Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 1
@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Est. 1934
Issue 7, Volume 89
WOMP WOMP
After five seasons and two conferences, Dana Holgorsen has been fired. Here’s a look at what’s next. | PG. 5
2 | Wednesday, November 29, 2023
NEWS
ROBERT DE LA GARZA, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
UH SYSTEM
A look at the permit system coming to the Sugar Land Shuttle
A passenger boarding the UH at Sugar Land Shuttle bus at the Cullen College of Engineering Technology Division, on Nov. 27. | Robert De La Garza/ The Cougar
ROBERT DE LA GARZA
NEWS EDITOR @REALNEWSROBERT
For students, a new semester can be quite expensive with student fees, tuition and books — all coming due around the holidays. This spring, students who need access to the Sugar Land Shuttle can now add a bus permit fee to the long list of funds owed. UH Parking and Transportation, the Student Government Association and the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee have agreed to adopt a new bus permit fee of $239 for people who don’t meet priority requirements to get on the Shuttle for free. Although students were informed about the possible changes in September, some are still unsure about the fairness, affordability and details of the permit. “I think it’s ridiculous,” said computer information systems senior Bradley Ledford. “It should be open to anyone, we’re all students at UH and we all pay fees, so I don’t see why it would be restricted.”
Who is it for? Students who are registered for classes at both UH main campus and UH at Sugar Land
will have priority registration for the permits and are not required to pay a fee, according to an email sent Monday evening by assistant director of Parking and Transportation Services Richard Zagrzecki. Students who live on the main campus and have in-person classes at Sugar Land will also have priority. Additionally, students who have a valid UH zoned or garage parking permit for the spring semester will not be required to pay an additional shuttle bus permit fee, the email said. However, students with a valid UH at Sugar Land parking permit will still have to pay $79, which is the difference in cost between a zone permit and the Sugar Land parking permit, according to the email.
“The shuttle was originally for people who have classes at both locations and no one else,” Gokal said. Gokal lives in the Sugar Land area, rides the shuttle and is also directly impacted by this decision, which she helped develop as chair of TPAC. She said this was the best compromise, as opposed to the alternative, which would have completely restricted access for those who don’t have classes at both campuses. The $239 from each student will allow the shuttle bus to be financially sustainable in the long term so students can continue to utilize this service, and it will increase the shuttle fee revenue to cover a fraction of the costs necessary for operations, Gokal said.
Purpose of fee?
Students’ reaction
The required permit was announced last week, more than two months after the University decided to restrict access to the shuttle in September. These efforts are to address concerns the University had with some students using the bus as a park-and-ride service to get from Sugar Land to UH, said journalism senior and vice chair of TPAC Zahra Gokal.
Ledford has been using the Shuttle for over a year. He lives in the Sugar Land area and as a CIS major, all his classes are located at UHSL. However, he previously worked at the main campus and utilized the Shuttle instead of driving. Ledford is unsure if he will meet the requirements and doesn’t believe the prices are affordable for students balancing
a tight budget. “$240 is a lot, considering we’re already paying tuition, books and all these other expenses. This is just another thing that you’re adding on to us,” Ledford said. Not all student’s feathers were ruffled by this decision. Others had contrasting opinions about the permits, saying that they were well informed on the matter and somewhat fair if you consider fuel costs. “I think it’s fair, “ said freshman business major Amanda Chen “You have to think about the gas cost if you drive yourself every day, most people around here live at least 30-40 minutes away. That’s why it is a little on the high side.” The fees will go directly to Parking and Transportation, according to leadership, but it is still unclear how these funds will be allocated, and if it will better serve the students using the shuttles. Some students say they could get behind the fees if it meant improving the current situation and if sudden changes could be rectified with more clear messaging. “I would love if they were more transparent with the decisions they’re making,” Ledford said.
“We’re just being told to pay this fee and if you don’t have the money or don’t register in time, you don’t get the permit, so then you can’t use the bus.” Chen said students had the opportunity to participate in forums created in the community’s GroupMe, however, some students didn’t take the initiative to have their voices heard. “They put in a lot of surveys, so if you really wanted to have your opinion heard then you could have filled the form, but I understand. I heard a lot of people didn’t really do that, so if you’re upset it’s really your decision,” Chen said.
