@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Est. 1934
Issue 4, Volume 89
HEAD TO HEAD After eight years of Sylvester Turner, November’s mayoral race is narrowing to two candidates. | PG. 2
2 | Wednesday, October 4, 2023
NEWS
ROBERT DE LA GARZA, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
POLITICS
Houston mayoral election 2024: What to know, expect “I really want to be a good mayor. I don’t want to be anything else,” Kaplan told the Houston Chronicle. “This is a great city, and it deserves the best leadership and the most thoughtful, hard-working people it can get.”
Looking forward
Gerald Sastra/The Cougar
ATIRIKTA KUMAR
COMMUNITY ASSISTANT EDITOR @ATIRIKTAKUMAR
This November, the city of Houston is going to elect a new mayor for the first time in eight years. While there are 17 candidates on the ballot, according to polling by the Hobby School of Public Affairs, it’s a close race between U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Texas Sen. John Whitmire. Regardless of who wins, the next mayor will be the executor of the fourth largest city in the U.S. — a hefty responsibility. “Houston has what’s called a strong mayor-council,” said political science assistant professor J. Bryan Cole. “Which is the arrangement for city government that gives the mayor the greatest amount of power.” This article will give you a basic rundown of the top candidates, as well as a little bit of what to expect this November. For students interested in getting to know the candidates in-person the Student Government Association is hosting a candidate forum Oct. 6.
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee Jackson Lee has represented Houston’s 18th district in the U.S. House as a Democrat since
she was elected in 1995. Before that, she was a municipal judge and served on the city council for five years. As a candidate, Jackson Lee said her administration will focus on the city’s infrastructure, crime rates and homelessness. She also aims to prioritize economic opportunity by promoting small businesses. Her campaign page also notes her promise to help “working families thrive” and will “defend reproductive rights and civil rights.” Crime is the highest priority for Houstonians in this election cycle. Jackson Lee said her administration will take a comprehensive approach focusing on both prevention and enforcement, according to a Houston Chronicle editorial board report. “I am committed to enhancing violence prevention and intervention programs while ensuring that our police department receives sufficient funding and resources to address the growing population and the persisting crime challenges faced here at home,” Jackson Lee told the Houston Chronicle editorial board.
State Sen. John Whitmire Whitmire has represented Houston’s District 15 as a Democrat in the state Senate
since 1982. The UH alum previously served in the state House for 10 years. As a mayoral candidate, Whitmire has taken a strong stance on curbing crime in the city and has repeatedly emphasized that crime will be his priority as Houston’s mayor. If elected, Whitmire has pledged to bring 200 DPS troopers to the city to help the Houston Police Department. This has yielded mixed reviews from Houstonians and has had mixed results in previous cities, according to Houston Public Media. “We cannot live in a great city with this lack of resources, what we must do is acknowledge that we’ve got a problem. You’re not going to fix a problem if you don’t admit you have it,” Whitmire said. “If we do not make ourselves safe by supporting our firefighters and (Houston Police Department), then nothing else matters.” Whitmire, similar to Jackson Lee, has repeatedly emphasized his good relationships at the state capitol. At a mayoral debate at UH last week, he said it was crucial for Houston to build back its relationship with Austin. His experience in the state legislature has garnered Whitmire support from a number of leading Republican officials, Houston Public
Media senior political reporter Andrew Schneider said. “There is very much the sense that, among leading state Republican figures, that Whitmire is somebody they feel that they can work with, even though he is a Democrat,” Schneider said. “They know him, he’s somebody that they’ve worked with for decades in the state legislature.”
Other candidates Gilbert Garcia, the former METRO commissioner, is the only candidate to poll at 3% — higher than the other candidates but significantly lower than the frontrunners. He identifies as a Democrat. His campaign is focused on the city’s crime rates, corruption, clean streets and attracting new businesses. “Our city needs help with crime, infrastructure, finances and more. My goal is to tackle these issues so Houston can be the thriving city it’s meant to be,” Garcia told the Houston Chronicle editorial board. Lee Kaplan is an outsider to the political world. He calls himself a practical Democrat, saying he has voted for candidates from all parties if he saw them fit for the job. His campaign is focused on crime prevention, traffic, city bureaucracy, clean streets and youth opportunities.
