Finals Mania offers a solution for more than just hunger. In addition to serving pancakes and orange juice, Finals Mania organizers will let stressed-out students play with puppies. | Bethel Glumac

Finals Mania is set to kick off Tuesday with a plethora of snacks, pancakes and drinks to keep students pumped up and fueled through the tough night of studying.

Dozens of volunteers will gather to prepare food and help keep lines moving because of the rush of traffic pancakes and turkey sausage will bring.

UH hosts Finals Mania every semester to help students relieve stress and take a break from endless studying.

“I went to Finals Mania for two straight years, and I love it. Food is the best support system especially during the stress of finals; now, I don’t have to sacrifice food to study. Plus, who doesn’t love pancakes at odd hours of the night?” said biology junior Kinza Muzaffar.

This year, dogs are the newest addition to the usual line up of a performance by the Spirit of Houston Band, turkey sausage and orange juice.

“I love dogs, and rumor has it that I’ll get to cuddle up with one and take my mind off of studying for a short moment. I’m also glad that, this being my last semester, we actually have something so different to do,” said political science senior Lina Al-Salim.

Students will have the opportunity to play with the dogs from 6 to 10 p.m. in Rooms 106P and 106T before returning to their studies if they choose to.

“This is my first semester at UH, and I’m looking forward to attending Finals Mania since everyone always talks about the great pancakes. Just my luck that the year I plan on attending they’ll have dogs. I can’t wait to play with them,” said sophomore mechanical engineering technology Nicky Echevarria.

Along with the snacks and food that will be handed, for students who have been fighting to collect all trading cards, this is their chance to collect more and maybe complete their collection.

“The one thing I love about Finals Mania is that it means the semester is finally ending, but of course I can’t wait to eat some pancakes,” said public relations junior Anh Mai.

Summer can be a rewarding season for students just as much as it can be fun.

Students anticipate going to the beach, relaxing, traveling or tackling a job or internship. Others have absolutely no idea what to do with their time.

One summertime boredom remedy is to give back to the community by volunteering. Not only does volunteering give the chance to help others, but it can also be a great addition to any résumé.
Houston is home to an abundance of programs and projects that can use volunteers.

There is something out there for everyone, from an animal lover to a student who knows a foreign language.
Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston helps thousands of the city’s low-income seniors who cannot leave their homes become more independent. The program takes volunteers at any time of the year who can deliver food to each home. The service delivers to homes on the fourth Saturday of every month. Volunteers can sign up for a regular monthly route or serve as a back-up driver to fit a changing schedule.

Houston Parks and Recreation Department depends on hundreds of volunteers to assist in a variety of programs and activities from coaching youth sports teams to cleanup projects in parks.

Volunteers can participate in Green Team, a project that provides maintenance, tree planting and de-littering or be an athletic volunteer by coaching and coordinating youth sports. Any students majoring in recreation, parks management or other related professions are encouraged to apply for the internship with HPPD.

YMCA of Greater Houston provides endless opportunities to college students during the summer. Coaching sports, fundraising and raising health awareness to youth and adults are just a few things people can do to help.

Anyone interested in the medical field or helping children who are sick can find what they are looking for at Texas Children’s Hospital. Each year the hospital employs volunteers to perform jobs like greet guests at the information desk, deliver toys to children and play games with patients.

Texas Children’s volunteers can help kids with homework, lead an art project, host a puppet show, open a playroom, deliver crafts or go on air with Radio Lollipop. On-site volunteers must go through a training process before beginning weekly two- to three-hour shifts.

A unique program in Houston also accepts help year around. Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees offers a chance for volunteers to get exposure to different cultures and social issues that impact our community by helping refugees who come to our city.

PAIR has a need for volunteers who can teach English but also those who can speak foreign languages such as Nepalo, Arabic, French, Swahili, Tigrinya, Burmese, Karenni, Kirundi and Somali.

Students should look for a program that is right for them ahead of time, as some programs have deadlines for applications and may require training before beginning work.

