Police arrested a lecturer Tuesday under suspicion of allegedly possessing child pornography. 

Sources said James Chang, who is listed as a lecturer and assistant director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Mathematics, was taken into custody just moments after dismissing his class for the day. The University said they were aware of the allegations and have suspended Chang’s employment. 

“The University of Houston is aware of the charges filed against James Chang,” said University spokesperson Chris Stipes. “His employment as a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics has been suspended.”

Chang received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UH. He has worked at UH twice previously; once as a Teaching assistant from 2007-2011 and again as a graduate teaching fellow from 2014-2016. 

This is an evolving story, check back for further updates.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“UH lecturer arrested under suspicion of possessing child pornography” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

In an email alert sent out on Wednesday, the University notified students about a suspect who police said fatally shot and killed an individual somewhere near campus. Currently, officials said the victim and shooter are not believed to be associated with UH.

“Out of abundance of caution we are sending this alert,” the email read. “Please be aware of your surroundings and notify the police if you see anything suspicious.” 

The suspect shot and killed an adult male at 3300 Reeves Street, authorities said. This area is less than a mile away from both the UH and TSU campuses. 

The alleged shooter is believed to be injured and on foot. A description of the suspect from the email said that he is an, “Heavyset black male with dreadlocks containing beads.” UH along with TSU and METRO police departments, are helping the Houston Police Department in the search for the suspect.  

The shooting took place after a couple — the suspect and his girlfriend — were arguing and another man intervened. The man in his early 20s was shot several times before being taken to the hospital and declared deceased, authorities told ABC 13. 

If you see any suspicious activity notify UHPD at (713) 743-3333, or dial 911.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Breaking: Suspect in fatal shooting at large near UH” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

In an email alert sent out on Wednesday, the University notified students about a suspect who police said fatally shot and killed an individual somewhere near campus. Currently, officials said the victim and shooter are not believed to be associated with UH.

“Out of abundance of caution we are sending this alert,” the email read. “Please be aware of your surroundings and notify the police if you see anything suspicious.” 

The suspect shot and killed an adult male at 3300 Reeves Street, authorities said. This area is less than a mile away from both the UH and TSU campuses. 

The alleged shooter is believed to be injured and on foot. A description of the suspect from the email said that he is an, “Heavyset black male with dreadlocks containing beads.” UH along with TSU and METRO police departments, are helping the Houston Police Department in the search for the suspect.  

The shooting took place after a couple — the suspect and his girlfriend — were arguing and another man intervened. The man in his early 20s was shot several times before being taken to the hospital and declared deceased, authorities told ABC 13. 

If you see any suspicious activity notify UHPD at (713) 743-3333, or dial 911.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Breaking: Suspect in fatal shooting at large near UH” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

The media is the most powerful human tool there is. A creator, persuader, lifter of the human spirit, a destroyer and liar. A message making propaganda machine, or a tool of human excellence, a forum for debate and speculation. Prove the truth of it, and even tyrants have to take you seriously.

In the past 15 years 70 dailies and over 2000 weekly news operations have gone out of business in America. 78 million Americans live in a news desert, where local news has vanished or is under control of monopolistic organizations. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic 2,500 local news operations have gone out of operation in America. Not surprisingly the average American has spent only $3.16 annually on public media, in Germany that rises to $142.00, in Botswana they spend $18.38. Priorities eh?

National and local governments advertise in local news media operations, messaging the importance of local media by investing in it both indirectly and directly. The importance of this government largesse cannot be ignored, just as the influence and power these organizations have upon the media also cannot be ignored. 

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation receives over a billion dollars from the Federal Government, its lion share of investment to stay operational. Various politicians have attempted to end this investment, seeing the CBC as a propaganda wing of the Liberal Party. Conservatives partner with private broadcasting, and see public airways as a means to a profitable end. 

To a conservative, Republican or nationalist political organization, local media is something to be manipulated and used, while the alphabet media is something to assist and praise. Big media is big business. Big business is not democratic, as it reaches for one thing, and one thing only: profitable popularity.  Public media and local media operations live and work within the communities they serve. In a world where the large absorb the small, your local media is essentially the most valuable tool democracy has.

