Issue 05, Volume 84

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Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Issue 5, Volume 84

Raising the stakes

NEWS

Political organizations up the ante

UH College Democrats and College Republicans have increased their campaign efforts for one of the most coveraged races in the upcoming Texas general Eelection: the battle for Senate between incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Beto O’Rourke.. | PG. 5

SPORTS

Football sets sights on Top 25

Cougars’ offense is lighting up the scoreboard with aspirations of AP Poll ranking, partly due to no small effort by junior quarterback D’Eriq King. | PG. 10

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CITY

Social Media Spotlight: Tweet prompts talks of inclusion in advertising A student made a fake poster of his friend and him and hung it at a Pearland McDonald's OSCAR AGUILAR

FEATURES EDITOR @OAGU_16

As Jevh Maravilla and Christian Toledo took the final bites of their Snack Wraps at a Pearland McDonald’s, they noticed none of the restaurant’s posters had Asian models, so the pair formulated a plan to fill an empty wall with advertising of their own.

They edited a photograph of themselves taken at their neighborhood event center — where they modeled with a McDonald’s burger and fries — and put it up as a poster with the help of a group of friends and UH students.

After noticing the franchise had kept the poster for 51 days, Maravilla tweeted about it, generating more than 1 million likes and 252,000 retweets as of Sept. 9.

“If you haven’t noticed, there isn’t a lot of Asians represented in media,” said Maravilla, a media production senior, in a YouTube video he made about the experience. “And hopefully one day I can see someone like me on the big screen.”

‘Highlighting diversity’ According to Marketing Week, minorities constitute only 19 percent of people in advertisements, and 35 percent of the people surveyed feel that Asians are underrepresented — a discussion Maravilla brought to light on social media following the tweet, which reached 400,000 likes within 24 hours.

Although he was born in Texas, Maravilla’s parents are from the Philippines, according to coverage by CNN. Toledo moved here from the Philippines a few years ago.

“We both can’t believe how much attention this has been

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

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ISSUE STAFF CLOSING EDITORS

Jasmine Davis Cristobella Durrette COPY EDITING

Morgan Horst COVER

Corbin Ayres

i

Center for Student Media uh.edu/csm

Jevh Maravilla (right), a media production senior, and Christian Toledo noticed the lack of Asian models in the advertising of a Pearland McDonald’s, so they edited the company’s logo and graphics into a picture of them holding the fast-food chain’s food and placed it on an empty wall at the Pearland location. A tweet sent out by Maravilla, which explained how the poster had been up for 51 days, went viral on Twitter, generating 400,000 likes in the first 24 hours. | Courtesy of Jevh Maravilla and Christian Toledo

getting,” Maravilla said to CNN. “I hope this can open the eyes to

not just McDonald’s, but other major companies can embrace different ethnicities.”

Maravilla and Toledo edited the fast-food chain’s logo and other graphics used in their posters into a picture of themselves modeling with the company’s food. That same night, they paid $84.99 to print the poster and $6.48 for a McDonald’s uniform at a thrift store, according to the YouTube video.

With a group of friends, they staked out the establishment and waited for employees to clear the area. Then Maravilla, wearing a fake McDonald’s uniform and

regional interior coordinator badge, hung the picture of him and Toledo with the help of his friends Equipped with the uniform and poster, the group pulled off their mission of diversifying advertising at their local McDonald’s.

“We take pride in highlighting diversity in every aspect of our restaurants,” said Mariselle Quijano, owner of the Pearland franchise, according to coverage

by CNN. “We applaud these students’ creativity and hope to see them in our restaurants again soon.”

The Pearland franchise has not removed the poster, and McDonald’s corporate communications said they support the franchise’s response, according to CNN.

Breaking stereotypes Larry Kelley, a professor of advertising at the Jack J. Valenti School of Communication, said it makes sense to highlight all of a business’ customers.

“The more diverse your customer base, the more that should be reflected in the communication,” Kelley said.

“Much of selecting people for advertising is to portray the brand in a positive light, usually by offering an aspirational

target.”

Like Nike’s recent campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick, companies wanting to improve their image need to “jump on pop culture and become a part of the conversation,” Kelley said.

“The UH guys caught ‘lightning in a bottle’ with their effort,” Kelley said. “It resonated since it was a positive message and eventually supported by McDonald’s since it was an offshoot of their core values.”

Though they had nothing to do with the viral tweet, Kelley said it worked out for McDonald’s since they’re getting free publicity and the opportunity to embrace diversity.

The advertising industry started improving in terms of diversity as the country’s diversity increased, he said.

Brands do the unexpected and push boundaries to include various groups, he said, and that helps break down stereotypes, like in Guinness’ commercial featuring a gay rugby player.

