Gov. Greg Abbott’s rhetoric poisons a debate on homelessness that should focus on decriminalization. | Courtesy of World Travel and Tourism Council via Wikimedia Commons

Governor Greg Abbott said on Twitter “Austin’s policy of lawlessness has allowed vicious acts like this,” referencing a video of a man damaging a car.

The policy he spoke about was Austin’s approach to fighting homelessness. The governor was criticizing the city’s lax rules enacted to help out its homeless population. The thing was, the man wasn’t homeless.

This misconception about homeless residents being dangerous is harmful. Abbott’s rhetoric poisons a debate that should focus on decriminalization efforts. Few people experiencing homelessness are able to avoid the destructive cycle of poverty, but there is hope.

In the U.S., there are about half a million people without permanent housing. Those numbers are more pronounced in more unequal cities like San Francisco, Washington D.C. and New York City.

Texas cities have experienced incredible growth in recent years. Austin and Fort Worth rank as two of the top three fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. Texas needs to address the problem of homelessness by passing bold, effective solutions.

In the traditional view of ending homelessness, policymakers and residents tend to see housing as a reward, with housing gained only after the person has reached a stable enough place in their lives to afford a place to live long term.

This is what’s known as the staircase model, a step-by-step path through temporary housing on the way to permanent accommodations. Houston is a city that follows this model, but it’s an ineffective tactic because it doesn’t do enough to create the housing the city needs.

In Austin, hostile lawmakers have battled over anti-camping ordinances and sidewalk bans. Abbott continues to threaten the homeless population, but his hostility misdiagnoses the problem.

We know that without institutional support at each step, too many people fall through the cracks. Luckily, a few cities around the world provide a roadmap for how Texas can make a difference in the fight against homelessness.

In Helsinki, they’ve flipped the paradigm of the homelessness path and instituted the Housing First principle. This move ends the expectation that housing is conditional. In turn, they have gotten rid of many short-term shelters in favor of thousands of permanent housing units.

The result has been a 35 percent reduction of the long-term homeless population, and Finland is the only country in the EU where homelessness is on the decline.

With the stability that comes from having a place to stay long term, homeless residents can actually get back on track.

In San Diego, lawmakers have set out to accomplish the lofty goal of cutting street homelessness in half. Homelessness among veterans and youth would end in the next three years — the Finns would likely applaud this move.

The plan is to spend close to $2 billion on housing and homeless services. They’ll also ask residents to buy-in early so they have a say in what happens in their communities. The same is happening in New York City.

Public buy-in is a key rule when proposing homeless solutions. In Seattle, a proposed “head tax” would have taxed employees of some of the city’s richest companies. It was passed then repealed after public pressure and Amazon stepped in to kill the measure.

Solutions to ending homelessness are complex. We know when all stakeholders aren’t considered, problems are bound to arise. Criminalization of homelessness is a wrong step. It puts more risk of danger on those who have to experience the criminal justice system.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to ending homelessness, and demonizing people doesn’t help. Each city has to address its own needs, but there are some practical places to start. Everyone would be better off if Texas became a leader in solving this problem for good.

Drew Jones is a print journalism senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Texas leaders need to be serious about ending homelessness. Here’s how they can do it” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Houston, with its ample land and lax culture, became home to some of the most prominent Black neighborhoods in the country. | File photo

At the turn of the 20th century, as nearly everyone in America was on the move due to the forces of industrialization, an expanding country and the fallout from Reconstruction, Black Americans set out to create communities for themselves where they could live, work and prosper.

Houston, with its ample land and lax culture, became home to some of the most prominent Black neighborhoods in the country.

The Third Ward was established as one of the six historic wards and has grown to become one of the largest and most diverse Black neighborhoods in the city. Independence Heights became the first African American municipality in Texas after residents migrated there in the early 1900s for new opportunities. Acres Homes was formed during World War I as Black residents sought out the land for farming and easy access to downtown.

