Issue 12, Volume 89

MARCHING ONWARD

The Cougar takes a look at Houston’s chance at the NCAA title.

Frenemies: How a rocky SGA supreme court hearing spurred constitutional reform

REGAN GRANT, ROBERT DE LA GARZA ASSITANT SGA EDITOR, NEWS EDITOR @THEG8REGAN, @REALNEWSROBERT

On March 9, the supreme court voted 6-1 to strike down the New SGA Act. The court found that the bill, which would create constitutional reforms and make sweeping changes to the judicial system within student government, was unconstitutional.

The bill was brought to the court by petitioner and economics junior Micah Erfan, who filed a complaint against SGA President Benjamin Rizk, author of the New SGA Act. Although the court ruled in Erfan’s favor, since then, he and Rizk have set aside their differences and worked together to create a revised version of legislation that satisfies both parties and, ideally, the student body.

The newly revised legislation, fittingly dubbed the Best SGA Act, enacts reforms similar to those first proposed in the New

“There’s been a little bit of a tug of war there,” Erfan said. “But we’ve been able to come together on everything that’s going to be included in the final version of the text and we’re pretty happy with it.”

Micah Erfan, petitioner and economics junior

SGA Act. In many ways, the Best SGA Act, which will be voted on during the next senate meeting, represents a far more extensive overhaul than the changes proposed under Rizk’s now-defunct bill.

For an organization more commonly associated with division and controversy than collaboration, Rizk and Erfan’s apparent reconciliation marks a welcome

deviation from SGA’s established norm. Understanding why this is remarkable and the full scope of the proposed reforms requires starting with a beginning familiar to SGA – a disagreement.

The New SGA Act

The New SGA Act was introduced in November and passed by the senate in February, was authored by Rizk and created conflicts within legislation because of the dramatic changes it would make to the SGA Constitution.

The constitutionality of the Act first caught Erfan’s attention while attending an SGA Senate meeting Feb. 18 – the same day the bill was passed. The next day, he filed his petition to the court.

Among some of the most controversial changes included in The New SGA Act were constitutional amendments that intended to shake up the structure of student government, including a complete overhaul of the supreme court.

“It’s clear that the bill was more of a reactionary response from Rizk and some other folks in his party to what former SGA president Joshua Martin had done –overturning the previous election with the support of the court,” Erfan said. “The New SGA Act was a clear attempt to gut the court and remake it in a fashion that made future instances impossible. ”

Another detail that stood out to Erfan and the court was the transfer of power to appoint supreme court justices from the president to the attorney general, which he described as creating an imbalance of power.

The Chief Justice would have been granted the authority to select from a group of alternates appointed by the attorney general and approved by the senate.

“If they’re appointing the members of this court, that presents a very clear-cut conflict of interest,” Erfan said during the hearing. “This is a very bad institutional design which creates an attorney general that appoints the court and the court ends up nominating them.”

constitutionality.

Author of The New SGA Act, Rizk defended the constitutionality of the bill in his pre-trial brief statements and hearing earlier this month.

Speaking in his defense, Rizk criticized Erfan’s characterization of the bill as a violation of separation of powers. Chiefly, he pointed to the fact that the Senate would ostensibly have to approve any nominee put forth by the attorney general.

In effect, Rizk argued that, since the senate would have final approval on any judicial appointments, the proposed changes distributed judicial authority more evenly. Further, Rizk pointed to the fact that currently, the power to appoint justices is vested in the office of the president and that the New SGA Act would weaken the executive branch rather than grant it more authority.

Secondly, Rizk argued the petitioner’s complaints lacked merit because he incorrectly filed the case.

Particularly, Erfan emphasized the potential conflict of interest that could

“So you appoint the people that hear your cases and nominate you,” Erfan said, “At that point, the attorney general doesn’t have very much accountability, and you can expect our legal system to have fair rulings”

Micah Erfan, petitioner and economics junior

arise during future judicial proceedings.

The final argument in Erfan’s case was that there were inaccuracies contained in the text that have caused the bill to expire, further calling into question the bill’s

He said Erfan was required to file the complaint directly through the attorney general first who would then decide on the merit and present the case to the election commissioner.

Rizk referenced Article 7, Section 1, Clause 4, of the SGA Election code which states that any election complaints must first be filed to the attorney general.

