Homecoming is a decades-long tradition at UH. | File photo

The entire week of Oct. 18 will mark Homecoming, a decades-long tradition at UH. 

With pep rallies, games, a concert as well as tons of arts and crafts, students can expect a week full of celebration over the six days that mark Homecoming.

“The board has been preparing for Homecoming by putting our full effort into planning these events,” said chair of the Homecoming Board Alex Reyes. “We have been working night and day in the office and around campus to ensure that these events are as fun as possible.”

Here’s a look into what students can expect from Homecoming Week 2021:

Monday, Oct. 18

The Kick-off Pep Rally is an annual Homecoming tradition. The event is hosted along with the Residence Halls Association and will feature free food, members of the UH Football Team, the Spirit of Houston, as well as the school mascots, Shasta and Sasha.

The event will also be when the Homecoming Board announces the Homecoming Court for this year. From the selected court the Homecoming King and Queen will be decided at Saturday’s football game. 

Start off your week with the pep rally from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Student Center Plaza.

Tuesday, Oct. 19

Also in the Student Center Plaza, the Metropolitan Volunteer Program will host a “Canstruction” competition from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Spirit teams will be tasked with building a food can sculpture in the span of an hour. Students and bystanders can grab snacks and watch the teams compete.

Later that evening, “Strut Your Stuff” in the Student Center Houston Room at 7 p.m. will feature a variety of skits and dances by student organizations. 

Wednesday, Oct. 20

Back out in the Student Center plaza, “Tie Dye with Homecoming” will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All supplies to dye shirts will be provided as well as free pancakes. Students will be able to watch pancake artists make art with the batter as well on Wednesday.

Later that evening for “Bed Races”, watch Spirit Teams decorate beds and then race near TDECU Stadium. This will be alongside free food truck grubs and tons of activities. 

Thursday, Oct. 21

Nearing the end of the week, Thursday morning will feature many inflatables in the Student Center North lawn. There will be a few other games from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Wrap up the day with the annual Student Program Board Homecoming Concert featuring a to-be-announced opener and headliner. 

Friday, Oct. 22

Kick-off the weekend with Rock the Campus at the Student Center Plaza from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. This will be a volunteer event with MYP, cleaning up campus and doing some outdoor activities. Afterward, students will be provided pizza and a free T-shirt. 

Stop by the Homecoming Carnival and Haunted House from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in Lynn Eusan Park. The carnival will feature classic booth games and spooky house tours. 

Saturday, Oct. 23

The Homecoming game against East Carolina University will be just as electric as all Cougar football games. The UH Cougars will play at TDECU Stadium at 3 p.m.

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“What to expect for Homecoming Week 2021” was originally posted on The Cougar

Continuing the chase: Bears aim for successful hunt in upcoming UCSB matchup

Karen Chow/File

As the old saying goes, adventure starts when you step out of your comfort zone. The Cal men’s water polo team has certainly had its fair share of adventure in Southern California, ending its quest with a 7-6 win over the USC Trojans.

As they head back into Bear territory Sunday to spar against the UCSB Gauchos, the blue and gold are looking to lengthen their ongoing streak.

“I’m going to bring my 100% — actually, 110% — to every single game,” said junior goalkeeper Adrian Weinberg. “I’m hoping that me and my team can bring our best.”

The Gauchos have had a solid season so far, currently sitting at No. 6 in the rankings, while Cal moved up to No. 2 following its victory against USC. The matchup between the two top-tier teams will generate some impressive plays and difficult faceoffs, as both have high expectations heading into the weekend.

Some UCSB players to look out for include senior attackers Cole Brosnan, Sawyer Rhodes and Leo Yuno, who are expected to create challenges for the Bears’ defense.

On Cal’s end, the underclassmen are looking to lead the charge. Freshman center Jordi Gascon and sophomore center George Avakian are planning to force the Gauchos to adjust to the Bears’ style of play.

Meanwhile, freshman attackers Max Casabella and Roberto Valera are hoping to generate more shooting opportunities, giving the UCSB defense multiple outside shooters to focus on.

“It’s important for our other players to take advantage of those opportunities and windows,” said Cal head coach Kirk Everist. “That makes it really tough on other teams as far as their defensive schemes because we’re able to score from multiple positions.”

While the Bears have regained footing on defense, the Gauchos boast a few powerful left-handed shooters and an impressive offensive scheme, so neither team can afford to let its guard down at all.

Staying aware and hyperfocused will be the key to success.

“A lot of it is worrying about what we’re doing and how we’re approaching the game and how we want to play,” Everist said. “We’ll have to focus on a couple of their top offensive players, but they’ve got a good solid team all around.”