Priority registration Priority registration is now open and students eligible for the shuttle bus permit must register by Dec. 1 at 5 p.m., Gokal said If you are not on the priority list, then on Dec. 4, the permits will be made available to any UH student at noon, according to the email. Availability is limited so students are encouraged to register quickly and stay informed because a spot on the shuttle is not guaranteed. news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 3 ROBERT DE LA GARZA, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
STATE
Senate Bill 4 raises discrimination concerns
NEWS CAMPUS
ABSA suspends members, cites racism, harassment claims JOHN LOMAX
EDITOR IN CHIEF @THELASTLOMAX
charge is a year in jail. For a felony, the penalty is two to 20 years in prison. Migrants would be able to present any evidence they entered the country legally during the protection period. The bill is expected to be signed by the governor, in a tweet on X, he voiced his support for the bill and congratulated Perry and Spiller on this “historic progress for border security.” In the past, courts have struck down laws when they think states are intruding on federal powers. SB 4 could also go to the U.S. Supreme Court, Cortina said. “The issue is of racial profiling, right? Obviously, that’s protected in the Constitution and perhaps also an issue regarding the role that local or state level police officers may have in enforcing immigration laws that is a federal prerogative,” he said. As the daughter of two immigrants, the bill doesn’t sit right with Vasquez, who said that it is important to keep advocating for better immigration policies. “We come here to the U.S. for a better life. Not to get discriminated or be racially profiled because of where we come from — we’re past that. I definitely want to say that I will not be silent,” she said.
According to a post made on the organization’s Instagram, the Asian Business Student Association has suspended an unspecified number of members and is investigating an officer following allegations of sexual harassment and discrimination. Released Wednesday, the statement came just days after a user on the UH subreddit claimed members engaged in everything from sexual assault to casual racism. Though not explicitly identified as the source of the allegations, the wording of the ABSA’s release mirrors the claims made on Reddit. “We understand the severity of the current situation as we empathize with and will always support victims affected by sexual assault and abuse,” the statement read. “Our main priority going forward is taking action for the victims and to prevent this from happening in the future.” In addition to suspending current members, the ABSA has also blacklisted several alumni who “neglected to consider their harmful behavior.” The exact nature of the suspensions and the identities of the individuals targeted remains uncertain as of now. The statement, signed by the organization’s top officers, encouraged any affected students to utilize the ABSA’s internal report system, provided through a Google Form. The organization claimed to be actively conducting an investigation of one of its own officers. “Regarding the situation with one of our officers, in full transparency, this is an investigation we have been keeping a close watch on,” the statement read. “There are multiple conflicting testimonies that did not allow us to produce a solid result. During the time of that incident, both parties were contacted and asked if keeping a close eye with zero tolerance was okay with them.” ABSA President Ethan Teo said the organization plans to release another update this week.
news@thedailycougar.com
news@thedailycougar.com
Lily Huynh / The Cougar
ATIRIKTA KUMAR
COMMUNITY ASSISTANT EDITOR @ATIRIKTAKUMAR
During the fourth special session, the Texas Legislature passed a sweeping immigration reform bill, now headed to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk for approval. Senate Bill 4, would make crossing illegally into the U.S. from Mexico a misdemeanor. The bill will allow Texas peace officers to arrest undocumented immigrants and a state judge to issue the person a order to leave the U.S. or face prosecution. The bill authored by state Sen. Charles, R-Lubbock, is almost identical to House Bill 4, authored by Rep. David Spiller, R-Jacksboro, which the state Senate snubbed during the third special session before being re-filed. The bill’s proponents said that the restrictions would help stop sex trafficking and curb illegal immigration. However, the bill’s opponents say that this will open the door for racial profiling, since peace officers would determine someone’s immigration status based on how they look said associate political science professor Jeronimo Cortina. “So, this has implications according to the opponents of the bill, not only implications for migrant communities but also implications for people that may share some of their characteristics,” he said. “It’s basically a target tool that’s
aimed at the Latino population in one way or the other.” Migrant communities are also less likely to report crimes when this type of legislation goes into effect. Crime in general may go under reported which in turn would hurt our society Cortina said. A research intern at the domestic violence unit at the Harris County District Attorney’s office, political science senior Natalie Vasquez said that victims are already scared to call police for help and this bill could exacerbate that. “I can already see how a lot of victims of physical or mental abuse are scared to even call the police,” she said. “How many victims will continue to be silent because of the fear of being deported or being arrested for their legal status?” Human development and family sciences junior Ashley Cardona said that the bill being passed through the state legislature is a big shame. The law increases the concerns many undocumented immigrants have had over the years regarding their children, Cardona said. “My family, we’ve been here for over 20-something years,” Cardona said. “If something were happening with my parents I’ll drop everything I have and I’ll try to fix that and I’ll try to be there.” Approximately 44.5% of Houston is Hispanic or Latino,