Maravilla said all groups deserve recognition.

“To this day, I can say the poster has been up since, and I really hope they’ll never take it down,” Maravilla said in a YouTube video. news@thedailycougar.com

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

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

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

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CAMPUS

UH Veteran Services hosts 17th annual Sept. 11 memorial service OWEN ZINKWEG

STAFF WRITER @OWEN_ZINK

Robert Mackey, a veteran who served in the military in 2001 and helped in 9/11 recovery efforts, reenlisted Tuesday on the morning of the tragedy’s 17-year anniversary.

“I remember at ground zero everything was dark,” Mackey said when recalling the recovery efforts two days after the attack.

“If you’ve been to New York, you know even at night everything is bright.”

On the morning of Sept. 11, four airplanes were hijacked by al-Quaeda members, leading to three attacks on the United States. Two planes hit the the north and south towers of the World Trade Center and another hit the Pentagon. The fourth, which was heading to Washington, D.C., crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers took back control from the hijackers.

The 9/11 memorial was outside Student Center South. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar

University of Houston Veterans Services held a Sept. 11 memorial service Tuesday at Student Center South, allowing the UH community a moment to remember those who lost their lives in the attack 17 years ago.

The service also honored a solider who is reenlisting in the Navy after serving in the military in 2001.

“We all have a story about

what we remember,” said the director of UH Veteran Services and master of ceremony, Celina Dugas, in her opening remarks.

Dugas spoke about how special this day was in American history and asked students and attendees to cherish every moment they had.

Seventeen years have passed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City. Every

year, UH hosts a memorial service to honor those involved in the tragedy.

Lining the path to the Student Center Theater, where the event was held, posters displayed the timeline of the events that led up to the attack.

The event featured several keynote speakers as well as the placing of a memorial wreath, the national anthem and a presentation of America’s colors

by UH’s joint Military ROTC. Chaplain William Cork led a prayer, asking those in attendance to remember those who had fallen at 9/11 and since.

“This was the first time in U.S. history that our destiny was not our choosing,” said chief of staff for the President’s Office at UH, Michael Johnson.

Johnson then went on to say how proud he was of the way Americans banded together after the tragedy.

“We have students here who

are too young to remember — freshmen who were born after 9/11,” said Student Government Association Vice President Davis Mendoza Darusman. “It is important that we never forget what happened.”

The event was punctuated by the reenlistment of Robert Mackey, who was in the military during 9/11 and was part of recovery efforts made in the aftermath of the attack.

“It was a very respectful and appropriate event,” said Captain Leo Fischer. “Since Mackey took part in recovery efforts, it felt very appropriate to see him raise his hand today.”

Students and services members attended the event, but there were less than 20 people total in attendance.

“It was a somber moment,” Dugas said, “but it was so special and happy. I’m hoping this will get our students to remember and honor these folks.” news@thedailycougar.com

CAMPUS

UH to use $100 million to renovate frequented core buildings MICHAEL SLATEN

CAMPUS EDITOR @MICHAELSLATEN

The University of Houston System Board of Regents approved a $100 million funding allocation in August to go toward renovating core buildings on campus — those that produce the largest amount of credits for students — through 2024.

Dubbed the Core Renovation project, six buildings will receive renovations. Funding comes from the Higher Education Assistance Fund, funding from the state received annually to improve facilities.

The improvements to the six buildings will bring better air conditioning, Wi-Fi and improve the interior looks of buildings.

“The Core Renovation Project is (six) of our oldest facilities where our core classes are taught and have been for a long time,” said Senior Vice Chancellor and Senior Vice President Jim McShan.

The six buildings to be renovated are: Agnes Arnold Hall, Roy G. Cullen, Charles F. McElhinney, Science & Research 1, Science Building and Science and Engineering Classroom.

These buildings are some of the oldest on campus, all several decades old, except the Science & Engineering Classroom which opened in 2005. McShan said the Core Renovation Project is a series of major renovations rather than one large construction project.

The six buildings have $71 million in deferred maintenance cost, or maintenance postponed until the University had the funds to renovate the buildings. The renovations will include improvements to air conditioning, electrical, Wi-Fi, energy efficiency and interior finishes.

Biology sophomore Sara Bahadori said she doesn’t mind having classes scheduled at Agnes Arnold Hall, but it’s one of the worst buildings for her.

“I just think it’s really old and dirty compared to the other buildings (on campus),” Bahadori said.

Any changes to the number of classrooms in a building will need to be approved by Provost Paula Short, according to Facilities Planning and Construction. Facilities does plan to change some classroom

Six buildings that produce a lot of credit hours for the University will be renovated through 2024. | Fiona Legesse/The Cougar

layouts.