While the mayoral election is run on a nonpartisan ballot — the candidates are not identified as Democrats or Republicans — previous partisan political actions do influence the way voters think about the candidates, said Cole. “Whitmire is generally regarded as a little bit more moderate. So for independents, moderates and perhaps conservatives, Whitmire is a more attractive candidate than Sheila Jackson Lee would be,” he said. “She’s perhaps viewed as a little bit more progressive and so that does factor in. Especially because both of them have such well-established records in their respective posts.” Computer science freshman Vincent Wren said the candidate’s previous voting record will factor into his decision when he casts the ballot. “You can go back and see their records on how they voted. Are they willing to work with Republicans or are they voting strictly Democratic,” Wren said. “I prefer someone who doesn’t really compromise on their values and someone who doesn’t give into the right-wing and stays true to their policies.” Senior researcher at the Hobby School of Public Affairs, Renee Cross, said that younger voters need to voice their opinions if they hope to be a part of the discussion. “Whether it is looking at issues at the neighborhood level or city-wide, young voters will need to engage with the candidates through forums, debates and volunteering in order to help shape the discussion and potential solutions,” Cross said. “If voters – of any age – engage with the candidates, the candidates are much more likely to listen.” Whatever the case, Houstonians will have the opportunity to have their voices heard at the polls come November. news@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 3 ROBERT DE LA GARZA, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS
@THEDAILYCOUGAR
NEWS
HOUSING
Haven at Elgin: ‘Luxury’ housing frustrates students EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF
John Lomax
MANAGING EDITOR
Cindy Rivas Alfaro WEB EDITOR
Rin Christensen NEWS EDITOR
Robert De La Garza
PHOTO EDITOR
Anh Le
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Jose GonzalezCampelo
ASSISTANT EDITORS
Atirikta Kumar Logan Linder Regan Grant Riley Moquin
SPORTS EDITOR
Starns Leland OPINION EDITOR
Malachi Key
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
Haven at Elgin, a brand new off-campus apartment complex, was approved for move-ins to begin Sept. 7, Residents have since reported unfinished units and amenities upon arrival. | Regan Grant/The Cougar
REGAN GRANT
SGA ASSISTANT EDITOR @THEG8REGAN
Hundreds of students are living in unfinished apartments after move-in was postponed for over two weeks. Haven at Elgin, the new off-campus student housing complex, sits at barely over two stars on Google Reviews. A host of issues, including multiple delays and unfinished rooms, have created a headache for students who had hoped to kick off the fall ‘23 semester on the right foot. Problems began to arise at the beginning of the semester when, two days before their initial move-in date of Aug. 19, students were informed via email that it had been pushed back to Aug. 31. “I felt disappointed and overwhelmed due to the fact that I planned on coming back two days prior to move-in day,” said senior sports administration major Ash’a Thompson. The announcement left students scrambling to find temporary housing options. “It was very inconvenient,” said freshman accounting major Abraham Hoffman. “I live in Austin, so it wasn’t like I could commute from home to campus.
It was difficult because all the good hotels and Airbnbs are far from campus and very expensive.” To make up for the delay, Haven at Elgin offered residents a choice between a weekly payment of $500 or two months of compensated rent, Hoffman said. But, after accounting for travel and other associated expenses, the reimbursement seemed inadequate for some students. “At first, the whole situation sounded OK with the two months of compensation,” said junior psychology major Amaiya Chalasani. “But we had to pay for parking on campus every day for three weeks, and when you take into account the amount of gas wasted driving from my Airbnb, it’s a lot of money.” For students without a valid parking permit, metered spots on campus can cost as much as $20 per day. While management initially stated move-ins would begin Aug. 31, this date was once again pushed back to Sept. 7. They cited furniture installation and final inspections as primary factors in the second delay, according to ABC13. Residents, now almost 20 days past their initial expected
move-in date, were finally able to move in Sept. 7. Yet even after multiple extensions, the property still needs a lot of work, Hoffman said. “We moved in and the building wasn’t even finished,” Hoffman said. “Some units are completed, but others still have wrapping around appliances and the plumbing isn’t hooked up. For the first few days, we didn’t have hot water and my roommate’s toilet didn’t work.” In addition to plumbing issues, the 17-floor complex has three elevators, but only one has been in operation, said junior psychology major Jaidyn Guerra. “The elevators don’t have real flooring in them. If it is busy it can take 10 or sometimes 15 minutes to wait for the elevator,” Guerra said. Another complaint for residents has been the lack of a proper leasing office. Currently, the complex’s management team is housed in portable trailers. This has created issues with mail delivery and administrative concerns. “There isn’t even a real office for us to enter through, go to, send packages to and most importantly find staff to answer questions or get help from,”
Guerra said. A major draw for the property was its many advertised amenities. Haven at Elgin’s website touts its “resort-style” infinity pool, fitness center and yoga and spin room. The only issue is, according to residents, none of the amenities are currently available for use. “The apartment has a lot of vision and it’s easy to see where they are going with it, but it was just so poorly executed that it’s been a headache for the past two months,” Guerra said. In a statement provided to The Cougar, the management team at Haven at Elgin said they are committed to ironing out issues students have been experiencing and encourage residents to voice their concerns. “Haven’s goal has been to minimize any inconvenience for its residents, and ownership offered residents multiple compensation alternatives,” the statement read. “We are addressing maintenance issues as they come in, and encourage our residents to fill out a maintenance request if their apartments require service.” news@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.