according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The bill could have a ripple effect on UH’s large Hispanic population. In particular, younger immigrants or the children of immigrants could face disruptions to school and development. Undocumented students would be more worried about their safety as well, Cardona added. For many immigrants who want to start the process to legally live in the U.S., new laws such as SB 4 make it even harder, Cardona said. “The life of the undocumented immigrant is just getting heavier and heavier throughout the years. This is a big thing; there’s not as much advocacy, there’s not many people speaking up,” Cardona said. The bill passed the Texas House by an 83-61 vote and by a 17-11 vote in the Senate. During the closing statements State Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, addressed the House Republicans on the floor regarding the prejudices in the law. “It’s not alright to be racist. I will stop pulling the race card when you stop being racist,” Jones said on the House floor. Under SB 4, a misdemeanor could be enhanced to a felony if the migrant is accused of other crimes or refuses to comply with the court orders to return to Mexico. The maximum punishment for a misdemeanor
4 | Wednesday, November 29, 2023
SPORTS NEWS
STARNS LELAND, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
FOOTBALL
The Dana Era: A look back at the last five seasons under Holgorsen Holgorsen had finally got the program going in the right direction and headed for bigger things. Early in the 2021 season, Houston was invited to the Big 12 Conference, and Holgorsen would once again lead a team into the conference while also being rewarded with a four-year contract extension through 2027. Before the 2022 season, Holgrosen’s squad was picked as the favorite to win the AAC in its final year there.
Disappointment
Dana Holgorsen’s five seasons as head coach saw an unprecedented level of success and failure at UH. | Anh Le/The Cougar
STARNS LELAND
SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND
After 1,791 days, two conferences, a pandemic, 59 games, 31 wins, 28 losses, two bowl wins and three losing seasons, the Dana Holgorsen era at UH has come to a close. One day after Holgorsen’s fifth season as UH head football coach ended in a listless loss to UCF, and the Cougars finished their first Big 12 season an uninspiring 4-8 (2-7 in conference) Holgorsen was relieved of his duties. It was a wild, unpredictable five years for Holgorsen at UH; one that saw two straight losing seasons turn around into a 12-win AAC Championship runner-up season in 2021, only for Houston to disappoint in 2022 and fall flat on its face in the Big 12 a year later. The following is a retrospective examining the ups and downs of Hologrsen’s tenure as head coach of the Cougars.
The Background On Dec. 30, 2018, Houston fired head coach Major Applewhite after just two seasons at the helm. That season, the Cougars started the season 7-1 before crumbling to a 1-4 stretch to end the year capped off by a humiliating 70-14 loss to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl. After Peach Bowl-winning UH head coach Tom Herman bolted for Texas in 2016, Applewhite failed to maintain the forward momentum achieved by the previous regime. And, after a tumultuous 2018 season, Houston found its football program in disarray following Applewhite’s tenure. Holgorsen, on the other hand, had just finished his eighth season as head coach of West Virginia with a record of 8-4 ranked 20th in the AP’s postseason poll. Holgorsen took the WVU job in 2011, touted as a wunderkind protégé of the Air Raid offense. The former offensive coordinator and wide receiver’s coach spent decades under Mike Leach, and found immediate success in Morgan Town. The Mountaineers won 10 games in his first season, clobbering Clemson in the 2011 Orange Bowl for a 70-33 victory. For the next seven years, Holgorsen guided WVU into the Big 12 Conference and established itself as a
solid player in the Power 5. However, by 2018, Holgorsen and the Mountaineers had begun to plateau and had lost five of its last six bowl games. On Jan. 1, 2019, UH ended a very short coaching search and announced the hiring of Holgorsen as its head football coach.
Rocky Start Holgorsen’s first season at Houston did not go as planned. After stumbling out of the gates with three losses in four games, including a loss to Oklahoma in Holgorsen’s debut, star quarterback D’Eriq King and several other key UH players sat for the rest of the season as part of a plan to redshirt for the 2019 season with eyes on the future. King would end up transferring after the season and Houston finished the season 4-8, missing a bowl game for the first time since 2012. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic derailed several planned games, and UH only played eight games, including Holgorsen’s first bowl game at UH. The Cougars ultimately fell to Hawaii in the New Mexico Bowl, finishing the season 3-5. It was the first time Houston finished under .500 in consecutive seasons since 2001-2002. In Week 1 of the 2021 season, things didn’t seem to be getting better for Holgorsen as Houston fell 38-21 to Texas Tech in NRG Stadium after jumping out to a 21-7 first-half lead.
