Commuter Student Services gathered traffic, parking and other resourceful links to create a new commuter website, hoping to overcome common issues shared by the 85 percent of students commuting to campus.  |  Monica Tso/The Daily Cougar

Students’ struggling to find parking spots is a prominent issue that has caught the attention of the Division of Student Affairs as the staff launched a new comprehensive commuters’ website in May.

Commuters represent 85 percent of the undergraduate population, and they encounter unique challenges during their drives to campus, including rerouting to avoid traffic and locating available parking lots.

The Commuter Student Services Department in the Dean of Students Office is designed to identify and address these issues. Assistant Dean of Students Alison Von Bergen discussed the revamped commuter website.

“Our primary purpose is to ensure that the needs of commuter students are acknowledged and addressed by our campus community,” Von Bergen said.

A student survey was developed to meet commuter needs, and common themes consisted of parking and availability of information.

The Commuter Student Services website gathers existing and new resourceful links.

“By working in conjunction with other offices and departments at the university and in the surrounding community, we hope that this website will serve as a one-stop shop for commuters,” Von Bergen said.

Helpful tools on uh.edu/commuter include traffic updates, parking maps and weather services.

Commuter Student Services also offers information on campus hot spots for socializing, studying and dining under the “Spaces and Places” tab as an attempt for commuters to utilize campus facilities and enrich their campus experience.

Accounting junior Sherri Quach said she faces daily challenges as a commuter.

“The biggest challenge I have to face is the horrific traffic,” Quach said.

“I had no idea resources were available on the Commuter Student Services website. I’ll definitely have to look into that.”

Although UH has multiple student lots and three garages, students continue to face parking problems.

Mechanical engineering sophomore Hunter Greene can utilize the website’s parking availability maps to avoid parking difficulties.

“On some days, finding parking on campus is next to impossible,” Greene said.

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The 24th Annual Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival celebrated its grand opening with an orchestra concert Saturday evening at the Moores Opera House.

UH director of orchestra and guest conductor Franz Anton Krager led the ensemble through several famous compositions. He showcased English composer Benjamin Britten’s “Fanfare for St. Edmundsbury,” selections from Tchaikovsky’s ballet suite, Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” and other pieces.

International musical students visited the UH campus to engage in Houston’s community for a month of festivities as the TMF performers were energetic, resonant and focused.

Music education senior Nicholas Brooks listened to the performers and said he enjoyed his musical experience.

“I love ‘The Rite of Spring.’ It’s something that always grabs your attention,” Brooks said. “They’re good musicians, and they performed it well.”

Guest percussionists Matthew Strauss and Ted Atkatz performed Mark-Anthony Turnage’s double concerto. The hand-beaten bass drums and plethora of cymbals cracked the silent opera house.

“I’m not a huge percussion fan, but the beginning was really cool,” Brooks said. “Overall, this was a great opening concert, and I’m wondering what they’re going to do in the next ones.”

Performing in new environments with different ensembles is a common challenge to TMF musicians. University of Georgia alumna Leah Craft was an oboist in the orchestra.

“I’ve never played with this ensemble before, but we could all play one sound, which was amazing,” Craft said. “Putting Turnage’s piece and ‘The Rite of Spring’ in the same concert was a big deal because they’re two dynamic pieces.”

New England Conservatory double bass performance senior Brian McAnally enjoyed the cohesiveness of the orchestra.

“We’re all experienced musicians,” McAnally said. “It was a matter of getting together, getting the music and diving right in.”

Performer and percussion student at George Mason University Virginia Dylan Barber was surprised at the level of professionalism at the TMF.

“This is a really nice, organized festival,” Barber said. “They treat everyone well.”

With only a week to rehearse the opening night’s repertoire, the young musicians tackled these complicated pieces with precision.

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Duo producers Matt Martians and Hal Williams form the alternative hip-hop group The Jet Age of Tomorrow. The two are known for nonchalant, indie-jazz material with a touch of alternative hip-hop beats but have honed their sound and garnered attention with “The Journey to the 5th Echelon” and “Voyager,” two previous albums full of memorable tracks.

“The Jellyfish Mentality” seems to cover itself in a futuristic, deep underwater alternate universe. Most of the production that Martians and Williams have inserted into this album sound like a subtle, swift, jive-like hidden world of Atlantis that harbors attractive venues, each catering to everyone’s tastes, especially the Odd Future audience.

