Issue 13, Volume 85

PRINT WEEKLY. DIGITAL DAILY.

Breaking news online thedailycougar.com

Daily updates to your inbox thedailycougar.com/subscribe

Farmer’s Market

Wednesday, November 6

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Issue 13, Volume 85

‘I knew that I could win here’ Redshirt Caleb Mills, now heading into his first full year, knew UH was somewhere he could find success. | PG. 4

NEWS From a talent show to the Memphis game, find out what’s going down when Homcoming takes over campus Nov. 11-16. | PG. 2

opinion Gov. Greg Abbott’s rhetoric regarding homelessness is dangerous and harmful. | PG. 8

Follow us on Instagram @TheDailyCougar

2 | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

NEWS ian everett, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

NEWS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5314

campus

Homecoming 2019 hosts spirit-filled week of events This year’s theme ‘Be Someone’ celebrates the ways students and alumni can leave a mark in their lives Autumn Rendall Sydney Rose

assistant news editor Senior Staff Writer @autumnrendall @sydneyrose1029

The University from Nov. 11-16 is hosting several homecoming events leading up to the Memphis vs. Houston homecoming football game.

From a field day, talent show, carnival, concert and more, students are in for a spirit-filled week.

“The main purpose and hope of the week is to build school spirit,” said Anthony Salcido, Homecoming chair. “I think that’s the main reason why students should go. We all do our best to plan events, offering a variety of different things each day of the week.”

This year’s Homecoming theme “Be Someone” celebrates all the ways students and alumni can make a difference in their lives and at UH. “You’re leaving your mark,” Salcido said. “Do the best you can here in college and make sure when you leave, you can look back on it and feel like you had an impact on campus.”

Homecoming at the University dates back to 1946 after student enrollment grew post-World War II. The football team around then had joined the Lone Star Conference, the marching band was organized, the first bonfire was held and Frontier Fiesta returned.

Even 73 years later, students still look forward to Homecoming week’s annual festivities. Some said it’s a great way to have fun with their fellow students, meet new people and show off their school pride.

“I’m excited to see the school spirit, because back in high school I felt like

Last year’s Homecoming, which opened with a pep rally, featured no concert but a construction competition called CAN-struction, the Spirit Swap, where students could trade in their non-UH college shirts for limited edition Homecoming shirts, and Bed Races, which was won by Delta Upsilon. | File Photo

everyone thinks they are too cool for homecoming stuff, but here maybe everybody will be happier,” said hotel and restaurant management freshman Zachary Andrzejewski.

Hotel and restaurant management freshman Kimberly Shen said she’s excited for the energy of the events and how many students she expects to be involved.

Another tradition is the crowning of the homecoming queen and king. The selection committee looks for candidates dedicated to academia and service, and the application process starts at the beginning of the semester.

The application process includes answering essay questions about their plans at the University and beyond, followed by an interview from staff and alumni.

“It’s kind of their way of showcasing what they’ve done, not for themselves, but for other students to see that this is the kind of impact you can make on

campus,” Salcido said. “A lot of times it’s really for them to show students an anything’s possible type of thing.”

After the court is selected, then comes the homecoming king and queen campaign journey. Students can vote now through the Get Involved tab on AccessUH. “I actually voted right at 12 (a.m.) when the voting for king and queen opened,” said history senior Jennfier Gonzalez.

The Homecoming board said this year’s week of events are intended to be more inclusive of the interests of all students.

Since June, the board has taken surveys, spoken with a variety of students and planned all Homecoming events.

“I’m excited for all the events… and the free stuff,” Andrzejewski said. “I won’t be here for the game weekend, so I’ll have to celebrate during the week.”

The week of events starts with the Homecoming Kickoff Peprally from 5-7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Student Center Plaza. The event

features pizza, games, guest speakers and the Homecoming Court Reveal.

From 11-2 p.m. on Nov. 12 comes the Cougar Games, a field day at Lynn Eusan park with relay races, an inflatable course, a water balloon toss and more.

Later from 7-10 p.m. there’s ‘Strut Your Stuff ’, a talent show style competition at the Student Center Houston Room full of skits, dancing and music.