The expectations were sky-high for UH in 2022, as the Cougars entered the season with a surplus of key veteran players such as Dell and Tune returning for another season. Houston seemed on the right track to begin the season when the Cougars beat UTSA on the road in a 37-35 triple-overtime thriller. However, in the next two weeks, Holgorsen and company would fail its pre-Big 12 tests. UH fell to Texas Tech again in Week 2, this time in Lubbock in another overtime nail biter. In the team’s home opener, the Kansas Jayhawks throttled the Cougars 48-30 to drop the team to 1-2 on the season. With a chance to salvage an eight-win regular season, the Cougars hit its lowest point under Holgorsen in the final game. Houston blew an 11-point lead to 5-7 Tulsa at home and lost 37-30, who would fire its head coach a day later. UH would win its bowl game against Louisiana and finish the year 8-5. In April of 2023, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and o-line coach Brandon Jones left Houston, leaving the offensive play calling in flux. In their place, Eman Naghavi was hired as o-line coach and run game coordinator, while offensive analyst Mike Burchett was promoted to quarterback coach. Starting offensive linemen Cam’Ron Johnson and Lance Robinson transferred soon after, and star running back Alton McCaskill IV shocked the program when he entered the transfer portal. Johnson, who eventually followed Jones to Missouri, went viral for a tweet seemingly dissing Holgorsen and the program. “Y’all mad because boys not tryin’ to sink
with the ship,” Johnson said in the tweet. “I’ll gladly stay on this side.”
Big 12 Blunder With 42 new scholarship players on the roster, UH entered its first Big 12 season picked to finish No. 12 out of 14 teams. The Cougars looked promising to start the season, beating UTSA 17-14 in the season opener in front of the largest TDECU Stadium crowd since 2016. However, everything fell apart just a week later. UH went down 28-0 to crosstown rival Rice in the first half, eventually losing in double overtime. It was the first time Houston lost the Bayou Bucket since 2010. The Cougars’ highly-anticipated Big 12 debut a week later did not go much better, as UH failed to score an offensive touchdown en route to a 36-13 loss to TCU. Holgorsen and UH would earn a dismal 4-8 record in a year that saw some of the worst losses in Houston history. On top of the Rice loss, UH’s offense shut down again in the second half of a 49-28 loss to Texas Tech in Week 5. Three weeks later, following a Hail Mary win over West Virginia, the Cougars fell painfully short of upsetting No. 8 Texas before getting shut out for the first time since 2000 in a 41-0 drubbing at the hands of Kansas State. Houston picked up its second Big 12 win after beating Baylor on an overtime twopoint conversion to keep its bowl hopes alive prior to a Week 10 home matchup against fellow newcomer Cincinnati. Things fell apart once again, however, and UH handed the Bearcats their only conference win of the year. The Cougars’ postseason push was killed a week later in a 43-30 loss to Oklahoma State, and a loss to another former AAC team in UCF ended a dull, uninspiring season. After the game, Holgorsen told reporters that he fully expected to remain head coach at UH. “I’ve got a four-year contract. Contracts mean something,” Holgorsen said. “If they don’t want to be the football coach, they have not expressed that to me. I want to be the football coach here.” A day later, on Nov. 26, 2023, Holgorsen was fired after five seasons at UH. sports@thedailycougar.com
The Step Forward After that brutal season-opening loss, Holgorsen and the Cougars turned things around all the way to an appearance in the AAC Championship Game. Led by an explosive offense featuring quarterback Clayton Tune, receiver Tank Dell and freshman running back Alton McCaskill IV, as well as one the conference’s best defenses in “Sack Ave,” Houston rattled off 11 straight wins. After a loss to playoff-bound Cincinnati in the conference title game, the Cougars finished 12-2. Highlighted by a go-ahead kickoff return by Marcus Jones to beat No. 19 SMU, Holgorsen won the most games in a single season of his career as UH would go 12-2. It seemed that
Dana Holgorsen was hired as Houston’s head coach in January of 2019, and went 31-28 with three losing seasons in five years as coach. | Anh Le/The Cougar
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 5 STARNS LELAND, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
SPORTS NEWS
FOOTBALL
Cougar sports staff share thoughts on future after Holgorsen STARNS LELAND, RILEY MOQUIN
SPORTS EDITOR, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND, @RILESMOQUIN
The Cougars’ first season in the Big 12 is finally over, and Dana Holgorsen’s fiveyear run as Houston’s head coach is over with it. It’s been a wild three months for the Cougars, and there’s a whole lot to talk about moving forward. Short of predicting the future, The Cougar sports editor Starns Leland and assistant sports editor Riley Moquin shared their thoughts on where the franchise could be headed in 2024 and beyond.