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4 | Wednesday, October 4, 2023
SPORTS NEWS
STARNS LELAND, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS
@THECOUGARSPORTS
FOOTBALL
SWC Rewind: Trips to Lubbock yield tales of cleats, cotton
The Cougars went 12-7-1 against the Red Raiders in the Southwest Conference in 19 years playing each other. | The Houstonian 1977
STARNS LELAND
SPORTS EDITOR @STARNSLELAND
Over 19 years together in the Southwest Conference, Houston and Texas Tech engaged in epic battles with consequential but often odd circumstances. This year’s matchup turned out to be special teams-fueled shootout in the first half before the Cougars eventually lost. But over the years, Houston’s games in Lubbock can be summed up in one sentence by former UH star quarterback David Klingler: “Whenever we played Tech, it was always a mess.” Here are just a couple of the Cougars’ most memorable clashes with the Red Raiders in another Southwest Conference Rewind.
with two conference games left on the schedule, the Cougars’ road to the Cotton Bowl faced one final barrier: Lubbock. The No. 5-ranked Texas Tech Red Raiders were 8-0 and enjoying their best season since 1938 under second-year head coach Steve Sloan. Sloan’s defensive staff boasted future NFL head coach Bill Parcells and longtime assistant Romeo Crennel. With the Cotton Bowl in sight, Yeoman stopped the team bus on the way to their Lubbock hotel to motivate the team ahead of one of the most important games in the program’s history. “Coach Yeoman stopped the bus by the
cotton fields, and let the team captains go out there and pick some bowls of cotton,” said Chuck Brown, a guard for UH from 1975-78. “Because if we beat these guys, we’re going to go to the Cotton Bowl.” In 2023, Yeoman’s decision almost definitely would not have been received well by players and fans alike. In 1976, however, it helped galvanize the team. UH took that fire all the way to the beginning of the game. After the Red Raiders got on the board first with a safety, sophomore quarterback Danny Davis led UH to score on four of its next five possessions, throwing two touchdowns while running back Dyral Thomas punched one in as well. On the other side, Lombardi Awardwinning defensive tackle Wilson Whitley led a top-tier UH defense in holding Tech to just a field goal, giving the Cougars a 24-5 halftime lead. For much of the second half, Yeoman’s patented Veer offense began running out the clock. Blackwell, the leading man in a loaded backfield that ran six players deep, led the way with 103 yards rushing — 74 in the second half — against Bill Parcells’ defense. Parcells recruited Blackwell to Texas Tech when he was a star high school player in the small town of Cuero, Texas. With the Cougars up 27-5 and under seven minutes to go, UH seemed ready to celebrate its huge win and get ready for its rivalry game against the Owls the next week. However, the Red Raiders refused to go out quietly.
