Issue 3, Volume 87

Wednesday, September 22 , 2021 | 1

@thedailycougar www.thedailycougar.com Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Est. 1934

Issue 3, Volume 87

Big Things Coming After years of trying, UH is finally on its way to a Power Five conference. | PG. 4

NEWS UH lifts academic ‘soft opening’ after four weeks. | PG. 2

LIFE AND ARTS Check out today’s daily horoscope inside. | PG. 7

THANK YOU STUDENTS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AT OUR HOME OPENER!

VS IT’S TIME TO FILL THE CAGE AGAIN! SEPTEMBER 25 | TDECU STADIUM

2 | Wednesday, September 22, 2021

NEWS

HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

CAMPUS

Academic soft opening is lifted after four weeks AMINAH TANNIR

NEWS EDITOR @AMOUNAJT

After UH’s four-week-long academic soft opening, the University will be moving classes back to full capacity.

The UH COVID-19 Coordination Committee made the decision to make the transition to full density starting Monday, Sept. 20, Provost Paula Myrick Short said in an email.

“It is with deep gratitude that I thank you for your many efforts over the start of the fall semester in helping to maintain a safe learning and working environment on campus,” Short said. “Based on our health experts’ analysis of the testing and contact tracing data, we believe that the risk of spread on campus is low, but we will continue to monitor conditions closely.”

UH will have classes return to their previous form of instruction, meaning all classes that previously agreed to in-person modalities will return to fully face-to-face instruction.

Short encouraged members of the UH community to wear masks, get vaccinated, get

recommended boosters and routine COVID-19 testing.

Some students were grateful for the transition, but still had concerns about how it was handled.

Psychology junior Laila Barazi said the University put a lot of thought into reopening and trusted the decision.

“I feel like it was a good transition back into school,” Barazi said. “I feel like it addressed a lot of student’s concerns regarding how some classes were online and some were in person.”

Despite her feelings on UH’s decision, Barazi said she wishes it could’ve accommodated for her larger classes. Barazi’s larger class sizes still leave students sitting in close proximity.

“I think as long as people are being careful and hopefully are getting vaccinated and wearing a mask, I think that’s the best people can do,” Barazi said.

Political science sophomore Dima Ghazala feels safe with what the University has been doing to mitigate the spread of the virus.

“I feel pretty good about it so far everybody that I’ve been

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Donna Keeya

MANAGING EDITOR

Sydney Rose

About 43 percent of fulltime undergraduate students around the country have jobs while balancing their courses, extracurriculars and personal lives.

Student employees at the University are no different, and while some may tend to have difficulty balancing everything they have on their plate, others have figured out their rhythm and are learning to manage their time.

Commuter assistant at the dean of students office and biology senior, Sharon John, finds it difficult to balance her job during exam week. But, knowing the students that she mentors may be going through similar struggles helps her get through it.

“When we have an exam coming up, knowing that my mentees exam week is coming up as well helps me in thinking that they might be adjusting to the same struggles,” John said.

A typical day in her life

consists of both classes and work, usually back to back.

Although, the pressure behind her courses isn’t the only type she personally feels.

“I’ve had a couple difficult experiences where I would try my best to help the person or a mentee and they wouldn’t reciprocate or they wouldn’t respond to my messages and my outreach,” John said. “That can be a little bit of a let down.”

Payton Ray, a customer relations manager with the Student Centers and a prenursing junior, also has a few difficulties with his fellow students being his customers.

“Sometimes, students will move chairs and sofas around and never put them back,” Ray said. “And, I feel like I’m constantly telling people to put them back, but they just never listen. Or like, if my friends rent out a room to use in the UC and they’ve stayed past their time, it’s so awkward to kick them out.”

Ray also balances classes along with work, but he’s figured out his schedule so that he’s not

Ashley Gwananji ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Sean Thomas Armando Yanez

NEWS EDITORS

ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Aminah Tannir Haya Panjwani

Gerald Sastra

SPORTS EDITOR

James Mueller OPINION EDITOR

Anna Baker

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Juana Garcia

STAFF EDITORIAL UH started transitioning back to full capacity on Sept. 20 after its four-week academic soft opening. | Katrina Kujawa/The Cougar

approached by has worn a mask and kept a respectful distance so I’m feeling pretty safe,” Ghazala said.

Ghazala also had concerns about class size accommodations in classrooms for social distancing as the academic soft opening ends. They said students seem to be following the unspoken rule of moving desks apart to leave space between themselves and their peers.