As Houston expands at a blistering pace, these historically Black neighborhoods have experienced the effects of gentrification firsthand. New residents flood into the areas because of cheap land prices, an abundance of space and proximity to centers of work and recreation.

The loss of these neighborhoods would be a blow to the city’s reputation as one of the most diverse in the nation, and the erasure of these communities would be a shame. Houston’s character is so deeply dependent on the contributions made by its Black residents both past and present.

Leon Preston II, a pastor at Yale Street Baptist Church in Independence Heights, said the loss of that community, which is rapidly disappearing, would cause irreparable damage to the city.

“When we lose this community, Houston loses a limb, a limb that was traditionally there, a limb that was vitally important, a limb that made the city what it was,” he said.

Historically Black neighborhoods are as vital to the city as limbs are to the body. When development targets an area for revitalization, little attention is paid to residents who lose property or are displaced.

A study by the Kinder Institute at Rice University said residents in the Third Ward pushing back against gentrification in the historic Freedmen’s Town see the issue “as a matter of social justice.” The effects of gentrification aren’t just about diversity for the sake of appearance. There’s a cost to the city losing its Black opportunity base with “black businesses and communities diminished by highway construction in the urban renewal era, desegregation and sustained underinvestment,” according to the study.

The city needs to be investing in historically Black neighborhoods through the creation of affordable housing and tax incentives instead of allowing the private sector to further inequality by pushing longtime residents out in favor of business contributions or profit opportunities.

Mayor Sylvester Turner is the product of one of this city’s historically Black neighborhoods — Acres Home. His tenure as mayor is a testament to the kind of results this city can get when its Black residents are given opportunities and investment.

As Houston is on the cusp of becoming the nation’s third largest, my hope is this city doesn’t forget its roots.

Drew Jones is a print journalism senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“Houston’s identity threatened by gentrification of historically Black neighborhoods” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is a UH alumna who graduated with a bachelor degree in speech and pathology in 1970. | Trevor Nolley/The Cougar

Former professor and UH alumna Elizabeth Warren frequently cites UH as the school that gave her the chance to succeed, for just $50 a semester, but University records show that attending the college cost more than that.

Warren regularly repeats the claim on the campaign trail while delivering her stump speech, reciting it on at least two occasions this year in Houston. Once while hosting a town hall on campus in July and again last month during the Democratic primary debate at Texas Southern University.

“I got my big opportunity about a half-mile down the road,” Warren said during the Sept. 12 debate, “at the University of Houston, back when it cost $50 a semester.”

69-70Tuition

Course bulletins archived in the UH Library Special Collections show that while the base tuition cost $50 in Spring 1970, the year Warren graduated, she likely paid at least $105 per semester. That number includes a student service fee and various building fees. This does not include the cost of parking, books or supplies.

Adjusting the total cost from 1970 for inflation in today’s dollars, the $105 would have cost roughly $712.66 in 2019, while the $50 claim adjusts to $339.36.

The estimated cost of books and supplies was $35 in Spring 1970 and the parking fee was set at $7 per semester.

The Warren for President campaign has not responded to a request for comment about the discrepancy.

Warren is a graduate of UH, receiving a bachelor of science degree in speech and pathology. She returned to UH for two years as a professor of law beginning in 1978.

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Did UH cost $50 a semester when Elizabeth Warren attended?” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

The Cougar is celebrating, but it’s not slowing down.

This issue pays homage to the first edition of The Cougar published in its current iteration 85 years ago on Oct. 5. I often wonder how different it was being a part of the newspaper then.

Some of the stories covered then are happening today. “Officials Claim Big Enrollment is Encouraging” reads one headline from back then. In this issue, University officials express satisfaction that this year’s freshman class is the largest to date. Wherever the University is headed, The Cougar is going that same way to let the rest of the community know.

While the current crop of journalists here have been a part of the newspaper for only a small portion of The Cougar’s time, we have immense respect for the history of the oldest organization on campus. What would we not know today about the University’s history if The Cougar hadn’t written about it?