With the subject matter cleverly recalling life surrounded by women and drugs, Mac Miller and Speaks’ witty lyric contribution on “Juney Jones” is solid, but the unremarkable production somewhat kills the mood, especially during the verses of the song. Even the smooth piano chord during the chorus doesn’t save it. The same thing goes for tracks like “One Take” featuring Sweatshirt and former label mate Cassie Veggies.

On the contrary, the beats in “Naked” featuring Hodgy Beats and “Wonderful World” by Domo Genesis and Vince Staples are beautifully crafted with the latter being the best hip-hop track in the album. The trashcan-sounding drum set makes the track epic. It’s hard to go wrong with Genesis and Staples at the top of their game.

Jet Age took a Justin Timberlake approach with some tracks incorporating seamless jazz transitions and others with abrupt stops and restarts in between. “Lily Pads” serves as a prime example as the track begins with snappish drums and recurring bass-lines. It transitions into an eclectic downbeat breakdown filled with chopped samples laced with orchestral strings. This type of instrumental layout seems to echo through tracks like “Special K (Wombat)” and “ON!”

Perhaps the best tracks on this album come from Jet Age’s mash up of trademark hauntingly eerie Odd Future sounds and jazz elements. “Desert N’ The Dark” featuring dreamy vocalization by The Stepkids and the sentimental track, “A Place Where Lovers Go,” with vocals from Jesse Boykins III, provide lounge-friendly tracks that may remind listeners of coffee shops where jazz music and poetry slams are held. Both are fluid works of art that emit a relaxing vibe.

The album doesn’t do anything wrong, but it also doesn’t challenge itself to be anything that it’s not and that’s okay. The Jet Age of Tomorrow remains to be artists who do well under the radar. The free LP project serves as an addition to their illustrious career of baring nothing but luscious, exquisite imagination.

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Houston-native Fat Tony will be touring the country for another seven months as his second album, “Smart Ass Black Boy,” releases on June 11. “My favorite music bands are my inspirational heroes,” Fat Tony said. “They keep me going, and I hope my fans can find me relatable.” | Courtesy of Fat Tony

UH Media studies alumnus is releasing his second album, “Smart Ass Black Boy,” on June 11.

Anthony Obi, or Fat Tony spent two days writing and four days recording the album. The album title was inspired by a hat worn by Beastie Boys’ DJ Hurricane in a book about Def Jam Recordings.

“What’s different (about this album) is the fact that I wrote (it) in a short period of time, which made it more cohesive. I talk about more important things, and I share more stories. It’s like a continuation and growth from my first album,” Fat Tony said about his upcoming album.

Fat Tony explained how leaving Houston helped inspire innovative songs.

“Traveling brought different experiences, so I was naturally inspired,” Fat Tony said. “I’m too comfortable at home, and it makes my writing stale. I get new ideas from traveling and meeting new people.”

In several songs, he mentions pro-choice and gay marriage equality, unlike popular rap topics — sex, drugs, cars and money.

“I’m not heavy on politics, but it’s important to represent yourself,” Fat Tony said. “I don’t do drugs or have enough money to rap about it. I base my songs on experience, and I never exaggerate too much because I think it’s most important to be myself.”

A sentimental song, “Father’s Day,” is his first song detailing the relationship with his parents.

“In my career, my parents weren’t supportive at first, but the more they see me work hard for it, the more they believe in me,” Fat Tony said. “I’ve wanted to make the song for my father for years, and it was actually a totally different song at first. I revisited the lyrics and made the beat first.”

His new album features Stunnaman, Tom Cruz, Old Money, Kool A.D. and other rap artists he has befriended, but he described his journey into the rap world as an uphill battle.

“Getting people to pay attention to me was tough,” Fat Tony said. “Sometimes, if you don’t have the image, people close the door on you. It still happens, but I try to focus on music instead of worrying about those things. I put the negativity far back in my mind.”

In November 2012, he released a single from his new album, “BKNY,” that has reached more than 30,000 views, and in March, he premiered a second single, “Hood Party,” that has been played more than 100,000 times on Sound Cloud.