“Everyone’s pretty much wearing a mask and if they’re not I’m assuming and hoping that they are vaccinated,” Ghazala said. “I wish that the policies were a little more strict in terms of that but I do know that the University is taking that into consideration and they are trying their best, I’m just excited to be on campus.” news@thedailycougar.com

Student employees struggle to balance work, school HAYA PANJWANI

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

WEB EDITOR

Jhair Romero

STUDENTS

NEWS EDITOR @HAYAPANJW

EDITORIAL BOARD

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 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

Juana Garcia/The Cougar

overwhelmed with both at the same time.

“I have a 20 minute commute to school, so once I’m here (school), I just stay here,” Ray said.

What’s really helped him though, is learning to wake up earlier in the morning to get his personal life together.

“I’ll wake up and go to the gym, hang out, read a book and maybe play my bass,” Ray said.

“Taking that time aside in the morning by waking up early

really helps start my day off right.”

Even though it might seem like a lot, both John and Ray recommend earning some money while in college.

“I’m on campus all the time, studying, hanging out with friends or in class,” John said.

“I’ve just put a few extra hours aside every week to earn some extra money and really get some experience in the workforce.” news@thedailycougar.com

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.

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Wednesday, September 22 , 2021 | 3 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/NEWS

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POLITICS

Q&A: Representation ‘on the line’ as Texas redistricting begins, UH political scientist says

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HAYA PANJWANI

NEWS EDITOR @HAYAPANJW

Every 10 years, the Texas Legislature uses Census data for redistricting — the line-drawing process that determines how representation will be broken down across the state.

The process can be confusing and complicated, so UH political scientist Brandon Rottinghaus broke down how redistricting works and how it might affect you.

How exactly does redistricting work?

Rottinghaus: The census is truly a count of the people living in the state, and there are three primary ways that they are collecting information about people. There are some folks who went online and filled out the census forms, some people who filled the census forms out that were sent physically to their houses, or they filled it out with census takers, who will come door to door in some neighborhoods.

Then they use that information in all kinds of ways. The most pertinent in this case is to be able to decide who lives where.

Basically, the Texas Legislature has to draw these lines. I guess really, it’s kind of two phases, you’ve got the legislative phase, which will draw the lines of who represents what parts of the state, and then you’ll have the legal phase, which will certify that the lines have been drawn legally.

Why is it such a long process?

Rottinghaus: I guess that’s where it gets

kind of complicated because there have been times in the state’s history where the process has taken a really long time. So for instance, the lines that were drawn in 2003, didn’t get finalized until 2008 or 2009.

They had to push off primaries and get the courts to redraw the lines and then certify those lines, the legislature had to relocate those lines.

So it’s basically a big mess — and will be a mess again — because the politics of this are so critical to the future of both parties that neither side wants to give an edge.

has come from suburban and urban areas, especially in Houston — and it has come from primarily younger and Latino Texans.

So the makeup of the specific legislative lines in Houston may be very different than it was.

Where the lines get drawn dictate political accountability and representation.

That was really the core of what the redistricting process does, and Houston will be the epicenter of these changes because there’s been such tremendous growth in the region.

Why is it such a big deal?

And finally, why should college students care?

Rottinghaus: This is a question of race and ethnicity as much as it is about just counting individual people where the districts grow. It will be connected to the growth of the individuals in these racial and ethnic categories.

The line drawers will have to accommodate the growth of ethnic and racial minorities when they draw these lines. If not, they risk being challenged with a voting rights violation.

The court has hundreds of rules that have been developed over the course of decades of litigation on redistricting that specify what can and cannot be included in terms of drawing these lines. So ultimately, what the line drawers would allegedly like is to draw lines that they see as promoting their partisans in districts and accommodating the racial growth to allow for the fair access to representation.

Now, how will this affect Houston?

Rottinghaus: In terms of why it’s important, the biggest growth in Texas

Rottinghaus: One thing that it does in terms of college students is that where they live will be connected to a specific district, and that might be different than it was before.

So trying to make sure their voices are heard will be connected intimately to the lines that are drawn.

The University will probably stay in the same districts as they were, but the lines may change a little bit.

Whether a person votes where they live on campus, or whether they vote where they live more permanently, the lines may change. Their connection to the political world will be slightly different.

Basically, representation is on the line.