Over the years, however, The Cougar has had to adapt or die.

When the paper could no longer sustain printing daily, it became weekly. The day when The Cougar can no longer support a print product is not far off. It’s inevitable for the industry as a whole.

The print edition might die with a whimper, or there might be mass outcry from the University community.

Either way, it’ll all be OK. The Cougar will still be here. UH students who care about this campus as much as anyone will still be working here.

The miracle of a new group of students coming in every year energized to cover the University has never stopped. Students value this campus. Students want to tell its stories, big or small.

Not every university newspaper has as much support as The Cougar does. We’re lucky and grateful to be valued by the community.

This edition of The Cougar won’t matter in 10 years, save someone researching the University or a specific issue. What will matter is The Cougar will be there for the University, to tell its stories and ask for it to aim higher.

editor@thedailycougar.com

—
“Letter from the editor: Still chugging 85 years on” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

President Renu Khator joined 21 other NCAA representatives in September in urging California Gov. Gavin Newsom to not sign a bill aimed at allowing student athletes to profit off their names, likenesses and images. | File photo

There was a video that circulated on Twitter during the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Titled “Student and athlete — a day in the life,” the short served as an ad for the NCAA and depicted a young man’s routine during a typical day as both a university student and collegiate athlete.

In the span of 30 seconds, he wakes up pre-dawn, raises his hand in the front row of a class, mixes it up with friends on the yard, jogs with teammates, calls plays and gets in-huddle coaching during a basketball game, checks his phone in the library afterward and, finally, lays back down in bed, poised to do it all again the next day.

The reaction from former and current collegiate athletes ranged from lampooning it via comedic memes and parodic videos to some providing their actual schedules showing far less leisure time and participation in education-based activities. The undercurrent of the criticism was that student athletes are overworked, undersupported and, most importantly, unpaid for their labor.

On Sept. 30, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 206 into law, granting NCAA athletes the ability to sign endorsement deals and allowing them to pursue sponsorships with the help of agents.

The long-overdue move represents an avenue of opportunity for thousands of athletes who have been profited from without receiving any of the rewards. It’s also a welcome step toward alleviating the glaring racial disparity of black athletes in major sports, who have been bell cows for their respective schools without being paid and sometimes unjustly punished for selling their own merchandise.

How that will unfold is yet to play out, but it’s not unsupported that the NCAA’s current player-student model is untenable.

In recent years, there have been increasing calls for athletes to be compensated, especially as major college sports have become big business, with conferences inking TV deals and schools garnering huge sponsorship contracts with companies like Nike and Adidas. During March Madness alone, the NCAA earned nearly $1 billion over the course of a few weeks.

Stars like LeBron James and Draymond Green came out in support of the bill, saying it’s a step in the right direction of economic justice for athletes who struggle to handle all the secondary costs of attending college — which can include finding ways to eat. Former UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, whose viral floor routine earned the PAC-12 Conference and the NCAA millions of views across social media, didn’t receive a dime for the performance.

Critics of the bill say that allowing players to be paid will blur the lines between professional and amateur athletes, but it’s hard to see how the current dynamic doesn’t further entrench the established powers that already gain so much from players’ unpaid labor.

Earlier this year, a federal judge in California ruled in Alston v. NCAA that the NCAA’s rules on compensation violate antitrust laws and need to be expanded. But before the Fair Pay to Play Act was signed, Pesident Renu Khator, along with 21 other NCAA representatives, came out against its passage, saying among other things the bill was unconstitutional.

This embarrassing move is sure to land on the wrong side of history. So will Khator’s conservative style of leadership, which has grated some of her once-supporters and eroded her past progressive bona fides.

Assuming the law survives all the court challenges that will surely be mounted against it, when it goes into effect in 2023, it’s sure to cause a seismic shift across amateur sports.

It’s easy to imagine a scenario where the bill’s elements force other power states like Texas, Alabama, Ohio and Florida to adopt similar provisions rather than ceding crucial recruiting advantages to California and waging a costly fight they’re likely to lose.