“Social media is every cornerstone of an artist whether it’s radio, MTV or Facebook,” Fat Tony said. “It’s essential to be hands-on with these social medias, and it helped me solidify relationships with my fans.”

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Having published books and articles internationally, art critic and scholar Rachel Hooper held her first lecture and Q&A session about her curatorial exploration in a compilation, called “Jsut That Way” during a curator’s talk on an ongoing exhibition Thursday evening at the Blaffer Art Museum.

She discussed her work with Texas-native, Andy Coolquitt, who has his first solo exhibition, “Attainable Excellence,” on display in the museum.

“After working with him for all these years, I can’t quite put into words exactly what I see in his art-making,” Hooper said. “And that is exactly what excites me.”

She presented a chronicle of his artwork and photographs while sharing insight of his studio practice and also shed light on Coolquitt’s hiatus when he quit graduate studies and studio practice to work at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin.

His years of work with the blind inspired him to return to exploring his sculptural concerns. The idea of prosthetic art that had a physical connection with space and interactors consumed him and inspired him to return to making art.

“Watching his creative process over the years has taught me some important lessons for my curatorial practice,” Hooper said. “First, trust your instincts. Give into creative exploration even if it takes you to unexpected places, and make art a part of your life in as many ways as possible.”

Blaffer’s educational curator Katherine Veneman described Hooper’s discussion as adding another dimension.

“Her talk shed a lot of light on the exhibit,” Veneman said. “We’re so fortunate that for all the exhibits here, the curators are here. It helps all the visitors and viewers.”

Art history assistant professor Sandra Zalman enjoyed Hooper’s lecture.

“It was the right balance,” Zalman said. “It was engaging and casual, but it wasn’t unprofessional.”

The audience congratulated Hooper on her scholarship that helped launch the artist’s career.

“Believe me. This is Andy,” Hooper said. “I’m just along for the ride.”

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Weber

Professor of music and director of choral studies Betsy Cook Weber has been a part of the Cougar family for 23 years. In 2002, Weber directed the Moores School of Music Concert Chorale, UH’s premier chorale ensemble.

Under her direction, the choir has achieved a high level of distinction locally and internationally. Most recently, they competed in the 13th International Chamber Choir Competition Marktoberdorf in Germany. Of the 10 choirs representing eight different countries, the ensemble was awarded first prize in two categories.

The Daily Cougar interviewed Weber about her background, the Concert Chorale and their recent success in Germany.

The Daily Cougar: When did you come to the UH Moores School of Music, and how long have you been directing the Concert Chorale?

Betsy Cook Weber: I came to the Moores School of Music in 1990 to work on my doctorate. Happily, the school kept me on after I finished my degree. I began conducting the Concert Chorale in 2002.

TDC: How are members of these prestigious choirs determined?

BCW: The Concert Chorale is our most advanced choral ensemble. Singers in our choirs have a great deal of pride in being members of their respective choirs regardless of which choir they sing in. We audition singers who are interested in singing in advanced choirs by vocalizing them, running them through some tonal memory drills and having them sing an exercise on site.

TDC: Can you elaborate on the choir’s most recent success in Germany?

BCW: The Concert Chorale competed in the Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition and won first prize in the overall competition and first prize in a special category for Best Interpretation of a Sacred Work.

TDC: Which performed pieces do you believe were the most special or memorable?

BCW: The audiences loved our two spirituals. Without question, those were the pieces that brought down the house each time. We loved premiering the director’s new piece, “In Love with the Beautiful Eyes,” because it’s fabulous. The International Federation of Choral Music has selected our performance of Rihards Dubra’s “Stetit Angelus” as “Favorite Piece of the Month.”

TDC: Can you share a bit about the performances outside of the competition?

BCW: We sang in a church in Marktoberdorf and another church in Steingaden. We also gave a secular concert in a concert hall in Wiespolden. The organizers took everyone to a farm museum where all the choirs sang a few pieces outside, which was really fun and low-key.

TDC: How does it feel to be a demonstration for a conducting master class, and what does this entail?

BCW: The conducting master class was an extra for us. After the competition, we served as a demonstration choir for 15 conductors from all over the world. The Concert Chorale had to sight-sing about 30 new pieces. I was concerned about this, but they did very well. The two world-renowned conductors leading the master class commented about how well chorale sang over those days. It was hard but very gratifying work.