Small town media has been the historical backbone of democracies planet wide. What do your fellow citizens think about this issue, or that? The alphabet media companies don’t care, in fact they see media as a form of entertainment. Local media struggles to pay its employees, often forcing media labor discussions. Who reports upon the needs of those on strike, those who have not received pay raises for many years or those who endure the ever-increasing costs of our marketplace? Local Media gives the little person a voice! That is what it is all about.

Oscar Wilde said “In America, the president reigns for four years, and journalism governs forever and ever.” Newspapers are sacred artifacts of historic importance. Technology has begun changing the way you get your news, but that news still leads you on a sacred quest to view, consume, and express new opinions.

Letters to the editor can be submitted to editor@thedailycougar.com

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“Letter to the Editor: Local news under fire” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

In the latest U.S. News and World Report Rankings, the University of Houston now ranks No. 70 in the list of the 2024 Top Public Universities. Making a leap of 21 positions — from 91 to 70 — in just one year. 

“This remarkable climb in the national rankings in just one year is a testament to our shared vision and the determination of the UH community,” said University chancellor and president Renu Khator in a press release. “Our progress is not just about numbers; it’s about the positive, lasting impact we have on our students and the broader community. Our students deserve the best education, and our city and state deserve a top-notch public university.”

In addition to climbing in the rankings for public schools, UH now ranks No.133 — a 48-spot jump —  among all national public and private universities that offer a full range of undergraduate majors as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

UH’s graduation rates played a huge part in the rankings boost this year, according to the press release. Since 2013, graduation rates at UH have risen 16%. According to the 2024 report, the University’s graduation rate for at-risk students is proportional to the overall graduation rate for all students. 

Leadership at UH have set their sights on becoming a top 50 university and the University already has several top 10 and 50 graduate programs. 

The University ranks in the top 10 for several of its law programs and petroleum engineering and within the top 50 in pharmacy, social work, part-time MBA and political science.

“We haven’t reached our apex but we are getting better. UH is now 21 steps closer to becoming a top 50 public university, but there are still 20 more steps to take. It will not be easy, but our vision is clear, and we will continue to make our university better each day,” Khator said.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“UH makes historic jump in college ranking” was originally posted on The Cougar

Don’t be fooled though, despite their overwhelming digital and physical presence, parking does not want to hear from you. | File photo

Editor’s note: A previous version of this letter erroneously stated that the Cougar reporter was removed from a Teams meeting. The TPAC meeting held Friday was in-person. 

You don’t have to walk far at UH to see something about parking. Whether it’s a student ambassador, yard sign or alert sent to your email — Parking and Transportation Services are everywhere. Hell, they even have a Reddit, Twitter and Instagram. 

Don’t be fooled though, despite their overwhelming digital and physical presence, parking does not want to hear from you. Quite the opposite really, these accounts serve only to put a nice, happy face on a department that will always be at odds with the student population. 

Since the announcement of the controversial changes to the Sugar Land Shuttle, The Cougar has repeatedly attempted to contact the department for additional guidance. Thus far, our attempts have been met with crickets and the occasional indifferent shrug. 

Emails have gone unanswered. Phone calls are met with a never-ending hold — interrupted only by an occasional robotic  “it seems very busy today.” Yet, when I went to the customer service center it wasn’t very busy at all. In fact, the only employees there were two very bored-looking front desk attendants. 

Worst of all, after The Cougar was invited to attend a Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee meeting Friday, the reporter was unceremoniously removed from the meeting. The only explanation they were given was that it was a “closed” meeting. 

While TPAC’s bylaws stipulate that the committee may hold private executive sessions, the meeting held today was not one. Further, their bylaws go on to state that meetings should be generally open to the public. 

“The voting membership of the Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee, through the Chairperson, shall have the authority to call executive sessions at its discretion that shall exclude the general public if deemed appropriate and necessary,” The TPAC bylaws state. “This shall be judiciously performed and reasonable access to the committee for the general public shall not be unreasonably withheld.”

I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I don’t think kicking a student journalist from a TPAC meeting is very judicious or reasonable. Further, I fail to see how any of the information discussed would necessitate a media black out. 

With all that in mind, this isn’t to say we don’t understand or sympathize. Parking at UH has always been a problem, and it will continue to be one. It’s something that just comes with the territory of living in a city made entirely out of traffic cones and freeways. 

