An rendering of the planned UT expansion site. | Courtesy of Houston Business Journal

UH has developed a case of little brother syndrome — feeling inferior to a bigger, seemingly superior university. In this case, it’s the University of Texas and its proposed expansion into Houston.

The Board of Regents even approved a statement in November opposing UT’s plans, described by UH law professor Michael Olivas as a Trojan horse that Houston should not let inside its gates.

This Trojan horse is threatening, and The Cougar Editorial Board understands that. UH has been numbed by the numerous comparisons to other public state universities in the state. In UH’s mind, it’s the only one that matters — a fair point made by a university that is on the brink of national recognition for numerous programs.

But, on the other hand, UT has every right to expand into Houston. If you think about it, UT has 14 institutions in its system scattered all around the state, and the closest thing they have to a hunting ground in southeast Texas is UT-San Antonio, about 220 miles west of UH.

It makes sense that they want something closer to the coast, a gateway into bringing potential students from the Houston-area as well as from Louisiana. UT has every right to expand their uber-successful system. But as Cougars, it stings a little — even if you were a dead-set Longhorn from birth.

UT is one of two universities in the state that receives money from Permanent University Funds, a metaphorical bucket of wealth meant to fund higher education within the state.

But UH doesn’t.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board hasn’t approved UT’s expansion, a breath of relief from anyone rooting for UH.

Ultimately, being the head of a university is a business. President and Chancellor Renu Khator is our CEO, just like System Chancellor Bill McRaven is UT’s. Their jobs are to divide and conquer.

Both systems are doing that well by focusing on gaining more possible alumni within their ranks. This expansion business is dog-eat-dog. What UH has to do is prevail over any possible road bumps and dodge any cattle that may stand in its way.

With strong alumni support shown by a petition started by the UH Alumni Association, UH could come out on top of this waiting game. All it needs is for the state to see what UH has accomplished in the past couple of years and rule in its favor.

Sure, UT has the means to build wherever it wants, but what it doesn’t have —what it will never have — is UH’s valor.

— The Cougar Editorial Board

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“UT’s ‘trojan horse’ shouldn’t scare UH” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

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“Khator testifies against UT expansion” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Eight months.

That’s how long its been since I took over as editor in chief, and in that short amount of time, so much has changed.

I’ll be the first to admit that we didn’t do everything right last semester, and that’s OK. We’re called student journalists for a reason.

But on the other side of the coin, we need to be held accountable. That’s where I need your help as a reader. I want you to give us the most constructive criticism you can at all points of the semester on our stories, our photos and our social media content.

2015 was a monumental year for The Cougar in terms of reader feedback. More than ever, readers were able to share how exactly one of our stories affected them. We don’t know how we’re doing unless you tell us, so I want to thank everyone who commented, liked or shared one of stories, regardless of whether or not it was because they liked it or hated it.

Last semester, we had the most vocal proponents — and opponents — appear on our social media feeds. Our only complaint was that there wasn’t a more diverse group of commentors.  Most of the time, we only had five or six of the same voices give us feedback.

If you don’t want to give feedback publicly or over a social media forum, feel free to email me at editor@thedailycougar.com or you can even tweet me @glissettetweets. I’d be happy to pick your brain about improvements that can be made.

A goal of mine is to be more transparent with the UH community, and if that means putting myself front and center of the action, so be it. I want all readers to understand that we’re a hard-working, committed student news organization, and I can’t wait to hear from every type of voice in the UH community.

We can’t grow as an organization without someone — everyone — holding us accountable.

Are you up for it?

— Glissette Santana, editor in chief

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“Letter from the editor: Readers hold us accountable for our work” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Junior pitcher Andrew Lantrip had a 9-3 record in the 2015 season, with a 2.62 earned run average, collecting 115 strikeouts in 113.1 innings pitched. | File photo/The Cougar

It’s a clean slate for the Cougar baseball team as they get ready for the season with promising prospects stepping onto Cougar Field for the first time.

With the disappointing finish at the 2015 NCAA Houston Regional behind them, the Cougars have been busy during the offseason as the scouts searched for new talent to add to the roster, with some of the seniors graduated or drafted to the major leagues.

The offseason proved to be eventful as Houston managed to get some good prospects.

Houston’s pitching staff consists of sophomore Seth Romero and junior Andrew Lantrip, however, the pitching rotation will be a treat to watch this season as the Cougars signed three pitchers — a left-hander in Tanner Lawson and two righties, Mitch Ullom and Nolan Bond.

Lawson pitched a perfect game in his freshman year and a no hitter in his sophomore year of high school, while Bond was ranked 35th in Texas. Ullom doesn’t fall far behind as former Co-Player of the Year and an All-District MVP.

But if the rotation isn’t enough to warrant your attention, then UH’s freshman catcher Joe Davis will be sure to impress.

Davis was ranked second in the state and sixth in the nation in his position. His hitting prowess is impressive as well, as he led Texas in home runs and won the 2014 Area Code Home Run Derby.