“This case never should have gone to the supreme court in the first place,” Rizk said. “It isn’t a case regarding the constitutionality of a document for what is and isn’t allowed within senate duties or presidential duties, but regards the election.”

Hearing and Decision

Throughout the court hearing earlier this month, Rizk was bombarded with more than five times the amount of questions that the petitioner Erfan received.

After leaving the stand, Erfan echoed the same statement explaining Rizk may have received more of the grilling than him.

Six of the seven justices, including Chief Justice Carlos Hernandez (right), Senior Associate Justice Ansel Garcia (center) and Elliot Madsen (left), voted to overturn the act. | | Emma Christensen/The Cougar

Economics junior and petitioner Micah Erfan gives his opening arguments to the court on March 1, 2023. | Emma Christensen/The Cougar

“The hearing seemed pretty favorable to me. It seems like my case was clear and they understood my arguments and it seems like the President’s case required more questions,” Erfan said. “I ultimately think I did a good job presenting my arguments and that’s all I could ask for.”

Rizk had opposing feelings, arguing the court justices and hearing were not in his favor that day. He summed up the hearing in just one word.

“Shitty,” he said.

He felt the questioning from the court was lopsided, that they were dogpiling on him and further stated that there were internal biases before the hearing and throughout the trial.

“Considering Chief Justice Hernandez had such a problem with my constitutional revisions, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if he told Erfan to file the petition himself,” Rizk said.

Ruling

Last week, the court ruled against the bill, arguing that it would create a constitutional crisis, according to the court’s majority opinion authored by Chief Justice Hernandez.

The court wrote in their opinion that the attorney general does not have the authority to appoint justices or alternates for the supreme court, and The New SGA Act was unconstitutional because the proposed amendments failed to obtain the required language that clearly outlines the attorney general as

accountable to the judicial branch.

Another major part of the New SGA Act was that it called for a complete “reset” of the court, meaning all sitting justices would be removed and the senate would have to reappoint them.

“The New SGA Act does not clarify which Justices are to be considered for removal or justify why they are to be forcefully removed,” The court opinion read. “Although the New SGA Act establishes new criteria for the removal of justices, it contradicts itself by mandating the removal of justices even if those criteria are not met.”

The court opinion cited that the defendant failed to consider a critical factor that conflicted with the removal of all current sitting justices in the court. That the supreme court justices have a right to their positions and could not be removed without due process.

The court argued, that supreme court members will continue to maintain their position so long as they are currently enrolled at UH, are in good academic or disciplinary standings, or served more than three years in office therefore, cannot be forcefully removed from the bench.

The Best SGA Act

In the wake of the court’s decision, Erfan and Rizk decided to do something almost unheard of in the current political landscape — collaborate. The two came together, and, after hashing out

their differences, presented a new and improved bill to the senate.

The Best SGA Act details provisions to the constitution including clarification of election procedures and ballot structure, a streamlined impeachment process and

“This is the biggest constitutional revision in the last six to 10 years. There are a lot of formal powers that SGA has done for decades that were never put into the constitution,” Rizk said.

Benjamin Rizk, SGA President and political science major

the creation of a justice branch.

Rizk and Erfan authored the new act and changes to the constitution in light of the trial earlier this month.

“Even though y’all saw me and Micah arguing, I would argue that there is no one more qualified at this university to help pull this off,” Rizk said.

The election procedures have been revised to incorporate a mixedmember proportional representation system, which allows for all parties and candidates to receive representation proportional to their level of support among the student body.

The new allocation process takes into account the winners of individual races and the overall party vote in order to determine the distribution of at-large seats.

Voters will place checkmarks next to candidates’ names on the ballot, and candidates will be elected to at-large seats based on their position on the party list and the number of approvals they receive. Parties with remaining unallocated votes after the initial seat allocation process may receive additional seats, ensuring all votes contribute to representation in the senate.

According to Rizk, the new system will

prevent the phenomenon of “free riders” who benefit from party tickets without actively contributing to the campaign or governance process, allowing only the most involved and active campaigners to secure seats.

In the new constitution, any member of office can be nominated for impeachment through various means, including nomination by the president with senate consent and nomination through the attorney general.

The attorney general will play a more central role by having the authority to review impeachment charges and determine guilt or innocence. This grants them significant power to adjudicate impeachment charges independently.