My intent isn’t to roast those at Parking and Transportation Services that are just doing their job. It’s an unpopular one, but someone has to do it. That being said, when employees are purposefully keeping important information behind closed-door meetings, it calls into question their motivations. 

Perhaps the reason Parking and Transportation Services are so afraid of transparency is because they’re aware the answer they have for the student body is insufficient. In effect, students who live on campus but take courses only at Sugar Land have been told to catch the city bus or drive the 20+ miles to get to class. 

This is not the type of solution that should be expected of a campus with such a large commuter population, nor should it be accepted. But if it’s the solution we’re getting, clearly communicate that. Be upfront and direct, don’t act like the department is providing solutions for these students when it is clearly not. 

This is of course unrealistic. Since the dawn of public relations, institutions have become absolutely incapable of communicating bad news without some sort of spin. The thing is, they don’t need to. All they need to do is provide an avenue for interested students and student journalists alike to find the answers themselves.

editor@thedailycougar.com

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“Letter from the Editor: Transparency desperately needed in parking, transportation” was originally posted on The Cougar

Gerald Sastra/The Cougar

In an email sent out Tuesday, the University announced that it will be restricting access to the Sugar Land Shuttle service. 

The email, which was sent by Parking and Transportation Services Vice President Neil Hart, said that beginning Oct. 2 the shuttle service will be limited only to Technology Division students during peak hours. 

“Only Technology Division students enrolled in classes at both UH and UH at Sugar Land will be able to ride the UH at Sugar Land Cougar Line shuttle buses during the peak periods of 7-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. Monday-Friday,” the email read. “Access for eligible students will be loaded automatically onto their digital Cougar Cards.”

The announcement came after a recent wave of complaints from students who said overcrowding and other issues have created problems getting to and from class. 

These issues have stemmed from students using the shuttles as a park and ride service to get from Sugar Land to UH, according to the email. While the University said it added a fourth bus to help manage demand, capacity remains a concern. 

“We have added a fourth shuttle to serve peak class times, and still have not been able to address demand. It is functioning as a park and ride service with peaks during the morning and evening rush hours, which was not the intent,” the email read. 

Students who do not fall under the Technology Division are still eligible to ride during off hours. For those who have relied on the shuttle for transportation to campus, the University recommended students take the METRO bus or the Fort Bend Express Commuter Park and Ride. 

Additionally, UH offers the Coogs on Alternative and Sustainable Transportation program which offers a METRO card incentive. COAST provides eligible students with a maximum of $27.50 a month towards their METRO fare. 

news@thedailycougar.com

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“No more park and ride: UH to limit Sugar Land Shuttle access” was originally posted on The Cougar

Jose Gonzalez-Campelo/The Cougar

This week, The Cougar takes a look back through its archives at some of the most notable events to happen in September throughout the decades. 

No More Rice In Diet; Famous Dome Is Home — 20th Anniversary of Football at UH 

Since 1952, UH had shared its home football attractions with the Rice Owls for their home games every Saturday. The Cougars did not really enjoy this though as stated by The Cougar’s writer, Sonny Yates. 

After years of patience, in the fall of 1965 UH finally got access to its own football home stadium. 

“Sparkling like a rare jewel on a one-time Houston swamp, the new football home for the Big Red is the Taj Mahal of all stadiums,” Yates said. 

It wasn’t special just because of the anticipation but also because it was beyond comparison as nothing like the Dome was ever built before. We had the champions of stadiums.

“Some called it The Harris County Domed Stadium; others refer to it as the “Dome” but its official name is the Astrodome,” Yates said. 

It sat about 52,000 UH fans in the fall of ‘65 and was nicknamed as the “Eighth Wonder” with a main focus on how comfortable and superior the up-holstered theater-type seating system was when compared with the Cotton Bowl and Rice Stadium. 

When the Cougars scored a touchdown, technicians would set off a gigantic touchdown display similar to the Astros’ home run display. 

It was the best way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of football at UH. 

Author Gaines to Speak

During the fall semester of 1984, author Ernest Gaines gave a reading from his then most recent work, “A Gathering of Old Men” at the UH-Downtown Center Ballroom which was followed by a reception. 

“Ernest Gaines has been described by Time magazine as possibly the best Black writer in America,” said Pam Ice, then news writer for The Cougar. 