Now that it’s over, how would you summarize the Dana Holgorsen era at UH? Starns: Unpredictable, yet predictably underachieving. For much of Holgorsen’s tenure, I don’t think you ever knew what you were getting from Houston on a week-to-week. In one game, they could be beating West Virginia in a miraculous Hail Mary. The next, UH could be a few plays from upsetting No. 8 Texas at home, only to be shut out for the first time in over two decades. One season, the Cougars could be under .500 without much expectations when all of a sudden they reel off 11 straight wins and make a conference title game, like in 2021. But a year later, when they’re picked to win the AAC, they go a disappointing 8-5 and lose to the likes of Tulsa. However, even with that roulette-style of results, the team always seemed to do the same things in each game. UH would start slow and fall behind. Then, the offense would wake up finally and make things close or even take the lead, only to go dormant again in the second half while the defense runs out of gas. Riley: Erratic and at-times gloomy, but not without its thrills. Holgorsen inherited a program in desperate need of a rebuild, and it got off to an expectedly rough 4-8 start in 2019. That season also had the drama of the D’Eriq King saga. Of course, the turmoil only continued with the COVID-19 pandemic throwing 2020 for a loop. The 2022 season was rough with some very questionable losses to Kansas, SMU and Tulsa notably. Then of course this season, which was a Twilight Zone of unpredictability and gloom. The thrills came in bunches. Marcus Jones’ kickoff return to down SMU and make the Top 25 in 2021. Taking down Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl. Triple overtime over UTSA in 2022. The Stephon Johnson Hail Mary for the team’s first Big 12 win. Overtime over Baylor a few weeks later. There were a lot of losses, but the wins sure were memorable. The Dana Holgorsen era may not be remembered as super successful, but it will never be forgettable.
qualities the next UH head coach needs: the ability to build a program from the ground up, and the ability to recruit in Texas. Both coaches have led once-downtrodden teams to consecutive 10-win seasons and conference titles (Tulane will play in its second-straight AAC title next week). Jeff Traylor has constructed quality teams in San Antonio and has even guided the team through its own conference transition from the Conference USA to the AAC. Fritz, on the other hand, shocked the nation when Tulane knocked off USC in the Cotton Bowl just a year behind an explosive rushing offense. Fritz also has years of experience in Texas having coached at Sam Houston State as well as a stint with Blinn. Either way, UH needs to hire the right guy to help grow the program into the Big 12. If they don’t, Houston could lose even more ground in a conference where the other members already had a 25-year head start. Riley: The Cougars desperately need a culture-builder. The 2023 team never found momentum or footing, and at no point had it found an identity. Holgorsen said the “ship has sailed” on Class of 2024 recruiting as Houston sits with by far the weakest 2024 class in the conference. Whatever coach comes in will be working almost from scratch coming off a season with underwhelming offensive and defensive production, but with lots of potential to put their stamp on the program. This is a Power 5 team, one with a $130 million operations center opening in the coming years. With that in mind, Jeff Traylor is a shoo-in to be at minimum a finalist for UH’s next head coach. Traylor took a UTSA program that was less than a decade old when he took over and turned it into a ranked program by his second year. This season UTSA moved up from C-USA to the American Athletic Conference and went 8-4, with an incredible 7-1 record in the AAC. While Houston is done for the year in its inaugural Big 12 season, Traylor has a bowl game and finished third in the American in UTSA’s inaugural year in the conference. Traylor has proven he can instantly make a team pull above its weight and can complete
Houston now finds itself looking for a new head coach to run the football program after its first season Big 12 saw Dana Holgorsen fired. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar
a rebuild on a fraction of the timeline the Holgorsen rebuild had been moving.
What do you think should be the first order(s) of business for Houston’s next coach? Starns: Convince your key players to stay and get on the recruiting trail, and fast. Holgorsen himself said that bigger, richer schools in the SEC are attempting to woo star receiver Matthew Golden with lucrative NIL deals. Houston desperately needs to keep him and its other young pieces like Parker Jenkins, Jonah Wilson and Mikal Harrison-Pilot if it wants to stay somewhat stable during the building process. At the time of this article’s publication, Houston’s 2024 recruiting class has just eight commits and is ranked 102nd in the country, according to 247sports. That’s right in between the likes of, ahem, Georgia Southern and South Alabama. That’s unacceptable for some Group of 5 schools, let alone a Big 12 team. Whoever gets hired is going to need to work overtime to grab some late commits before signing day. Riley: Hit the transfer portal and make moves in the recruiting department.