“We have given the attorney general more authority in that regard because we think it’s very important that if somebody is engaging in illegal behavior, we can immediately take actions to hold them accountable,” Erfan said.

Additionally, the supreme court’s role of oversight is strengthened due to the new constitution specifying that individuals nominated for impeachment will stand trial in front of the supreme court.

If a member of the supreme court is nominated for impeachment the new constitution stipulates that the justices must temporarily resign from their position, ensuring they do not participate in the adjudication process.

The new constitution lays out the creation of a justice branch that encompasses the attorney general, deputy general and the student government auditor.

According to Rizk, the creation of a fourth branch eliminates any ambiguity and clearly lays out the attorney general’s powers without any negotiation.

Previously, university-wide committees were listed under the legislative branch. In the new constitution a new article was created for university-wide committees

““The whole point of changing the constitution is to make it idiot-proof and extremely explicit so it cannot be argued in the future,” Rizk said.

Benjamin Rizk, SGA President and political science major

to properly represent their institutional status as a separate entity.

Looking Forward

The senate will vote on The Best SGA Act on March 20 and if passed, will go up for a vote before the student body.

If passed, SGA will announce the date for students to vote through an Instagram post. The bill will officially pass if a majority of students vote ‘yes’ on the poll held via Get Involved.

Rizk’s one-year term as president will conclude on April 1 and March 20 will mark the last regularly scheduled senate meeting of the 60th administration.

news@thedailycougar.com

Student Government Association’s 60th administration President Benjamin Rizk and author of The New SGA Act swore under oath before his defense arguments. | Emma Christensen/The Cougar

The Student Government Association Supreme Court Justices (left to right) Associate Justice Elliot Madsen, Senior Associate Justice Ansel Garcia, Chief Justice Carlos Hernandez, Associate Justices Christian Medrano, Derrick Cooper and Jaden Kirven. | Courtesy of Carlos Hernandez.

sports

Q&A: The Cougar previews 1-seed

Houston’s upcoming Tourney run

STARNS LELAND & RILEY MOQUIN SPORTS EDITOR & ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

@STARNSLELAND & @RILLLLLEEESSSS

The moment fans have all been waiting for since the season started in November is here: the NCAA Tournament. After ripping through their first Big 12 season with an impressive 30-4 record and regular conference title, the 1-seed Houston Cougars have a chance to cap off an already historic season with a trip to the promised land.

Can UH and head coach Kelvin Sampson break through for their first NCAA title? Or will the injured Cougars run out of steam? We at The Cougar answered a few of your questions before madness begins.

Is J’Wan Roberts O.K.? Why did UH try so hard in the Big 12 tourney as opposed to resting up and staying healthy? Was the potential No. 1 seed that big? (from /u/ Brewpendous on Reddit)

Starns Leland, Sports Editor: J’Wan Roberts is fine-ish. He’s been dealing with a nagging knee injury since December and has toughed out twisted ankles and stitches in his right hand to be the Cougars’ heart and soul all season. The shin contusion he suffered in UH’s Big 12 Semifinal game against Texas Tech is just another addition to the many wounds the redshirt senior forward has and will continue to play with all season.

Head coach Kelvin Sampson has repeated the phrase: “If they’re keeping score, we’re going to try to win,” a lot this season. I think that’s the simple explanation as to

why the team didn’t let off the gas in the Big 12 Tournament, despite having a 1-seed pretty much locked up. This program has been built on giving 100% effort at all times since the moment Sampson stepped on campus in 2014. Though there may be a minimal benefit to having a No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, the reason UH still went so hard last week is that anything less is simply not in the team’s DNA.

Riley Moquin, Assistant Sports Editor: J’Wan Roberts is not okay, but he will be playing in the tournament barring anything unforeseen. He is beaten up. He has a knee that is bothering him and stitches in his hand. With injuries to Terrance Arceneaux and Joseph Tugler knocking out two of Roberts’ reinforcements, though, he has not had the luxury of rest.

Roberts’ health is not really a consequence of playing in the Big 12 tournament. It obviously did not help but he was clearly already beaten up beforehand. As for why Houston did not rest up during the tournament, the answer is simple: It’s a tournament with a trophy at the end. Head coach Kelvin Sampson addressed this on Sunday, calling it a “disrespect” to Houston’s competitors in the tourney to rest its players. As Starns said, it is a culture thing. If there’s a win to be won or a trophy to hold, Kelvin Sampson is going to have his team competing.