Where they live is potentially going to be in a different district than where it was, and that has implications for their own connection to accountability and to representation. news@thedailycougar.com

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4 | Wednesday, September 22, 2021

SPORTS NEWS

JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

ATHLETICS

Staying the course: UH and its journey to the Big 12 JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

Athletic director Chris Pezman well remembers the day UH was left in the dust when the Southwest Conference dissolved in 1996.

“Wow, that sucks,” he remembered, thinking as he sat in the old Fouke Athletic Building.

From that point on, UH made it its mission to get into one of the college athletics’ power conferences. But this proved to be difficult as the lasting effects from Southwest Conference break up forced UH athletics to take a major leap backward, leaving the University and its fans with little hope for the future.

“There’s a lot of scars on a lot of alumni at the University of Houston from what happened in the early ’90s,” Pezman said.

As the Power Five rose to prominence, UH was continuously overlooked and forced to wander the mid-majors while looking for any way to squeeze its foot in the door of one of the autonomous conferences.

Despite many disappointments along the way, the administration stayed the course, believing the day would come when UH finally got the opportunity to gain a foothold in a power conference.

When Renu Khator took over as UH president in 2008, she entered with a simple philosophy.

“I always say dream big,” Khator said. “There’s no point in dreaming small.”

As a result, the University’s search of finding a more permanent home in a conference allowing UH athletics to compete at the highest level possible ramped up.

“This journey did not start a month ago or a week ago or even five years ago,” Khator said. “This has been in the making for quite

Renu Khator applauded the the work the UH administration put in in order to recieve a Big 12 invite, saying it was a “village effort.” | Andy Yanez/The Cougar

some time as our community, fans, boosters, faculty, staff and students supported investing in athletics.”

Tilman Fertitta furthered the push when he was appointed to the UH System Board of Regents in 2009, believing great rivalries were what made college sports so special and the Cougars just weren’t able to establish a tradition of high-level rivalries in Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference.

Fertitta said he would consider his time on the board a failure and would have not been able to deal with himself if UH didn’t join a Power Five conference under his watch.

When Pezman took over as the UH athletic director in December 2018, his eyes were already set on

making Khator and Fertitta’s vision a reality.

A window of opportunity opened for UH over the summer when Texas and Oklahoma announced their intentions to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC by 2025.

Khator, Pezman and Fertitta thought openings in the Big 12 presented a chance for UH to finally realize its long-awaited dream of joining a power conference.

“Trust me when I say we fired every bullet,” Pezman said. “This was not an opportunity we were going to allow to pass us by.”

Together, the three worked tirelessly behind the scenes, paving the way for UH to be in the best position to receive an invitation to join the Big 12.

The Big 12 could not pass up on an opportunity to extend an invitation to UH, knowing the school’s rich history of athletics and the market Houston would bring to the conference, especially in football.

“There isn’t a question that the Cougars raise the bar in every sport and in every way,” said Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby. “They live and reside in arguably the best recruiting county in the United States for football.”

Baylor, Texas Tech and TCU, the Big 12’s other Texas schools, were all on board with adding UH to the conference and excited for the in-state rivalries across a variety of sports that will ensue.

“There was no reservations on behalf of (the other Big 12) Texas

institutions,” said Texas Tech president and Big 12 board chair Lawrence Schovanec. “We saw this as strengthening the state of collegiate athletics in the state of Texas as well as it being a benefit to the league as a whole.”

Sept. 10 marked a historic day for UH, signifying everything the University has gone through the past 25 years has been worth it, Khator said.

But joining the Big 12 is not UH’s end all be all, as Pezman believes this is just the beginning of greater things to come.

“We’re not backing into this,” Pezman said. “We’re running into this. We’re going there to win across the board.” sports@thedailycougar.com

RECRUITING

Big 12 membership opens new doors for UH recruiting JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

When the news that Houston was headed to the Big 12 officially broke, UH women’s basketball coach Ron Hughey’s phone would not stop buzzing.

“I’ve already received four calls from kids who turned us down because (the American Athletic Conference) wasn’t where they wanted to play,” Hughey said just hours after UH

accepted an invitation to join the Big 12.

Across the board for Houston’s athletic programs, having some of the country’s highest-rated student-athletes overlooking an offer from UH because of its lack of Power Five status had become the norm since the Southwest Conference dissolved in the ‘90s.

This struggle to compete with schools from power conferences for some of the country’s most

coveted recruits has been a major issue, most notably for the UH football program.