Cal’s offensive tactics will also play a major role in how well it performs. If they don’t want to trade goals back and forth with the Gauchos, the Bears must use their defensive plays to create momentum for offensive opportunities.

“Turnovers lead to a lot of their offense because they have some good speed,” Everist said. “We’ve got to be really good at controlling the tempo of the game, not turning the ball over or taking the shots when we’re not expecting them, so that we can counterattack the other way.”

No team can win or lose in the first couple minutes of any game, but that doesn’t mean the blue and gold will relax in the beginning. To claim victory, they’re going to have to start out strong, but it’s going to be a game of endurance and patience for Cal, as it must seek a tempo that will make it challenging for UCSB to score.

The blue and gold have their work cut out for them this weekend. At home and hungry for more, the Bears will need to focus and work together if they want to come out on top.

Yuqing Qiu covers men’s water polo. Contact her at yqiu@dailycal.org.

The Daily Californian

Mayoral candidates Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu competed in their first televised debate.

After COVID-19 forced last year’s festival to go virtual, the MSP Film Society’s Cine Latino is returning to in-person theatres Oct. 8-14 for its 9th annual celebration of Latin American and Iberian film.

After a successful pandemic-induced virtual festival last year, Cine Latino will continue to offer virtual screenings of films; every movie will be available for viewing online through Oct. 17. This year’s lineup pays special attention to the contributions of Afro-Latino cinema, a decision that organizers felt necessary after the murder of George Floyd turned Minneapolis into the international epicenter of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Like past years, Cine Latino is aiming to expand its audience’s perception of Latin film by providing the Twin Cities area with a diverse array of filmmakers, genres and subject matter.

10: “7 Prisoners” dir. Alexandre Moratto (2021)
Hot off its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, “7 Prisoners” follows a Brazilian teenager fighting off human trafficking threats while working in a junkyard to provide for his family. The short film “Elena,” a documentary directed by Michèle Stephenson about the struggles Black women on the island of Hispaniola face, will be shown directly before this movie.

9: “Brouwer: The Origin of the Shadow” dir. Katherine T. Gavilán and Lisandra López Fabé (2019)
This documentary about Leo Brouwer, the world-renowned Cuban composer, pushes the limits of the documentary genre in its questioning of art, the artist and Cuba at large.

8: “Executive Order” dir. Lázaro Ramos (2020)
This sci-fi feature follows two roommates in a dystopic future where Brazil’s Black citizens are violently sent back to Africa.

7: “Finlandia” dir. Horacio Alcala (2021)
Cine Latino will be presenting the U.S. premiere of this film in which an ill-intentioned Spanish fashion designer falls in love with Oaxaca, Mexico’s queer Muxe community.

6: “Liborio” dir. Nino Martinez Sosa (2021)
This is the fascinating true story of a peasant-turned-prophet whose followers confront the arrival of U.S. Marines in early 20th century Dominican Republic.

5: “Nahuel and the Magic Book” dir. Germán Acuña (2020)
The only animated feature film at Cine Latino is a family-friendly Chilean movie about Nahuel, a child on a fantastical adventure after a mysterious discovery.

4: “Prayers for the Stolen” dir. Tatiana Huezo (2021)
After being selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, director Tatiana Huezo has made a name for herself as one of the brightest new voices in Mexican cinema with this feature set in a dangerous, isolated town in the mountains. The short film shown before Huezo’s will be the international premiere of “Rosa Rosae. A Spanish Civil War Elegy” directed by the legendary filmmaker Carlos Saura.

3: “Songs That Flood the River” dir. Gérman Arango Rengon (2020)
Set on Colombia’s Pacific coast, this movie is a look at the Afro-Colombian practice of singing alabados, a traditional funeral chant, and how art can weave together the tragedies of a violent history with a hope for the future.

2: “The Best Families” dir. Javier Fuentes-León (2021)
This Peruvian comedy satirizes class relations by tracking two sets of women — a pair of bourgeoise frenemies and the sisters who work as their housekeepers — as they begin to confront the secrets that connect them.

1: “Y tu mamá también” dir. Alfonso Cuarón (2001)
This year marks the 20th anniversary of this classic piece of Mexican cinema, and Cine Latino is celebrating this milestone by including it on its setlist.

One of the toughest leagues in world football, the Premier League is usually a case of sink or swim for players and it can be notoriously difficult for someone to claw their way back to the surface when their standards begin to fade away — especially given the added pressure applied by supporters and the media when a player’s performances start to fall below the standard required to make it in the top flight.

However, whilst some players seem to just disappear off the face of the earth to never be seen again, this season is perhaps proof that players who have been underperforming can redeem themselves, with serval players in the Premier League starting to find form seemingly out of nowhere and helping bolster their side’s chances in the football betting odds by popping up with goals and assists or even just solid performances.

