Transitions 2024

Table of Contents 3

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9

13

Letter From The Editor Dining On Campus

19

The Future of SGA

21

Making Memorable College Friendships

UH Starter Pack

Photo Spots On Campus

The History of Shasta

Editor in Chief Sydney Rose Cover Jose Gonzalez-Campelo 2

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STAFF Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala Oscar Herrera Cindy Rivas Alfaro Raphael Fernandez

Alveena Rehman Jamie Thornton Angelina Contreras Gauraangi Gupta

Hello readers!

My name is Sydney Rose and I am the Executive Editor of Cooglife Magazine here on campus, as well as the Editor in Chief of Transitions!

This magazine is for all of you incoming students that are being welcomed to the University of Houston. To follow its namesake, Transitions is about helping you get acquainted with campus and traditions here at UH. We all want your transition into college life to go smoothly.

In this magazine you will find all kinds of stories to help accomplish that goal. Inside, we’ll help you navigate the best places to dine on campus, reveal some UH history you might not have known before and offer advice from us students who have been in your shoes before.

I completed my undergrad here at UH last year and there were some things I came across in this magazine that even I had not known before.

from an overly talented graphics department.

I want to give a special shoutout to Jose Gonzalez-Campelo as he was the one to design the iconic cover you see on the front.

Overall, there is so much that awaits you as you come to UH whether that be as a freshman, transfer student, international student or anyone new to campus.

My advice to you is to make the most of your time here and make some connections that will last you a lifetime.

You’ll do great.

Thanks for reading and Go Coogs!

Sydney Rose Editor in Chief

Use this magazine as a tool. This tool would not exist without all of the great work of our writers, photographers and graphic designers. I cannot wait for you to see the beautiful stories written, the photos taken around campus that really make the buildings we have pop and the art designs TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024

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Story by: Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala Photo by: Oscar Herrera

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Starting university is like starting a new chapter of life. It is very significant and can seem a little nerve-wracking at the beginning.

But perhaps, getting to know your new home for the next few years and becoming well-familiarized with it can help you feel at ease and get you excited for your time ahead.

For all incoming Coogs, there is so much to know and learn about UH. It can be confusing where to really start from. But don’t you worry!

Here is a fun UH Starter Pack that includes some things you should know about the University before you start your journey along with some fun tips.

On Fridays, We Wear Red! Coogs take their cougar pride very seriously. It has become a tradition to flaunt that pride by wearing something red to campus on Fridays, which are also known as Cougar Red Fridays.

It is always a good idea to make sure you have something red in your wardrobe at all times, whether it be UH merch, a T-shirt, a pair of earrings, red shoes or even a red bow to accessorize your outfit. It’s such a happy feeling to see so many people on campus wearing red because it is a part of our identity as UH students. So be unapologetic and go all in with your red outfits, especially on Fridays!

Visit Cougar Grounds!

Located right next to the Hilton Hotel on campus, Cougar Grounds is a favorite stop for students and faculty all over campus. The UH student-run coffee shop is always

brimming with chatter as people catch up over a cup of coffee or complete their assignments with a drink of their choice as their companion.

With so many different options of drinks along with monthly specials, Cougar Grounds is a must-visit place for all our incoming freshmen. It’s always a great idea to support local businesses, especially when it is led by our fellow Coogs!

Tip: You may want to keep an eye out for the iced matcha latte, which seems to be the popular choice of drink for a lot of students!

Coogs Love to Support Their Fellow Athletes!

Whose house? Coooooooogs House!

UH takes sports and athletics very seriously and is all about showing TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024

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TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024

support for fellow team members.

After the men’s basketball team made it to the Big 12 conference in the 2023-24 season, Cougar pride reached new heights.

The atmosphere of being present in an electrifying game is an experience worth having while you’re at UH. So make sure you grab your free student tickets to a UH game and be ready to make some unforgettable memories with your friends!

Tip: It may be a good idea to learn “The Cougar Fight Song” and familiarize yourself with some other game traditions.

UH Represents More Than 137 Countries Did you know? UH is the second most ethnically diverse major research university in the entire nation!

This is a great opportunity to not only meet people from different cultural backgrounds but also help you feel like you belong in a community as vast as UH. The Council for Cultural Activities is an organization at the University that promotes and celebrates different nationalities and cultures through events all around the year. There are also other independent student organizations formed by members of the same nationalities that you can be a part of while you’re at UH. Tip: You can learn more about student organizations at GetInvolved.

Shasta is Not Only UH’s Mascot But A Lucky Charm It is a long-held belief that rubbing the paws of the cougar statues in the Cullen Family Plaza brings good luck to people.