What teams should UH be on the lookout for in the tournament? (from thunker_424 on Instagram)

Starns: Houston’s draw in the

South Region of this tournament is really interesting. Along with UH, the 2-4 seeds between Duke, Marquette and Kentucky are all legit national contenders and getting through two of them to get to the Final Four could be an absolute grind.

Aside from that, there are some scary teams on UH’s side of the bracket too. Eight-seed Nebraska can shoot the lights out at times while Wisconsin and Kentucky would put Houston’s nation-best defense to the test. Meanwhile, potential rematches against 9-seed Texas A&M and 6-seed Texas Tech could be something to watch out for as facing a team for the second or third time in the tournament can be somewhat unpredictable.

Riley: The South Region is a really cool one to be competing against. As early as the Round of 32, assuming Houston wins, the team will be playing either Nebraska or Texas A&M. Both are great teams, and Houston has seen A&M firsthand. Aggies guard Wade Taylor IV shot the lights out against the Cougars and nearly pulled A&M to a comeback win through sheer willpower.  Further along, potential matchups with Duke and Wisconsin are interesting, as well as an NC State team that could be a real sleeper if it keeps playing the way it did in the AAC Tournament. En route to winning the AAC bracket, NC State grabbed wins over Duke and UNC. Of course, in order to play Houston the Wolfpack will have to take down Texas Tech, another potential rematch for the Cougars.

Who do you think will be the most important in UH’s success late into the tournament? Who do you anticipate having a breakout performance in this March Madness? (from grande_ ernie on Instagram)

Starns: It’s a boring answer, but in March, you lean on your best players. For Houston, there is no doubt that Jamal Shead will need to carry an even larger burden as the season goes on. He’s the Big 12 Player of the Year, the likely Naismith Defensive Player of the Year winner and has a chance at the Bob Cousy for college’s best point guard. Most importantly, he’s the Cougars’ unquestioned leader and the on-court extension of Kelvin Sampson. This team will ultimately go as far as he takes it.

Damian Dunn has struggled to find his footing in Houston since transferring from Temple where he was a go-to scorer. Now as a bench player, his minutes and his play have been wildly up and down all year. However, Sampson has taken it upon himself to get Dunn on the right track for March, and he’s put together some solid minutes recently, including big first halves in the first two rounds of the Big 12 Tourney. In a close battle in the second weekend, Dunn may be the one needed to save UH’s season. Riley: The easy answer is the Big 12 Player and Defensive Player of the Year, Jamal Shead. He is one of the country’s best point guards and will need to be at the top of his game. However, with injuries in mind, Houston needs the depth options it still has available to step up. Damian Dunn and Mylik Wilson are the main pieces to this puzzle and both will need to provide specific duties to the team. Dunn needs to provide an offensive spark off the bench. Wilson on the other hand needs to be locked in on defense and, perhaps most importantly, needs to be a rebounder.

Cedric Lath was not supposed to be a rotational player this year. With injuries to most of UH’s other big men, Lath is suddenly playing substantial minutes in March. It is a bit much to expect him to fill the shoes of Arceneaux or even Tugler at this point, but alongside Wilson it will be crucial that Lath at the very least avoids foul trouble and provides some size off the bench. sports@thedailycougar.com

Cougars earn top seed in NCAA Tourney

Forward J’Wan Roberts | Anh Le/The Cougar RILEY MOQUIN ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @RILLLLLEEESSSS

For the second consecutive season, the Houston Cougars enter the NCAA Tournament as one of four top seeds. The Cougars will tip off their 2024 March Madness run with a Round of 64 dance against the 16-seeded Longwood Lancers on Friday.

Houston was universally expected to make the tournament in what was destined to be the program’s sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. UH was also widely touted as a near-lock for a top seed, a prediction that also proved true as Houston joined UConn, North Carolina and Purdue at the top of one of the four tournament regions. In the end, Houston was the No. 2 overall seed among the four, sitting only below UConn.

Many expected Iowa State, who bested Houston comfortably for the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, to leap into one of the top seed positions but the Cyclones settled for a 2-seed place in the East bracket.

UH’s Round of 64 opponent enters as Big South Conference champions.

“Longwood is a champion, that’s what I know about them,” Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson said on Sunday afternoon. “They just won a championship.”