The Houston area possesses a hotbed of talent, consistently being among the top cities that produce players on an active NFL roster, but very few of these athletes have chosen to stay home and represent the Cougars simply because of UH’s

RECRUITING

Continues on page 5

Dana Holgorsen expects Big 12 to boost UH recruiting. | Sean Thomas/The Cougar

Wednesday, September 22 , 2021 | 5 JAMES MUELLER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

@THECOUGARSPORTS

SPORTS NEWS

REACTIONS

Big 12 news brings new excitement to UH student body JAMES MUELLER

SPORTS EDITOR @JDM2186

Jake Van Alstine, a junior sports administration student, and his friends couldn’t hold in their excitement when the news became official, knowing that the landscape of Houston sports was about to change dramatically.

Michael Olle, a senior accounting and finance student, was filled with joy at this monumental moment for UH. Many students had similar reactions to Van Alstine and Olle, as an overwhelming excitement filled the entire campus on Sept. 10 when the news that UH was joining the Big 12 took the college sports world by storm.

“I love it,” Olle said. “It is a very good thing for the school.”

An improved perception For years, UH has been perceived as a second-tier school not only across the state of Texas but within the city of Houston.

President Renu Khator was the first to admit this, calling UH a “university of last choice” in her 2013 fall address.

Many Houstonian high schoolers wouldn’t even consider UH, wanting to go to a more prominent school with top-tier athletics and “bragging rights” according to Khator.

As a Houston native, Van Alstine experienced this first hand as many of his friends overlooked UH when going through the college application process.

But slap on the Big 12 label next to the UH logo and now the University has a sense of legitimacy.

“Now that we have the Power Five title and we’re in the Big 12, now all the sudden we’re taken so much more serious,” Van Alstine said. “It definitely improves the perception (of UH).”

From gaining Tier One status to building new facilities and improving old ones, UH students have seen firsthand how much

RECRUITING

Continued from page 4 conference.

“A lot of our competitors in recruiting have had that competitive advantage on us,” said UH defensive coordinator Doug Belk. “I think it evens the playing field.”

UH students cheer on the football team during the Cougars’ 45-0 route of Grambling State on Sept. 18 at TDECU Stadium. | James Schillinger/The Cougar

the school has changed in a positive way under Khator.

But outside eyes have failed to notice UH’s rise no matter what the University did.

Students believe gaining Big 12 status will open up the public’s eyes to everything that has taken place at the University over the past decade.

“There’s so many (great) things going on at UH already,” said senior supply chain management student Will Partridge. “Being in the Big 12 is just going to bring more attention to the University itself and all the new stuff we’ve been doing.”

Van Alstine echoed Partridge, believing that there will be a significant impact the number of students, especially from the Houston area, that consider UH for their four-year home in the near future.

“I think it could help just the average kid want to stay at UH,” Van Alstine said. “Kids, when

So when the news of UH to the Big 12 broke, the boost to recruiting was one of the first thoughts that popped up in UH football head coach Dana Holgorsen’s mind.

Adding the Power Five label elevates UH’s pitches to recruits to another level, opening the door to bring in student-athletes

they leave high school from the Houston area, feel like they want to be a part of big name schools.

But now that UH is (in the Big 12) playing those big name schools, that could provide a lot more kids staying home to go to UH.”

One of the biggest deterrents for UH students attending games has been the level of competition the Cougars faced.

Whether it was American Athletic Conference foes such as Cincinnati and Memphis or an in-town rival like Rice, students have found it difficult to really get amped up for many UH athletic events.

“It’s tough when you’re playing teams that the casual fan wouldn’t know,” said Van Alstine.

Even with success in sports like men’s basketball, track and field and swimming and diving, UH students were constantly

reminded that their school played in a so-called “weak conference” so the Cougars’ success shouldn’t be anything to get excited about.

“I remember last year during March Madness people were like ‘Yeah UH made it into March Madness but they just played a bunch of scrub teams in the American Athletic Conference,’” Partridge said.

Everything about joining the Big 12 screams that UH students will show much more engagement towards the University’s athletic programs because of the improved competition and new rivalries that will form.

“My initial reaction (to UH joining the Big 12) was that we’re (going to be) playing better competition than in the American Athletic Conference,” Partridge said.

UH now has in-state rivalries across all sports that students can get excited about in Baylor,

Texas Tech and TCU. Maybe even Texas for a year or two if the Longhorns don’t leave for the SEC before 2025.