Summer work can help earn income and pay for educational expenses, but it also shows future employers a candidate’s work ethic and commitment to developing skills. | Yulia Kutsenova

While summer can be time of relaxation, it can also be a time to earn some extra cash. Finding a summer job does not have to be daunting — in fact, it’s a good way to gain experience and build a résumé before setting out into the working world after graduation.

“Summer jobs are a great way to earn income to pay for college expenses as well as to build skills to make you more marketable to employers,” said Jamie Belinne, assistant dean for Rockwell Career Center at C.T. Bauer College of Business. “There are many summer jobs listed through the career centers on campus.”

According to an article on Care.com, summer jobs can be easy and quick to find. Some examples include child care, tutoring, pet sitting, bartending and freelance writing. Though a summer job may or may not be related to a student’s major or field, it is a way to gain experience working, which is better than nothing when searching for a permanent job in the future.

“Employers want to hire people who have had a chance to practice their professional skills in a work environment. The more relevant a job is to your chosen profession, the better; but any work experience is better than none,” Belinne said.

When looking for any job, it is important to have an idea of what employers look for when they consider their candidates. Experience, a clean background and a good academic record are a plus.

“In general, reliability, maturity, professionalism and strong communication skills are key qualities sought by all employers who recruit college students,” Belinne said.

However, some jobs on the market may seem too good to be true, and it could be necessary to investigate the company before accepting a position in order to avoid any type of job scamming.

“Before accepting any job, you should be sure of the following,” Belinne said. “You have seen the office and if it is a legitimate company. You have met your supervisor, and they are qualified to supervise you. You have a written offer that details job title, salary, work hours and start dates.”

According to Belline, red flags when job hunting can include being unable to find sufficient information about a company, the company is a one-person operation, lack of a qualified supervisor and the position requires money paid upfront prior to starting work.

Career Services at UH offer tips on resumes, interviews and internships. For more information on finding a summer job or finding a job in general, please visit www.career.uh.edu.

The focus will soon turn from finals to beating the Houston heat. | Nichole Taylor

Rising temperatures, increased drops of sweat and longer lines in local ice cream shops — yes, summer is upon us.

It’s no secret to Houstonians that it can be insanely hot during the summer. With these sweltering temperatures, there are plenty of cool activities ranging from jumping into blue waters to going to sporting events that can make this a fun and chill summer.

Business administration sophomore Marcia Dao is already looking forward to visiting local ice cream shops to satisfy her sweet tooth and keep it cool.

“I’m planning on trying all of the ice cream out there,” Dao said. “Chinatown’s got Gelato Cup, Rice Village has Walnut Café and there’s an Amy Ice Cream here. There are so many places to choose from.”

Some students need a bit more than ice cream to combat the sweltering heat. Road trips to places like Galveston, Corpus Christi, South Padre and the local apartment pool have become popular for many looking to use the water to survive summer. Within a close proximity to Houston, these locations boast deep waters to help anyone beat the struggle of the heat.

“My family used to go to Corpus Christi all of the time,” said journalism junior Nikki Ndukwe. “It’s a pretty fun and relaxing trip to take during the summer. This summer, I’m looking forward to cooling down in my apartment pool.”

Picnics and free shows are a huge part of many Houstonians’ quest to cool down. Miller Outdoor Theater is another local favorite that helps Houstonians beat the heat while having a good time. The theater provides free summer concerts, musicals and performances for all ages.

“I love going to Miller Outdoor on a summer night,” Ndukwe said. The evening breeze accompanies an almost guaranteed cool show. I’m looking forward to catching up on some good shows over the break.”

There are also fun ways to cool off for a collegiate sports fan. One of Houston’s most popular sporting venues, Minute Maid Park hosts the Astros’ season in a comfortable, air-conditioned space. The summer is right in the midst of the regular season, so grab a few friends and enjoy watching the Astros take on teams from around the country. The first home game after the last day of finals is against the Texas Rangers and takes place at 7:10 p.m. May 9.