After approval by the UH System Board of Regents in August, the next step toward renovations will be finding the right contractor to complete the projects.

Only the Science Building and Science and Engineering Research Center are currently under construction, according to Facilities Planning and Construction. The Science building renovations will cost $15 million, in addition to the $100 million allocated.

School facilities typically have a 25-50 year lifespan, according to a National School Board Association report.

Classes have not been taught at the Science building for several semesters.

The longest leg of renovations will be Science & Research 1.

It will begin renovations in Fall 2019 and wrap up in Winter 2024.

Agnes Arnold Hall will take two years to renovate, beginning in Fall 2022.

Once the science building is done, it will have host classes

for other buildings are under renovation, said Associate Vice Chancellor and Vice President of Facilities, David Oliver.

The Science Building renovations will be done for Fall 2019 classes, according to Facilities Planning and Construction.

“It is the linchpin for the core projects being successful,” Oliver said, because the Science building will host classes as other buildings are under repair. news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 5

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STATE

Cruz, O’Rourke Senate race raising the stakes in UH political community SYED KASHIF NAQVI

STAFF WRITER @CASHEW8910

The tight Texas Senate race between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke has pushed UH College Republicans and UH College Democrats to campaign heavily for their respective candidates in the weeks leading up to the election.

According to a poll released

by NBC in August, O’Rourke is 4 percentage points behind Cruz, making the Senate race the most competitive Texas has seen in years. The high stakes in this race have pushed the two organizations to knock on doors, host rallies and phone bank to give their candidates the push they need to secure victory in November.

“If Beto wins Texas, it will be the first statewide election in many years that a Democrat would win. That might mean that a shift is coming in party dominance in the state,” said Jorge Saldana, a political science professor at UH. “Swinging a state can be a big deal in Texas because it is strongly Republican. A Democratic win can lead to a national trend.

Other states can say, ‘if Texas is able to elect a Democrat, then so can we.’”

With the numbers showing a competitive race, UH Democrats have mobilized and hosted several organization rallies for Rep. O’Rourke. On the flip side, UH Republicans are campaigning more for this race than others because of its importance and elevated

competitiveness. “(UH College Republicans) are doing more than any other club on campus,” said Political Director of the UH College Republicans William Little.

“Knocking on more doors, we’re volunteering more hours, and we’re fighting harder than any other group to ensure our beliefs and our freedoms.”

The challenge for a Democrat in Texas is immense. Sen. Cruz is finishing his first term as senator after winning his Senate race in 2012 with little challenge from his Democrat opponent.

Sen. Cruz’s then challenger, Paul Sadler, only had 5 percent of the total money raised compared to his opponent, according to the Texas Tribune.

The Texas Tribune reported in late August that Rep. O’Rourke has outraised Sen. Cruz by almost $8 million.

“I’m really excited that O’Rourke is looking to represent all Texans,” said political science senior Jonah Baumgarten, who is a student ambassador for Students for O’Rourke and a member of the UH Democrats.

“He is committed to listening to the voters and not the corporations and PACs hoping to buy his vote. He has taken $0 from PACs and hopes to make our elections and the voting process more ethical.”

From top to bottom, the state of Texas’ political offices are mostly held by Republicans.

The governor is Republican, 93 of the 150 state representatives are Republican and 20 of 31 state senators are Republican,

according to Ballotpedia.

But UH Democrats feel that needle could shift, beginning with O’Rourke being elected.

“Texas is quickly becoming one of the most diverse states in the country. Houston, specifically, is the most diverse city in the nation,” Baumgarten said. “It is for this reason that someone like O’Rourke has a deep understanding of the issues that affect all Texans, having visited and spoken to voters in all 254 counties in Texas.”

In April, Rep. O’Rourke came to the University for a town hall hosted by UH Democrats. Rep. O’Rourke is in favor of publiclyfunded college tuition, stricter gun regulations, pharmaceutical reform and pro-immigration legislation.

For Little, Sen. Cruz’s knowledge of the constitution is vindicated by his past positions and education. Sen. Cruz went to Harvard Law School, where one professor there called him

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke speaking at a UH Democrats hosted Univeristy of Houston Town Hall in April at Student Center Theater. | Thom Dwyer/The Cougar

“off-the-charts brilliant.”

“People should vote for Ted Cruz if they like small government and individual freedoms,” Little said. “If you

don’t want the government to assign your future and fate, then Cruz is your candidate.” news@thedailycougar.com

FASTER. SAFER. SMARTER.

TEXAS BULLET TRAIN DALLAS–BRAZOS VALLEY–HOUSTON AT 200 MPH

Visit TexasCentral.com to learn more.