TDC: What does winning first prize mean for the Moores School of Music and for the University?

BCW: It is continuing evidence that our students perform at the highest, international level.

TDC: Looking forward, what is the next step for the Concert Chorale?

BCW: We have some interesting opportunities that have already arisen because organizers of festivals and competitions from all over the world attend Marktoberdorf to listen to the choirs there. I need to digest all of the invitations and think about what is in the best interests of our students and the chorale program. It’s exciting.

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New photography professor Keliy Anderson-Staley (left) shared a sample of her wet-plate collodion tintype work, “Kevin,” (right) and will be joining the UH School of Art faculty in the fall. | Courtesy of Keliy Anderson-Staley

After a yearlong national search for a new tenure-track professor for the School of Art, UH awaits the arrival of a fine arts photographer who will join the Photography/Digital Media Department as the department’s fifth full-time professor.

Keily Anderson-Staley will be filling the gap that art history professor Suzanne Bloom left when she retired last spring.

Assistant director of the School of Art Pat Deeves, shared her thoughts on the college’s needs.

“When you’re looking to hire, you look at the specialties in the faculty that you already have,” Deeves said. “We have great strengths in video art, and we wanted someone to compliment, to fill in with professor Bloom’s retirement.”

The search for a tenure-track professor is a tedious process and included departmental communication, paperwork and networking through the 107 applicants that flooded the administration.

“When they’re looking at candidates, they have to have the terminal degree. They have to have an exhibition record because this is a research university,” Deeves said. “We’re Tier One, so we want someone that is going to be a leader in their field doing something new and different.”

A major component of a tenure-track professor is research and an international and national presence.

“There’s a lot of participation; there’s a lot of outreach nationally,” Deeves said. “We’re very excited about Keliy coming.”’

After administrators whittled applicants down to three, the interviewees met with faculty members and deans, and the candidates also gave lectures open to students.

Photography/digital media junior Michael Alaniz was struck by Staley’s work with traditional media, focusing on her her tintypes.

“As for Keliy, I’m looking forward to her approach to photography and learning from her experience,” Alaniz said.

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Three creative programs united in creating a concert to showcase the poetic works of 20 third- to fifth-graders on Monday evening at a local elementary school.

Members of the Moores School of Music, Writers in the Schools and Houston Grand Opera’s community collaborative initiative combined efforts to host the recital, “My Voice,” at Kashmere Gardens Elementary School. The students’ original poems were brought to life through eloquent performances and piano accompaniment.

Poet, vocalist and songwriter Deborah Mouton of WITS defined the event as the greatest achievement that cannot be measured by a test.

“Students gain confidence, learn to respect others, learn to see past differences and become more compassionate and respectful people,” Mouton said.

The students wrote poems describing the color of their voices. WITS then shared the poems with HGOco that shared them with composers from MSM, who created musical pieces. Composition masters graduate Mark Buller explained the challenges of setting the children’s poems to music.

“Writing vocal music to be sung by trained opera singers with a children’s audience in mind can be challenging,” Buller said. “Of course, I’ve never seen poetry by anyone this young.”

Kashmere Gardens Principal Kristi Rangel-King noted the connection between increased student motivation in literacy skills and student achievement.

“This kind of experience makes students want to read and write more,” Rangel-King said. “It may not magically make a student reading below-level become commended on the state STAAR test, but it will put them well on the road.”

The diligent students worked to create a product that demonstrated a sense of pride and ownership.

A fifth-grader at Kashmere Gardens Demetria Pipkin described how an opportunity to participate in this program could benefit students’ lives at home.

“Some kids have a rough time at home,” Pipkin said. “They might be more excited to get up knowing that they’ll be in front of all these people, knowing that they’re the one everyone is listening to and knowing that everyone’s eyes are on you.”

Students felt that this experience was memorable and also affected other parts of their lives. Another fifth-grade student Jaela Thomas shared her positive experience in this program.

“We were really excited when Mrs. D. came to us,” Thomas said. “She showed us how we should read, write and interact with different poems. If you’re having a bad day you can always express yourself through poetry.”

The event produced a treasured memory for all participants and an authentic learning experience that nurtured the love of writing.