Who do you think should run this program next? What qualities should the next head coach have? Starns: The two names that have gotten the most traction are UTSA’s Jeff Traylor and Tulane’s Willie Fritz. Both have displayed what I think are the two most important
A new conference yields a new era. Houston will look for its next coach in hopes of finding someone to lead the Cougars to success in the Big 12. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar
Holgorsen had given up on 2024 recruiting but UH’s next coach can not have that mentality if the Cougars want to be competitive in the Big 12 at any point in the foreseeable future. Experienced transfers are also needed.
What would you say is the state of this program moving forward, and what are your expectations for this offseason? Starns: With so much of the team seemingly in flux, UH football’s infrastructure is not in bad shape. The new football operation facility is being built as you read this and will go a long way in catching UH up in the Big 12. Meanwhile, the city of Houston as a recruiting base has always been a plus and can yield massive returns if managed correctly. There’s going to be a whole lot of change in the next few months in Houston. A bevy of key players are graduating or leaving for the NFL Draft, plenty more will leave for new opportunities elsewhere, and just as many new faces will arrive on Cullen. We won’t know much about what this team looks like until next September. Riley: The program is in purgatory. It could go in any direction right now. On one hand, you have a bleak recruiting outlook, no identity and a deflated fanbase. On the other hand, Houston has been upgrading facilities, time to recover in recruiting and a head coaching spot to fill with a candidate capable of creating a culture in Houston. The future entirely hinges on who is hired to move the program forward, but also who stays from the existing coaching staff. Does Brian Early stay? What about Doug Belk? These are all decisions with huge implications. My expectation is that UH gets moving quickly on hiring a new coach. There is work to be done and I do not think anyone in or around the program wants to wait to begin. The transfer portal opens Dec. 4 and it will be absolute mayhem when it opens. UH will want to have a head coach taking part in the mayhem as soon as possible. After that, I have no idea what to expect. sports@thedailycougar.com
6 | Wednesday, November 29, 2023
OPINION NEWS
MALACHI KEY, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
OP-ED
Op-Ed: SGA, political science programs encourage ambition over leadership SPIRO HOXHA
GUEST COLUMNIST @WHEELCHAIRDRIFT
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. Student Government Association elections are a mixed bag. They aim to create an atmosphere of leadership, service and work, but they also tend to operate as a laboratory for horrendous political ideologies. Rather than genuinely helping students, SGA candidates use the elections as testing grounds for the theory they learn in class. For an example, consider the events of the most recent election, in which former president Joshua Martin was ousted by the current president, Benjamin Rizk. During that election alone, Martin changed the election codes under the cover of darkness, loaded the Supreme Court with people that would rule in his favor and allegedly offered cabinet positions to local student leaders in exchange for endorsements from their organizations. Even if Martin was eventually voted out, the fact that all of the above was able to happen in the first place points to a problem at the very core of how student government elections are run. Many students think of SGA elections as dumb and pointless. They are dumb and pointless, except when they’re not. As a student body, SGA gives students an avenue towards actual power, something that can be used for good or evil. Some student leaders are placed in positions that give them access to millions of dollars in student funding. Being an elected leader allows you to influence University administration even as high up
as Chancellor Renu Khator. With all this in mind, shouldn’t students try to keep amoral monsters out of these positions? Beyond their power within UH, SGA leadership positions frequently provide a route to power at higher levels of government. SGA leaders can take their experience and use it to fuel getting internships, policy advisor positions and even potential bids for Congress. This issue isn’t just rooted in SGA, however. It goes all the way to the core of how political science departments across the country operate. Political science courses teach one central concept: How to win by any means necessary. While this idea might seem ambitious on the surface, it tends to create antisocial monsters who idealize figures like Richard Nixon or Donald Trump. Many people reading this article likely know a couple people in their political science classes that ramble about how “might makes right” but can’t be bothered to shower. Our political science departments impact our politics because the way in which we socialize political science students informs how they act within the greater world of politics. In other words, demonic fascist college students become demonic fascist adults with no values. Isaiah Martin is an excellent example. He lost his bid for student body president when he attended UH several years back, but he remained deeply involved with student government well after he graduated. Despite no longer attending the University, Martin seems to have maintained a keen interest in its elections. Outside of his alleged involvement in his younger brother Joshua Martin’s attempt at a second turn, Isaiah recently announced that he throwing his own hat into the ring; he was going to run for Texas Congress. Shortly after this, Martin was soundly
Len Duenas/The Cougar