Students usually rub Shasta’s paws before they have an important exam or before they attend an important UH game because they believe the results will be favorable for them.

Being aware of such traditions is like sharing an inside joke that only you and your friends get.

And that is what makes it so fun because it instills a sense of belonging within each member of the University by keeping them bound through traditions like these.

especially when you’re about to start your journey as an incoming Coog.

Hopefully, by now, you learned something interesting about your new home and feel more prepared to start on this exciting adventure that lies ahead of you.

While UH has such a rich history, these are just a few glimpses into what makes the University so special.

May you all have the best years of your life while you’re here at UH and leave this University with a degree of your choice, some lifelong friends, many cherishable memories and, of course, a happy heart filled with cougar pride.

Welcome to the University of Houston! Go Coogs!

UH is Ranked Among The Best Colleges of 2024 As a cougar, we also take pride in any titles and recognition the University receives. The Wall Street Journal recently listed UH as one of America’s Best Colleges of 2024 after taking into account a multitude of factors.

The Princeton Review also ranked UH as one of the Top 50 Best Value Public Universities.

Besides this, UH is a tier-one research university and its entrepreneurship program ranks number one in the nation for five years consecutively now.

It’s always such a proud moment walking into campus while realizing how much the University has achieved over the years, TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024

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Photo Spots on Campus

out to the balcony with cute white chairs and tables. Sometimes it’s open, sometimes it’s not, but during the summertime or fresh into the fall semester this spot makes for a super cute area to take some sunfilled pictures.

Reflection Pond One of the more natural-esque areas of campus is located right in the Cullen Family Plaza in front of the Ezekiel W. Cullen building.

Out of all the college campuses in Houston, UH has one of the most Houston-core places to have a photoshoot whether its professionally or just for your Instagram grid. Depending on your aesthetic or vibes, UH has several places on campus to achieve your photogenic goals.

This spot has been at UH for Here are a few photo spots ondecades, with so many students campus students should check out at deciding to take their graduation least once! pictures in front of the fountains.

Honors College Library Balcony

There are also some cute benches, grassy areas and it’s where two of This place is on the second floor of the Cougar statues are located.

This spot easily provides a multithe library, going up the stairs on your left when you enter the library. functional area to take some cute pictures!

The Honors College has a little common room with a door leading

TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024

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With these perks, why live anywhere else? Take on the full Cougar experience. Apply to live on campus for the 2024-2025 Academic Year using the QR code.

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Cullen Performance Hall Another iconic place on campus to take photos is in front of the Cullen Performance Hall and at the end of the ‘U’ of University Drive.

The Hall has a large UH sign that can be seen all the way from the entrance of the University, and there is a statue a little ways forward with the perfect background.

The Nook Rooftop After some renovations, The Nook has finally opened up its rooftop that is known for its aesthetic vibes, great food and enjoyable music.

The rooftop has several benches lining its perimeter with the center having faux green flooring. When the sun is shining, the area provides some cute, garden-y photos that will look perfect on the grid for a girl’s day out, or even a boy’s day out!

Welcome Center Garage 5th Floor Any garage will do, but the Welcome Center Garage rooftop on the staff side is usually empty depending on the time you get there.

Early hours and late evenings are the best since it’s usually golden hour and cars have not filled in yet or have already left.

It provides a nice view of downtown and the view of the sky as your background will do wonders.

Elgin Street Garage Pond Now, this might be a little extremist suggestion but there’s a pond in front of the Elgin Street Garage that I think would be an amazing place for pictures.

There are steps leading into the

middle of the pond that has a little green island with cute live turtles and ducks scattered around. Some pictures in the middle of the pond would look great if you’re looking for a fairy-core aesthetic!

Not to mention, the top of this garage has another great spot for photos if you want a skyline view.

The Den Last but not least, I don’t think you can ever go wrong with some pictures at The Den. The campus bar is known for its indoor aesthetics and it’s the perfect place to showcase you’ve had a good time.

The low lighting indoors can provide for some lively photos while the benches outside can give room for solo or group pictures.

The wood aesthetic of the place gives it a homey, cabin feel that is unique to the campus.

Photo by: Oscar Herrera

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Shasta: The History of The Cougar Mascot

Story by: Alveena Rehman Graphic by: Jose Gonzalez-Campelo The University of Houston has never been a complete institution without its iconic symbols, including the mighty cougar Shasta. Since the beginning, UH has been associated with the cougar, accompanying students throughout their journey to graduation, sports teams as they seek to win championships and remains an integral part of UH culture.