Of course, it is still early days in what already promises to be an exciting season and form can go out just the window just as quickly as it is discovered. But, with all that in mind, let’s take a look at three players who are starting to win back plaudits for their performances this campaign. Read on to find out more

Andros Townsend – Everton

Released by Crystal Palace in June upon the end of his contract, bringing an end to five years at Selhurst Park, many questioned what was next for Andros Townsend. He had left much to be desired in south London over the last couple of seasons, and whilst he had the chance to test the waters abroad, it was an easy decision for him to link up with Rafa Benítez at Goodison Park. He has settled in straight away at Everton, and has proved to be a key player so far this season for the Toffees, scoring three goals and assisting twice in seven Premier League games, whilst also bagging two goals and an assist in two League Cup fixtures. His late equaliser against Manchester United, when he covered 90 metres to join the counter attack, finished beautifully and brilliantly mocked Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal celebration at Old Trafford, was testament to his ability.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek – Chelsea

After a lengthy period on the sidelines through injury was made longer thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a rather tame 12 months on loan at Fulham, not many people would have thought Ruben Loftus-Cheek would be edging his way in to Thomas Tuchel’s plans this season, especially as Chelsea are largely considered to be title contenders. But, earlier this year, the German boss made it no secret that he is a big admirer of the midfielder, comparing him to former Stamford Bridge favourite Michael Ballack, and the 25-year-old is starting to be given the chance to prove his worth in a Chelsea shirt. Loftus-Cheek wasn’t thrown straight back in to the fold though. It wasn’t until the Carabao Cup victory over Aston Villa in mid-September that he made his first start, and his maiden Premier League start came over two weeks later in a 3-1 win over Southampton at the Bridge. Minutes may be few and far between, but with some decent performances, he is slowly proving that he deserves his place with the current Champions of Europe.

Shane Duffy – Brighton & Hobe Albion

When Shane Duffy went on loan to his boyhood club Celtic last summer, it’s fair to say that many felt the Irish centre-back had played his last game at the AMEX Stadium on the south coast. And, given that the 29-year-old had struggled for form up in Scotland, becoming a regular target by fans and the media for the Bhoys’ extremely poor performances, it was hard to imagine him ever earning his starting place back at Brighton in the Premier League. But he has quickly reestablished himself back down in England, playing a key role in the Seagulls’ early season form and helping Graham Potter’s side becoming a difficult unit to break down at the back. He even got on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win over Watford. Back in the Republic of Ireland setup after being dropped due to his form at Celtic, Duffy must be flying high at the minute.

The post Premier League: Three players who are starting to redeem themselves this season appeared first on The Emory Wheel.

The Associated Students of Colorado State University convened Oct. 13 for their seventh meeting of the semester. ASCSU swore in two new senators, ratified new members to the Student Fee Review Board and the Board For Student Organization Funding and passed Resolution 5102 and Bill 5103.  ASCSU swore in Noah Burge as a senator for […]

Over the past year, we’ve jumped from a semester almost entirely online to a semester where we spend most days on campus. The former forced us to remain tethered to technology, blurring the lines between work, school and leisure. However, it came with some advantages.

One of the things I miss most about working and learning from home is the additional free time. Although, the ever-present obligation and ability to work robs us of our ability to both enjoy and focus on the things we do in our free time. Nonetheless, a work-from-home lifestyle allowed me to spend more time outdoors, in nature, than I’m able to now.

Time spent in nature has various psychological and physiological benefits that allow each of us to do better at work or school, but more importantly, it helps us find more joy and fulfillment in life. As we continue to move back to a traditional academic experience, the University of Utah should provide students with ample opportunities to spend time in nature.

Time spent outdoors helps us connect with nature, one another and our work.  I spoke with David Strayer, professor of psychology at the U, to learn more about how time spent outdoors can have a transformative effect on our mental health and cognitive abilities.

One of the most important benefits we receive from time spent outside is attention restoration. Strayer said that students are “constantly remembering the 18 or 20 different things [they’ve] got to juggle” and how that can reduce our focus and attention. Of course, part of the reason we’re constantly remembering those things is because our phones, laptops and other devices repeatedly pop up with notifications urging us to think about everything we’re juggling. Those cognitively stifling reminders are “one of the reasons why when people set the technology aside for a little bit, you see these bursts of creativity.”

Strayer emphasized the importance of simultaneously disconnecting from technology and connecting with nature. Doing so will “reduce the student’s stress and make them think more clearly.”

Strayer teaches a class called “Cognition in the Wild” where he puts his research into practice. During the semester he takes his class down to southern Utah and they spend a weekend camping and hiking in the desert. He told me a story about how he used to always require presentations in the course be done in the classroom.