criticized for “not reflecting the values of his generation.” Amongst the criticisms levied at him included what some saw as a weak stance on healthcare; endorsing a public option amidst a generational push for Medicare for all. Martin was also critiqued for his staunchly pro-Israel stance, something that proved unpopular especially amidst large protests in support of Palestine. Martin didn’t even have an issues page on his website until local media outlets criticized him into putting one together. But at the end of the day, Martin doesn’t care about his issues page. Like a good graduate of the University’s political science program, he wants to win at any cost. With the political connections and donors Martin has picked up over the years, some of whom he likely gained through his time at UH, he seems to be counting on coasting into a Congressional seat regardless of public support. So how do we prevent the University from churning out more morally weak politicians who don’t care about change? Well, we should start by interrupting the
problem at its source. While it’s true that many students who major in political science hold ambitions toward power well before they enter college, our current political science class setup encourages these tendencies. To counter these tendencies, we should consider promoting ideas that stand in firm opposition to this lust for power. Morality and genuinely held beliefs should be at the forefront of political socialization — not navigating institutions for personal enrichment and bragging rights. It’s only by shifting the focus of our political science institutions that we can stop these power-hungry monsters from gaining power. Students can help with this by staying informed and staying aware. Candidates like Martin are able to get away with a lot more if no one pays attention to what they’re up to. If we work together, we can keep these walking PR campaigns out of office and maybe, just maybe, achieve some real change for once. opinion@thedailycougar.com
POLITICS
Andrew Tate’s influence on young boys causes real harm to women CAMILA ISELA GONZALEZ
STAFF WRITER @CAMGONZALEZ
Over the past several years, millionaire and social media influencer Andrew Tate has grown a significantly sized platform on social media. But while his content may be popular, it preys on the insecurities of young men in a way that harms both them and women everywhere. Tate initially attracted his audience by making various videos where he talked about his thoughts on masculinity and discipline. In several of these videos, he encouraged his viewers to work hard and push deep as they seek out the best version of themselves. His audience has also significantly latched onto Tate’s advice when it comes to money and success. He espouses a very “Wolf of Wall Street” mindset, telling viewers that money will fix all their problems. While his intentional contrast to the idea that money doesn’t buy happiness is arguably harmful enough on its own, as it encourages boys to continue “hustling”
instead of enjoying the small things in life. But Tate’s real harmful ideas emerge when he talks about women. Over his several years in the spotlight, Tate has convinced untold numbers of teenage boys that women simply aren’t as intelligent as men. At points, he’s even gone as far as saying that women can’t ever really learn how to drive, nor can they fathom the true level of men’s intelligence. Tate also maintains the old-fashioned idea that women should be obedient to men, emphasizing that “Women should prioritize their role as wives and mothers over pursuing careers.” But beyond just viewing women as inferior, Tate encourages his followers to view them as objects. Several times on his channel, Tate has referred to women with language that implies they’re little more than objects to be used for pleasure. When discussing sexual ethics, he once asked his followers: “Why would you be with a woman who is not a virgin anyway? She is used goods. Second hand.” When critiqued, Tate has said that he’s
just trying to genuinely follow his religion. While he initially presented himself as a Bible-believing Christian, Tate recently converted to Islam. At points, he’s cited the Bible as inspiration for his desire to have multiple wives. However, Tate rarely applies his religious beliefs evenly. Not only does he completely ignore passages in the Bible and the Quran calling on men to treat others kindly, he tends to engage in double standards, never critiquing men for sexual promiscuity in the same way he does women. This double standard can at points be taken to deeply horrific lengths, including excusing sexual assault. At points, Tate has stated that “If you put yourself in a position to be r***d, you must bear some responsibility.” While his supporters have tended to claim that Tate is “just joking” or that he puts on an overly extreme personality to attract more viewers, recent events have shown that his ideas go far beyond isolated bits of “dark humor.” Several months ago, Tate, alongside his
brother Tristan, was charged and arrested in Romania for several counts of rape and alleged involvement in sex trafficking. Regardless of what his supporters will excuse, Tate’s ideas have had a clear impact even just in his own life and the lives of those around him. However, the real danger lies not in what Tate does, but what his legions of followers are likely to do in the long term. Tate regularly encourages his audience of impressionable young men to disrespect women and view them as sex objects. He exploits their ignorance to get more money without any concern for the long term effects he might have. Eventually, those boys grow up and become men, carrying his ideas into how they treat the women around them. Tate;s ideas don’t just exist online. If we don’t take his impact seriously, the repercussions of his influence will be felt generationally, and untold numbers of women are likely to suffer because of it. opinion@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 7 MALACHI KEY, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/LIFE-ARTS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
LIFE ANDNEWS ARTS
ADVICE
Ask The Cougar: Building, breaking, brain fog The questions in this week’s Ask The Cougar have been edited down to meet page size constraints. Q: I’m past the hookup phase of my life, and I want to explore something serious. Only problem is I’m not sure how to flirt with women without leaving the impression that I’m only interested in sex. How should I approach women without making them think I’m just trying to sleep with them?