“I’m very excited for homecoming,” Gonzalez said.

“My sorority has been working really hard on a dance for the ‘Strut Your Stuff ’, and I’m excited for the football game, because I can spend time with my sisters and my friends that have graduated.

The Homecoming board from 11-2 p.m. on Nov. 13 will host “Campus Roundup” with different games and activities set up around campus. If a student visits each station, they win a limited edition shirt and are entered into a giveaway for Apple Airpods.

From 7-10 p.m. that night,

spirit teams get to decorate beds and then compete in the tournament style Bed Races next to TDECU Stadium.

Students also can enjoy free food from different food trucks.

The Homecoming Fest and Concert will feature carnival games and food from 6-8 p.m., with the concert following from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Lynn Eusan Park.

At 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, there’s a series of events leading up to the Men’s basketball game against BYU at the Fertitta Center The “Rock the Campus” beautification project from 9 a.m. to noon at the Student Center Plaza and a basketball tailgate from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Fertitta Center with feature face painting, caricatures, fortune tellers and special giveaways as part of the fun.

To end the week on Saturday, Nov. 16, there’s the homecoming game against the Memphis Tigers. news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, november 6, 2019 | 3

ian everett, EDITOR

tHeDaiLYCOUGar.COM/neWS

neWS@tHeDaiLYCOUGar.COM

NEWS

2019 Homecoming King Candidates

713-743-5314

i

The Cougar

thedailycougar.com

ABOUT THE COUGAR the Cougar is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters and online everyday at thedailycougar. com. the Cougar is supported in part by Student Service fees. the first copy is free. additional copies cost 25 cents.

COPyRIGHT

Claude johnson political Science Senior Sponsored by phi beta Sigma

Dadi Hamel Civil engineering junior Sponsored by american Society of Civil engineers

David Canas Marketing and finance Senior Sponsored by alpha Sigma phi

john Austin Schaudel business Management Senior Sponsored by Sigma phi epsilon

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

ISSUE STAFF ClOSING EDITORS

Michael Slaten Morgan Horst COPy EDITING

Mason vasquez COvER

jiselle Santos

Pishoi Rafaile History and Communication Senior Sponsored by naaCp

Edward Gonzales political Science, Organizational Leadership and Supervision Senior Sponsored by Student program board

Ryan Pulido psychology Senior Sponsored by alpha Sigma phi

jalen lewis Human resource Development Senior Sponsored by kappa alpha psi

2019 Homecoming Queen Candidates

Ailin Fei Hotel and restaurant Management Senior Sponsored by texas restaurant association Cougar Chapter

Ashley Herrera Marketing Senior Sponsored by Spb and Delta zeta

Caelan Svartz Marketing Senior Sponsored by Chi Omega

Chelsea lawson Hotel and restaurant Management Senior Sponsored by the epsilon Lamda Chapter of alpha kappa alpha

i

Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm

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. part of the Student Life portfolio in the Division of Student affairs, the CSM is concerned with the development of students, focusing on critical thinking, leadership, ethics, collaboration, inter-cultural competence, goal-setting and ultimately, degree attainment.

While our students are engaged in producing and promoting media channels and content, our goal is to ensure they are learning to become better thinkers and leaders in the process.

CENTER FOR STUDENT MEDIA

(713) 743-5350 csm@uh.edu www.uh.edu/csm n221 Student Center University of Houston Houston, tX 77204-4015 ADvERTISING

(713) 743-5340 advertising@thedailycougar.com thedailycougar.com/advertising DESIGN TEAM ruchi khakta

Evelyn Cedillo political Science and italian Senior Sponsored by Spb

jacqueline Ho biology Senior Sponsored by Delta Gamma

Katherine Turner Organizational Leadership and Supervision Senior Sponsored by Metropolitan volunteer program

Madelyn Chidester broadcast journalism junior Sponsored by Coogtv photos Courtesy of Spb

4 | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Sports jhair romero, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/sportS

Sports@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

basketball

Heading into his first full season, Mills wants ‘to win on this team’ Armando yanez

staff writer @odnam16

Last season, the miraculous run Houston made to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament has kept fans wondering how this year’s team will perform and how far it will go.