Then, instead of simply luring top athletes with gigantic stadiums and state-of-the-art facilities, conferences will have to contend with the landscape of athletes making business-type decisions about where their talents will be properly compensated and how they’ll best be marketed while still in school.

The central question asks whether athletes should be paid for their labor as schools are making billions from their product, and California has taken the first step in finally getting an answer.

Drew Jones is a print journalism senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com

—
“California leads the way in passing law to pay student athletes” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

UHPD is offering workshops to educate people how to respond to an active shooter scenario. | File photo

UHPD has partnered with a student organization to host workshops to educate students what to do in an active shooter situation.

The Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events program is led by UHPD. They hold bi-monthly workshops to address shooting scenarios.

“A lot of people say, ‘I don’t want to be paranoid all the time,’ ” said UHPD Sgt. Dina Padovan. “But it’s not, it’s a state of awareness, of what is going on.”

Stop the Bleed, the student organization that partners with UHPD at these monthly workshops, focuses on educating students on how to potentially save the lives of their peers if it were ever to be needed.

“We want people to know that anyone can make a difference,” said Vice President for Stop the Bleed Sahar Baig. “You probably have something in your backpack right now that could be used to save someone from bleeding out in an emergency.”

In September, a workshop was canceled due to the Democratic debate at Texas Southern University. Although there was no official workshop, many students still wandered into the KIVA auditorium at Farish Hall not knowing the event was canceled and addressed their concerns.

“I don’t know what I’d do especially in such a large classroom,” said education student Michelle Chang.

Chang is not alone when it comes to her uncertainty in a shooter situation. To address these concerns, UHPD pushes students to always be aware of their surroundings even if it may seem unnecessary.

“I think it’s important for everyone to know this information, especially for future teachers,” Chang said. “Too much is done after the fact, there needs to be more focus on prevention.”

UHPD shares a similar mindset to Chang.

“You have to script and practice. We know what to do if we ever catch on fire: stop, drop and roll,” Padovan said. “So, in the event of a shooter, we try to instill avoid, deny and defend.”

Athletes emphasize repetition when practicing their sport. The reason for it is so when they enter a pressure-packed situation, their muscle memory will take over. UHPD wishes to establish the same philosophy during these workshops.

“Avoid running towards the commotion, deny access to the area where you are at, and defend at all cost,” Padovan said. “There are no rules for your survival.”

The next CRASE workshop is scheduled for Nov. 13. UHPD and Stop the Bleed share a common objective in holding these workshops.

“Our goal, above all, is to reach as many people as possible,” Baig said. “Our main message is that anyone can take action to save a life.”

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“UHPD offers workshops to educate people on active shooting scenario” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke met with ABC News following the Democratic  debate. | Trevor Nolley/The Cougar

Round three of the Democratic primary debates took place Thursday night steps away from UH at Texas Southern University, where candidates spoke about their plans to help college students, including investing in historically black colleges and universities.

It was the first time the primary debates took place on one night. Ten candidates stood on one stage in the three-hour debate that aired on ABC. 

Several candidates spoke on how they plan to help HBCUs, including Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Bernie Sanders and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

Harris said she has a plan to invest $2 trillion into HBCUs. 

“If a black child has a black teacher before the end of third grade, they’re 13 percent more likely to go to college,” Harris said, who went to Howard University, a historically black school. “When we fix it, that will fix so many other things. We must invest in the potential of our children.”

TSU political science professor Michael Adams said on Tuesday historically black colleges and universities often receive less funding than predominantly white institutions, especially in regard to research grants. 

“This is important for our faculty and students,” Adams said about candidates investing in HBCUs. 

Other candidates weighed in on how they would invest in HBCUs. Sanders signaled to his proposal of tuition-free college and elimination of student debt, while Buttigieg signaled support for additional investment also. 