Text TRAIN to 52886 for updates.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference in February. | Courtesy of Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

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CITY

Blaffer reopens with mixed medium exhibitions CRISTOBELLA DURRETTE

MANAGING EDITOR @CRIST0BELLA

After a brief closure over the summer to allow for the arrival of new installations, the Blaffer Art Museum has reopened and features two new exhibitions.

The museum held an opening reception for its fall exhibitions on Sept. 7, which featured an appearance by artist Richard Rezac, whose sculptural works and process drawings are currently on display. In addition to Rezac’s sculptural works, the new exhibition also features digital paintings

by Alfred Leslie.

Plans to display this exhibit of Rezac’s work began over a year and a half ago, said Chief Curator of the Blaffer Art Museum Toby Kamps.

“The Blaffer should be like your favorite magazine: Every issue is different,” Kamps said. “Every (exhibit), we hope, brings something new to Houston. We’re trying to always deliver a great schedule

of exhibitions for UH and for Houston.”

After an initial meeting at the Renaissance Society, a commissioning institute at the University of Chicago, Rezac was given two years to complete the exhibition.

This meant having to create eighteen to twenty new sculptures over that time period.

“The natural solution was to use work that pre-existed,” Rezac said.

“Within that equation, I would say that the new work would be the main subject, the primary element.”

Rezac’s exhibition includes work made as far back as 20 years ago, but primarily includes work made within the past few years.

“We decided this should not be a retrospective,” said exhibition curator Solveig Ovstebo.

Ovstebo has worked with Rezac at the Renaissance Society since the inception of the exhibition.

“It should be more of a survey, including new work and earlier

productions.”

Both the older and newer works in Rezac’s collection are influenced by his interest in architecture. “(Architecture) has influenced my work, it has encouraged me to travel to see things in other places,” Rezac said. “As the sculptor, making three-dimensional objects that one situates within a room or outdoors, one has to be sensitive to the context, to the surrounding space.”

This interest in architecture is further displayed in his process drawings for his sculptures.

“I equate it to what architects still do and did in the past,” Rezac said. “I still maintain the practice of something like planned elevation.

I can construe a pretty satisfying understanding of that dimension, certainly the scale. A lot of these sculptures have a certain regularity, the profile is important to me. A pencil line on paper gives me that.”

The architectural appearance of these sculptures is what initially

The Blaffer Art Museum reopened Sept. 7, featuring Richard Rezac's Address, an exhibition of sculptures. | Cristobella Durrette/The Cougar

peaked sophomore architecture major Amanda Whitley’s interest in the exhibit.

“Being in architecture, I do have more of an interest in the arts,” Whitley said. “It just seemed really interesting. I didn’t know much about the artist himself. It was just

something I wanted to go check out and I was pleasantly surprised.”

Richard Rezac’s Address will be on display through Dec. 8. Alfred Leslie’s One Hundred Characters in Search of a Reader will be available for viewing through Jan. 26. news@thedailycougar.com

Angela Davis, Jane Elliott continue conversation on social solutions Civil rights activist Angela Davis (left) and educator Jane Elliott participated in the Social Justice Solution speaker series Thursday put on by the Graduate College of Social Work. The two discussesd their history of community involvment and ways to combat racism and privilege “White folks, you got to change, because within thirty years, you will be a numerical minority in the United States of America.

You better have pray to whoever you pray to or for that people of color are not going to want to get even with us, or treat us the way we have treated them,” Elliott said. | Alana Howard/The Cougar

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 7

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FOOTBALL

Analysis: Eight takeaways after eight quarters

Junior quarterback D'Eriq King has scored 10 touchdowns this season and his six against Arizona won him the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougar

ANDRES CHIO

SPORTS EDITOR

@CHIOANDRES

The Cougars are off to a hot start this season after a comeback win against crosstown rival Rice and a dominant win over the Pac-12's Arizona.

After a full eight quarters and 120 minutes of action, here are eight takeaways from the first two games.

Offensive line is living up to expectations

Every member of the starting offensive line is either a junior or a senior, and they have been using their size and experience to out-muscle defenders.

In an earlier interview with The Cougar, senior center Will Noble said the line will try its best to replicate last year's stellar line play and, so far, they have delivered.

The offensive line has not

allowed a single sack while the team has 574 passing yards and 554 rushing yards.

Last season, the line allowed zero sacks in five different games and the team ran for 2002 yards and threw for 3156 yards. The Cougars are on pace to surpass both of those numbers this season.

compared to 15 throwing touchdowns.

"He's such a great leader, he's tough, he's been through adversity being told he is too short his whole life. For him to have that kind of game is not a surprise to us in the locker room," said head coach Major Applewhite.