Houston and Longwood face off in Memphis, Tennessee on Friday evening. If the Cougars win, an intriguing matchup awaits with the winner between 8-seeded Nebraska and 9-seeded Texas A&M.

Also in UH’s region is 2-seed Marquette, 3-seed Kentucky and 4-seed Duke. Fellow Big 12 team Texas Tech, who UH has beaten twice this year also landed as a 6-seed in the South Region bracket, sports@thedailycougar.com

Kelvin Sampson enters his sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament with the Cougars. | Anh Le/The Cougar

FOOTBALL

‘In Fritz We Trust’: Spring practice marks shift in UH football

STARNS LELAND SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND

Times are changing in UH football, and the team is only one week into spring practice.

Players have already noticed a striking difference in the energy and speed of practices compared to previous years, as new head coach Willie Fritz and his staff have begun implementing a disciplined, detailoriented culture for a team that desperately needed it after a 4-8 Big 12 debut in 2023.

“As soon as you step on the grass and hear the first whistle it’s like full go, full go, full go,” said senior defensive end Zykeius Strong. “I’ve never been a part of a coaching staff that really amplifies every little thing. I’m really trying to emphasize that on the field, but mostly off the field.”

Throughout practice, coaches are active, encouraging players and maintaining their energy level. As each position group goes through its drills, Fritz can be seen walking to each group, observing and then coaching guys up on technique, spending seemingly equal time with each position.

Effort, discipline and ball security are paramount during practice. Every time a player has the ball — whether a play or drill is still live or not — they are expected to tuck it into their bodies and give the ball (with two hands) to a referee or manager. Yells of “Coogs don’t beat the Coogs!” and “Play through the whistle!” are repeated for the entirety of 11-on-11 drills. Anybody who fumbles the ball or doesn’t sprint back to the sideline fast enough during substitutions is forced to do a quick round of up-downs.

“Everybody’s out here competing,” Strong said, “Everybody has their best interest. Everybody’s just wanting to get better.”

That discipline is carried long after players enter the sidelines or exit the practice. When the team is out of meetings and workouts, the latter of which are tailored to each position group by Director of Strength and Performance Kurt Hester, players go through routine academic checks on class and study hall attendance. For returning players like senior cornerback Isaiah Hamilton, the new environment is a welcome change.

“Everything is structured from the stretching lines to practice to dapping everybody up to school. It’s all coming together and it’s really gelling us together,” Hamilton said. “We didn’t have this type of structure and relationship with our teammates last year.”

Though the first practices under a new coaching staff normally come with plenty of adjustment, the buy-in from players since Fritz’s arrival back in December has seemed absolute.

Senior linebacker Jamal Morris is beginning spring practice with the third coaching staff of his college career, having transferred to Houston in 2022 after three years at Oklahoma. Morris, now entering his sixth season in college, has seen firsthand how the team has supported the head coach’s message.

“We all love Fritz. ‘In Fritz we trust,’ that’s what we say. We’re having fun with him,” Morris said. “It’s the most fun we’ve been having at practice.”

For many players, new leadership means new opportunities as guys are

able to make new first impressions with coaches and let go of any baggage from the previous regime.

Sophomore running back Parker Jenkins showed plenty of promise in his freshman year in 2023, breaking

mode of operation. But a big helper in getting things to work as they need is Fritz’s winning pedigree.

Between a pair of AAC championship appearances in the last two years and his success at the Junior College,

“Everything is structured from the stretching lines to practice to dapping everybody up to school. It’s all coming together and it’s really gelling us together. We didn’t have this type of structure and relationship with our teammates last year.”

Isaiah Hamilton, senior cornerback

out with 176 yards on 33 attempts in two games against Sam Houston and Texas Tech. However, Jenkins’ playing time dropped off, only eclipsing double digit carries just twice in the remaining seven games with the rationale of “saving” him for future seasons.

“Coming off last year, once I got my shot they were kind of like, ‘Let’s kind of save you,’” Jenkins said. “It kind of like bummed me out. I was like, ‘Why can’t I just, you know, stay in my groove?’”

Under Fritz and running backs coach Jordy Joseph, Jenkins feels fully backed by the team heading into his second season.

“I feel like it’s a fresh start,” Jenkins said. “They have a lot of trust in me, and Coach Fritz has been giving me keys and telling me just to be me, basically.”