The Clash for the Cotton Bowl After a rough 2-8 season in 1975, the Cougars entered their inaugural year in the SWC seemingly on a down-swing. However, inside the locker room, the expectations were as high as ever. Head coach Bill Yeoman spent the entire offseason and training camp instilling one lofty goal for the upcoming year into the mind of the whole team: Win the conference and get to the Cotton Bowl. Throughout the season, players like star running back Alois Blackwell wore T-shirts that read “Think Cotton” as a constant reminder of what the team was working towards. “We wore those under our jerseys every day in practice, and during the game,” Blackwell said. “Those T-shirts were always front and center not only physically, but it was in our mind in regards to what we wanted to accomplish.” Two months into the 1976 season, the Cougars were on track to get to their promised land. UH had jumped out to a 6-2 record and the Cougars were riding high after dominating No. 20 Texas in a 30-0 win, rising to No. 9 in the AP Poll. Sitting in second place in the SWC
With 6:37 left, Davis threw a pick-six to Texas Tech’s Richard Arledge. Shortly after, Donnie Allison and the Red Raiders drove 93 yards on five straight passes to score again and bring it within one possession after a two-point conversion. Danny Davis then lost a fumble on the ensuing possession, setting the Red Raiders up with the ball on their 19-yard line with 2:40 left. Having gone from 22 points down to potentially tying the game in less than four minutes, Jones Stadium came back to life as fans rushed back into the stands. “I’ll never forget ... They started coming back, and (the fans) started coming back into the game,” Blackwell remembered. “The stands filled up again. And as a matter of fact, it came right down to the last pass play.” Allison drove the Red Raiders all the way to the Cougars’ 10-yard line in less than 90 seconds. On second down, Allison’s 33rd pass of the game was picked off by freshman safety Elvis Bradley at the goal line, sealing the victory for UH. “Out of all the games, that was one of the tougher ones,” Blackwell said. “They gave us all we could handle.” After thumping the Rice Owls for the Bayou Bucket a week later, the Cougars fulfilled their destiny, becoming co-champions of the SWC and punching their ticket to the Cotton Bowl, where the Cougars upset another undefeated team in the No. 4 Maryland Terrapins. “That’s what we played for all year long,” said Chuck Brown. “But getting there, it was just really surreal.” Decades later, Blackwell was living in Dallas and was invited by his friend and former Cougar Robert Newhouse to come to the Cowboys’ facility, where he worked, to pick something up. Once there, Newhouse introduced Blackwell to the man who nearly convinced him to play for the Red Raiders as a teenager — Bill Parcells. Parcells, now a two-time Super Bowlwinning head coach known as one of the greatest in the sport’s history, shook Blackwell’s hand and recognized him instantly. “Alois Blackwell, Cuero, Texas,” Parcells said. “Home of the Fightin’ Gobblers.” “He had never forgotten,” Blackwell said. “And that was years later.”
Playing Catch in a Cold Snap Almost 12 years to the day that UH knocked the Red Raiders to the get the Cotton Bowl, second-year head coach Jack Pardee and the Cougars were 7-2. The team had just entered the rankings at No. 17 after handing No. 10 Wyoming its first loss of the season. Sophomore quarterback Andre Ware had taken control of Pardee’s highpowered, pass-happy run-and-shoot offense and was blossoming into a star along with record-setting skill players Chuck Weatherspoon and Jason Phillips. After a freezing win in Lubbock, Jack Pardee addresses the team sporting one of the leis given to the team by the Aloha Bowl Committee. | The Houstonian 1990
SWC REWIND
Continues on next page
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 5 STARNS LELAND, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS
@THECOUGARSPORTS
SPORTS NEWS
HOCKEY
Hockey brings home to Houston for UH Club Hockey founder
Minnesota native James Calderone formed the UH Club Ice Hockey team to bring closure to his hockey career and bring a bit of his home state to Houston. | Photo by Seth Monroy
ATIRIKTA KUMAR
COMMUNITY ASSISTANT EDITOR @ATIRIKTAKUMAR
In the decade since Aeros left Houston, the city did not have an ice hockey team to root for. That is, until last May when UH Club Hockey announced its first-ever season. While the club brings hockey back to
SWC REWIND
Continued from previous page With another bowl game in sight — this time the Aloha Bowl in Hawaii — the Cougars again had to travel to Lubbock to face the 5-4 Red Raiders. Fellow sophomore coach and friend of Pardee, Spike Dykes, had implemented a spread offense headed by rocket-armed QB Billy Joe Tolliver. “Tech figured it out,” said Ted Pardee, son of Jack and UH linebacker at the time. “They were like ‘Houston’s having success passing, so we probably need to start throwing the ball around.’ So they started to change and adapt.” When they arrived in Lubbock, it was a beautiful day with clear skies. However, when the players stepped out of their hotel on game day, they were greeted with something totally different. “We’re doing pregame walkthrough a day before the game in shorts, T-shirts,” Pardee said. “Wake up the next day ... three feet of snow on the ground.” A cold front came into Lubbock early, and the Cougars were caught completely unprepared. The Cougars entered Jones Stadium without winter uniforms wearing inadequate AstroTurf cleats. To make matters worse, they also took to Campbell Field under heavy fire from Tech fans who launched cold tortillas at the beleaguered players. “We’re all slopping around out there in the snow, and of course, I’m standing on the sideline freezing to death,” said Klingler, a backup at the time. “It’s like watching the receivers run routes on ice skates and defenders trying to tackle and cover on ice skates.” In the first half, the Cougars’ potent passing attack was reduced to short throws while receivers were unable to