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UH alumni Jack and Kelly Page opened Houston’s 13th location of Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Saturday in Clear Lake. The couple is negotiating the opportunity to open another Menchie’s near the UH campus. | Monica Tso/The Daily Cougar

During the peak hours of the summer heat, a line stretched across the sidewalk as a UH alumni couple hosted the grand opening of their frozen yogurt franchise Saturday morning in Clear Lake.

Merchandising and industrial distribution alumnus Jack Page and hotel and restaurant management alumna Kelly Page opened the 13th Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in Houston, which is also the 300th location in the nation.

Also active Cougar Pride donors, the couple considered the opportunity to open their own business while planning for their wedding.

“After I visited my sister in Los Angeles and discovered Menchie’s, Jack and I discussed opening our own franchise together,” Kelly said.

Houston has numerous frozen yogurt hotspots, but she emphasized the reasons why this particular franchise is different from others.

“Menchie’s has their own private label frozen yogurt flavors, which makes them unique,” Kelly said. “They may have the same name, but they are custom-made flavors that can only be found here.”

Kelly described several difficulties throughout their one and a half years of planning.

“One of the hardest things was undergoing construction and obtaining appropriate permits,” Kelly said. “After that, it was smooth sailing.”

The lack of locations in the surrounding area inspired Kelly, and she explained her proposal to develop another Menchie’s closer to campus.

“We’re in the process of negotiating a location closer to UH,” Kelly said. “It would be near Discovery Green, and whenever the Metro rail is completed, that would provide great access from the UH campus to Menchie’s downtown.”

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The burst of color from a model’s lipstick inspired UH alumnus Joseph Chargois and TSU alumnus Jermelle Pitts to create a new high-quality cosmetic brand. “Our most popular shade, Jet Setter, sold out before less than a month before debut,” Pitts said. “We’re looking into adding lip gloss for our fall collection.” | Courtesy of Body of Royalty

In order to empower and encourage women to treat themselves as royalty, a recent UH graduate and his partner founded a new cosmetic line.

Marketing and management alumnus Joseph Chargois is the Co-CEO of Body of Royalty, a luxury cosmetic brand that launched March 1.

Body of Royalty has 12 different shades including a lip balm enhanced with vitamin E.

Chargois participated in the UH Cyvia and Melvyn Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship where his interest in fashion and marketing skills united.

“Through Body of Royalty, we really want customers to treat themselves as royalty,” Chargois said. “We started with the impact of lipstick because it’s small, compact and adds the perfect pop to someone’s look.”

Also a former UH cheerleader, Chargois plans to expand Body of Royalty to create products for women to use head-to-toe.

“We keep our fingers on the pulse, so we know what’s hot and what’s not,” Chargois said. “But a trend is a trend. Time will pass, and trends fade. We want to make timeless high quality lipstick that will outlast 10 or more years.”

Chargois also explained the idea of expanding the brand through retail stores.

“It would be great to branch out with retail opportunities. If people aren’t receptive to the product, then it wouldn’t be the right fit for retail,” Chargois said.

Chargois aspires to stay true to Body of Royalty’s individuality, and his hard work is reaffirmed by unbiased opinions of their customers.

Texas Southern University social work alumnus Jermelle Pitts is the Co-CEO of Body of Royalty and shares an interest in beauty and fashion.

“We’re the youngest founders in the cosmetic world,” Pitts said. “We have a good feel of what’s popular with our audience.”

Pitts stressed the importance of focusing on the quality of their lipstick collection rather than relying on a celebrity endorser.

“We’re considered a luxury brand,” Pitts said. “Our $14.99 product competes with other brand names that sell lipstick for $40 or more. Plus, you get high quality makeup for a better deal.”

Pitts credited social media in promoting this new brand.

“Using hashtags on Twitter and Instagram and managing our Facebook page has been very helpful,” Pitts said. “We’ve also worked with magazine and blog publishers in New York and Miami.”

The duo had searched for manufacturers to discuss colors, textures and more, and the process of building the brand lasted about two years before production began.

“By the end of 2013, we hope to have steady clientele and possibly work with retail,” Pitts said. “We also hope to become a part of fashion shows through Houston’s fashion week in October.”

Body of Royalty’s extensive lipstick collection ships worldwide and is based in Houston.

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