Still, the first practices under a whole new direction have taken some adjustment. New coaches bring a new system, new terminology, new coaching styles and a totally different

Division II and Division I-AA level, Fritz already brings plenty of proof that his way works.

“I’m buying into what he what he got going on. I really like his vision,” Hunter said. “He’s won in every place that he’s been at every level, so I don’t see why he can’t win here.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

Willie Fritz has been fully involved in the Cougars’ spring practices which began in early March. In addition to his head coaching duties, Fritz has taken over running the special teams. | Anh Le/The Cougar

Houston’s offensive lineman work on live drills during the Cougars’ first spring practices under new head coach Willie Fritz, who was hired in December. | Anh Le/The Cougar

Linebackers get work in.

The Palestinian boycott movement needs to be more targeted

MALACHI KEY OPINION EDITOR @MALACHISKEY

Over the past several months, awareness surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict has reached a level that’s nearly unheard of. Thanks to the efforts of activists on platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram, thousands of people have become aware of the difficulties Palestinian people have been facing for years. While this newfound push for action is no doubt welcome, some of the calls for boycotts have ranged from confusing to unrealistic. If these boycott movements aren’t more targeted, they run the risk of running out of steam and being ineffective.

These calls to action come from a good place, to be sure. Many who previously had no strong investment in the Palestinian cause have bravely stepped up to take on massive companies like Disney. At UH, activists were able to push a resolution through the Student Government Association asking the University to cease their involvement with two companies that are indirectly involved in supporting the Israeli government: Starbucks and McDonalds.

While many of these actions generate big headlines, it’s hard to tell how much of an impact they have in the long run.

Starbucks and McDonalds are massive corporations, and it can be difficult to convince even the most sympathetic members of the University administration why they should take a drastic measure like cancelling contracts. This is made even more

SELF CARE

challenging by how indirect  the connections between these companies and the Israeli government are. While they’re undoubtedly involved in the ongoing genocide to some degree, one can easily point to dozens of other companies that are also involved somewhere down the line.

So, is there nothing average people can do to show their solidarity? Is boycotting pointless? For the answer, one should look to the BDS movement, one of the oldest unified pushes by activists looking to meaningfully act in solidarity with Palestine.

The “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions” movement has been a crucial part of ProPalestine activism since 2005, when 170 different organizations decided to come

together and draw up an official list of companies to boycott. The current list of boycott targets includes large international companies like Hewlett Packard as well as smaller, Israeli-owned companies like Sabra Hummus.

These boycott targets are not chosen casually. Each company on the BDS list was picked because of their direct involvement with the Israeli government’s efforts to suppress Palestinians. For example, HP was chosen because they work on biometric systems that are used in Israeli checkpoints. Sabra Hummus was picked because their parent company provides direct financial support to the Israeli army.

Companies like these are chosen for

boycotts because their involvement is much more direct and much easier to explain to a casual observer than massive companies like Starbucks and McDonalds. More than that, however, they’re chosen because focusing directly on these specific companies allows for the boycott movement to be specific and potentially have a greater level of impact.

The official BDS website states: “For our movement to have real impact we need our consumer boycotts to be easy to explain, have wide appeal and the potential for success ...While we call for divestment from all companies implicated in Israel’s human rights violations, we focus our boycott campaigns on a select few strategic targets.”

This kind of approach also serves to keep people from spending all their time and energy trying to boycott dozens of companies, which can quickly lead to burnout. It’s much easier to convince potentially interested parties to give up buying from Puma, SodaStream and Siemens than to try and completely change every aspect of how they shop and consume products.

If you’re the kind of person who genuinely has the means to maintain boycotts of dozens of companies, then by all means do it. But if you’re starting to feel exhausted already, consider taking a different approach. Don’t feel ashamed, either. Everyone has a part to play, and freedom is won not through shame, but through solidarity.

opinion@thedailycougar.com

Language surrounding mental health can be harmful when misused

PARKER HODGES-BEGGS STAFF WRITER @KIFYIKI

Over the last decade or so, conversations around mental health have shifted significantly, especially when it comes to Gen Z. Mental illness has become a normal topic to talk about, both online and in real life.

In many ways, this is a positive change. The widespread discussion of mental health issues has led to more awareness, making it easier to find community and seek help when needed. It’s undeniable that younger generations also have a far more positive outlook on mental health than their predecessors, which has been great for minimizing the stigma around mental illness. Unfortunately, however, there are downsides to these discussions becoming normalized.

