 and 2022. Currently, he is guiding UH through the Big 12 in his 10th year.

“I’ve always had a deep appreciation for Oklahoma athletics,”

Sampson said. “The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State rivalry is unlike anything I’ve been involved in, and we had a lot of success.”

Kelvin’s son Kellen and his daughter Lauren largely grew up in Norman, having been kids when their father took the job, and both eventually graduated from OU towards the end of his tenure.

Kellen rarely missed his dad’s practices when he wasn’t playing basketball himself for middle and high school teams, eventually playing under his father for two years from 2004-06. Kellen returned in 2009 to spend two years as a graduate assistant.

“Everybody deserves a hometown. It was my hometown,” Kellen said. “I fell in love with basketball in that community... I didn’t just go to OU, I was an Oklahoman.”

When Kelvin came to Houston years later, his family wasn’t

just along for the ride. This time, they’ve built the foundation.

Kellen joined Kelvin as an assistant coach and is after to become head coach once his father retires while Lauren heads the operations side of the program. Also, special assistant to the head coach Hollis Price — OU’s all-time winningest player — and associate head coach Quannas White headed the backcourt of OU’s Final Four and Elite Eight teams under Sampson in ‘02 and ‘03.

“It’s the best job I’ve ever had. And I’ve stated that as stand by it because I get to work with my kids,” Kelvin said. “They used to think I was smart and they’d ask questions. Now they’re the boss and they try to tell me what to do.”

The combined experience of all those former Sooners has greatly informed how Houston was built when Kelvin arrived. Oklahoma served as a proof of concept that rebounding and toughness can bring massive success as pillars of a college basketball team. Roadblocks and wrong turns made in Norman were recognized and avoided in Houston, and crucial pieces such as the “50/50 Club,” the program’s fundraising branch, and night-before-game film sessions were inspired or taken from OU.

“We didn’t make a lot of mistakes when we were putting infrastructure of this place in,” Kellen said. “There’s so many program-foundational things (from OU) that have translated to here and we’ve been able to inject additional fresh ideas and create this thing to what it is.”

Meanwhile, former players turned coaches like White have been able to use their experience playing for Kelvin to help recruit

and guide players into fitting in

“Being able to help these guys navigate through some of the hard times. The experiences, things that I went through — it’s a huge reason why these guys buy in,” White said. “I’m able to relay those messages because of my experiences at Oklahoma with Coach.”

Saturday’s game will be Kelvin’s first time coaching in Norman since his departure in 2006. It will be a chance to revisit old friendships and acquaintances, remember those that have since passed and relive countless memories. Still, Kelvin is adamant that the focus remains on the game.

“I still have so many dear friends in Oklahoma now. I look forward to seeing them. I’ve had some dear friends pass away,” Kelvin said. “So it’ll be some bittersweet memories, but it’s still a basketball game, and the focus will be on the court.”

For Price and White, it will also be a chance to wash away a bitter taste in their mouths that has lasted nearly 21 years.

Between 2001 and 2003, Price and White lost just two games at Lloyd Noble in his two seasons with the team, helping make the arena a hellscape for any Big 12 opponent. However, on the pair’s Senior Night on March 8, 2003, the Sooners lost a tough game to bitter-rival Texas, leaving their final memory at Lloyd Noble as one of defeat. On Saturday, Price and White can finally make things right in their old stomping grounds.

“That can be the closing of that chapter, “ Price said. “That I finally got another win in Lloyd Noble.” sports@thedailycougar.com

UH climbs to No. 1 in AP Poll for first time this season

RILEY MOQUIN ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @RILESMOQUIN

The Houston Cougars have risen to the No. 1 spot in AP’s Division 1 men’s basketball rankings in the publication’s Week 16 poll. They received 53 of 62 first-place votes.

UH was widely expected to occupy the spot after statement wins last week against then-No. 6 Iowa State and then-No. 11 Baylor,. Connecticut, the No. 1-ranked program in the country for the previous six weeks, lost to then-No. 15 Creighton by nearly 20 points early last week

to set up Houston’s ascent.