JOHN LOMAX
EDITOR IN CHIEF
@THELASTLOMAX
This is a struggle I feel a lot of men experience in their early to mid-twenties. First, you need to prepare yourself for a much slower process than when you were looking for something more casual. Second, you need to really take a second to think about what it is you want before you go looking for it. Based on how your original question was worded, it sounds like you’re gauging interest largely off of first impressions. This is fine when your intentions are purely based on physical attraction, less so when the goal is a relationship. You need to get to know someone at least a little bit before you decide you’re interested in them. That doesn’t mean you need to build months of friendship before you ask them out, just that you should have an idea of who they are before you decide to pursue them. A great way to do this is to look at the first couple of dates
with someone as purely platonic. Don’t concern yourself with the ideal timing for the first kiss, or when you should invite them back to your place. These initial dates should be focused solely on determining compatibility. This approach not only takes the pressure off the early dating phase, it can also help demonstrate your intent to whoever you’re courting. As men, we will always have to work around the “only interested in sex” stereotype, and waiting to make a move can go a long way in showing that your interests are in the long-term as opposed to the short. This is usually easier said than done. Cultural conceptions of how and when to make the first move often cause men to selfsabotage relationships. A common refrain among men is that women appreciate a confident man. While that might be true, it’s important to distinguish between acting with confidence and acting on our insecurities. Confidence is being sure of yourself and what it is you want. This is not easy to achieve and can take years of development, selfreflection and learning. You need to sit down and think long-term: What type of person can you see yourself building a life with? Once you’ve decided on your “ideal partner” you can begin the vetting process. Q: I’m currently struggling with brain fog and I feel like I’m not understanding anything going on with my classes even with all the hours of studying I’m doing. Any advice in
overcoming this?
ATIRIKTA KUMAR
COMMUNITY ASSISTANT EDITOR @ATIRIKTAKUMAR
This is a great question and something I have been struggling with myself. My first and best advice for you would be to sleep. I know being overwhelmed by the end-of-the-semester responsibilities can make you question if you even need to sleep when you can have coffee. Mostly it feels like you don’t even have time for something as trivial as sleep. But as much as it pains me to say, sleep actually is important to us. Trust me, I have been trying to find a workaround but I have felt the best this semester after I passed out for 14 hours one day after not sleeping properly for weeks. Secondly, I would divide up the tasks I have and give myself a reward after each workday. Keeping a list of topics I need to study helps me immensely and at the end of each workday after I have gotten the serotonin boost of checking off my to-do list, I read for at least 20 minutes. Reading is my happy place, even reading for a few minutes helps me relax, so find whatever makes you happy. I would also try and take a few moments for just yourself each day. Go on a walk, do yoga or just lay on the floor for 10 to 15 minutes and try your best to block out the rest of the world. I personally like to lay on the floor with my earphones and I call it floor time. Just me, the floor and music help ground me most days.
i The Cougar
thedailycougar.com
EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF
And most importantly, be proud of yourself, you are almost to the finish line. You got this!
John Lomax
Q: I’m a senior majoring in biology. My girlfriend is also a senior, majoring in bio-tech. My goal is to go to PA school. Her goal is to get a PhD. Our paths are divulging. What steps can we take in order to prepare to face this as the time comes closer?
Emma Christensen
CINDY RIVAS ALFARO
MANAGING EDITOR
@CINDYGISELLES
Hello, thanks for sending this in! I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. What do you value in a relationship, or more so, what do you value in your girlfriend? I think if you really want to be with a person, you should find a way to appease both your personal goals and your relationship goals. It seems here that your career is something you value a lot and now, it’s in conflict with the relationship with your girlfriend. If you really want to make this work, consider choosing a school that’s closer or even trying a long-distance relationship. Maybe even take a gap year to take turns supporting each other. If that doesn’t seem like something you want to do, then bring it up to your girlfriend ASAP. Try and be optimistic. I hate making assumptions but it seems like your mind is already set on breaking up. If there is a will, there is a way. I wish you luck with your studies and your relationship! news@thedailycougar.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Cindy Rivas Alfaro WEB EDITOR
NEWS EDITOR
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Anh Le
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Wednesday, November 29, 2023 | 8