One major issue with this development is that it’s arguably led to an overuse of “therapy speak.” This kind of language includes genuinely useful clinical terms such as triggering, trauma, neurodivergent and many others. When used correctly, these terms can be helpful, but there’s been a recent rise in casual use of expressions like these.

While it may seem harmless to some, the way many people use this language sometimes crosses the dangerous line between

destigmatization and complete misuse.

Symptoms

One particular issue that’s become somewhat common on social media lately is content that aims to bring awareness to different symptoms of mental disorders. These kinds of videos are created in order to help people learn about disorders and potentially help with the process of being diagnosed.

While this idea is not inherently bad, the symptoms listed tend to be fairly vague. This distinct lack of detail that has led to many people, particularly teenagers, self-diagnosing and deciding that they have certain disorders.

Now, why is this bad? While self diagnosis is a great tool that can help lead professional diagnoses, it’s irresponsible to do so without proper research. A short video of symptoms without any real nuance is not a good way to learn about mental disorders, especially if the video is coming from someone without any professional credentials.

Conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism and obsessive-compulsive disorder can be extremely draining and make it difficult to function in life. Symptoms of these disorders are not as simple as being forgetful, frequently

fidgeting or being particularly clean, and reducing them to something so simple isn’t helpful to anyone.

Misusing disorders

Another issue with these kinds of clinical terms is how flippantly some people use them. For example, many people casually use OCD to describe themselves or other people without really thinking about it. While certainly not a new phenomenon, the trend of saying things like “I’m so OCD” or “you’re so ADHD” can be harmful to those with these disorders, not to mention how this type of language is frequently rooted in stereotypes.

Equating common traits like cleanliness or forgetfulness with a potentially debilitating mental health condition is harmful because it perpetuates stereotypes about mentally ill people, and it can also be alienating to people with said disorders. In some serious cases, it can even lead to people with these symptoms not wanting to seek help out of fear of being ostracized.

Another increasingly common issue, especially in online spaces, is the misuse of words like “triggered.” A trigger, in the context of mental health, is an event or experience that, when mentioned to an individual dealing with mental illness, has the potential to lead to a worsened

emotional state or symptoms. It’s commonly used in regards to people that have experienced trauma in the past.

In recent years, however, it’s become an expression that’s used in the same ways as terms like upset or uncomfortable, which is undeniably harmful to those with genuine triggers. The theft and misuse of terms like these delegitimizes people with a very real history of trauma.

Final thoughts

It’s undoubtedly very validating to find other people online that are willing to speak on mental health topics you can relate to. It’s also easy to offhandedly joke about terms you don’t fully understand. Talking about mental health in a respectful manner can be difficult, and the importance of normalizing these topics cannot be understated.

However, the language surrounding these topics is important too. The language we use every day matters, and we should treat it like it does. If we’re not careful, eventually we run the risk of normalizing these terms so much that they completely lose their meaning, and that would do nothing except harm the people that need these discussions the most.

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 7

life and arts

How to get over procrastination and get into studying

MAYA PALAVALI STAFF WRITER @MAYAPALAVALI

Spring break has come and gone, which means it’s time to get back to endless quizzes, papers and late night study sessions.

Getting back into the rhythm of studying and homework can be one of the hardest things to do after a break, especially when you’ve spent the last week or so partying it up in the sun. But studying doesn’t need to be complicated! As you shake off the vacation vibes, consider picking up one of these handy tips so you can finish the semester strong.

Make a to-do list

Whenever you have multiple assignments or tasks to do, make sure to create a to-do list — either digitally or on paper. If you’re not sure how to organize it, try

ordering your tasks by due date or difficulty level. That way, you can either get many things done at once or focus on completing the most urgent task first. Crossing off a bunch of items at once is one of the most satisfying feelings in the world, and it can do wonders for motivation. If you need an extra boost, consider adding very easy tasks like sending an email to cross off first.

The power of Lofi

Lofi, or low-fidelity music, is a genre of music that incorporates intentional imperfections into songs such as rain droplets or the sound of a distant train. It’s regarded by many as the unofficial study music genre because of its calming nature and ability to counter all other distractions.

If you want to work efficiently without being distracted by your

surroundings, try throwing on some noise canceling headphones and blasting lofi until your task is finished. There’s many playlist options out there, but consider trying this one out for a start.