While the top spot is new to this year’s Houston squad, the Cougars grew familiar with the title of the best team in the country last season. The 202223 Houston Cougars occupied the No. 1 rank for seven of the AP poll’s 18 weeks, with its November 28, 2022 appearance in the spot marking a first for UH in nearly 40 years.

Houston will aim to defend its ranking over the next two weeks as the squad plays its final four regular season games before traveling to Kansas City,

Missouri to compete for the Big 12 Conference throne.

Up next, UH will face Cincinnati for the second time around, this time at home. Then UH will travel to play Oklahoma in Kelvin Sampson’s return to his old team.

In the final week of the season, Houston will travel to Orlando to play UCF before looking to avenge its loss to No. 7 Kansas in a massive rematch inside the Fertitta Center on March 9.

sports@thedailycougar.com

Kelvin Sampson coached at Oklahoma from 1994 to 2006. Four members of the program, including his daughter Karen and son Kellen , went to or played under Kelvin at OU. | Photos Courtesy of Lauren Sampson and Anh Le/The Cougar

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The Houston Cougars have risen to the No. 1 spot in AP’s Division I men’s basketball rankings in the publication’s Week 16 poll. | Anh Le/The Cougars

The Silent Killer: Meet UH track star De’Vion Wilson

ATIRIKTA KUMAR COMMUNITY NEWS ASSIST @ATIRIKTAKUMAR

For decades, the UH men’s track and field team has not been a stranger to success, having produced Olympic greats such as legendary sprinters Carl Lewis, current head coach of the track and field program, and Leroy Burrell. A shining star of the program today is senior hurdler De’vion Wilson, who is beating and setting new records every time he is on the starting line.

While Wilson beats and sets new records, there was a time in his life when he didn’t think he would still be competing today.

“It’s kind of surreal because after my freshman year, I wasn’t sure if I was gonna run track anymore,” Wilson said. “So just to be back and be doing as well as I am

track team for a year.

“The first year I got here, I didn’t really mess with the team. I wasn’t coming to practice. I was kind of being picked on because I was gay,” Wilson said. “I wasn’t having a good time so I wanted to just quit track altogether, but I ended up just going home for a year and Carl reached out.”

Lewis reached out to let Wilson know that they would love to have him back on the team and that he will always have a home at UH athletics.

“His support really helped me get through what I was going through and continue my track career for the cliche question of the year,” he said.

Wilson makes his mental health a priority now, meditating and doing yoga to calm him

“I didn’t really mess with the team. I wasn’t coming to practice. I was kind of being picked because I was gay. I wasn’t having a good time so I wanted to just quit track altogether.”

De’Vion Wilson, Senior hurdler

110-meter hurdles at last year’s NCAA Championships with a second-place time of 13.26 seconds.

“I think I have really good mental fortitude that I’ve been working on,” Wilson said. “I’ve been seeing a sports psychologist and I feel like this really clicks something in my brain to just compete at a higher level.”

doing, it just feels great.”

During his freshman year on the team, Wilson was bullied due to his sexuality. Older teammates would pick on him, which eventually led to Wilson struggling with mental health and quitting the

when he is stressed. He aims to stay focused on keeping up with school so that he stays on track.

Since coming back to the track team, Wilson has broken several records, most notably breaking the school record in the

In the past four years, Wilson has grown as an individual and athlete. He has always been an athlete who strived to be the best since he started his career at UH. While it took a little while to find his footing on the track, Wilson is a leader on and off the field.

“He’s the silent killer,” Blackburn said. “What I mean by that

is he’s always smiling, he’s always pleasant. He was always around everybody. He’s a good teammate, you know, that cheers him on in a fist bump or a quiet motion. He’s not the vocal guy, but when he’s on the track, man, he is one of the leaders on the track.”

