Last Wednesday, preacher Keith Darrell and an unnamed associate took to Colorado State University’s Plaza to spew hateful rhetoric against women, racial minorities and, most viciously, members of the LGBTQ community. Following this incident, a social media account took to Instagram and Twitter using the hashtag #CallOutCSU to blast the University for not arresting or silencing Darrell and his cohort.

Activities include a red carpet, dancing, mini golf and a visit to the Museum of Science.

Junior cornerback Art Green rises up for an interception in UH football’s victory over Rice on Sept. 11. | James Schillinger/The Cougar

The inability of the Houston defense to create turnovers in 2020 was a major concern for head coach Dana Holgorsen and his coaching staff.

In the eight-game 2020 season, UH defense forced a total of six turnovers, which was unacceptable in the eyes of Holgorsen and needed to change if the Cougars were going to start racking up wins.

As a result, defensive coordinator Doug Belk made consistently creating turnovers a major point of emphasis for the 2021 UH defense.

“Coach Belk (has) been talking through fall camp, through the summer, through just every week (about) getting more turnovers, getting the ball out somehow,” said junior cornerback Art Green. “We do so many drills during practice. We just gotta put it into our game.”

During summer OTA’s, Belk tried to hit on a couple of ways per week on how to tackle and attack in a way that would produce turnovers, including going back to perfecting some of the fundamentals in scooping the ball the proper way.

Just two games into the 2021 season, it appears these things have been taken to heart as the UH football defense is already close to eclipsing their turnover totals from 2020.

The first time the UH defense took the field in 2021 they forced a fumble, sending a message that the Cougars failing to create turnovers would not be an issue this season.

A week later, the Cougars picked off Rice quarterback Luke McCaffrey three times, including a 91-yard pick-six from junior cornerback Alex Hogan on the final play of the game.

“Our guys have been playing very aggressive,” Belk said. “We’ve been in position to make a few plays and fortunately (against Rice) we were able to make some of those and we want to continue to build off of that.”

While Belk says his defense has areas to improve on as the season progresses, he is pleased with the way the Cougars have come out with the right mindset in their first two games.

Belk and his players have fully embraced the Third Ward defense branding, priding themselves on being ruthless aggressors that look for every opportunity to create an extra possession for the UH offense. 

“I really feel like you get what you emphasize and we’ve been emphasizing (creating turnovers) a lot since spring football, throughout the summer and fall camp.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“‘Third Ward defense’: UH emphasis on creating turnovers is paying off” was originally posted on The Cougar

History: The Razorbacks and Eagles have never met on the gridiron.

Last Week: Georgia Southern fell to FAU, 38-6, on Saturday. Offensive struggles haunted the Eagles all day, as they accumulated just 257 yards.

“Very disappointed in our performance last week, really disappointed with out start to the season,” said head coach Chad Lunsford. “Feel like we should be a lot better, a lot further along than we are.”

The Eagles struggled in every aspect of the game on Saturday. To go along with just 257 offensive yards, the GA defense gave up 541 yards to an FAU offense full of unknowns.

Freshman quarterback Cam Ransom was banged up during Saturday’s game, allowing Sam Kenerson to take snaps under center. Both guys struggled to find a rhythm, which hindered the offensive attack for GS.

Scouting Report: Offensively, the Razorbacks are a run-minded team. In last week’s game against No. 15 Texas, Arkansas carried the ball 47 times for 333 rushing yards. The offensive line, made up of five starters all above 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds is a huge part of the Razorback’s success on the ground.

“Huge offensive line, like trees man,” said Lunsford. “I think that’s where it starts with them, because they want to run the football. They’re going to be down and dirty and they’re going to be trying to make sure they establish the run.”

The Eagles have consistently been among the nation’s leaders in rushing defense, but ranks No. 63 in stopping the run game through two games this season.

The Razorbacks defense has shown little to no weaknesses through two games. Arkansas ranks No. 27 in total defense, allowing just 272 yards per game.

Bottom Line: Saturday’s matchup could serve as a potential trap game for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas took down the No. 15 team in the country last season and will face No. 7 Texas A&M next week. The Eagles only real hope is that the Razorbacks are already looking ahead to next week’s pivotal SEC matchup.

Despite welcoming back their veteran quarterback, the Eagles will simply be outmatched against a talented SEC opponent.