The Beginning

The Name

The University of Houston first opened its doors in 1927, with former Washington State Cougars football coach Professor John R. Bender naming the team after his beloved animal. The school newspaper was named The Cougar as Bender loved the grace, power and pride the cougar represented.

1946 was when the cougar officially became the mascot of UH when the institute expanded into intercollegiate sports. The following year saw the fraternity Alpha Phi Omega raise money to buy a live cougar to be kept on campus, holding a competition to name it.

Of the 226 entries, student Joe

Randol won the contest with the suggestion of Shasta, stating, “Shasta (She has to). Shasta have a cage, Shasta have a keeper, Shasta have a winning ball club, Shasta have the best.”

Live Animals From 1947-89, five live female animals lived on campus and then retired at the Houston Zoo.

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Shasta I (1947-62): the longestliving Shasta, she lived on campus, guarded by caretakers known as the Cougar Guard, who took her to the football team’s away games and other activities.

Shasta II (1962-65): She was the first to live in the “Shasta’s Den” cage in Lynn Eusan Park, but retired early due to an apparent wild attitude to the Zoo. Shasta III (1965-77): known as “The Lady,” she was featured in many commercials for American Motors Corporation. The Cougar Guard called her “Mama” while she was kept at the University until about 1981, when Baby Shasta IV was purchased to replace her as the University thought Mama would die soon, however, she held out for a few more years.

Shasta IV (1977-80): Baby Shasta was purchased as a replacement for Shasta III as a cub, but while she was initially quite easy to handle, she grew so unruly as the Guard slowly left or graduated that they had to retire her early.

Shasta V (1980-89): the last female Shasta, she served until she was euthanized due to kidney failure. Afterward, interim president George Magney ended the tradition of keeping a live mascot on campus, at least entirely until 2012.

Since 2012, live male cougars have been kept at the Houston Zoo for their utmost well-being.

Shasta VI (2012-22): there was

much debate surrounding the adoption of a new live animal as many opposed the “inhumane and dangerous” idea. The perfect cougar came in the form of rescue Shasta VI, whom the University adopted in March 2012, six months after his birth and the killing of his mother, while he resided in Washington State.

Shasta VII & Louie (2022-present): the current mascots, the orphaned cougars were adopted by the University after a rancher found them barely surviving on his property in Washington State at a mere four weeks of age. They can be visited by students at the Houston Zoo. Costumed Mascot To replace the live mascot, a

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costume was issued instead for games and other events. This was the first time Shasta was presented as a male, and later on Sasha, his female counterpart, joined him. Students were perplexed as Shasta was already female for most of UH history, but now they are represented together as a male-female pair.

Oregon Duck incident During the 2007 football season opener game between Houston and Oregon, the Duck mascot attacked Shasta as he was performing the traditional game push-ups. The Cougar pushed away the Duck but was again attacked with a punch to the face and sexual gestures on top.

The Duck was suspended from the next game, but no further information about disciplinary action has been reported.

Traditions with the Mascots Football Games: Shasta and Sasha perform pushups after each time the team scores, totaling the number of points. For example, if the team scores a touchdown to add to a total of 17 points, they will do 17 pushups.

Guarding of the Rings: at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters, ring-recipient students will witness their rings guarded

inside the cougar habitat in the Houston Zoo as the residing cougar(s) “bless” the UH-themed box, preparing them spiritually for the Ring Ceremony.

Rubbing the Paw: a statue of Shasta I stands at Gate 2 of TDECU Stadium telling the story of the Cougar Hand Symbol. Coogs rub her extended right paw for good luck before entering the stadium. They also rub the paws of the cougar statues in Cullen Family Plaza for luck and good tidings during Homecoming and final exams.

ring fingers over their thumbs, especially after they lost 28-7.

After 15 years, the two teams met again, and this time the score drew at 20-20. Students began to use the mockery of a symbol as a fated sign, which was set in stone in 1976 when the Coogs beat the Longhorns 30-0 in the Dad’s Day Massacre, ending their winning streak. It is primarily formed with the right hand and now is the hand gesture of all UH members.

Hand Symbol: The initial symbol of UH was a V for victory until a fated match against the bitter rival the University of Texas Longhorns in 1953 changed that.

During Shasta’s transport to Austin, one of her fingers was severed when the cage door closed on it. When the Longhorn students learned of this incident, they mocked her by placing their TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024 15

Where’s The Best Place Story by: Jamie Thornton On Campus To Eat?

Photo by: Raphael Fernandez

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Starts Here CoogsCARE Need Support Now? CAPS crisis support 24/7: 713-743-5454 Text 988, or CHAT 988LIFELINE.ORG

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Your wellbeing is our number one priority.

We've made all resources to support your mental health and wellbeing available at the CoogsCARE website.