Wilson’s hurdles coach, Aleec Harris, a former national champion, said that Wilson is a better hurdler than he was. Wilson is very quick between the hurdles and his technique is smooth.

“The foot speed in between the hurdles — he’s the best that I’ve seen after the fifth hurdle,” Harris said.  “He’s able to use his endurance, shuffle endurance and shuffle frequency.”

Last year, Wilson represented Team USA when he competed at the Pan American Games and won second place in the 110meter hurdles with a 13.78 run.

On Saturday, he won the Big 12 title for the 60m hurdle with the best time in the nation, 7.55 seconds. Wilson is now focused on winning the NCAA championship and making it to an Olympic team one day.

“He was a silent killer,” Harris said. “He was an underdog and now he’s trying to transform into just a leader and just being dominant in it.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

UH Volleyball star reaches new heights on track team

UH?’ It kind of fell into my lap I guess.”

When graduate volleyball star Morgan Janda transferred to Houston in 2022, she was ready to give up her career as a high jumper. Janda was previously a dual-sport athlete at Sam Houston State University in volleyball and track.

In 2022, Janda made the move to Houston, anticipating two final years of play exclusively on the court with jumping out of the picture.

That is, until a chance encounter with UH director of track and field Will Blackburn made her Houston’s first dualsport athlete since football and basketball player (and current NFL player) Tyus Bowser in 2013-14.

“I took the year off from track when I first got here,” Janda said. “I was in my academic advisor’s office and Coach Blackburn was like, ‘You didn’t want to jump at

Janda began working with jumps coach Drew Fucci on getting her ready for the season, finding a smooth transition from volleyball to jumping.

“In volleyball as a setter, it’s quick lateral movement. When I’m doing high jump, it’s as high as you can,” Morgan said. “Our coaches have said volleyball players are often good high jumpers because the approach is the same and it comes easy.”

Coach Fucci praised Janda when talking about her skills as a jumper, highlighting her poise and experience from years competing at a high level.

“When you go from a team sport like volleyball to high jump, it’s just you.” Fucci said. “Coaching Morgan has been rewarding. She’s experienced, she’s not a freshman. The biggest takeaway is her patience, and she is an incredible athlete.”

Beyond Janda’s high-level athleticism, her character is a constant trait that stands out to her UH teammates and coaching staff. Houston graduate student and volleyball star Kate Georgiades attested to Janda’s overall mentality as a teammate and friend. Kate is also Morgan’s

roommate, and both have had similar paths, contributing to their friendship and rapport. Georgiades transferred from TCU to UH in 2021, and Janda came to Houston in 2022 from Sam Houston.

“We both related to each other,” Georgiades said. “At our

previous schools we both kind of lost our love for volleyball, and coming to UH we found the love again.”

Janda’s love of the court has directly impacted her transition back to the track in her final collegiate athletic opportunity. The graduate student credits UH head volleyball coach David Rehr and Fucci for their impact on her success.

“Coach Rehr took me in and developed me as an athlete. I thought I reached my potential when I was at Sam Houston.” Janda said. “He really cares about the person more than the athlete. He wants to make sure that you know that he’s there for you all the time ... (Fucci’s) very patient with the transition. He knows what he’s talking about and he’s helped me out a lot. I couldn’t ask for a better coach to accept me in my last semester.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

De’Vion Wilson has blossomed into one of the greatest hurdlers in UH history. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Morgan Janda has decided to make the most of her final semester at UH, becoming UH’s first dual-sport athlete in 10 years. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Tweedledumb & Tweedledumber: Cougar clowns flub SGA report

SPIRO HOXHA STAFF WRITER @SPIRO_HOXHA

Spiro Hoxha is a former senator under the 60th SGA administration and currently serves as the SGA-appointed representative on the Equity for Students with Disabilities Committee and Student Fees Advisory Committee.

Recently, The Cougar wrote an article grading the 60th Student Government Administration.

Unfortunately, the article completely fails to do this well. Not only does it lack context and specificity, it also neglects to truly consider the outgoing administration’s successes and failures or compare it to previous administrations.

The article’s author, Jordan Navarijo, uses an academic-style grading scale to evaluate SGA. An A+ would mean a highly successful administration, while an F would mean they failed to do their job well.

But without a high-quality rubric, this grading system is far from objective. What does an A+ SGA look like? Which administrations is Navarijo comparing the 60th to? Navarijo’s inability to compare administrations means that his grading is off.

The article claims that the Walk in the Dark event organized by the 60th administration had low turnout, which proves that they failed to get students to engage with SGA. First, there’s no citation for this claim, but they also failed to consider whether previous administrations had higher or lower attendance than the 60th.

Furthermore, they only graded student engagement based off

one event. Under our administration, engagement with both campus facilities and the Dart Center actually increased — something a simple look at the Dart Center’s SFAC presentation clearly shows.

Navarijo makes errors like this throughout the article. He points out problems within the 60th administration, but treats them as issues unique to this admin rather than seeing them as more complex structural problems. For example, the consistent vacancies Navarijo critiques are common in student government, not something endemic to Rizk’s cabinet. People slack all the time.

In fact, the 60th administration actually appointed a new roster of senators to replace those who couldn’t handle the workload, something past administrations were often hesitant to do.

It’s a PR issue. If you kick out senators who were on the ballot with you when you initially ran for office, it runs the risk of making you look bad. The 60th administration used our accountability mechanisms to make sure senators were doing their job, which is a good thing.

I confronted The Cougar about this in a conversation between me and the article’s author, as well as The Cougar’s editor in chief, John Lomax. During that discussion, they couldn’t definitively say whether the 60th administration had more turnover than previous administrations.

Instead, they offered qualitative statements like “I was there” or “I remember.” However, they couldn’t answer questions when pressed about recency bias, the lack of specificity or the lack of

comparison between SGA administrations.

The Cougar wants student body president Benjamin Rizk to motivate people to do things they no longer have the capacity or desire to do. Many senators failed to accomplish their goals for personal reasons completely outside of work ethic, and pushing them past their limits would be wrong.

Throughout the article, he Cougar directly admits to this.

At one point, they said that if Rizk was a good leader, he would be able to surpass institutional problems and barriers, which just isn’t how SGA works. In fact, Lomax, seems to misunderstand SGA in more areas than one.

At one point, he stated that SGA resolutions are the primary method for change within the university. Anyone who has held an SGA office knows that this is silly. Resolutions are Op-ed pieces for SGA — nothing more. Change takes place through more than just resolutions, and The Cougar has consistently overlooked the grassroots organizing our administration was involved in.

We held a walk-out in conjunction with other student organizations where we took firm stance against the University defunding DEI programs and removing the LGBTQ+ resource center in compliance with Senate Bill 17.

This was a resolution and a direct action simultaneously, something the administrations before this one could not accomplish. Additionally, the 60th administration established a task force to help preserve DEI on campus. We also worked through the Student Fees Advisory Committee to fight for student fees

to be spent in a way that actually helps students.

Despite these efforts, The Cougar doesn’t think SFAC’s efforts count as an SGA win. This makes no sense, considering that the 60th administration appointed most people that serve on the SFAC board.

Finally, the Cougar dismissed this administration’s efforts in organizing the highly successful Gala for Gaza event by claiming that SGA’s involvement in organizing the Gala was minimal. I take some responsibility for the misinformation about the Gala because I was tired and made an offhand comment about how I wished SGA involvement was more significant than it wasand it could’ve been.

However, I still consider myself part of the 60th administration, and I dare Lomax and Navarijo to ask the other organizers whether my involvement made a difference. Navarijo himself saw all the SGA volunteers at the Gala. All of these volunteers were necessary, and they all did back-breaking work despite us being short staffed.

It makes no sense to me that the direct action of the 60th administration was overlooked  in favor of criticizing our legislative docket, especially since The Cougar seems to think resolutions mean so little. Besides, our administration’s legislation count is only four less than the 57th administration.

Overall, Navarijo’s review just doesn’t make sense. We raised $55,000 for Palestinian relief efforts and organized a protest with next to no resources. We also raised the minimum wage, got rid of plastic bags on campus,

and revised the SGA election code. How do all these efforts supposedly not matter when compared to resolutions?

The Cougar also blamed this administration for how the Sugarland shuttle bus disaster was resolved, which is unfair. The Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee inherited this bus disaster because the 59th administration didn’t appoint people to the committee. If TPAC didn’t make the decisions they did this year, then we wouldn’t have shuttle buses at all.

Understanding SGA is difficult; it’s easy to look at student government from the outside and expect either nothing or the moon and back.

Navarijo seems to vaguely understand that SGA has limitations. He actually gives several examples in the article, such as the roadblocks surrounding putting Wudu stations on campus. He even says that the failures of the 60th administration aren’t indicative of a lack of effort but instead show SGA’s limitations.

So what does your metric mean in a context where the administration in question still accomplished a lot despite institutional limitations?

You can’t just give the administration a below-average grade, tack on a “you tried your best,” then clarify that this is your opinion to cover your bases.

The 60th administration hasn’t concluded its time in office yet.

Writing an article like this right before our administration leaves makes no sense. It’s irresponsible and unprecedented. Don’t count us out yet — we’re still going.

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

The Cougar endorses Students Unite for 61st SGA admin

THE COUGAR EDITORIAL BOARD

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

The Cougar endorses Students Unite candidates political science sophomore Cody Szell for president and political science sophomore Mohammad Tabbara as vice president of the 61st Student Government Association administration.

We do not make these statements regularly or lightheartedly. However, in light of recent events including the fight for adequate use of student fees and the Sugar Land shuttle bus concerns, UH students need leadership that is aware and able to speak for students’ issues.

Although Students Unite has not been perfect, the party’s current administration has shown considerable determination in their willingness to advocate for students. Student Fees Advisory Committee Chair and chemical engineering sophomore Yusuf Kadi’s faceoff with the Board of Regents was an unprecedented event that highlighted the importance of student leaders and student activists rallying together for a cause.

SFAC aside, as chair of the SGA Academic Affairs committee, Szell himself has confronted the graduation issues impacting many students across campus.

When economics majors were not graduating on time, Szell investigated the cause alongside faculty within the department. Though many of these issues still persist, Szell’s willingness to take action is demonstrative of his ability as a leader.

Tabbara, as the SGA director of multicultural affairs, made waves earlier in the semester as principle backer of the Campus Wudu Station Resolution. Despite encountering road blacks in the form of state regulations, Tabbara advocated for a safer environment for Muslim students.

Over the past year, the two have demonstrated their genuine desire to bridge gaps across the University community through compromise and dedication.  This is opposed to For All Cougar’s, who’s candidates have yet to speak publicly on the $1.5 million reallocation of athletics fees proposed by SFAC, as well as their stance on the conflict in Palestine.

During last week’s debate, For All Cougars’ presidential candidate, biochemistry sophomore Diego Arriaga,  avoided taking a strong stance in regards to the question of support for Palestinian students. While perhaps not directly connected, global issues — like the conflict between Israel

and Palestine — are important for the student body and the next administration needs to have the strength and know-how to advocate for them effectively. Moreover, an effective leader should have the bravery necessary to take a strong stance on such issues.

For All Cougars’ Instagram focuses primarily on parking and campus safety, but their initiatives to combat these issues are somewhat vague and without substance. Arriaga aims to take a look at student fees to solve the parking issue, yet Parking and Transportation Services has never received funding through SFAC.

He also plans to solve the issue of crime by bridging the gap between the University of Houston Police Department and the Houston Police Department to create a patrolling system on campus and its outskirts. When asked to explain how this would happen, Arriaga alluded to “connections” within the police

department and the City of Houston from another organization to accomplish this goal.

Looking at the questionable impact Walk in the Dark had in improving campus safety and the delays from the Campus Lighting Project, previous attempts at collaboration with the police department have not solved much — if anything at all. Proposing old solutions is only a waste of time and highlights the lack of experience a majority of the platform has.

We are not saying that expertise in University affairs and policies is a requirement, but the desire and commitment to research and propose realistic solutions is. While For All Cougars certainly has shown passion, their commitment to grounded, realistic solutions to students’ problems remains unproven.

The biggest issue SGA faces is the lack of cohesion between administrations. To solve a campus issue, it will take more than a few years which means multiple administrations need to be on the same page for a resolution to happen.

Students Unite’s Szell and Tabbara have showcased their knowledge of SGA through their previous experiences and understand the struggles of fighting back and forth with University administration.

What students need at UH are representatives who will speak up and do the work, not sit around and repeat ideas that have already been disputed.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

EDITORIAL BOARD

EDITOR IN CHIEF

John Lomax

MANAGING EDITOR

Cindy Rivas Alfaro

WEB EDITOR

Emma Christensen

NEWS EDITOR

Robert

De La Garza

SPORTS EDITOR Starns Leland

OPINION EDITOR

Malachi Key

ISSUE STAFF

CLOSING EDITORS

John Lomax

Cindy Rivas Alfaro

COVER Anh Le

PHOTO EDITOR

Anh Le

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jose GonzalezCampelo

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Atirikta Kumar

Camryn Alberigo

Grace Rednoske

Logan Linder

Regan Grant Riley Moquin

Pay attention, study instructions and take action. Choose to be patient, tolerant, loving and kind. Don’t let temptation and anger set the stage for what’s to come. Discipline, desire, innovation and a willingness to try something new will lead to better results and new possibilities. Don’t let the past or negativity consume you when forward-thinking and positivity are the answer.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20)

-- Don’t give up before you get started. Embrace change; the outcome will be substantially better than anticipated. Keep things simple and effective.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

-- Don’t venture outside your comfort zone. Trust your instincts and use your skills to get you where you want to be. Stick to the rules to avoid interference

from institutions or authority figures.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

-- Get your facts straight before you make a move or share your thoughts. Don’t take a risk that can affect your health or financial well-being. A change may be necessary if you want support.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

-- Keep moving. Don’t look back or let anyone talk you out of what you want to pursue. The less you share with others, the easier it will be to forge ahead without interference. Don’t rely on hearsay.

CANCER (June 21-July 22)

-- Learn something new and exciting. Traveling, attending conferences and reunions, and exploring something that interests you will lead to new beginnings. Let your imagination wander.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Find a quiet workplace. Taking care of responsibilities will ease your mind. Refuse to let anyone interfere or ridicule you. Live life your way and associate with those who give you the freedom you need.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -Don’t make premature decisions, regardless of temptation. Take your time. When the right offer comes along, you will know. For now, enjoy and be grateful for what you have.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- If you snooze, you will lose. Make strength, vitality and participation your priorities. Choose fitness, health and romance over indulgence or poor behavior.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

-- Keep a low profile. Focus on what you know, do your best and stay close to home. Consider

changes that make life easier, and work to strengthen your emotional state.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23Dec. 21) -- Be subtle in order to avoid a dispute. Go about your business, work alone and avoid anything that requires you to share expenses. Be heartfelt and earnest.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Fix up your surroundings. Having a functional workspace and being ready to go will encourage you to finish things on time. Refuse to let emotions get in your way. Don’t ignore issues.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

-- Control emotions, choose a healthy lifestyle and excel. Design a routine that will help you stay in shape without breaking your budget. Use your energy to get ahead.

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Students Unite vice presidential candidate Mohammad Tabbara (left) and presidential candidate Cody Szell (right) | Regan Grant/The Cougar