The Cougars lost a few significant players from the previous season, such as starting center Breaon Brady and backcourt starters Corey Davis Jr., Armoni Brooks and Galen Robinson Jr. With the excitement surrounding the return of UH basketball, all eyes will be on the returning players from last year’s team, one of which is redshirt freshman Caleb Mills.

From Arden, North Carolina to Houston Mills, who graduated early from high school last year, spent the last season practicing with the team and preparing for this moment.

The North Carolina native graduated as a four-star recruit, ranked No. 117 nationally and No. 6 in the state of North Carolina, and is ready to make noise this season as he will finally suit up and play for the Cougars.

“I came here because I knew that I could win here,” Mills said. “There’s something exciting that we got going on here. I want to win on this team, and above that, I wanna win under coach Sampson.”

Head coach Kelvin Sampson has been preparing Mills to compete at the highest level he can. The player’s day-by-day process dating back to last season is the key to his development and confidence.

“I think it certainly helps his confidence,” Sampson said. “He practiced against Davis, Brooks and Robinson last year every single day. They had to guard him and he had to guard them, so his ability to score the ball when they were on him gave him confidence.”

Getting comfortable The time spent practicing with the team last season allowed Mills to get a feel for the program, build chemistry between his teammates and form a bond that will be the base of Cougar basketball in the approaching season.

“We just get closer and closer every day,” Mills said. “We start understanding more of what it is to be a true team. I know they got my back and they know I got theirs, regardless of any of our personal goals because our main goal is to win it all, to win the conference championship and to win the

A year after graduating from high school in North Carolina, to join UH, guard Caleb Mills (2) is heading into his first full year with the Cougars. | Trevor Nolley/The Cougar

“We just get closer and closer every day. We start understanding more of what it is to be a true team. I know they got my back and they know I got theirs, regardless of any of our personal goals because our main goal is to win it all, to win the conference championship and to win the national championship.”

Caleb Mills, redshirt freshman guard national championship.”

Even with Houston slotted as co-favorites in the American Athletic Conference along with Memphis heading into this season, Mills is maintaining his focus on his game and his team getting ready for the season.

“We don’t really feed into all of

that,” Mills said. “We are just going to take it game by game, try to get better every day, and hopefully we can get to accomplish what it is that we want to accomplish.”

Extra help With the new season edging closer and closer, the team faced

unanswered questions in the form of sophomore guard Quentin Grimes’s eligibility.

With the Kansas transfer granted eligibility from the NCAA to play in 2019-20, there is a relief for Sampson and Mills that goes beyond basketball.

“It was an emotional strain for the young man having to walk around, practice and go to school without even knowing if he was going to play this year,” Sampson said. “The thing that I was most happy about is that he is going to be able to play and not sit out.”

Mills was also pleased to hear the news about Grimes.

“The fact that he doesn’t have to sit out makes all of us happy for him,” Mills said. “We as a team know that he can help us and make

us better, so to have him be able to play, we are all happy for him.”

There are some big shoes to fill after what last year’s team was able to accomplish in reaching the AAC Championship Game as well as the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament, but Mills will be looking to step into those shoes and play a role in helping this team get back to the top of the conference.

“I’m gonna come out and play hard every night,” Mills said. “It’s not necessarily all about what I am going to do because sometimes I might not have a great night, but I got guys with me who are gonna help me out. That’s our culture here, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep building that here.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, November 6, 2019 | 5

jhair romero, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/sportS

Sports

Sports@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

basketball

Trash Can Man — UH’s own red jack-in-the-box Game day prep

Second-year architecture major Luis Lemus hopes to continue portraying Trash Can Man for the upcoming 2019-20 basketball season. He took on the mantle during the Cougars’ historic 2018-19 campaign. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar

Katrina Martinez

assistant sports editor @katrinamtz124

Luis Lemus waited crouching down in the dark with nothing but the soft glow of light streaming from his iPhone to illuminate the red interior of his domain.

Bang. Bang.

That was his cue.

He sprang upward like a jack-inthe-box, hands stretched skyward to toss away the black lid and reveal the bustling red world that awaited outside his small enclosure.

The home crowd roared as he wildly waved his arms about like a madman, bouncing and screaming before quickly retreating to his hiding place.

Though many may not know his name or recognize his face, Lemus is the unforgettable Trash Can Man that graced courtside with an array of hilarious free throw distractions and unmatched enthusiasm.

When the 2019 men’s basketball season started, the second-year architecture major had no idea he would go from cheering in the student section to squatting courtside in a large red trash can.

“I was not expecting it at all,” Lemus said. “I’ve always been a fan, but now being part of the experience of the fan, I don’t know,

I didn’t expect it.”

How he got here Before he was the red-painted basketball fanatic, Lemus was approached by UH’s Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Event Presentation Robert Boudwin. He was asked to breathe life into this new character.

Lemus has been a big fan of basketball since middle school, and as soon as he left his hometown of El Paso for UH his freshman year, he could be seen watching most, if not all, of the home basketball games with his peers.

He found UH basketball fame when he adopted the online persona of Discount Rob Gray after he discovered an uncanny resemblance to the former starting guard.

This persona is also how Boudwin heard of Lemus and his unwavering support of the team.

“He was at every game, so I got to meet him and see how passionate he was, and I kind of threw the idea out to him, and he was like ‘I’m in,’” Boudwin said. “He didn’t even question it. There wasn’t even a hesitation.”

Where the idea originated Boudwin, who joined the UH

athletics administration in July of last year, is a retired NBA Rockets team member and is none other than the creator and 21-year actor behind the Rockets’ mascot, Clutch the Bear.

“That’s a lot of years that I’ve probably seen Robert dancing around in an outfit, I just never realized it,” Lemus said. “It’s obviously a great opportunity for UH to have him come in and involve the students more.”

The idea behind Trash Can Man was brought over from Boudwin’s time with the Rockets. Instead of a red trash can, it was green and used for St. Patrick’s Day games or Reduce, Reuse, Recycle awareness games.

“They were our green nights,” Boudwin said. “We had green giveaways and things like that. We used to have a green big trash can like that, but obviously a green one was meant for recyclables.”

Now, instead of promoting recycling, the bright red trash can boosts fans’ bolstering support for their UH Cougars.

“I thought people, students and alumni and fans at large, thought it was hysterical,” Boudwin said.

“There was a lot of pointing and laughing, and I could see people’s eyes anticipating it.”

To prepare for the game, Lemus watches from the stands and anxiously waits for Boudwin to signal it’s time.

From there, Boudwin and Lemus walk down the tunnel to a locker room where Lemus suits up. Suit up actually means he strips down to his red shorts, coats his entire body with red paint and hops into a red trash can where he waits to be wheeled courtside.

“All the credit and the kudos goes to Luis,” Boudwin said. “He’s the one who has to get there and smear himself with paint and wash it all off and act a fool in the moment and, by the way, sit in a pitch-black dark trash can.”

Sometime in the second half, the trash can is brought into sight, and Lemus waits inside for the can’s handler to give the signal that it’s time for the red maniac to make his appearance.

Unwilling to miss even a minute, he streams the game on his phone, cementing himself as a true superfan.

“It sucks in a way because I can’t see the game,” Lemus said while laughing. “That’s one of my biggest issues, I can’t see the game inside of that trash can.”

Looking back Of the many moments remembered in his time as Trash Can Man last season, one stands out for both Lemus and Boudwin.

While positioned courtside during an ESPN airing of College GameDay, Lemus whipped out a sign that read “LADIES CALL ME” and had the phone number to UH’s ticket office written just below.

“That was my favorite moment,” Boudwin said. “It wasn’t just the game stuff, which was great. It wasn’t the coverage on ESPN. The fan reaction was great, but my

favorite was when they refer to Trash Can Man live on air, the four College GameDay announcers, and then he pops out with that sign on cue and the announcers just went with it.”

Although the idea for Trash Can Man originated from Boudwin, he said without proper execution, an idea amounts to nothing. Boudwin credits all the success of UH’s new gimmick to Lemus.