UH.edu/coogs-care

While Moody Towers Dining Hall and Cougar Woods Dining Commons are staple and reliable places to eat on campus, there are definitely other great options that aren’t the dining hall.

time is worth it even for those that may not enjoy a typical bar atmosphere. The food is great but a bit pricier for a casual meal, as my bill came out to around $17 before the tip the last time I went.

The Den

Overall, though, the food is worth trying. There are deals every day of the week, with Mondays from 5-9 P.M. having $1 tacos and Sundays boasting $2 breakfast tacos. Using the deals can definitely lower the cost of a meal there.

Ranking: 8/10 Price Range: Low-Medium Priced Depending on what items, the Den can be a fairly cheap night out. While most people go there to drink, the food is awesome.

The fries are thinly cut and have just the right amount of salt. The buffalo wings are pretty spicy, but the flavor makes up for the smaller portion size, which starts at five wings.

The Den’s vibe definitely isn’t for everyone, but going at a non-peak

Domoishi Ranking: 6/10 Price Range: Medium priced While most people know Domoishi for boba, the menu holds food items like ramen, poke bowls and wings. The

establishment newly added a sushi menu as well.

I’d say it’s a fairly solid option since it’s within walking distance.

The prices are fairly mid-range as the ramen is $9 before add-ons, but the poke bowls can get fairly expensive, starting at $14. Overall, Domoishi is a good on-campus option.

McAlister’s Ranking: 7/10 Price Range: Low McAlister’s can be forgotten as it’s not in the student center with many of the other dining options, but it’s definitely one of the best fast food options on campus. The atmosphere is great for studying if it’s not busy, and the mac and cheese is my personal favorite.

TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024 17

It can also be a healthier option as it mostly has sandwiches and salads. The prices are a bit higher than the other fast food places like Chick-fil-A, but still not too high with a meal averaging about $11-13. With it being closer to the edge of campus, it can also be a nice vibe to get away from the busyness of the student centers.

The Flying Dumpling Rating: 8/10 Price Range: Low-Medium The Flying Dumpling is in the same shopping center as the Den and is a great option for fresh, good Asian-inspired food.

The prices are fairly medium range, as an entree can cost from $11-14. The pork bao is around $4-5, which makes it a

nice snack. However, the food is made to order, so it’s definitely not something to grab between classes.

The Nook Rating: 9/10 Price Range: Low-Medium While the recent renovation of the Nook has been controversial and a sensitive topic for many, thankfully the breakfast food remained the same. It can be a bit on the pricier side with my favorite item, a sausage and cheese croissant, costing $6.

However, it’s worth trying the food. The sausage and cheese croissant in particular is huge and could be shared between two people, so trying the breakfast

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is a must. Not to mention, the upstairs has a fully developed menu including nachos, fries, sandwiches and more.

There are always options in the student centers that will soon be in the RAD center as well.

No one can miss out on using a meal exchange at Panda Express or Mondos. All in all, while the food options on campus can feel limited at times, each place has its specialties that can be a muchneeded change from the dining hall.

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What Does SGA President Want To Focus On In The Future?

Diego Arriaga, sophomore biochemistry major turned Student Government Administration President is ready to take on the University of Houston’s 61st student government term. Arriaga discussed his journey to becoming SGA president and hinted at his plans for this coming school year.

After his freshman year, Arriaga joined UH’s Orientation Team, itching to be more involved in the community, his next big step was running for student government president.

“My first semester, I came in and immediately I wanted to get involved on campus because when I was in high school, a student athlete, I could never really be involved with any other sort of extracurriculars other than my sport took up my whole life, but I wanted to be more involved,” Arriaga said.

After O-Team Arriaga joined SGA’s Emerging Leaders program, with former SGA Vice President under the 59th Administration, Derek Lane, as his mentor. He

was immediately inspired by the impact SGA has on the student body and how much it helps them. At the end of the day as a pre-med student, Diego stated his biggest goal has always been to simply help others.

“I love it here. And I want to give back everything that it gave to me in terms of whether it be increasing school spirit, engaging with the student body, even making someone’s day brighter,” Arriaga said. “Everything that drives me is just helping other people.”

Arriaga explained with his O-Team experience and newfound leadership skills why he was inspired to run for SGA senator during his freshman year.

“I actually ran last year, as a freshman, to be a senator, and I lost,” Arriaga said. “But I still had that aspiration to still be a part of SGA. And then I decided, let me create my own party and run for president. And, you know, here I am.”

In terms of what the SGA has in store for this upcoming year,

Diego explained he has a lot of big plans.