King continues to deliver

Receivers need to finish plays

Junior quarterback D'Eriq King has thrown for seven touchdowns this season and ran for another three. He would have more were it not for a few dropped passes by receivers in both games.

King is playing with discipline and poise, while making tough passes that have made it hard for defenders to stop UH receivers.

King has not thrown an interception yet this season and has just two in his career

Houston had opportunities to score on perfectly thrown deep balls multiple times in the Rice and Arizona games, but drops prevented that.

The Cougars left at least 120 yards on the field from dropped passes that would have put King in the top 10 passing yards in the nation.

It is a simple thing to work on, but it is something the team needs to fix before it faces the stronger teams on its schedule

like USF and Memphis, when every point matters.

New system is working

Part of the offensive line's and King's success is due to the quick nature of Houston's new offensive system. As fans saw in the game against Arizona, a quarterback can only do so much if the system around him is not suited for his skill set.

The high-tempo offense is keeping defenses on the back foot and the hot, humid conditions of Houston made it hard for Arizona to keep up late in the game.

The team's 90 points are the highest in its first two games since 2010 , when it scored 68 points against Texas State and 54 points against UTEP. "This offense is great, it tries to get everybody involved. Just finding different ways to get different playmakers the ball,"

King said.

Houston's fast offense also means King is not sitting in the pocket for a long time, which would make it more likely for a sack to occur.

Defense is putting on pressure

The Cougars' run defense stats are not perfect, but the line has come up with big stops when it matters most.

The Cougars have four sacks this season, and sophomore Isaiah Chambers is tied for second in the nation with three.

Junior defensive tackle Ed Oliver has 18 tackles and six quarterback hurries this season, and senior linebackers Roman Brown and Austin Robinson have 19 each.

"Just doing my job. However

EIGHT TAKEAWAYS

Continues on page 8

8 | Wednesday, September 12, 2018

SPORTS ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

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Cougars head North to face Red Raiders in second Power 5 matchup of the season

Houston lost to Texas Tech last year in a close 24-27 game but Houston is very different team now. Its new offense has scored 90 total points across the first two games, something the team has not done since 2010. With a new offense behind it, Houston is looking to avenge last year's loss and put another win over a Power 5 team under its belt. Houston has received dozens of votes in both the USA Today Coaches Poll and the AP Press poll and with a win over the Tech, Houston could push into the top 25. Tech may have to use its backup quarterback after the started was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain against Ole Miss two weeks ago while D'Eriq King and company are ready to go. Read the full preview on Friday at thedailycougar.com. | Fiona Legesse/The Cougar

EIGHT TAKEAWAYS

Continued from page 7

I can contribute to the team, whether I got to take three guys and let everybody else make plays, then that's my role on the team," Oliver said.

But secondary needs a little help

Despite the pressure and the sacks, Houston sits at No. 121 in passing yards allowed per game.

The secondary has come up with some big plays, but is has not been enough to slow defenses much. That is not to say the secondary is without

merit.

Senior safety Garrett Davis had two inceptions against Arizona and increased the Cougars' season total to three.

The team is on track to surpass the 15 inceptions it had last year.

The defense also had multiple pass breakups in key moments, but any time a team is allowing 365 yards a game, you can't help but be worried.

The team needs depth

Part of Arizona's success through the air came from the fact that it was facing Houston's second- string defense.

"We were trying to work some substitutions into the third and fourth quarter. That will be a point of emphasis (when reviewing film)," Applewhite said. "When we took some (of ) our starters out, there was a lapse in focus and a lapse in production. We have to be a deep team."

Applewhite said he needs to play his second- and thirdstring players more so they can grow and learn, even if it is a bitter pill to swallow.

Arizona trailed 0-38 at one point, but fought back when Houston started using its backups and lost focus.

But a lapse in focus is not a new phenomenon with the Cougars.

Last season, Houston led Memphis 17-0 at the half but lost focus in the second half and eventually lost 42-38.

It is a bad habit that is not exclusive to the Cougars, but it's one that an elite team should not be making.

Defense rolling

With all that said, the main defense allowed just three points in four quarters of play across the two games.

After shaking off the rust in the first half of the Rice game,

Houston allowed just three points in the second half. In the first half of the Arizona game, the team allowed zero points before slipping up in the third and fourth.

It was the first full half shutout of the season, which UH had three of last year against Rice, Temple and Memphis.

Houston almost had one in the second half against Rice, but allowed three points.

If the defense can maintain that form for an entire game, it will find itself among the elite defenses in college football. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 9

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FOOTBALL

Soccer focused on tuning up performance before conference play CHRISTOPHER MCGEHEE

STAFF WRITER

@UHCOOGCHRIS

After soccer coach Diego Bocanegra was hired following the 2016 season, the Cougars promptly went 3-6 in conference play as part of an overall record of 7-9-1. For Bocanegra, though, the team is defined by more than just its win/loss record.