“Now that we are playing against a lot of other Texas teams, it’s pretty exciting,” said junior photography student Carolina Yanez.

The men’s basketball program will host college basketball blue blood Kansas annually.

“Now people are going to be like ‘Kansas is coming to the Fertitta Center? I have to be at that game,’” Van Alstine said.

“People are going to be busting down the door for it.”

Ultimately, joining the Big 12 provided the spark needed to reignite UH students passion and school spirit.

“It will make a difference being in a better conference for sure,” Partridge said. “Students are going to want to see us playing some of these really good teams.”

that the University had no shot at landing as a member of the AAC. “Student-athletes that wouldn’t take our phone call will now take our phone call,” Holgorsen said. “Other schools using (UH being a) non-Power Five institution can’t use that against us (anymore). It’s

happened countless times where student-athletes would say, ‘I love Houston, I love the University of Houston but I want to play in a Power Five conference.’ It’s just facts.”

Gone are the days of being ignored.

With Big 12 status, UH officially has the ability to

recruit across all sports at the level it had been dreaming about for years.

“I think it will pay dividends in the future,” Belk said. “I think you’ll see more talent to continue to come to the University of Houston.”

Leveling up the competition

sports@thedailycougar.com

sports@thedailycougar.com

6 | Wednesday, September 22, 2021

OPINION NEWS

ANNA BAKER, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

CORONAVIRUS

COVID-19 vaccine availability a privilege

@THEDAILYCOUGAR

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ABOUT THE COUGAR The Cougar is published every Wednesday during the fall and spring semesters, and Wednesdays during the summer and online at thedailycougar.com. The Cougar is supported in part by Student Service Fees. The first copy is free. Additional copies cost 25 cents.

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

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CINDY RIVAS ALFARO

STAFF COLUMNIST @CINDYGISELLES

While many Americans are still hesitant or will even refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine, they fail to realize the vaccine is a privilege that many other people don’t have.

UH implemented their Vaccine Incentive Program promising students $50 in ShastaBucks for voluntarily getting vaccinated against COVID-19.

Lina Hidalgo also implemented her own incentive program promising $100 to those who get vaccinated at a Harris County Public Health site. In fact, there are vaccine incentive programs happening all over the country.

Despite all of these incentives, people are still hesitant to get the vaccine with misinformation backing up the decision. People fear the vaccine will implant a chip in their body, mess with their fertility or even go as far as to say the vaccine is a scheme to lower the world’s population.

All of these claims, including several others, were debunked by the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention as well as medical professionals around the world.

In the beginning, the doubt surrounding the vaccine was understandable. Normally, a vaccine takes over 10 years to make, but with the COVID-19 vaccine, it only took around a year.

This feat was only possible through a $2 billion investment and a collaborated effort from medical officials all over the world, according to Science News.

With advanced technology and the ability to communicate in real-time with people from other countries, the time frame is realistic.

Additionally, with almost all the clinical trial studies available for the public to access on clinicaltrials.gov, there is no reason to question the authenticity of the vaccine; It is safe and it has saved around 140,000 lives according to a Health Affairs study.

Nevertheless, people against the vaccine still exist.

Meanwhile, in many parts of the world, people wish to be vaccinated but are unable to

because of shortages according to the BBC. In America, people are denying a vaccine that’s readily available for them. This is a privilege many Americans don’t realize they have.

American doubt and hesitancy is only prolonging the pandemic and hurting those who are the most vulnerable during these times. Those who can’t get the vaccine because of health problems or because they are too young are at high risk for COVID19.

Vaccine hesitancy not only prolongs the pandemic but also contributes to vaccine nationalism.

Western countries began monopolizing the distribution of vaccines. According to Reuters, the U.S. held all the patents and only offers to help in the form of donations rather than providing the information needed for countries to produce their own vaccines.

Although donations are nice, it is not enough to meet the demand for countries lacking the resources. Some countries are able to overproduce vaccines

while others struggle to decide on which citizens need the vaccine more.

It’s an unfair ordeal that while some countries have small vaccination rates, knowledge to make the vaccine could be shared but it isn’t.

America places a large emphasis on the right to freedom and the right to choose, but when it comes to the wellbeing and safety of others, the focus should be on the collective rather than the individual.

By getting the COVID19 vaccine, you’re not only protecting yourself from the virus but others as well. If you have no medical conditions or allergies preventing you from taking the vaccine then there is no need to wait. Understand that there are people in other countries who wish they had the same opportunity to protect themselves from COVID-19.