Prediction: Arkansas coasts to 42-20 victory

The post Game Preview: GS looks to rebound against SEC foe appeared first on The George-Anne Media Group.

Near my childhood home, there was a particular sculpture that I loved: It was a big, round, abstract sculpture carved out of black granite, depicting a seated mother raising her baby into the air. I remember blissfully running my hands over its smooth surface and feeling the gentle heat absorbed from the sun, as if the mother and child had come alive within the hard granite. I read no plaques, learned no author nor date, and until this day, I still don’t know the title of the piece — but I know it welcomed me and made me happy. 

As a means of education, public art conveys these subtle messages through texture, general atmosphere and how they interweave into everyday life. As children grow up, these initial impressions pave the way to understanding the historical significance behind these pieces of art. Hence, it is important that we talk about what messages are conveyed to our children as they walk by these sculptures that merge into the landscape of their homes. 

In recent years, Western countries have grappled with the future of statues that honor those who actively participated in or fought for the continuation of the slave trade. In the United States, the debate centers around statues of Confederates like Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis. Some suggest leaving these statues in place, arguing that changing or removing them would be equivalent to destroying historical monuments and history itself. Others propose removing and storing them in a sculpture graveyard that collects old Confederate monuments, with one artist even proposing to literally bury the sculptures underground and erect tombstones over them. In the midst of this debate, individuals and organizations have already begun to commission the removal of these statues, many of which are popular landmarks like the Roosevelt statue in front of New York’s American Museum of Natural History. 

But despite good intentions, efforts to relocate statues that may be considered problematic can be ultimately shallow and generalized. The work of reshaping the messages told by these statues should capitalize on the strengths inherent in the medium: the impact a statue has on the observer standing at its feet, the opportunity for physical engagement presented by its size and presence and how a statue itself can serve as a component of entirely new pieces of art. Only by embracing these elements and inviting viewers to critically engage with these statues and their context with a new perspective can we properly reckon with their position in modern art and discourse.

 To productively engage with these statues, local governments must put in more consideration and effort than through simple relocation. Some propose to move these statues to museums and attach museum labels next to them, but the end product would hardly encourage a personal relationship between the viewer and the exhibit. Instead, cities need to address these statues in more meaningful ways, either through creative museum installations that interact with the viewers, or even by allowing artists to work with these statues without damaging them. Both options are means to the same end: To make each viewer feel personally engaged with the art piece. 

There are two reasons why relocation cannot fully engage the viewers. First, picture the hushed atmosphere, bright lights and pristine glass of a museum exhibit, coupled with a statue of a Confederate general, perhaps on horseback or standing with his feet planted steadily on the ground, casting the same empty, heroic look at a crowd of visitors. The statue remains tall, authoritative and threatening, and by turning it into a relic of the past, as would happen if it were relocated to a museum, it seems to take on the quality of an ancient, priceless artifact.

 Second, only a fraction of the population will read the long, carefully worded labels. In a 2017 study by Smith et al, only around half of the participants chose to read the label alongside the artwork. For many museum goers, the label will just be one of many that are too bothersome to read. For them, the statue remains just as aloof and honored as when it was standing on a high pedestal in its original position. They see these statues the same way I saw my favorite childhood sculpture — a general impression without a title, theme or label, rather than artworks conversant with history and public debate. 

If these statues are to be collected and exhibited in one place, it should be done creatively and interactively. One example is the Memento Park in Hungary, which collects and reframes the statues that were erected during Hungary’s communist period. These statues include a replica of Stalin’s Grandstand, which used to stand on Parade Square in central Budapest. During the revolution, protestors sawed off the body of the statue, leaving only Stalin’s boots on the pedestal. The two lonely boots convey a powerful message by playing on the absent yet looming presence of authority. What I found most inspiring, however, is how Memento Park invites visitors to ascend the Grandstand and admire the scenery that Stalin once enjoyed himself. By actively engaging with the sculpture, visitors gain a concrete experience instead of staring at the statue behind immaculate museum glass. 

The other possibility is to grant artists the freedom to work directly with these statues. They should be allowed to document, cast and interact with these statues however they prefer, albeit without damaging them. The restriction of not damaging the statues preserves historical artifacts and respects those to whom these statues hold a personal significance, such as direct descendants. In fact, in recent years, artists have already begun to riff on themes challenged by contemporary discourse. Portrait artist Kehinde Wiley created the statue “Rumors of War,” which places a young, contemporary Black man on horseback in the style of a classic Confederate statue. Dustin Klein, a lighting artist, chose to directly project Black Lives Matter messages onto a Confederate statue in Richmond. “Disgraced Monuments,” by Laura Mulvey and Mark Lewis, used film to document the process of dismantling communist statues and probes at the cyclical nature of revolutions. 

In all of these works, the artists invite the viewers to look at the statues from a new perspective, either by adding subversive elements, or putting them in the context of history. In this process, they transform these statues from fixed narratives into open questions that creatively engage with the elements of their history challenged by modern debate. Unlike the innovative art mentioned above, a statue is expected to be interpreted in the same way by every viewer: As a statement of greatness made with an arrogant belief in immortality. The statues need not go; the question of how to deal with them shouldn’t be answered with the most obvious solution. Rather than hiding history, its artifacts should serve to encourage public discussion and foster a humanistic approach towards reevaluating history.

Like our public spaces, the interpretation of public art should also be open and varied. So bring in the artists, and let them communicate with the public. 

Joyce Gao ’24 can be reached at xing_gao@brown.edu. Please send responses to this opinion to letters@browndailyherald.com and op-eds to opinions@browndailyherald.com.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, is now accepting applications for its 2022 Excellence in Innovation Award. The deadline for interested institutions to apply for the $100,000 award is Dec. 15, 2021. Awarded each biennium, the Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes […]

UC Berkeley researchers link electric grid limitations and racial inequities

Lisi Ludwig/File

UC Berkeley researchers released a study showing that electrical grid limitations could exacerbate racial inequities in California, with predominantly Black neighborhoods having less access to solar power due to limited circuit capacity.

Campus researchers in the Energy and Resources Group, or ERG, released a study Sept. 13 showing that electrical grid limitations could exacerbate existing racial inequities in California.

The study was authored by Anna Brockway, campus doctoral candidate in the ERG; Duncan Callaway, campus ERG associate professor; and campus graduate student Jenny Conde. It was published in the journal Nature Energy, according to a campus press release.

In the process of conducting their research, the authors studied electrical grid infrastructure data from California’s two largest utilities: PG&E and Southern California Edison. In particular, Conde said they looked at the grid infrastructure and then compared that information to demographic census data.

According to the press release, utility companies typically limit the number of households allowed to electrify because increased loads can cause high temperatures and voltages. Installing household solar power and electric vehicle charging stations are just a few sources of an increased current flow.

Less than 50% of households in a single electric circuit are able to transition to renewable energy, the study notes.

“If someone wants to put solar on their house and they don’t have the circuit capacity, … what typically happens now is that the utilities essentially just upgrade the system to let that connection happen anyway,” Brockway said. “To what extent are we going to keep upgrading?”

After examining the circuit capacities, the researchers drew connections between their findings and the demographic data due to access variations in the two utilities’ territories, the study noted.

They found that households in predominantly Black neighborhoods had “disproportionately less access” to solar power because of circuit capacity, according to the study.

“The total circuit capacity for generation decreases with increasing percentages of Black-identifying residents, and is disproportionately lower for (census block groups) with Black-identifying populations than for other racial and ethnic groups,” the study reads.

The study concluded that California will need “tremendous” investments in grid capacity to meet its decarbonization goals. Brockway said that as the state moves forward, limitations in access to solar power are not yet fully accounted for.

Conde also noted that the data they used in the study is publicly available and cities can determine for themselves which areas are impacted before communicating with utilities and the state.

“The ultimate goal would be to make sure utilities know where the problem is and have them address it,” Conde said. “We can’t build a sustainable economy if solar panels or electric vehicles or other distributed energy resources are only accessible to people of certain income levels or people of a certain race.”

Contact Riley Cooke at rcooke@dailycal.org, and follow her on Twitter at @rrileycooke.

The Daily Californian

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines, is now accepting applications for its 2022 Excellence in Innovation Award. The deadline for interested institutions to apply for the $100,000 award is Dec. 15, 2021.

Awarded each biennium, the Excellence in Innovation Award recognizes one college or university for achievement in finding powerful substantive solutions to improve the lives of others and create systematic large-scale change. The recipient institution will receive $100,000 in tangible recognition of its best practice in response to the changes and challenges facing higher education in the 21st century.

“The Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Innovation Award extends our mission to recognize and advance excellence in higher education by highlighting inventive and inspiring programs on college and university campuses across the country,” said Traci Navarre, the Society’s acting executive director.

The Excellence in Innovation Award, first awarded in 2016 is the Society’s only award for institutions. The Society gives more than $1 million each year to outstanding students and members through study abroad grants, graduate fellowships and funding for post-baccalaureate development.

The application period for colleges and universities to apply for the Excellence in Innovation Award is open until Dec. 15, 2021. For more information including award criteria, eligibility, and timeline details, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org/Innovation.

About Phi Kappa Phi
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 325 select colleges and universities in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and 7.5 percent of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Society’s mission is “To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and engage the community of scholars in service to others.” For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

Media Contact
Alyssa Papa
Communications Director
apapa@phikappaphi.org
(225) 923-7777

Improvements to member experience, performance, and brand identity enable college students and their families to protect their investment from the risks of college life.

Phoenix, AZ (September 15, 2021): GradGuard, one of the largest providers of student insurance programs in the country, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website, gradguard.com. The new website, which is ADA and PCI compliant, comes as nearly 20 million college students and their families make one of the largest investments in their lives.

The expense of higher education is one of the largest investments many college families will ever make. In total, more than 20 million students and their families invest an estimated $500 billion annually in tuition, academic fees, student housing, and related expenses. The average cost of tuition, fees, and room and board for a four-year private college was $50,770 in the 2020-21 school year, according to the College Board, which tracks trends in college pricing and student aid. At four-year, in-state public colleges, costs averaged $22,180.

While more than 425 colleges and universities rely on GradGuard’s modern insurance programs to protect their students from preventable financial losses, GradGuard.com is the only service of its kind with a college search engine that enables any student attending a four-year non-profit college or university in the United States to quickly protect their investment in higher education with its market leading tuition and renters insurance programs.

GradGuard’s newly relaunched site boosts member experience with simplified access to benefits, account status and easy to file claims reporting. The improved user experience makes it easier than ever for students and families to find ways to protect themselves, as well as manage their policies online.

“We have helped protect nearly 1 million college students and their families since our founding in 2009,” said John Fees, Co-Founder and Managing Director of GradGuard. “Students and their families likely lose more than $1 billion per year from the financial losses caused from medical withdrawals and property losses. GradGuard’s search tool and unique insurance programs makes it easier for families to find protection that will keep their students on track towards completing their college education.”

GradGuard’s homepage features a college search tool in the upper right corner. When clicked, the search bar appears at the top of the page.

More schools embrace GradGuard’s mission than ever before and recognize the value of offering relevant student benefit programs to their students that help them secure a refund for tuition, housing and fees, or help them replace a stolen or damaged computer when a school cannot.

For more than a decade, GradGuard has been an authority in protecting college families from preventable financial losses and works closely to embed its insurance programs within the student experience.

Among the risks:

• More than half of nearly 9,000 students surveyed experienced anxiety or depression, American College Health Association

• 1 in 4 students do not return for a second year of college, National Clearing House

• Only 6% of schools surveyed in 2019 report providing full refunds to students who are forced to withdraw for medical reasons; No schools report providing refunds for academic fees or housing, HigherEd Study

• Nearly 2,000 fires are reported annually in on-campus housing nationwide, Clery Act Campus Safety Reports

• More than 27,000 crimes happen on college campuses each year, Clery Act Campus Safety Reports

“From theft to a serious illness or injury, college students can be vulnerable to real financial losses that can disrupt their education,” said Fees. “When you consider the risks and with so much money at stake, the new GradGuard.com makes it easier than ever for college students and their families to protect their student and their investment they are making in higher education.”

About GradGuard
GradGuard is a technology-enabled pioneer in developing innovative protections designed to reduce the financial risks of college life. GradGuard is trusted by more than 425 colleges and universities and has protected nearly 1 million students and their families since its founding in 2009. For more insights on #collegelife follow @GradGuard on social media.

For more Information:
Natalie Tarangioli
Director of Marketing and Communications
ntarangioli@gradguard.com
480-485-6138

Students in the United States face financial hurdles that make it almost impossible to get ahead in life. Mos.com just launched a banking app to help. Sobering stats about students right now: • In 2020 the average student graduated with $37,500 in debt—cumulating a total of $1.6T in student debt across the U.S.  • Nearly half of […]