“Growth and success aren’t linear,” Bocanegra said, “but don’t get me wrong, we need to win games because that’s part of it.”

Bocanegra said one of the ways to achieve those wins is to figure out the team's identity, something he is still working on. Bocanegra is still adjusting the team's personnel and formations due to some injuries early in the season.

Bocanegra also pointed to the youth and inexperience of the team as something that will get ironed out as the season progresses. The Cougars’ coaching staff has incorporated 13 new players, including 11 freshmen, into its lineup, which Bocanegra said is not the easiest thing in the world.

“As coaches, figuring out the right combinations of players playing next to each other, it’s a balancing act and some days we’re better than others,”

Sophomore Mia Brascia leads the Cougars with four assists this season and has started in all eight games. In her freshman season, Brascia scored four goals and had zero assists across 17 games played. Brascia is still chasing her first goal with 11 games left in the season. | Thomas Dwyer/The Cougar

Bocanegra said.

The Cougars are 4-4 through the first eight games of the season and have three more to go before conference play starts.

When asked about the team’s progression from game one to now, junior forward Amy Nguyen immediately described the improvements she has seen in the team’s passing, like the

through balls that help the Cougars execute the attack.

Players and coaches recognize there is still work to be done if they want to compete with the best soccer teams in the conference.

For junior forward Desiree Bowen, it’s simple. She said the Cougars need to create more chances, score more goals

Junior Desiree Bowen (right) leads the team with four goals in eight games with eleven remaining. Bowen scored four in 2015 and seven in 2016 before sitting out last season. | Courtesy of Stephen Pinchback/UH Athletics

and improve their on-field communication. For Bocanegra, the solution isn’t found on a stat sheet anywhere.

“We really need to figure out how to be on the same page for longer periods of time,” Bocanegra said. “We do it at times for 30 to 40 minutes, but we need that to turn into 60 and 70 minutes and then 90 minutes.”

Although Bocanegra and his players point to these different aspects of the game that still need improvement, the coach has already begun to make his mark on the program.

From 2013 to 2016, the Cougars won 15 combined games. In just one and a quarter season with Bocanegra at the helm, the Cougars have won 11 games.

The next step in the progression of the soccer team is to be more consistent, Bocanegra said. He wants the team to get to a point where it consistently defeats lower ranked teams. Once the Cougars are able to do that, the team can focus on knocking off teams that are more established within the conference.

Bocanegra brought up a particular game from last season: a 2-1 victory over the then No. 21 Cincinnati Bearcats, just their second defeat of the season. Cincinnati would go on to finish third in the American Athletic Conference, but that

game showed that the Cougars were rebuilding into something different.

Bocanegra wants the Cougars to “be able to line up against anyone in our conference and anyone in the country, and on any given night, have the ability to win.”

To do that, the Cougars must score goals. When the team can score early in a match, it’s almost like a switch gets flipped. Seeing the ball hit the back of the net gets everybody fired up, Nguyen said. She might be onto something, as evidenced by the Cougars’ victory over Prairie View A&M. In that game, sophomore midfielder Olivia Lee scored the game’s first goal in minute 11 and opened the floodgates as a result. The Cougars went on to score four more times.

Since Bocanegra took over, the Cougars have only lost twice when scoring at least two goals.

So, what constitutes a successful season for the Cougars? Double-digit victories? A berth in the postseason tournament?

“It’s not always about the result, it’s about what we learned from each result, win or loss,” Bowen said. “As long as it’s something we can learn from and it’s something we can build on going forward, that’s a success.” sports@thedailycougar.com

10 | Wednesday, September 12, 2018

SPORTS ANDRES CHIO, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/SPORTS

SPORTS@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5303

FOOTBALL

Commentary: Cougar offense shows its strength early TRENTON WHITING

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @TRENTONWHITING

Two weeks into this young season, the Cougars have managed to stay undefeated.

They’ve accomplished this despite being underdogs in their matchup against Arizona and withstanding a first half scare against Rice.

While the defense has been solid with Ed Oliver as the anchor, the offense is the star of the show.

The offense has been extremely productive to this point in the season. It has scored 45 points in each of the games so far and has excelled in making big plays. So far, UH has scored a touchdown in every quarter except one.

The first quarter of the season was the only time the Cougars have been kept out of the end zone.

Since then, they’ve scored multiple touchdowns in four quarters and scored double-digit points in five quarters. In the latest contest against Arizona, UH had created a 31-point lead before halftime. The score might’ve been much larger if a few dropped passes had been catches instead.