Former Rep. Beto O’Rourke said he would sign Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s reparations bill into law when asked what he would do to address the U.S.’s racial divide.

Lee’s bill aims to make a commission that would “study the impact of slavery and continuing discrimination against African-Americans and look at possible compensation.” 

A similar bill was proposed in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Cory Booker, but no other candidates mentioned it Thursday night. 

The first issue spoken about at length and showing the biggest divides in the Democratic Party was health care. The health care discussion played out similar to the second Democratic debate in Detroit with Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sanders defending their Medicare for All positions against moderate attacks, including from front-runner former Vice President Joe Biden. 

Biden framed his health care plan as more affordable, costing only $740 million compared to Medicare for All’s estimated more than $3 trillion cost. He said his plan would allow every American to have an affordable option to access health care coverage.

“I lay out how I can pay for it, how I can get it done,” Biden said. 

Warren was pressed about how she would pay for her health care plan, which the candidates spent almost 30 minutes discussing. The former UH law professor said costs would go up for corporations and wealthy individuals but ensured that middle-class families wouldn’t face higher costs at the end of the day. 

“That’s how it should work under Medicare for All in our health care system,” Warren said. 

TSU students had hundreds of seats in the Health and Physical Education Building that held 3,500 people. 

Adams said he would take a focus group pre- and post-debate poll, gauging how TSU students felt about the debate. 

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“Health care, education big topics of third Democratic debate” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Dozens of University freshmen sleeping inside Cougar Village 2 were abruptly woken up by fire alarms early Tuesday, alerting them to a flooding first floor lobby.

Students were woken up at about 4:40 a.m. to find that the first floor was flooded, according to several videos posted online. A large amount of water was streaming down from the ceiling into the lobby, computer engineering freshman Tony Alebsun said.

“I was pretty shocked, because it didn’t even seem real,” Alebsun said. “There was so much water coming at once.”

I’m just tryna go to sleep it’s 4:43am pic.twitter.com/qrt4ROge5n

— Tony (@tony_alebesun) September 10, 2019

Alebsun was walking back from Moody Towers Dining Hall when he saw people standing outside of CV2.

The flooding was caused by an HVAC system that malfunctioned at around 4:15 a.m., University spokesman Chris Stipes said.

“No student rooms were impacted (no residents live on the first floor),” Stipes said in an email. “A fire alarm prompted approximately 40 students to evacuate as a safety precaution, but they returned to their rooms within an hour.”

Stipes said maintenance crews were working throughout Tuesday to clean up the water, and the HVAC system had been repaired by 10 a.m. Two elevators were out of service, but two still remain operational, Stipes said.

news@thedailycougar.com

—
“CV2 flooded overnight forcing students to evacuate building” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Fans at the first tailgate expressed high hopes for the Cougars this season. | McKenzie Misiaszek/The Cougar

Amid the thundering roar of the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching band and following head coach Dana Holgorsen’s lead, Houston football players walked through the tailgating area in front of TDECU Stadium before their Saturday night game against Prairie View A&M in front of fans and family cheering.

Most players had a thousand-yard stare, focused and appearing preoccupied so not to be bothered by all the noise.

But some, for a moment, would break their concentrated look to hug their moms, many of whom were lined up to say good luck and embrace their sons.

“I want him to just enjoy the experience,” said Natasha McGowan, who watched her son Cole McGowan go by in the Cougar Walk pregame tradition. “I want him to listen to the crowd. I want him to look at all the red in the stands. I just want him to enjoy every minute and enjoy all senses of being able to play.”

Junior wide receiver Cole McGowan had one reception last week in Houston’s 49-31 loss to No. 4 Oklahoma. Fans at the opening tailgate for Houston expressed high hopes and felt UH football was on the right path, despite the OU loss.

Other players stopped to say a one last hello to their parents before UH’s matchup against PVAMU.

The mother McGowan said Cole has overcome two knee injuries, and she’s thankful he has the opportunity to see action.