the city, which is what club captain and President James Calderone wanted to do, it also brings its founder a second chance to finish out his hockey career. A 2020 high school graduate, the pandemic and the shutdown that came with it threw a wrench into Calderone’s plans of finishing out his high school hockey career on a strong note. find their footing. Thanks to a pick-six by defensive back Mecridric Calloway, UH kept it close going into halftime and was down just 16-14. However, as the game began slipping away in the third quarter, UH equipment staff rushed to find a solution to the Cougars’ footing issues before it was too late. “Chuck Weatherspoon was sliding around. Our quarterbacks at the time, they were struggling to get any traction,” Pardee said. “The equipment managers during the game went to a sporting goods store and bought all these old screw-in cleats to finish the game.” Down 23-14 in the fourth quarter and with fresh, weather-appropriate cleats, UH began to make its run. Soon, Ware and the Cougars started look like their gun-slinging selves again. “The old adage is ‘You can’t throw in the snow. You can’t throw in the weather,’” Klingler said. “Of course, we just threw it all over the place.” Ware threw it 61 times for the game for 348 yards, with 243 of them coming in the second half. After a muffed Texas Tech punt led to a UH field goal, Ware led a crucial touchdown drive, finding Jason Phillips for a fourth-down conversion. Two plays later, Ware hit Kimble Anders for a 15-yard score, putting UH 24-23 with 10:27 to play. The Red Raiders wasted no time in answering, taking advantage of a short kickoff and scoring on a run by tailback Ervin Farris, his third touchdown of the game. Tech then went for two, but Tolliver slipped on the snow on his dropback, keeping the score at 29-24 with 8:50 to play. Minutes later, the weather tilted in UH’s favor once again when Tech was forced to punt on their own 7-yard line.
“There was always like a little part of it. It’s like wow, I never really got to like finish my career. And I didn’t. That’s not the reason why I started this at all, but there I did feel something when I got back on the ice — like wow, my whole senior year, it’s almost building off of that,” Calderone said. Calderone started playing hockey when he was five years old, watching his two older brothers. His father, also a fan of the sport, was another major influence on Calderone. “It’s just such a big part of my life,” Calderone said, “that I figured it’s almost like you can’t live without it.” Having grown up in Minnesota, moving to Houston to attend UH brought a drastic change in scenery for Calderone, who was used to hockey being an instrumental part of his surroundings. “In Minnesota, there are like, four rinks within five miles of my house,” Calderone said. “And here there are only four rinks in a city of two and a half million.” But the city’s lack of a team did not deter him. For Calderone it was a “wide net of opportunity” and he worked to find people like him — who loved the sport and wanted to play it. “I did put out flyers, I was like, ‘anyone
(who) wants to start up a club hockey team, here’s my number. Here’s my email, please reach out,’” Calderone said. “And I’d say within a week I have like seven or eight people signed up. And then we gradually got more over the summer.” The hockey club hit the ground running in May and has had a challenging couple of games since the season began this fall. “The skill level varies a little bit, there are some kids that were playing on a competitive juniors team last year,” Calderone said. “Then there are some kids that put on skates like three months ago for the first time.” Despite the steep uphill battle that the club faces in its first year, the act of building a team and the bonds that come with it has made this experience fulfilling for Calderone and the rest of his new teammtes. “Hopefully those bonds built will translate to chemistry on the ice and again, just a solid group of guys that enjoy hanging out with one another,” Calderone said. “At the end of the day, we won’t always be hockey players, but we’ll always be friends.” sports@thedailycougar.com
The Cougar’s win over Texas Tech in 1988 proved to be one of the first of many accolades during the ‘Run and Shoot”. Quarterback Andre Ware would go on the win the Heisman Award the following year. A year later, David Klingler broke many of Ware’s records. | The Houstonian 1990
The icy punt went for just 15 yards, and with under three minutes to play, Ware and the Cougars were set up deep in Tech territory with a chance to take the lead. Ware hit Phillips two more times, with the last giving UH the lead, 30-29. With 1:51 to play, Tolliver attempted to engineer a game-winning drive, but fumbled on the first play. Defensive back Johnny Jackson fell on it, securing the Cougars’ win. As the Cougars entered the locker room, they were met with two distinctly different gestures of both hate and victory. “All the Tech fans are throwing snowballs at us. It’s getting crazy,”