“I feel great for him. I mean, a kid at his age to be able to take the spotlight and get that kind of attention makes me feel filled with pride for him,” Boudwin said. “He deserves every minute of it.”

Going forward With the new season soon approaching, Trash Can Man’s courtside appearance is not guaranteed, but according to Boudwin, the athletics department is still in the works of approving it for the 2019-20 season.

They are also working to be more “gender equitable,” Boudwin said, and plan on including female students, or Trash Can Women, in the future.

Boudwin also said students interested in submitting ideas or participating in any of the game day shenanigans, like being the Trash Can Man, are welcome to contact him at any time through his email, rbudwin@central.uh.edu.

With roughly three years left until he completes his degree, Lemus, who thinks this could last as a long-standing Houston tradition, is always available for the job.

“As long as I’m here, I’d be willing to do it,” Lemus said. “I hope it continues on or carries on somehow. We just need to find ways to keep it innovating and interesting.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Lemus is happy that he became part of the “experience of the fan” after he took on the game day persona at Houston’s matchups. | Katrina Martinez/The Cougar

6 | Wednesday, november 6, 2019

SportS jHair rOMerO, EDITOR

tHeDaiLYCOUGar.COM/SpOrtS

SpOrtS@tHeDaiLYCOUGar.COM

713-743-5303

Football

roundtable: Grading UH’s performance through the bye THE COUGAR SPORTS STAFF @tHeCOUGarSpOrtS

Ten weeks of college football have come and gone.

In Dana Holgorsen’s first year as the program’s head coach, the Cougars have gone 3-6, lost their star quarterback and are potentially on their way to UH’s first losing season since 2012.

Houston, on rest for its bye week, still has three games in 2019, but The Cougar sports staff wasted no time in grading UH’s performance through nine games.

Sports editor jhair Romero: C

Senior staff writer Andy yanez: D+ At 3-6, the Cougars have battled inconsistency playing

The Cougars, who sit at 3-6 overall and 1-4 in conference, are in danger of suffering Houston’s first losing season since 2012. | Trevor Nolley/The Cougar

through a schedule filled with ranked opponents.

The Cougars’ struggles go beyond just facing tough opponents, however. One of the issues this season has been their defense.

Houston’s opponents are finding enormous success in scoring and are averaging 32.6 points and 460.6 yards of total offense per game, which is the worst in the AAC. A huge factor playing into these issues is the lack of pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Houston is the second-worst team in the AAC for sacks, as it has tallied only 14 this season.

UH has also been unable to produce opportunities for its offense to shine and has had only five interceptions during the season.

The offense itself has also struggled with consistency, especially in the third quarter where the Cougars have been outscored 88-45 by their opponents this season.

Houston has struggled to protect its quarterbacks from the opposing defense, having allowed 30 sacks so far.

Despite the struggles, there have been bright spots for Houston, like junior receiver Marquez Stevenson, who leads UH in receiving with 666 yards and six touchdowns, which may or may not be a bad omen.

UH has also had a phenomenal one-two punch at running back with junior Kyle Porter, who has rushed for 525 yards, and senior Mulbah Car, who rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns against UCF. With Houston still adapting to Holgorsen’s system, consistency on both sides of the ball is needed for Houston to finish out strong.

Overall grade: D+

Staff writer Brayley Crowe: CNine games through the 2019 season, the best way to describe the Cougars’ campaign would be “close, but not close enough.”

The decision from King to sit out the season was a massive blow to Holgorsen’s UH debut, as the would-be senior entered the season as a long-shot Heisman contender.

Coming into the season, UH was chosen to battle for an AAC

West title, earning 14 of 30 votes for first and 162 overall, both marginally second to Memphis.

Instead, Houston sits second to last in the West, with its sole conference win a drudging 24-17 defeat of UConn, one of the conference’s worst teams.

Despite the 3-6 record and the necessity to win out to be bowl eligible, the Cougars really haven’t looked that bad.

An 18-point loss at then-No. 4 Oklahoma and a seven-point downfall against then-No. 20 Washington State — granted, UH Cougar ero/The Rom Jhair

The Cougars’ season has been a disappointment for many.

UH has just three wins in 2019, with one coming against FCS-level Prairie View A&M. The other two? North Texas and UConn — FBS bottom feeders.

But to grade the Cougars through nine games, you must look deeper than their .333 winning percentage and 1-4 American Athletic Conference record.

For one, Houston is without star quarterback D’Eriq King, who threw for 663 yards and rushed for another 312 before deciding to redshirt his senior season after UH’s 38-31 loss to Tulane.

Having to rely on sophomore Clayton Tune and freshman Logan Holgorsen since then, UH has gone 2-3.

The Cougars have also suffered from many injuries.

Tune injured his hamstring against the Mean Green and sat out against the Huskies.

“We’re running out of people,” the older Holgorsen said after Houston’s loss to UCF. “We’re running out of bodies. We’re running out of excuses. We’re running out of everything.”

There have been bright sides, however.

In its losses to Cincinnati, SMU and UCF, Houston gave three AAC heavyweights a run for their money, which is no easy task with a program going through one of the toughest rebuilds in the country.

All things considered, the Cougars get a C for their 2019 so far.

had King in both games — show the pieces are there for Houston.

Likewise, in UH’s other two losses to ranked opponents, the Cougars admirably hung around, though they ultimately suffered a 15-point defeat from Cincinnati, which saw the Bearcats score 17 points in the fourth, and a three-point win

by SMU. As a whole, the Cougars’ schedule this season has been littered with tough opponents, especially for a first-year coach, but with a 3-6 record, nothing higher than a C- can be awarded to this season’s squad.

But don’t quit on Holgorsen already. The future is bright. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, november 6, 2019 | 7

opiNioN MarYaM baLDaWi, EDITOR

tHeDaiLYCOUGar.COM/OpiniOn

OpiniOn@tHeDaiLYCOUGar.COM

713-743-5304

acaDEmicS

CASA testing is more stressful than necessary

juana Garcia /The Cougar

zAINEB DAvIS

OpiniOn COLUMniSt

Testing is scary enough with grades potentially impacting future opportunities, and the CASA testing procedures make it even scarier and intimidating than it needs to be.

CASA, short for Center for Academic Support and Assessment, testing centers have been a part of the University for 17 years. Students of every major

and classification will have to face a testing center at some point during their academic careers.

The testing centers set up around campus are meant to discourage students from cheating. The University has been doing a fantastic job of that since the first CASA testing center location opened in 2002, though the first full-scale location wasn’t opened until

2004 in Garrison Gym. “CASA has not faced any cheating scandals in its 15 years of operation,” said Associate Provost for Education Innovation and Technology Jeff Morgan.

Morgan was the brains behind the initial design of the original CASA Garrison Gym center.

His design of the system has led the other two testing center sites, Classroom and Business

Building and Agnes Arnold Hall, to become what they are today.

The CASA testing centers have set up a few protections against cheating to help keep things running smoothly.

In order to enter the testing area, you must have a valid Cougar Card as well as a registered fingerprint to prevent identity fraud. You aren’t allowed to bring in any materials that a testing coordinator does not give you, with the exception of a pencil. There are also multiple proctors that survey the test area to catch any wayward cheaters.

Though these precautions do well at their job of eliminating cheating opportunities, they also make the testing environment a lot more intimidating. Being jammed in a tight cubicle with a proctor constantly watching can be nerve-racking.

With the feeling of being watched ebbing at the back of your brain, you start to lose focus on your test. Words start to blur into one another, information clouds together.

Next thing you know, you’re not even sure the test is in English anymore.

Along with that, CASA testing centers come with this sense of

formality. The entire process can make a test feel like it will make or break your grade for a class.

For those with extreme cases of test anxiety, this can cause them to belittle themselves and become convinced there is no way they will pass the test. With a mindset like that, things sure aren’t going to look very good.

Yes, the saying goes “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” but there is something broken within CASA testing centers. With such a rigid focus on preventing cheating, those at the testing centers don’t look at the effects the centers have on anxiety.

There should be another option for students with test anxiety. A solution may lie in the Center for Student DisABILITIES, but they were unavailable for comment.

UH has done an amazing job keeping itself from the turmoil of a mass cheating scandal, but it’s at the cost of student sanity.