Gaines was also teaching a creative writing course at the Downtown campus in the fall of ‘84. 

Gaines could not find anything written about the people he had grown up with which led him to start writing at the age of 16, Ice said. 

Gaines had taught at the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette intermittently since 1981 and was returning there in January to teach creative writing. He felt that he had a lot to give students there.

“I was born and raised there. I know the language, most of the people I will be teaching are from Louisiana. They look at the kind of things I write about and they know a lot of the kind of people I know,” Gaines said. 

Gaines was influenced by many authors other than Faulkner, with whom he is often compared. He had no favorite writer, but two of his favorite novels were “War and Peace” by Tolstoy and “Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain, according to Ice.

Gaines achieved both critical and popular acclaim in 1971 with his novel, “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman”.

“I don’t write for any particular group. But if I had to write for any one group, I would write for the Black youth of the South.” Gaines said. “If I had to write for more than one group, it would be the Black and white youth – just the youth – of the south. I feel there is much more I can give them than I can give others”.

Pavilion pandemonium keeps UH students in line

Last week, The Cougar released an article on the shuttle services from the Sugar Land campus to the main campus, and the struggles of the students who wait in the endless cues only to lose their time and energy. 

In the fall of 1987, a similar phenomenon was occurring where students had to wait in long cues only to add/drop their classes.

“This was add/drop, the place where even the saddest of schedules get worse,” wrote Ruthie Piller and Deanna Rodriguez, then Cougar opinion writers. 

In this era of digitalization where we add and drop our classes whenever we want, the students in 1987 had to wait in long cues at a designated time based on their names. Even after waiting for hours, they would not get the desired classes. 

“We stood in line after line,” Piller and Rodriguez said. “After all that, we still didn’t get all the classes we wanted at the desired times.” they added. 

The administrators estimated that 10,000 to 12,000 students added and dropped Wednesdays and Thursdays, according to Piller and Rodriguez.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“From the archives: September in UH history” was originally posted on The Cougar

Renu Khator will be featured among several other notable Houston names at this year’s TribFest. | File photo

Every year, the Texas Tribune hosts a festival in downtown Austin. Marketed as a way to bring community members and leaders together, this year’s TribFest features an impressive lineup of local politicians, journalists and several familiar names including UH System Chancellor Renu Khator.

Khator, who will be a part of a three-person panel on building research powerhouses, is not the only noteworthy Houstonian that will be featured at TribFest. Though the event is hosted in Austin, Texas Tribune spokesperson Matt Ewalt said the lineup should be of interest to any Houston native. 

“With nearly 300 speakers and 125 panels, what’s nice for folks from Houston, is that they will find conversations that are of immediate interest and impact with Houston leaders,” Ewalt said. “Outside of that there are events that may pique their curiosity for a little more exploration.”

Among those speakers and panels will be Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles. Miles, who was brought in as a part of Texas’ takeover of the district, has been the subject of criticism for his handling of HISD’s revamp. The Houston Landing will be hosting Miles for a one-on-one discussion on his plan for the coming year. 

Also listed as a speaker is Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. While she is still listed as a speaker on the TribFest site, Ewalt said that it remains unclear if Hidalgo will still attend after she announced her leave of absence earlier this year.

“We’d certainly be honored to have her,” Ewalt said. “We’re gonna wait to hear from her as to whether her schedule and priorities will allow for her to still be a part of TribFest.”

Hidalgo, Miles and Khator are just some of the Houston-based speakers that will take the stage at TribFest 2023. For a look at the full lineup, check out the speaker page.

What’s TribFest?

A part of what Ewalt refers to as “event-based journalism,” the goal of TribFest is to create a greater community dialogue between the people that make and are featured in the media, and the audiences they serve. 

“The Texas Tribune was a pioneer in these types of larger journalism events,” Ewalt said. “This is different from other kinds of festivals in that it is an extension of, and in alignment with, a lot of the journalism that The Tribune is doing throughout the year.” 

The Tribune, which operates as a non-profit, focuses more on the direct impact of its reporting than clicks or ad revenue generated. As an organization that is primarily member-supported, The Tribune has placed a special emphasis on building community through its reporting. 

This is exactly what Ewalt and the editorial board of The Texas Tribune have set out to do with TribFest. The event’s organizers pride themselves on fostering an environment that promotes honesty and a holistic approach to interviewing and public discussion. 