“It’s incredibly hot here during the summer, but if you’re going to let the heat get in the way, you’re missing a lot of opportunities to really get to know Houston,” said marketing junior Tiffany Trevino. “Grab some friends and family and get going, summer won’t be here forever.”

Proper planning can provide a vacation at a locale slightly more exotic than the fountains near the Ezekiel Cullen building. | Bethel Glumac

One of the best aspects of summer time is the freedom to travel. With a minimized commitment to school, many students take advantage of summer to go out and see something new. Because of finances, many students that can’t afford extravagant trips and are finding creative ways to still enjoy traveling. One of the most common ways to travel in an economically friendly way is to visit a family member or friend.

“I’m looking forward to spending a week in New York City with my boyfriend,” said finance junior Diane Roark.

Many students also look into doing road trips with a group of friends to save money. Expenses such as gas, food and lodging can be cut dramatically when split between four of more people. One of America’s most popular highways, Route 66, is a road many students embark on to enjoy food, fun and sightseeing of some of America’s most beautiful big cities and small towns. The Grand Canyon, Navajo Indian Reservation and the Twin Arrows are just a few places to see in this historic highway. With a group of friends and a great set of CDs, students are able to enjoy a memorable road trip this summer and have some money left over when you return home.

Some students save money enjoying the treasures of the south.

“I’m going to New Orleans for my birthday,” said liberal studies junior Taylor Brooks. “There are eight of us going. We saved about $900 by booking a mystery hotel, you don’t know what hotel you get until you pay. We ended up getting a 4-star hotel right on Bourbon Street.”

Other students are looking to keep things local.

Biology junior Jorge Galicia is one also one of the students hoping to do the same.

“This summer I will probably be going to Austin using the $8 Megabus,” Galicia said. I save a lot on gas and have more money to spend on partying or getting to know Austin.”

The San Antonio River Walk, the Reunion Tower in Dallas and Six Flags in Arlington are just some of the numerous historical sites, restaurants and amusement parks that students can visit in Texas without breaking the bank.

Of course, you don’t have to go far to find new places to visit and things to do to take a break. Houston is a city full of attractions that never get old.

“I like going to Hermann Park where they have the water fountains, plus being surrounded by trees makes it more enjoyable and less hot,” Galicia said.

For any student that is given the opportunity to have a break, a vacation is great no matter what city it takes place in. Be sure to use all of your resources, get creative, and most importantly, have fun this summer.

Surveys show social media sites have a growing role in college students’ studying habits. | Joshua Mann

With finals looming overhead, some sometimes find it necessary to close themselves off from the Internet in order to get any real studying done.

Some students announce to their 300-plus friends that they’re leaving Facebook for a week, and others have close friends change their passwords so that they’re not tempted to give in to the social media seduction.

“I find that social media normally impedes me from being able to prepare for finals. Normally, the only thing productive I ever get out of it is getting hold of people for due dates or when finals are. Otherwise, I find it to be distracting,” said creative writing senior Douglas Knudsen. “I’m old school, though.”

Knudsen isn’t exactly old school, but in a few years, his way of thinking may become obsolete.

A survey released in February 2012 and conducted by Western Oregon University’s dean of Library and Media Services, Allen W. McKiel, Ph.D., suggests that four in 10 students use social media for study purposes. Seven in 10 students are either very likely (22 percent) or somewhat likely (47.2 percent) to use social networking sites as a medium to connect with other students and classmates about academic interest.

“Social media helps me stay in contact with people who are in my classes, and I can utilize it to organize study groups. I can also use the chat systems to discuss problems,” said biochemistry junior Nina Lopez.

In this survey, slightly less than 60 percent of students share research information with their peers through social media sites.

Among that 60 percent is Ryan Foley, hotel and restaurant management freshman, who said, “(Social media is) also convenient for students to be able to post class relevant material for others to take notes on or have class-relevant discussions via private messages or discussion threads.”

Students who use social media as a tool for organizing study groups and online study sessions are on the rise; but they are 54.7 percent less likely to contact people of authority, such as professors or teaching assistants through these social networks.