The first home tailgate for UH was lively and packed. Alumni young and old, students and other UH fans alike got a chance to eat grilled meats and catch up with old classmates before the game.

Joaquin Perez, who graduated in 1995 with a political science degree, has been tailgating since 2003 with the same core group of friends and his family. He said he used to be able to bribe security to get a tailgating spot but now the college football tradition has gotten much larger at UH.

“It was more of a high school football atmosphere back in the day,” Perez said. “Even when we have small crowds here, it’s twice as big as what we used to have back when I first came to games.”

Perez said he was happy UH didn’t embarrass itself last week against OU, and he expected a win against PVAMU.

“Knock on wood,” Perez said. “I’ve seen UH lose some crazy games over the last 35-40 years.”

Perez’s wife Heather came to the tailgate wearing a PVAMU shirt and a UH hat. She received her master’s from Prairie View, but the team she was rooting for wasn’t a hard choice since she’s been going to Houston games for more than a decade.

“(While) I am repping my school,” she said, “UH is my football team.”

Both Perezes think the Cougars are on the right track under Holgorsen.

Kinesiology freshman Treva Ray came to the tailgate with three other first-year students and said they liked the high-energy atmosphere.

Ray’s friends too felt UH gave a good performance last week but felt that a win Saturday was nonnegotiable.

“I think they should blow them out,” Ray said. “No exceptions.”

sports@thedailycougar.com

—
“Fans, despite OU loss, have high hopes for Houston” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Finding friends is hard, but it’s important to find make some as you start college. | Katrina Martinez/The Cougar

Loneliness isn’t something that was promised as part of the college experience on TV, but many of today’s students are forced to make acquaintance with it once they start higher education.

In the modern college climate, friendship may seem like a commodity, which falls into the laps of the fortunate and picks its targets at random. That’s simply not true, as everybody is capable of making friends, but it requires some work.

There’s a loneliness crisis on college campuses. If you ever feel as though you aren’t capable of making friends or that people just don’t want to hang out with you, put that out of your mind. It’s not your fault. The landscape has changed in the last decade, and relationships don’t form as effortlessly as they used to.

Making friends at college isn’t easy. It’s even harder for those who live off campus. Classmates most frequently tend to themselves and strangers often keep their heads low. Even for those living in the residence halls, while they might have an easier time, their neighbors will probably be hanging out with friends that they already have, or staying in their rooms.

What are you supposed to do when trying to make friends? You need to make an effort to branch out. But finding a situation where you’re comfortable with socializing is somewhat of a daunting task, especially if you get anxious easily.

Talking to strangers is the tried and true method of making new friends. It’s how I found my friends. To many, this is the most terrifying notion that they could be approached with. It seems as though everybody wants to be left alone and anybody who interrupts their silence will be seen as little more than a nuisance.

But here’s a well-kept secret — that’s not true. Ninety percent of the time, talking to strangers will be a pleasant experience for both parties — and that other 10 percent won’t result in anything worse than a fleeting awkward moment.

If that’s not your style, then joining a club is probably your best option. It’s the most common piece of advice given to people who are dealing with this issue for good reason. You’re almost guaranteed to find people with common interests there.

So, why should you make friends in college? Well, it’s important. Spending time with friends is not only important for de-stressing, but is also an excellent catalyst for fine-tuning your social skills, which is vital to finding and keeping a job.

Friendship is a scary thing to be without in a new environment, and the loneliness and fear that accompany that absence are far cries from what anybody wants to subjected to in such an important transition in their lives.

You don’t have to be stuck in that situation, because there are plenty of opportunities to meet people on campus. Plus, you have plenty of resources to assist you through the process. You just have to put yourself out there.

And if you’re still having trouble talking to new people, then try to remember this: We’re all college students, just like you. If you can’t think of anything else to break the ice, then you can always fall back on the classic, “What’s your major?”

Opinion columnist Kyle Dishongh is a finance sophomore and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com.

—
“Friendship is attainable in college, but it requires some work” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar