Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

On Friday evening, UH sent out an email to students stating that the two scooter robberies on Feb. 4 and Feb. 5 are connected and the suspect has been charged with two counts of felony robbery.

Steven Marquize Simon was arrested on Feb. 12 for the scooter robberies and remains in custody. 

Image of Steven Marquize Simon. | Courtesy of UH Media Relations

There are no updates on the robbery of a cellphone that occurred on Feb. 11 and the sexual assault that occurred on Feb. 7. 

Eric Latroy Brown was arrested for unrelated charges and was released the same day for lack of evidence, according to the Houston Chronicle. He was charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault and a count of aggravated robbery on Feb. 12 for the incident on Feb. 7.

There is currently a warrant out for his arrest. 

There is still no official response from UHPD or the University as to why Brown was released or if the officers knew he was the suspect when they arrested him. 

The Cougar is closely following the investigation and will continue to update the UH community. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“UH confirms scooter robbery connection, suspect arrested” was originally posted on The Cougar

Students protest at UH following the rising crimes on campus on Feb. 12, 2024. | Gauraangi Gupta/The Cougar

Wednesday afternoon, UH sent an email with updates to the UH community regarding the recent crimes on campus. The police believe the scooter incidents could be related.

There is no connection between the robberies and the sexual assault.

In order to combat the rise in crime, UH has doubled the amount of security officers on campus. Security is now stationed at six of the parking garages and 10 lots. 

“Additional security personnel are on bikes and carts patrolling all of campus, including all parking areas and high-traffic areas,” the email said. 

The crime on Feb. 11 that involved a student held at gunpoint at the bus stop in front of the Rec Center is in the beginning stages of the investigation. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Scooter incidents possibly related, police say” was originally posted on The Cougar

A student walks in front of the Welcome Center student garage on Feb. 10, 2025. | Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

It saddens me to have to write this. What happened on Friday night should not have happened. It’s the accumulation of errors the University has failed to correct regarding their safety priorities.

Time and time again, students have asked for better lighting, more security, a tighter leash around UHPD’s patrols and just an overhaul of the University’s concern for its students’ safety.

It’s fair to say that the University has not prioritized student safety at all. It is an absolute slap to the face to read a statement that said only four officers will be stationed at one garage when there are over 66 commissioned peace officers and 94 security officers available for the University’s disposal. That is unacceptable when we have four other garages filled to the brim with student cars.

The lighting project which has been ongoing since before the pandemic is not even completed yet with the lighting being nothing but subpar. So far, the University has only installed underground wiring in Zones A, B, C, D, E and F.

Phase II of the construction is set to be completed by Summer 2026 but the amount of lights, security and cameras is still to be determined.

Lighting is only one issue among several that the University is taking too long to address. In the same week, two scooters were robbed and we still do not have an update on the suspect of those two incidents and whether or not they are related.

Something needs to change. It’s time for students to demand more than just empty promises from the University. UH students have already taken charge with Deeds not Words hosting a protest at Butler Plaza on Wednesday, today, at 12 p.m. There has also been the emergence of Coog Escorts who will plan a buddy system for students walking late at night.

But the demands shouldn’t stop there. Students need to keep the energy going not just for the student who was traumatized Friday night, but for all the students who fear walking late at night.

If you or someone else wants their voice heard, The Cougar is here to amplify student voices.

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“Letter from the editor: UH continues to fail its students” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

Transitioning from living with parents to living on campus can be challenging, especially when trying to establish new habits. Many students find this challenge as they try to figure out what was passed down from their parents and what is truly their own habits.

This era of self-discovery is vital during college. Here are some tips to help with the transition:  

What’s important to you?

The number one thing when trying to establish good habits is finding out what is important to you. If a habit does not align with your values or what you find important, it will be difficult to make yourself follow a new routine. 

This is where self-introspection is important. What kind of life do you want to live? The idea that “your every day is what makes up your life” is true as the small actions you take throughout your day are what build your future. 

Therefore, find what values matter most to you. If you want to be clean and organized, make sure your tasks reflect that. If you value aesthetics and creativity, then make sure you keep that value consistent in everything you do. 

Creating Tasks

When it comes to creating the tasks that build that good habit, it’s good to start off small and realistic. Deciding to go to the gym every day for two hours will probably not be followed through with unless you’re a gym rat. 

Instead, maybe going twice a week for one hour might be do-able if you value fitness. To add on, choosing a consistent time and place that matches your schedule will make it easier to build the habit. Don’t choose to go to the gym in the morning if you’re not a morning person.

Accountability 

The hardest part of building good habits is holding yourself accountable. Having a friend to build a good habit with might help but you have to want the change for yourself to see any difference. 

Going back to the ideas of values, remind yourself consistently why you want to build the habit and the drive to get it done will make itself known. 

Giving yourself grace 

It’s okay to miss or day or two when it comes to building good habits. The important thing is jumping right back in the next day without making excuses. 

At some point, the habit will become as natural as going to bed and waking up. Sometimes, schedule conflicts arise or it ends up feeling more like a chore than something you truly want to do. 

That’s when a reevaluation of the habit is needed as it might no longer serve a value you thought was important. Regardless, being kind to yourself at the beginning will serve you the most in the end. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Building good habits as a college student” was originally posted on The Cougar

Dave Bayley jumps on stage on Sept. 21, 2024, at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. | Cindy Rivas Alfaro/The Cougar

Glass Animals put on an electric show at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Saturday night. Growing up in College Station, Texas, lead singer Dave Bayley called this show akin to a homecoming concert. 

The band started off their concert with “Life Itself” from their second studio album “How to Be a Human Being” before transitioning to “Your Love (Déjà Vu)” from their third studio album “Dreamland” and “Wonderful Nothing” from their latest album “I Love You So F***ing Much.”

Bayley had an energetic presence, jumping all over the stage and even borrowing a cowboy hat from a fan in the pit. 

For “Lost in the Ocean” from their latest album, the crowd turned on their cellphone lights to sway to the chorus saying, “You get lost in the ocean / What do you do when you are so broken?”

Bayley brought the energy back with “Gooey” when he ran down the side of the seats to head to the back of the lawn where he sang with the fans on the upper seats. When he ran back down, he high-fived some fans and stole yet another cowboy hat. 

A few songs later, the band went to super-human speeds to sing “On the Run” where they sped up the song until they could no longer catch up to the beat. This went on for a few minutes and the crowd screamed louder the faster they went. 

They paid homage to their pineapple mascot with “Pork Soda” with a lucky fan in the pit taking home Bayley’s pineapple. The band walked off the stage after this song but the crowd kept cheering until they came back for the encore. 

They played their most popular songs “Tokyo Drifting” and “Heat Waves” before taking a final bow and officially ending the night.

arts@thedailycougar.com

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“Glass Animals take the stage for a homecoming concert” was originally posted on The Cougar

Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke meets with students at the University of Houston on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. |  Raphael Fernandez/The Cougar

Thursday afternoon, the Student Government Association collaborated with Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s organization Powered by People to register students to vote. 

O’Rourke made an appearance at the Student Center South where students lined up to meet him. The last time the former U.S. representative visited campus was in 2018 and 2022. 

As students got in line to talk to O’Rourke, volunteers went down the line ensuring students were registered for the upcoming election.  

“The nation is in the voter’s hands,” said petroleum engineer junior Moises Castellanos. “If we don’t vote, we risk not getting our voices heard.” 

O’Rourke ran against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Governor Greg Abbott for the senate and governor seat, respectively. The former U.S. Rep also ran for president in 2020. 

Although he lost, O’Rourke is still active in the political scene and urges students to head out to the polls and vote.

“The only way that we’re going to get change is by changing the people who are in office. And the only way to do that is to register to vote,” O’Rourke said. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Beto O’Rourke visits UH with his organization Powered by People” was originally posted on The Cougar

Lily Huynh/The Cougar

In an effort to increase civic engagement and voter education, UH is seeking a designation from the Campus Vote Project to become a Voter-Friendly Campus. 

The Voter-Friendly Campus program aims to help higher education institutions plan an achievable roadmap to meeting the voter registration requirements of the Higher Education Act of 1965. 

The Center for Student Involvement has taken the initiative to coordinate action plans for the University and analyze its current civic engagement.

“We’re trying to enroll in The National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement to track the percentage of students on campus who register and actually vote,” said CSI Associate Director Eric Smith. 

While also serving as a metric of success, enrolling in NSLVE would provide the necessary data to potentially earn a silver seal from the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge, one of the goals UH hopes to accomplish. 

During a midterm election, earning a silver seal translates to 30-39% of voter participation from students while a presidential election requires 60-69% of voter participation. 

Upcoming action steps

UH’s main goals are to increase voter registration turnout and education, increase the use of the on-campus polling location and engage non-partisan community partners to increase civic engagement.

Grassroots organizing will play an important role in working toward these goals, especially with registered student organizations on campus that are already face-to-face with students. 

The Student Government Association has several plans in the works to increase voter education and registration turnout including a debate watch party and a Middle Ground-inspired panel. 

“There’s a lot of things that affect all of us as college students that we don’t realize tie back to politics,” said SGA Chief of Staff Daniela Gonzalez. “So I think it’s important to take advantage of the fact that you can vote and voice your opinion.”

SGA Director of External Affairs Khushvir Chahal is also planning to host an RSO competition where the student organization that registers the most students to vote can win free food for their second general meeting. 

Alongside the work of SGA, Smith hopes to offer student leaders of RSOs the opportunity to become Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrars through the Harris County Clerk’s Office and host consistent voter registration drives on campus. 

“The important thing is that your voice is heard,” said SGA President Diego Arriaga. “One vote can mean the difference between a lot of things.” 

Last but not least, increasing the use of the on-campus polling location ensures that it can continue to be provided to students and cultivate a culture of civic engagement at UH. 

How to vote and upcoming events

The last day to register to vote for the general election is Oct. 7 with early voting starting on Oct. 21 and ending on Nov. 1. 

If registering for the first time, you must complete a voter registration application and mail it to your local county election office 30 days before the election date. 

If you only need to change your name or address, it can be done online at Texas.gov.  

An upcoming event for students to look forward to is the 2024 Texas Voting Summit on Sept. 13-14 at UH hosted by the Campus Vote Project alongside the Houston Youth Voters Conference, UH and Texas Southern University. 

At this free event, college students, administrators and faculty can learn about nonpartisan efforts to increase voter participation at their campus. 

Campus Vote Project is offering a free one-night stay at the UH Hilton Hotel on a first-come first-serve basis to attend this event.

news@thedailycougar.com 

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“UH strives to become a voter-friendly campus” was originally posted on The Cougar

File Photo/The Cougar

The Texas Tribune Festival is returning to downtown Austin on Sept. 5-7 for its 14th year of sparking conversations about Texas’ current political climate and issues.

This year, notable figures like Nancy Pelosi, Liz Cheney and Wes Moore will be in attendance following some of Houston’s own leaders like Former Mayor Sylvester Turner, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Former Harris County prosecutor Sean Teare and Rep. Dan Crenshaw.

With over 300 speakers and more than 100 panels, attendees can expect to be exposed to different viewpoints following one of America’s most unpredictable elections.

TribFest lets Texans come together to wrestle with current politics and policy decisions and do so in an environment where ideas may be different than one’s own, said Texas Tribune Senior Director of Events and Live Journalism Matt Ewalt.

Despite being in Austin, TribFest provides several opportunities for Houstonians to learn more about their city but also explore other pressing issues around Texas.

Even if politics might be an overwhelming topic to digest, Tribfest provides different avenues where policy, politics and other forms of decision-making can be discussed.

“The festival is for any student, any Texan, who has an interest in the future of their communities, their state, their world, whether it’s directly through politics, the arts or some other kind of public service,” said Ewalt.

Some panels that might interest Houston students include Hidalgo’s panel with Greg Hansch on her struggles with depression and mental health, ProPublica’s discussion of the rhetoric used on the border and Stacey Abrams’ session on voting rights and threats to democracy.

UH’s political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus will also moderate a session with Texas A&M’s retiring Chancellor John Sharp and Former Governor Rick Perry.

“As an extension of the Tribune’s journalism, it’s an opportunity to hear from people, but also to ask questions directly of our public officials and others and to hold our public officials accountable,” Ewalt said. “That accountability is critical to the way the festival functions.”

The first two days of the festival are filled with panels, book signings and networking events while the final day on Sept. 7 ends with an Open Congress between 7th and 11th street in downtown Austin.

Student tickets are available at a discount for $50.

The Open Congress on Sept.7 is free and does not require a festival ticket.

For more information on the schedule, click here.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Tribfest brings politics, policies into the spotlight” was originally posted on The Cougar

If there’s one thing you have to do as a newly turned Coog, it’s to get a photo with Shasta and Sasha! | Anh Le/The Cougar

Welcome to the University of Houston! I am so excited for you to start the next chapter of your life. There is so much I want to tell you so I’ll use this page wisely.

College has been one of the best experiences of my life. As I’m about to enter my senior year, I can confidently say that I’ve met my life-long friends and gained a better understanding of myself.

However, it wasn’t always a walk in the park. Like most students on campus, I’m a commuter and I found myself struggling with the untraditional student experience. Right after spending an entire day on campus, I had to wait for my mom to pick me up and ended my day by falling asleep in my childhood bedroom.

I felt like I was missing out on the college experience you would hear people talk about in movies and shows. As the eldest daughter of an immigrant household, I also found it difficult to find a balance between being there for my parents and being there for myself.

The start was rocky but by the time I got to my sophomore year, I realized I was just at the beginning of one of the best years of my life.

That year, I saved up enough money to get myself a car, officially joined The Cougar’s editorial board and finally got the help I needed for my anxiety and depression. From then on, I felt myself slowly entering the world of “adulthood” that I wondered about as a kid.

I was still a commuter, but I began to see it in a different light now that I had my car. I was able to drive to downtown with my friends, visit the wonderful attractions all around Houston and tested the waters of my newly found independence.

I would shift away from the old notion that I couldn’t go out two nights in a row, and found myself coming home close to midnight at times.

As an anxiety-driven kid who always followed the rules, this was monumental for me. I was starting to explore life like never before, going as far as New York, Chicago and Washington. My life was no longer confined to the old, yellow walls of my room in the East End.

One of my proudest achievements this year is finally being able to live on campus at the Lofts. For my fellow Hispanic students, I don’t think I have to explain how bizarre it is to sit down with your immigrant parents and tell them you’re going to move out for a year even though UH is a 30 minute drive from your house.

Usually, students head to the dorms their freshman year but in my case, that wasn’t possible. My parents were way too strict and scared of the “what ifs” of living on campus. Also, living on campus would have doubled my tuition and it wasn’t something I could afford.

Regardless, there is a reason I’m telling you all of this and it’s to let you know that not one college experience is the same. Everyone has different values, experiences and goals that they bring to college with them and all three will be challenged one way or another.

You have to give yourself the opportunity to grow, but understand that it will not happen overnight. Your growth might also feel uncomfortable.

You will cry, laugh, scream and shout and wonder why things are the way they are. You will experience all sorts of emotions and feats, and wish those moments would never end.

Yet, those moments are the times where you have to reach deep down into yourself and come to terms with what you really want from life, what you want to keep and what you want to leave behind.

That moment for me was coming to the University of Houston. If it wasn’t for UH, I wouldn’t have found my passion for journalism nor the people I consider my soulmates for life. The last three years have been a whirlwind for me, and I can’t wait for you to experience your own version of it, too!

editor@thedailycougar.com

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“Get ready for one of the best years of your life!” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

This was the second year UH has celebrated Juneteenth and it was filled with students and staff coming together to commemorate Black history and the effect it continues to have on society today. 

Around 11% of UH’s student body is composed of African Americans but a few decades ago, that was not the case. 

It was only in 1961 that UH began accepting Black students on campus and the years that followed highlighted the struggles and triumphs of attending a predominantly white student body. 

With the rise of Black students came the demand for African-American courses to be offered on campus. As of 2018, UH offers a degree in African American Studies which would not have been possible without the groundwork Lynn Eusan, Omowale Luthuli-Allen, Gene Locke and Deloyd Parker did in 1969 to establish the first African American Studies program. 

CLASS Distinguished Professor and Chair of African American Studies Dr. Tara T. Green highlights the importance of celebrating the history behind Juneteenth and the work her department does in keeping it alive. 

“It’s important for all people of Texas to know something of the history as it relates to enslaved people,” said Green. “Juneteenth is a celebration of family and freedom for people to be able to come together without someone standing over them and telling them how long they could be together.”

In the 1960s, Black students rallied together to make their presence known and write their own history at UH. One of the ways they did this was by putting together Experience 71, a Black annual spearheaded by the Black Student Union similar to UH’s yearbook, The Houstonian. 

In an article published by The Cougar on March 10, 1971, associate editor Eddie Dupree of the Black annual described Experience 71 as a way for Black students to be recognized on campus without having to do something outstanding like become a star athlete. 

“If the Houstonian paid more attention to the Blacks on campus, perhaps the Black annual would not be necessary,” said Dupree. 

A month after The Cougar published that article, another article emerged on April 6, 1971 detailing how posters for the Black annual kept disappearing. Someone, they thought, was tearing them down, according to the article. 

Despite the setback, the Black annual editor in chief Eunice Curry promised things would still be rolling as promised. 

Although copies of Experience 71 have yet to be found by The Cougar, the Houstonian showcases a photo of Curry and a member of her staff holding up flyers promoting the Black annual on page 200. 

From the moment Black students stepped foot on campus, they were advocating for a more inclusive, just and equal society despite all the discrimination and prejudice attacking them left and right. 

“As an educator, I’m always celebrating Juneteenth because Juneteenth for me isn’t necessarily the festival time but the fact that, I am free to walk into a classroom on a campus that would not have welcomed me in its very beginnings,” said Green. 

Juneteenth is a way to remember these students and acknowledge UH’s own Black history and the impact it continues to have on campus. 

“Juneteenth is a moment to pause and to reflect, but I believe that it is important to push forward in what those people envisioned for the people who were freed, and also what they expected of our country: that it would be an inclusive place where everyone would have opportunities and that they would have access,” said Green. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Celebrating Juneteenth at UH: Making Black history known” was originally posted on The Cougar