If there is another testing center built in the future, considering options for nervous test takers could be transformative.

Opinion writer Zaineb Davis is an English freshman and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com

8 | Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Opinion Maryam baldawi, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

713-743-5304

OPINION@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

homelessness

Texas leaders needs to get serious about ending homelessness

Editorial Board editor in chief

Michael Slaten managing editor

Morgan Horst

creative director

Jiselle Santos News editor

McKenzie Misiaszek

features editor

Ian Everett

sports editor

Jhair Romero photo editor

Trevor Nolley opinion editor

Maryam Baldawi assistant editors

Kathryn Lenihan Autumn Rendall Juana Garcia Santiago Gaughan Katrina Martinez

Chief Copy Editor

Mason Vasquez

Staff editorial The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gov. Abbott’s rhetoric poisons debate on homelessness that should focus on decriminalization. | Courtesy of World Travel and Tourism Council via Wikimedia Commons

drew jones

guest columnist

Gov. Greg Abbott said on Twitter “Austin’s policy of lawlessness has allowed vicious acts like this,” referencing a video of a man damaging a car.

The policy he spoke about was Austin’s approach to fighting homelessness. The governor was criticizing the city’s lax rules enacted to help out its homeless population. The thing was, the man wasn’t homeless.

This misconception about homeless residents being dangerous is harmful.

Abbott’s rhetoric poisons a debate that should focus on decriminalization efforts.

Few people experiencing homelessness are able to avoid the destructive cycle of poverty, but there is hope.

In the U.S., there are about half a million people without permanent housing. Those numbers are more pronounced in more unequal cities like San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Texas cities have experienced incredible growth in recent years. Austin and Fort Worth rank as two of the top three

fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. Texas needs to address the problem of homelessness by passing bold, effective solutions.

In the traditional view of ending homelessness, policymakers and residents tend to see housing as a reward, with housing gained only after the person has reached a stable enough place in their lives to afford a place to live long term.

This is what’s known as the staircase model, a step-bystep path through temporary housing on the way to permanent accommodations.

Houston is a city that follows this model, but it’s an ineffective tactic because it doesn’t do enough to create the housing the city needs.

In Austin, hostile lawmakers have battled over anti-camping ordinances and sidewalk bans.

Abbott continues to threaten the homeless population, but his hostility misdiagnoses the problem.

We know that without institutional support at each step, too many people fall through the cracks. Luckily, a few cities around the world

provide a roadmap for how Texas can make a difference in the fight against homelessness.

In Helsinki, they’ve flipped the paradigm of the homelessness path and instituted the Housing First principle. This move ends the expectation that housing is conditional. In turn, they have gotten rid of many short-term shelters in favor of thousands of permanent housing units.

The result has been a 35 percent reduction of the longterm homeless population, and Finland is the only country in the EU where homelessness is on the decline.

With the stability that comes from having a place to stay long term, homeless residents can actually get back on track.

In San Diego, lawmakers have set out to accomplish the lofty goal of cutting street homelessness in half.

Homelessness among veterans and youth would end in the next three years — the Finns would likely applaud this move.

The plan is to spend close to $2 billion on housing and homeless services. They’ll also ask residents to buy-in early so they have a say in what happens

in their communities. The same is happening in New York City.

Public buy-in is a key rule when proposing homeless solutions. In Seattle, a proposed “head tax” would have taxed employees of some of the city’s richest companies.

It was passed then repealed after public pressure and Amazon stepped in to kill the measure.

Solutions to ending homelessness are complex. We know when all stakeholders aren’t considered, problems are bound to arise. Criminalization of homelessness is a wrong step.

It puts more risk of danger on those who have to experience the criminal justice system.

There’s no one-sizefits-all solution to ending homelessness, and demonizing people doesn’t help. Each city has to address its own needs, but there are some practical places to start. Everyone would be better off if Texas became a leader in solving this problem for good.

Drew Jones is a print journalism senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major.

Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.

GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@ thedailycougar.com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing.

ADVERTISEMENTS Advertisements in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the University or the students as a whole.

The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

studentpress.org/acp