Pardee said. “We’re getting pelted with snowballs, and the Aloha Bowl Committee was there and they had the Hawaiian flower leis and they were putting them on us.” Finally out of the hostile snow and invited to a bowl game in paradise, Jack Pardee addressed his victorious but frostbitten team in a moment that yielded an incredible photo that lives on to this day.. “( Jack’s) got like a big red jacket on. His ears and nose are bright red from beinig frozen,” Ted remembered. “And he’s got a flower lei around his neck.” sports@thedailycougar.com
6 | Wednesday, October 4, 2023
OPINION NEWS
MALACHI KEY, EDITOR
THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION
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CULTURE
Why strikes make a difference, how you can support them MALACHI KEY
OPINION EDITOR @MALACHISKEY
This past week, the Writers Guild of America ended their multi-week strike with a decisive union victory. While the Screen Actors Guild has yet to reach a conclusion to their strike, this win demonstrates exactly how effective strikes can be and why they should be supported. The WGA strike, which was the second longest in the history of the guild, won significant improvements for Hollywood screenwriters including paying writers based on a show’s streaming performance, minimum writer requirements for shows and employment length guarantees. What this means is that the writers who produce your favorite content, from “Game of Thrones” to “Pretty Little Liars”, can now potentially live off the money made from these projects. Contrary to popular belief, television writers have been extremely underpaid, especially in the streaming era. While the strike was successful in multiple categories, it did not come without cost. Multiple TV series and movies were put on hold or canceled, writers went without pay for months and critics of the strike have blamed the WGA for a significant drop in viewer numbers. It can be easy to look at strikes as risky, high-cost ventures without much benefit, but the truth is that many of the freedoms American workers have today were won through striking unions. While these unions had their issues, their willingness to fight for their rights changed history.
Take for example the 1890 Battle of Blair Mountain, which some historians have described as “the closest thing America has ever had to a full-blown class war.” In West Virginia, the local coal miners’ union occupied the mines in protest over low wages, workplace safety and other issues. What followed was an incredibly bloody battle as the miners took up arms against local police and eventually federal troops. In the end, the miners surrendered to the federal forces and several dozen people on all sides lay dead. But despite the immense death toll, the miners won in several key areas. For one, they defied racist ideas of the time by joining across racial lines, even desegregating food halls at gunpoint. Beyond that, their efforts and those of unions like them won Americans rights like the eighth-hour workday. In 2023, union efforts are a bit less intense than taking up arms against mine owners. The modern-day labor movement has declined in power significantly, with only one in ten American workers unionized, a sharp drop from one in three workers in the 1950s. With valid concerns raised over issues like union corruption and groups like police unions protecting alleged abusers, it can be easy to dismiss union efforts as a thing of the past. But for every potential downside unions may have, the alternative is inarguably worse. In so-called “right to work” states like Texas where it does not require individuals to join a union, state law has left
Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar
unions significantly weaker. The end result was not “increased worker freedom” but rather lower wages for both union and non-union workers. When it comes down to it, massive corporations care about their bottom line first and foremost. They will gladly lie to and hurt workers if it serves their purposes. For example, several of the wins made by the WGA were previously declared to be “completely unfeasible” by higher-up executives. The path ahead is uncertain for many industries, especially in the midst of state
attacks on education and the continued decline of the humanities. Bold moves like strikes are full of uncertainties as well. Putting your livelihood on the line is not something to take lightly. But at the end of the day, we only have each other. So whether it’s boosting strike demands from auto workers or taking a break from TV to support your favorite actors, now might just be the time to stand along the pickup line and join the call of “Solidarity Forever.” opinion@thedailycougar.com
POLITICS
Ken Paxton’s acquittal represents a mockery of justice MICHAEL KING
STAFF WRITER @MICHAELKING
Earlier this month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate of all 16 articles of impeachment filed against him. Despite being previously suspended from his duties due to alleged fraud and abuse of power, the Senate declined to remove him from public office. The acquittal comes as a slap in the face to many who see the ruling as a product of partisan solidarity rather than actual justice. Taken in conjunction with his recent attack on the transgender community, the verdict also directly undermines the legislature’s legitimacy. The attorney general has been a highly controversial figure in Texas politics since he first took office in 2015. His approval rating amongst Texas voters have remained consistently at around 30% before the trial, with a low of 27% once the trial commenced. In recent years, he has taken more hardline conservative stances on issues like LGBTQ+ equality and reproductive rights. Most notably, he came under fire for a legal opinion he published, in which he labeled gender-affirming care as “child abuse.”
Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar
He has even gone as far as to investigate parents and hospitals that supply this type of care for minors, which often involve strictly therapeutic measures. When it comes to reproductive rights, Paxton has celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He has filed lawsuits against pharmacies that offered abortion med-
ication and infamously fled his home in order to avoid a subpoena in a lawsuit filed against him by a pro-choice advocacy group. Paxton’s indictment has painted an even uglier picture of him. The charges alleged serious ethical violations that include abusing public investigation laws, firing
whistleblowers and engaging in bribery. Despite these high-profile crimes that have significantly impacted the people of Texas, he has now returned to his duties after a four month suspension. So, what does this demonstrate about the government’s ability to properly discipline politicians in a non-partisan way? Well, it shows that polarization makes it unlikely. The Texas Senate is composed of 31 members, 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats. Nine Republicans were needed to remove the Attorney General completely. His wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, was barred from voting in the case. Yet still, the Senate chose not to vote him out. Ultimately, what this shows is that the Texas government has now become so polarized that it is willing to forego criminal acts to keep the power imbalance. It’s our duty as citizens to stand up and take action when faced with injustices like this. While Paxton is not on the ballot again until 2026, there are other issues and offices that are worth paying attention to this November — the most notable being the next mayor of Houston. opinion@thedailycougar.com
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 | 7 MALACHI KEY, EDITOR
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LIFE ANDNEWS ARTS
PETS
Pet emergencies, how to prepare for them GRACIE AUSTIN
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Pets are loyal companions that find their way into people’s homes and hearts. To many people, they’re almost like another member of the family. Unfortunately, like any other family member, pets are occasionally susceptible to needing immediate medical attention. How does one prepare for emergencies regarding their pets? Most people know to take their pets in for regular check-ups, but not many pet owners think about the worst-case scenario. For starters, the El Paso Animal Hospital notes that people should be able to classify their pet’s state of emergency as critical, urgent or stable based on their symptoms. When it comes to critical patients that need immediate action, pet owners should look for severe injuries, breathing problems, allergic reactions and more. If your pet’s emergency is critical, you need to have emergency options available immediately. One way people can prepare is by keeping a first aid kit specifically for their pets. While most contents will mainly be used for minor issues that can be treated at home, people can also store valuable information in one place for easy access.
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Learning the basics of first aid can also be beneficial. One way of gaining information on pet first aid is by taking a course supplied by the Red Cross. This way, pet owners can delay an emergency long enough for their pet to receive professional care. The El Paso Animal Hospital also provided first aid tips and recommended keeping a pet’s medical records and important phone numbers in the same location as medical items. Important phone numbers could include the veterinarian, emergency hospital and non-emergency police. Other items that could be included in these kits are items that can help calm your pet, such as treats and toys. In the worst-
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case scenario, you might even want to keep a muzzle in case your pet reacts violently. It’s also important to know the location of places like the nearest 24-hour emergency animal hospital. In potentially life-threatening scenarios, every second counts, so this can help you make decisions quickly. When thinking about emergency veterinary clinics, it can also be a good idea to consider pet insurance. Though this is mainly beneficial to pets who have more frequent trips to the vet, there are a lot of different insurance plans out there. Personal research and assessment of a pet’s medical history are needed before making
a decision to start one of these plans. One of the most important ways you can handle pet emergencies is to always be alert to any changes in your pet’s behavior. After all, you know your pet’s behavior best, so if you have a bad feeling, it might be time to take action. No one can be truly mentally prepared for any situation that involves their pets being in pain. Just like with family, handling a pet emergency can be scary. But the more you prepare for these types of situations, the less likely you are to succumb to confusion and fear if the moment comes. opinion@thedailycougar.com
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8 | Wednesday, October 4, 2023