“Email totally works better and is more professional,” Knudsen said.

Despite students utilizing social media as a form of studying, others use it to help them cope with finals in other ways as well.

“Social media is able to keep me from stressing out too much by providing an outlet for entertainment,” Foley said.

Students like chemical engineering junior Ramon Marquez feel like this is the main way social media sites help with the stress that finals week provides.

“I use social media as a way to help me relax if I start succumbing to the stresses that come along with finals,” Marquez said.

The last day of classes in the 2012-13 school year is Friday, the 26, and as the school year draws to an end, it becomes impossible to admit that the past year wasn’t eventful. From the good to the bad, the headlines that made it in news stations across the country or were simply buzz around campus, here are some of the biggest events of the 2012-13 school year.

August

1: Houston Metro and UH strike a deal to continue construction of the Southwest light-rail line, providing another source of public transportation for commuters.

September

Week of 17-21: UH suffers three aggravated assaults and robberies within a week, creating concerns about safety on campus.

24: UH is listed on the U.S. News and World Report as one of the best colleges in America, rating in at 184 out of 200.

October

11: UC Game Room is closed in the latest of extensive renovations in the University Center.

November

4: President Barack Obama is re-elected as president, defeating ex-Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney with 332 electoral votes.

16: Hostess declares bankruptcy.

December

2: After spending seventy years as the official stadium for the UH Cougars, Robertson Stadium is officially demolished, with a new stadium expected to be finished by 2014.

January

20: President Barack Obama is sworn in for the second time.

February

11: Pope Benedict XVI announces his resignation, the first pope in 600 years to do so.

27: Incoumbent Cedric Bandoh is re-elected for Student Government Association president, defeating Senator Eduardo Reyes.

March

7: UH celebrates its 86^th anniversary.

21-24: Frontier Fiesta is held in its new location in the 20A and 20C parking lots.

26: Roderick Mitchell, 36, is arrested for the murder of UH student Hao Huynh in 2011.

April

9: 14 people are injured in stabbing at Lone Star College.

Week of 15-19: Numerous disasters shake the world, including a bombing at the Boston marathon, earthquakes in Iran and China, a school shooting at the Massachussetts Institute of Technology and a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas.

After last year’s kickoff meeting for UH’s Social Media Student Alliance was something of a disappointment, the staff members replaced their discouragement with the determination to work harder organizing this year.

UH social media coordinators Jessica Brand and Kimberly Davis, along with public relations senior J.C. Gage, worked as a team throughout the year to find students interested in taking a proactive approach toward getting UHSMSA off the ground.

“We had an opportunity to put together an event that could change the way our students view social media,” Gage said.

A panel of five professionals in the communications field spoke at Tuesday’s meeting about the incorporation of social media in their careers and offered advice regarding Internet etiquette.

The thin line between appropriate and inappropriate web content, as well as when to incorporate humorous anecdotes, were among the many topics of discussion and were answered with varying opinions.

There was one thing, however, that they all agreed was non-negotiable: attribution.

“Give credit where credit is due,” said Amy Carl, junior account executive at 20K Group.

Grace Rodriguez, co-founder of design and marketing studio Culture Pilot, said it was necessary to take advantage of everything social media has to offer if building a personal brand. She emphasized that while it can be fun to communicate with friends, utilizing particular platforms relative to your career goals is rewarding.

“It’s about being an advocate for yourself and putting intelligent content out there,” Rodriguez said.

The organization recently became registered with the Center for Student Involvement and is now searching for leaders to organize Fall 2013 events.

Gage said although he knew from the beginning he would only be able to serve on the board for a couple months, his passion for social media compelled him to get involved.

“I recognize the importance of it,” Gage said, “and wanted to share that with as many people as possible before I graduate.”

news@thedailycougar.com

Former head coach Guy V. Lewis, 91, returned to UH after being elected to the 2013 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class. Former players and President Renu Khator came by to see and speak to Lewis.