“These are interviews in which speakers aren’t given questions in advance, and indeed, our attendees have an opportunity to ask questions of our speakers,” Ewalt said. “So, there is this natural conversation happening on stage that isn’t pre-canned.”

Students from all universities are encouraged to attend. For those concerned by the cost of admission, TribFest offers a discounted rate of $50 for individuals who purchase their ticket using a university-affiliated email address. The student ticket provides access to all panel discussions in the event’s regular program. 

“For us, to have students and young Texans be part of these conversations matters tremendously,” Ewalt said. “We can look at a number of different political issues today where young people aren’t just part of the conversation but indeed in many respects leading those conversations and questioning current policy.”

news@thedailycougar.com

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“Khator, other Houston leaders to speak at TribFest 2023” was originally posted on The Cougar

Exhibit A: The copycat’s shadowy calling card | The Cougar

I suppose introductions are in order. 

I’d tell you my name, but you already know that. Who I am doesn’t matter nearly as much as what I do, anyway. Put simply, I solve problems — and this publication has a big one. 

It all started late one night when I was making my way across campus. I’d had a few, though not nearly enough to dull the drum beat of yesterday’s hangover. The air hung thick and heavy, pierced only by the ringing silence of a quiet summer night. Call it fate or just bad luck, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught the faintest glimpse of moonlight reflecting off a bright red sticker. 

“Not my problem,” I thought to myself, knowing full well that I was about to make it mine. 

Drawn by some irresistible urge to stick my nose where it’s likely to get cut off, I stumbled over to do just that. Getting a closer look at the sticker didn’t reveal much. A simple, Cougar-red background with a reversed “C” at its center. 

A lot of people think being a detective is all about the badge and the gun, but like most things, the important part usually comes down to you and your relationship with your gut. And let’s just say, something about that sticker hit mine like a semi hitting a Smart Car. 

“Not my problem,” I said, as if saying it aloud would somehow make it more true. 

Beads of sweat began to drip down my brow as the calming promise of a dirty mattress and a couple shots of cheap whiskey morphed into an aching need. I’d deal with it in the morning, if at all. 

But the morning didn’t come, at least not for me. Night simply bled into daytime as the haunting image of that inverted “C” danced across my vision, taunting me. I rolled out of bed, no more rested than when I lay down but driven by the singular purpose of putting my mind at ease. 

I stumbled out into the punishing daylight of the late morning, or maybe early afternoon — I wasn’t entirely sure which. It had rained at some point in the night, and the image of my reflection in the puddles told a story of a man in over his head. Dark circles surrounded my eyes and a generous layer of uneven stubble masked my features. 

Pushing my way through crowds of students on their way to class, I made my way back to the spot where I’d seen the sticker just hours before. 

But it wasn’t there. 

An initial wave of frustrated bewilderment soon gave way to a feeling of relief. Perhaps it had all been a dream, perhaps I had simply hallucinated — it wouldn’t be the first time. Either way, I felt comfortable enough in the excuses I was telling myself that I saw the real possibility of uninterrupted sleep in my near future. 

I grabbed a copy of the campus paper and made my way back home. A little reading, some more whiskey — I’d be blissfully asleep within the hour. 

Or so I’d thought.  

The first thing I noticed was the open door leading to my studio apartment. Even at my worst, I always made sure to lock up whenever I left. Tensing for a fight, I eased the door open and stepped into the dimly lit room. 

It had been ransacked. Papers, old case files, drawers, cupboards; just about everything had been upturned and scattered. The message was clear, whoever did this wanted me to know they were here. 

It became even more clear when I turned to face my front door and saw that same red sticker stuck to the entrance. Underneath it someone had carved the word “crooked” with what I can only assume was a pocket knife. 

Then it all clicked. I stared down at the campus paper still in my hands and saw the same symbol, but facing the correct way. I fished a pen out from under a pile of my scattered personal effects and opened a fresh case file. In thick black ink I scratched a title onto the cover. 

“The case of the crooked copycat.”

If you or someone you know has any information pertaining to the identity of the individual behind The Crooked Cougar, please contact CRIME STOPPERS at 713-743-5362.

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“The case of the crooked copycat, part 1: Crooked beginnings” was originally posted on The Cougar