Vaccines are a privilege and everyone should get vaccinated as soon as they can. opinion@thedailycougar.com

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Wednesday, September 22 , 2021 | 7 HAYA PANJWANI EDITORS & AMINAH TANNIR,

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LIFE ANDNEWS ARTS

FASHION

Clothing staples to have in your closet this fall ASHLEY GWANANI

patterned pants, a dress or even a maxi skirt. However, if you’re not into boots, embrace your inner sneakerhead by wearing sneakers. Super casual and stylish, popular sneaker brands such as Nike, Vans and Converse provide styles for everyone.

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @ASHXLES

Long gone are the days of Houston’s hot weather as fall makes its grand return in the coming months.

With temperatures dipping slowly, popular retail stores, like Old Navy and H&M, are gearing up for the upcoming season by presenting their latest fashions for people to wear.

When shopping for a fall wardrobe, every closet deserves the basics.

Not sure what to have? Here are some fall staples to have in your closet:

Flannel shirts Nothing screams fall than a flannel shirt. Typically in a solid color or patterned with stripes, a flannel shirt is a classic. Soft to the touch and relaxed in fit, these shirts help in providing warmth during colder days.

Versatile in how it can be worn, try wearing it plain or layering it over a t-shirt or under a jacket or scarf of your choice.

Fall hoodies, sweaters and cardigans Hoodies, sweaters and cardigans are absolute essentials for the upcoming fall months.

While the weather will not be as cold as winter, they can help in keeping you warm.

Depending on the thickness of the hoodie, sweater or cardigan, they can be worn in other seasons.

Additionally, they are great for layering and come in a variety of colors to fit your palette.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Take charge and focus on what you can do to make your life better. Don’t wait for someone to make the first move. Choose to follow the path that suits your needs, and let others do the same.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) -- Play to win and leave nothing to chance.

Take the initiative to handle every detail and offer an in-depth look at what you are doing to ensure that no one gets in your way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Refuse to get pulled into a confounding situation.

Hats

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

Leather jacket Leather jackets finally have the opportunity to shine again this fall. When paired with a pair of dark wash jeans and a t-shirt, it can help take your outfit to the

next level by adding a casualcool vibe. While wearing a black leather jacket is a classic, they also come in other colors if you’re looking to brighten your closet with a pop of color.

Take hold of any problem that arises and make your position clear. A change of heart will force you to look out for your best interests.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Speak up, share your ideas and plans, and proceed. Taking the initiative to fulfill your dreams will encourage others to support your efforts. Think big, but live within your means.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Take a moment to rethink your plan before you move forward. Walk through the process and consider the people involved and the hoops you must jump through to get what

you want. Proceed with caution.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- A challenge is needed to restart your mindset and encourage you to make the most of each day. Gather information and pursue knowledge and skills that will help you reframe your goals and bring you closer to what gives you joy.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- You’ll desire change. Sticking to a budget will help eliminate undue stress and hurdles that will weigh you down and tire you out. Be smart, and you’ll find a way to get what you want.

ARIES (March

Fall boots and sneakers Consider getting a pair of boots to wear this fall. The right type of boot is not only stylish but comfortable to walk around in. Style your boots with jeans,

21-April 19) -- Set your goal and don’t stop until you are satisfied with the results you get. A partnership has the potential to grow into something that will add to your stability. Talks will lead to solutions.

TAURUS (April 20May 20) -- You may desire personal change, but first make sure you will not disappoint someone close to you. Run your plans by people who matter, and someone will offer quality alternatives.

GEMINI (May 21June 20) -- Test your skills and make improvements that encourage you to boost your skills, knowledge and profile.

Transition from summer’s straw-brimmed sun hats and visors to fall’s beanies, fuzzy bucket hats, baseball hats and berets. Hats are a great way to keep warm and add flair to your outfit when needed. Aside from helping you accessorize like a pro, hats can also help with hiding away a bad hair day. arts@thedailycougar.com

Pay attention to how you present what you have to offer. Update your resume.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You’ll move one step forward and three steps back if you let your emotions come between you and what you are trying to accomplish. Put everything you’ve got into your efforts.

LEO (July 23Aug. 22) -- Take it easy.

Don’t take a risk that can potentially lead to injury or illness. Protect your position and your reputation. Channel your energy into what you want to achieve.

-Astrograph by Eugenia Last

8 | Wednesday, September 22, 2021