Contemplate in cafes

Having a hard time staying focused in your dorm or at home?

Try going to a cafe to work or study instead! It might not sound like the most helpful idea, but there’s something about entering a casual establishment that gives some people energy. Though it might get a little expensive to order something every time, it can be worth it to have a space available to get your creative juices flowing. If you’re on campus, you might want to try frequenting the various boba cafes nearby.

Grab the essentials

Before you get started, you should grab any and all supplies you may need for your work. Bringing emergency supplies like a backup charger for your computer or an extra set of pens might seem a little weird, but you never know what might happen. Not sure what to bring? Try starting out with a basic pencil case and at least five Pilot G-2 pens. It’s a small step, but being prepared is essential to being able to focus on studying and nothing else.

Schedule a study date

If you’re someone who is

not the best when it comes to accountability, one of the best things you can do is have someone else be there while you study. Whether it’s a romantic partner or a friend, having someone to keep you on track can be a game changer. It’s harder to ignore an assignment if there is someone there expecting you to complete them. As long as it stays relatively playful, sometimes a little judgment can be a positive influence.

Implement incentives

If there’s something in particular you really do not want to do, implement some incentives into your study plan. For example, if you have an entire book to read, allow yourself something to eat or a break every time you finish a chapter. Having something to look forward to is an effective way to get things done. In order to reach the positive, sometimes you need to wade through the negative. Just be sure that you keep yourself accountable and don’t just eat the snack or leave before you reach your intended goal.

At the end of the day, you know yourself and your study habits best! As the semester moves to a close, try to find what works best for you and what makes you feel the most satisfied. Well, as satisfied as you can be while studying, that is. 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

Raphael Fernandez

Regan Grant Riley Moquin

Bask in the light, offer words of wisdom and be grateful for all that comes your way. Your generosity of heart and your hands-on help will bring life to everything you touch. Be open, receptive and willing to implement positive changes. If you wish to be happy, take charge.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20)

-- Evaluate how you handle your relationships and money matters. Incorporating the latest trends into your everyday routine will give you an edge. Beware of falling into debt.

ARIES (March 21-April 19)

-- Dream and believe. Take the power within and do something to improve your space and the world around you. Be brave, change what you don’t like and head in a direction that soothes

the soul.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20)

-- An intuitive approach will be necessary. Being able to adjust on the fly will encourage others to follow you. Understanding the dynamics of a situation will help you make better decisions.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20)

-- Control your emotions; don’t overreact or participate in gossip. Focus on taking care of your responsibilities, finishing what you start and honing your skills.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Doing things your way is OK. If you follow your instincts, you’ll discover that something you enjoy doing can also bring in extra cash. Don’t let anyone goad you into something unwise.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Look closely at the changes occurring around you and plug into

how you can use your skills to capitalize on what’s important to you. Choose the path that feels like home.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- If you feel it in your heart and it fits your budget, carry on and don’t look back. Trust your instincts. A commitment will encourage stability, gratification and strength of character.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -Initiate discussions that lead to knowledge, understanding and what you can do to improve your situation. Be willing to listen. Don’t let your emotions cost you.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22)

-- Consider what’s best for you and protect your domestic environment from unwanted change. A shift in attitude will reflect your emotions and encourage you to let go of what’s

holding you back.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Protect yourself from anyone trying to push you in a direction that doesn’t fit your timetable. Choose the path that encourages you to share your feelings and expand your horizons.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Do the work yourself. Fix up your space to suit your needs. Create an environment that promotes success, gratification and opportunity. Look for bargains and keep your overhead low.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19)

-- Be careful who you trust. Not everyone will share your values or support your goals. Ask questions, verify plans and change what’s necessary to maintain financial stability.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

ABOUT THE COUGAR

The Cougar is published biweekly on Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, on Wednesdays during the summer and online daily at thedailycougar.com. The Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. Copies of The Cougar are free.

COPYRIGHT

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

ABOUT CSM

The Center for Student Media provides comprehensive advisory and financial support to the university’s student-run media: The Cougar newspaper, CoogTV and COOG Radio.

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA

(713) 743-5350 csm@uh.edu www.uh.edu/csm

ADVERTISEMENTS

(713) 743-5340

advertising@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/advertising

Advertisements

Maya Palavali/The Cougar