Arriaga further elaborated on how he originally had a few transitional meetings with the last SGA president Benjamin Rizk, going over plans that were successful, unsuccessful and plans that could be revamped for this year.

From ideas that his campaign ran on, to taking inspiration from separate parties, Arriaga was eager to implement the most that he could into this year’s agenda to benefit his fellow Coogs and to make this transition to a new office as smooth as possible.

Arriaga stated currently, with April being sexual assault awareness month, SGA is working on organizing events to help with the cause. Additionally, one of SGA’s biggest goals this year is to improve parking and campus safety for students. Arriaga has already had a few meetings with Chief Moore despite only being in office for a month.

“When it comes to parking, I’m a commuter. So, you know, I drive that 45 minutes to an hour and a TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024 19

half daily. That’s something that will always be an issue with the student body. Parking prices, or things not running as smoothly as they should be,” Arriaga said. “And that’s something that we want to work on with parking and see what we can accomplish.”

Arriaga is usually on campus at seven in the morning when it is pitch black and leaves later, so he is concerned about the lack of lighting and safety. Since he is able to relate to fellow students he is able to bring that personal connection into solving these issues, emphasizing hearing students concerns and working on solutions.

As for the future, later in the year SGA plans on creating initiatives to mobilize student voters with

20 TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024

this being a presidential election year, highlighting the importance of voting amongst our generation.

Arriaga is eager to share advice for the rest of the student body.

“Be patient is the biggest thing.

Nothing good comes easy and nothing easy is good. On top of that, learn to take risks a little bit,” Arriaga said. “I took this risk in running for student body president. I didn’t know if it was going to go through. I spent three weeks of my life on the ground campaigning, stressing out about classes and, on top of that, worrying if I was going to win.”

Arriaga stresses the importance of communication between the student government and the student body reminding everyone that the SGA office in Student

Center North has an open-door policy. Anyone is welcome to pop in and have a chat if needed.

“I like to be transparent. I’m a big person in communication. I like to hear what people think, even if it’s against me. I’d rather you come to me and ask me about that issue that we may have or an issue you hear and ask me, can it be fixed?” Arriaga said. “I like to hear the ideas that they have and their different opinions because that not only makes me a better person but also makes my job easier in the fact that I know what the student body wants and I know what they want me to do.

Because I serve at the pleasure of the student body. They trusted me and my vision for UH. Now I’m putting my trust in them to come to me.”

Making Memorable College Friendships: An Essay

Story by: Gauraangi Gupta Photos by: Oscar Herrera College can be extremely difficult with all the changes happening in your life. It doesn’t matter if you’re an international student, freshman or a transfer student, it’s always interesting to navigate.

Think of it this way: all the stars in the sky are random different points. But, when connected together, these shapes have meaning as we call them constellations. In the same way every person you meet in your college journey are those random points that you need to find every day until it comes into shape.

It’s easy to feel lost and afraid in this new environment. You have to The ones that resonate the navigate in a new place, with new most with you, you start getting schedules, new professors and even new people. But you know what makes it easier? Having friends by your side.

College friendships aren’t easy, especially with your different schedules. But college friendships definitely make your life and school experience memorable.

attached to them. These people usually have the same hobbies, personalities or they in some way light up your path.

These bonds, in my experience, are created especially over stress.

You suddenly are comfortable enough to rant with them about a professor, a course or just how difficult a commuter’s life is!

One day you don’t even know their name but the next day, you’re giving them cute nicknames and calling them, “Pookie.”

As a person who was not just a transfer student but also an international student, finding new friends was the most difficult part for me. It was not just a new college but also a new country.

TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024 21

I won’t lie how the first few months, the first semester to be honest, were extremely difficult.

I felt out of place and trusting someone felt like climbing Mount Everest.

But I gave myself time, made the effort and started engaging with my coworkers and classmates. It definitely helped.

Looking back today, my first semester is a blur. Why? It had no light or colors in it. It has nothing

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memorable because memories are created by the people involved in your journey.

through the faded memories and pictures, I will not remember walking in the heat, how much my GPA was in my sophomore year or the well-known UH parking issues.

I made friends with a close group of people through organizations like The Cougar and Cooglife, and a lot of them will be graduating soon. But I will always share an unbreakable bond with them.

But I will for sure remember these friends I made and the fun we had together. We’ll probably meet at each other’s weddings or 50th birthday parties. We might not meet at all because of life circumstances, but I will never forget them.

We went out together, cried together, had rant sessions, shared hugs, smiles and achievements, problems and solutions and so many memories.

These people, my people will always be an integral part of my college journey because it’s their friendship that made it memorable.

Twenty years from today, going

TRANSITIONS // MAY 2024 23