It seems the strength of the UH offensive attack is a surprise to everyone but the Cougars themselves.

This potency is the result of an increased tempo and balanced production from the offensive personnel.

A committee of four controls the running game for the most part, but receivers and quarterback D’Eriq King also contribute to the efforts on the ground.

Against Rice, there were seven players that ran for doubledigit yardage, and three picked up more than 40 yards on the ground. Three players rushed for 60 yards or more against Arizona.

The rush game has produced only 20 yards less than the passing attack has.and runners have yet to fumble the ball.

While the run game was

producing against the opposing defenses, the passing offense was also making its presence felt.

Five receivers already have touchdowns and many of the big offensive plays were created in the pass game. The defenses were continually tested, and the offense was rewarded for its pressure as four receivers caught passes that were over 40 yards.

The passing attack has racked up seven touchdowns already, and the Cougars are counting on that production to continue.

The brightest star is junior quarterback D’Eriq King. His ability to run and read defenses has been crucial and he is personally responsible for 10 of the Cougars’ touchdowns.

Against Arizona, he broke his personal best with four passing touchdowns. He also added two rushing touchdowns.

Junior quarterback D'Eriq King has 15 passing touchdowns and nine rushing touchdowns and just two interceptions in his In two games, King has 566 college career He has thrown seven touchdowns and zero interceptions so far this season. | Corbin Ayres/The Cougars passing yards and almost 60 percent pass completion. His arm also looks strong as he’s thrown several deep shots.

After being the third option to start last season, King has blossomed as a star for an offense that has looked intimidating in the early stages of this year.

The hard part will be sustaining this production.

While it’s not reasonable to score 45 points every game, the offense still has to produce at a high rate.

There were times in both games when the offense was not effective. The first half of the Rice game and the second half of the Arizona game were not great.

There might be valid excuses for the struggles in both games.

Rice had already played and won a game before it played UH and while receiving free CATHOLIC MASS ON CAMPUS the team used its backups a lot in SUNDAYS: ous and infec 10:45 AM - Religion Center the second half against Arizona.

6:00 PM - Catholic Center c disease gene WEEKDAYS: However, there will be no Tuesday—Friday 12:00 Noon CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER excuse if the offense falters at any SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE Confession:screening.

Before or After Masses Office # (713) 748-2529 point in the season. Although First Service: 7:15 am UH only has a small sample size, Second Service: 9:00 am WE ARE Third Service: 11:00 am the offense has shown that it can LOOKING produce at a high level, and any Fourth Service: 1:00 pm FOR YOU TO drop in production might bring Sunday School: 9:00 am HELP about problems for the team WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY later in the season.

OTHERS! 12 noon & 7:00 pm The offense will have to prove Sunday Bible Class itself every week until it defeats all doubt in its effectiveness.

But for now, the Cougars will be content after showing one of the most potent offenses in the nation.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2018 | 11

VACANT, EDITOR

THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM/OPINION

OPINION

OPINION@THEDAILYCOUGAR.COM

713-743-5304

STAFF ED

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Vacant

MANAGING EDITOR

Jasmine Davis

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Fiona Legesse CAMPUS EDITOR

Michael Slaten FEATURES EDITOR

Oscar Aguilar

CHIEF COPY EDITOR

Morgan Horst

SPORTS EDITOR

Andres Chio

LIFE & ARTS EDITOR

Cristobella Durrette

PHOTO EDITOR

Corbin Ayres OPINION EDITOR

Vacant

ASSISTANT EDITORS

Alana Howard, Trenton Whiting

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

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

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

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

The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.

studentpress.org/acp

Midterm elections are important, start preparing

T

he Texas General Election has gained momentum in the media for the controversial race between Republican incumbent, Sen. Ted Cruz, and Democratic challenger, Rep. Beto O’Rourke.

The outcome of this race has the potential to catalyze a significant political shift in Texas.

This midterm election, taking place Nov. 6, will not decide only the Texas Senate race, but also the outcome for 126 other positions in districts across the state. As an editorial board, we want to emphasize the importance of these smaller, yet influential positions as they relate to college students.

To a college student, political elections may seem as though they don’t have an impact on their day-to-day lives. Even local political decisions can appear like a concept far removed from their reality.

Elections, especially in local government, have a significant long-term impact on the lives of college students. From regulating the roads that students use to get to campus to allocating the funding that the University of Houston receives, many critical decisions are dependent on the results of each midterm election.

During this election, Harris County voters will be selecting judges for the county's array of criminal and civil courts, in addition to making a decision for county judge — the person largely in charge of matters concerning flooding, county commissioners and district attorney.