For the first several years, they were just in-class PowerPoint presentations, and they were, as Strayer put it, “horrible.” Over the years, he’s pivoted to having students share their presentations during the trip, seated around the campfire, without any technological aid. The quality of the presentations rose dramatically.

Not only did the quality of students’ work improve with more time spent outside, but their mental health appeared to improve. Strayer has countless stories of students, largely disconnected from their peers, finding a sense of community for the first time through the class, one of the reasons why Strayer’s classes continue to meet even after the semester’s end.

While Strayer’s class serves as an example of how time spent outdoors can improve the academic experience for students, his class is far from the norm.

While the U has a whole host of mental health resources, there has been minimal emphasis put on facilitating time spent outdoors. Like Strayer, I think that we “don’t have enough outdoor classrooms on campus.” Unsurprisingly, classes outside help students be more attentive and focused in class.

To make outdoor learning a possibility, the U should design outdoor spaces with adequate seating, shade and then encourage professors to teach weather permitting. Some of this work can be done by modifying existing outdoor spaces, so students can opt to study outside.

While increasing our amount of outdoor time will help restore attention and decrease stress, we can’t fully disconnect from technology and our stressors in the classroom. The U should include a few mental health days each semester, where students are encouraged to get outdoors and unplug from technology.

Keeping up with all the responsibilities of a university student can be mentally and physically taxing, especially when those responsibilities get in the way of doing the things that boost our mental and physical health, like going outside.

The U should help students spend more time in nature in and out of the classroom. Doing so would not only benefit the student’s health and wellbeing, but it would also improve our ability to succeed at the U.

w.shadley@dailyutahchronicle.com

@shadleywill

The post Shadley: The U Should Facilitate More Outdoor Opportunities for Students appeared first on The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Daniel Multz recaps Division Series game results and previews the AL Champion Series with his predictions.

Gallery|5 Photos

The post Service Animals vs Emotional Support Animals appeared first on The George-Anne Media Group.

Grammy-nominated rappers Fetty Wap and Jack Harlow are scheduled to perform at the 2021 Homecoming concert, according to Student Programming Council (SPC) President Thomas Heagy (22B). The concert will take place on Oct. 16 on McDonough Field, with doors opening at 6 p.m. 

This event will be the first on-campus concert in two years. Rico Nasty and Earthgang performed at the last campus concert as part of 2019 Homecoming festivities. 

“We invested more into production, vendors and other activities to provide a festival-like feel to the concert,” Heagy said. “After a long wait, we believe the study body deserves the most engaging concert experience possible at Emory.”

Fetty Wap (left) and Jack Harlow (right) will perform at the 2021 Homecoming concert. Photos courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and Creative Commons

Fetty Wap and Jack Harlow will “strike a perfect balance” between throwback hits and today’s chart-toppers, Heagy added. 

Launching his career, Fetty Wap released his self-titled debut album in September 2015. The album reached No. 1 on both the U.S. Billboard 200 and Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. 

Although he has multiple platinum-certified singles, including “679” and “My Way,” Fetty Wap’s biggest hit is “Trap Queen.” The song peaked at No. 2 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. “Trap Queen” is also just one of 58 songs to ever be certified diamond by RIAA. 

At the 2016 Grammy Awards, “Trap Queen” was nominated for best rap song and best rap performance. 

Despite releasing his first single in 2014, Harlow first achieved national attention with his first charting hit, “WHATS POPPIN,” in 2020. This song secured Harlow his first No. 1 on Billboard’s Rhythmic Songs chart and his first grammy nomination for best rap performance. 

With help from a remix featuring DaBaby, Torey Lanez and Lil Wayne, “WHATS POPPIN” peaked at No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and is certified five times platinum by RIAA. 

Most recently, Harlow’s recent feature on Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby” amassed great success. “Industry Baby” also reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.   

SPC selected hip-hop and rap artists after conducting an artist and genre survey which indicated “overwhelming demand” for acts in this genre, Heagy said. 

“We also believe that Fetty Wap and Jack Harlow strike a nice balance within the hip-hop niche, each offering a unique style that we hope will please a broad range of students,” Heagy said. 

Heagy noted that SPC will take action to ensure the concert is COVID-19-safe by requiring masks on some areas of the field. SPC has encouraged all students, regardless of vaccination status, to get a COVID-19 test before attending Homecoming events. 

“We hope that this year’s Homecoming concert will be the most exciting and engaging for the Emory student body ever,” Heagy said. “Relative to their popularity at the time of their appearance at Emory, we believe that Fetty Wap and Jack Harlow are the biggest Homecoming acts to perform on McDonough’s stage.”

The post Fetty Wap, Jack Harlow to headline 2021 Homecoming concert appeared first on The Emory Wheel.