The individuals voted into, or out of, office this fall will have the power to shape the issues that have the greatest potential to impact you: how the county prepares for severe weather, how we treat different types of criminal offenses, the future of the high school from which you may have just graduated.

Over the next two months, the Cougar will be researching and covering candidates for positions in Harris County and will be making endorsements on positions where the outcome has the power to impact the UH community.

Research such as this is vital to informed voting. Beginning research now will allow voters to make more informed decisions when they reach the

polls.

We urge you to consider the causes you care about. Find candidates that share a common stance with you on these viewpoints. Look into what they want to do to bring positive change to these causes by visiting their websites, signing up for their mailing lists and going to their events. Gather as much relevant information as you can.

Then, consider the points of view you disagree with. Find the candidates who are hindering what you think is positive change. Write to them, petition them to change. If they refuse to, use your vote to aid in keeping them out.

The University of Houston has the potential to be one of the biggest influences in the upcoming election. If even a fraction of the 45,000 students decide that an issue matters to them, then every politician in

a hundred-mile radius will pay attention.

Registering to vote is a guaranteed way to be a part of this influence. The University has a variety of resources for voter registration, both online and regularly at stations around campus. In getting registered and taking part, college students can make their voice be heard over the din in the political arena.

The last day to register to vote in Texas is Oct. 9. Until then, those wishing to register also have the option to do so at your county's Voter Registrar's office, many post offices and libraries and the Department of Public Safety. No matter how you obtain your application, make sure you leave enough time to mail it in.

There is just over a month to go until this critical election takes place. Get informed, get register to vote and get involved.

Take advantage of the right to vote for who you think will have a positive change on the issues you care about.

This is not just a call to action to vote in the midterm election.

This is a reminder that activists, politicians and marginalized people have fought for the better part of this nation’s history for the right of all people to be able to elect an individual to office. Join in making history by helping to shape the nation's political sphere.

If there's an issue of political race you feel is of particular importance to yourself or other UH students, please don't hesitate in reaching out. We definitely will not be the only Houston media outlet covering the midterm election, but we hope to be the one most reflective of the needs and interests of our student body. opinion@thedailycougar.com

worship DIRECTORY

CATHOLIC MASS ON CAMPUS

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE

SUNDAYS: 10:45 AM - Religion Center 6:00 PM - Catholic Center WEEKDAYS: Tuesday—Friday 12:00 Noon CATHOLIC NEWMAN CENTER Confession: Before or After Masses Office # (713) 748-2529

First Service: 7:15 am Second Service: 9:00 am Third Service: 11:00 am Fourth Service: 1:00 pm Sunday School:

9:00 am

WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY 12 noon & 7:00 pm

Sunday Bible Class

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12 | Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy Parker September 11, 2018

ACROSS 1 Do this to jaywalk 6 Left the nest 10 Outtake reason 14 Some bones 15 Toy brick 16 Trot easily 17 Temporarily shelved 18 Dude who’s noble 19 Word of acceptance 20 Colorful breakfast choice 23 Iacocca or Remick 24 Fortuneteller 25 Show up 28 Speak indelicately 31 Hosiery thread 35 Vote of support 36 Delhi garment 37 Engine part 38 Colorful “delicious” planting?

41 Readies, as a pump 42 Contends 43 Common pope name 44 Author Asimov 45 Stuff on a pool table 46 Sean of films

9/11

47 Spot for a plant 49 Smoking deposit 51 Colorful anti-inflammatory 58 Rumbler on the highway 59 Property figure?

60 Soaring U.S. symbol 61 Middle East seaport 62 Phone keypad symbol 63 Tokyo resident 64 Mallet-struck instrument 65 Seeks directions 66 Gives for a time DOWN 1 Farm’s yield 2 Eastern blueblood 3 Norse god of poetry 4 Hammer go-with 5 Persistent attack 6 Little biting bug 7 Clear hurdles?

8 Way to get out 9 Novelist Tom or Thomas 10 Prosper 11 Enemy of Thor

12 ___ the crack of dawn 13 Turkish title 21 Sportscast finales 22 Some dig finds 25 Some more bones 26 Some court hearings 27 Communications industry 29 Web address pt.

30 It’s full of holes 32 Way past the sell-by date 33 Best Actress Sophia 34 A sour note start?

36 Coinage

37 Before Uncle Sam’s share 39 Accumulating 40 Home heating fuel 45 Tries to be seductive 46 “No pain, no gain,” for one 48 ___ apso (terrier) 50 Swipe 51 Perform over 52 Sign that bodes 53 Mountain part 54 Rabbit features 55 Opposed to, country-style 56 Decked out 57 Adding column 58 What jowls do

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

9/10

© 2018 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com

10-4 GOOD RUDDY By Timothy E. Parker