The Cougars also managed to land some players that are multi-sport athletes, including Wendell Champion was a starting running back at St. Thomas High School.

Wendell’s running back past will give the Cougars an advantage on the base path.

Although the new prospects will face the challenge of transitioning from the high-school level to college, they’re sure to be solid additions to Todd Whitting’s squad.

It’ll still be an interesting season as the new prospects can showcase their skills that earned them their accolades and improve under the watchful eye of Whitting.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“New additions to Cougars’ roster likely to impress” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

UH’s hosting of the pre-Super Tuesday Republican debate in February is still up in the air after the Republican National Committee announced in a news release Tuesday that they have decided to “move forward without NBC’s participation.”

The RNC has awarded the debate to CNN after it suspended ties with NBC in October after a much-criticized debate was hosted by CNBC, an NBC network.

The debate will take place at “a location to be decided” on Feb. 25.

news@thedailycougar.com

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“UH hosting of Republican debate still iffy” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

The Cougars capped their monumental season under first time head coach Tom Herman with a 38-24 win over the Florida State Seminoles in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. On-field celebrations erupted as game play ended, and The Cougar captured the action.

sports@thedailycougar.com

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“Gallery: Cougars celebrate victory over Seminoles in Peach Bowl” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Senior safety Adrian McDonald said that professors don’t give him special treatment. | File photo/ The Cougar

After their biggest game of the season, the Cougar football players have has to switch from winning a championship to going through the struggle of finals week.

“The worse of part finals week (would) probably be (last) week because I haven’t started on a book report that needs to be done,” senior safety Adrian McDonald said. “I might need to get that going.”

McDonald said his professors don’t give him any special treatment.

“No extended deadlines, no excuses,” McDonald said. “I just got to get it done.”

McDonald said he’s balancing football and finals by sleeping later and spending time after practice to study.

Senior inside linebacker Elandon Roberts said his worse experience has maintained football and finals at the same time.

“Sometimes you’ll be on the last game (of the season) and tired, and now you got to get ready for finals,” Roberts said. “It can be real hectic (with) the timing.”

Roberts said it’s been stressful this season, especially ahead of the American Athletic Conference championship game.

“It’s kind of a strain because (it was) real big game, but at the same time you got to know when to study, when to put the studying down and get on your football studying,” Roberts said. “It correlates kind of hard, it gets difficult.”

For senior offensive lineman Alex Cooper, thinking of finals brought back memories of a horrific finals experience.

“During sophomore year, I was in two online classes, and for one of the classes, we didn’t have a final,” Cooper said.

“For some reason, I got the two classes confused, and I didn’t realize we had the final until three hours before it was due.”

Cooper said that one of his teammates happened to be in the same class and asked if he had studied for the final.

“I panicked,” Cooper said. “I panicked and looked over some stuff. I managed to kind of squeak out a C, but I was going crazy for about an hour and half that day.”

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“Finals in the gridiron: football players share their experiences” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

I have a problem in December and May where I understand the importance of those last three papers and four tests, but I just want to play video games with my friends.

Even if you don’t play video games as much as I do, you still have something that will always be a more attractive use of your time whether it’s Netflix, shopping or just chilling.

The typical day during finals week for me consists of the same four or five elements, depending on how outgoing my friends are.

I will plan to wake up early, turn off the alarm and accidentally fall back asleep until the early afternoon. After eating a sandwich for breakfast in the hopes of tricking my body into thinking I just ate lunch, I proceed with my shortened day.

I gather all of my study and essay-writing material at my desk — which is placed entirely too close to the bed that is still calling my name — and I start brainstorming. Even though I may have previously worked on whatever task is at hand, I always feel like I need to brainstorm for a good hour.

And by brainstorm, I mean get distracted by everything at my disposal.

Once I have finally gotten on track and started the five-page essay that’s due in two days, I get a text. Turning my phone over, I will see one of two things: the invitation to hang out with a friend, or a question: “League, anyone?”

Side note to all of you looking for something to play with your friends: don’t play League of Legends. It’s too late for me, but you can still be saved.

Three hours later, I have had my fill of socializing and have made the mature decision to get back to work. Every instance of writing an essay or studying for a test brings the same “that’s a good place to take a break” point.

Mostly, I will feel this way after writing a couple of pages without looking away or studying a handful of chapters in the same manner.

But, now I’m hungry.

And even if I’m not, the clock says it’s almost time for dinner, so I begin to think of which starch-based product to prepare from the comfort of my apartment.

After feeling fancy and taking spaghetti over mac and cheese, I find myself at the lowest point of my evening: when I realize it’s going to be another late night.

I have now either finished my work or given up on checking all of the boxes on my to-do list. If I have resorted to the latter, things will hopefully begin again not-so-bright-and-early the next day.

Don’t be like me.

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“A personal narrative on what not to do during finals” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Is a graduate degree worth it? Depending on the field, people who continue their education to get master’s degrees typically do make a better salary than people with just their bachelor’s.

Now undoubtedly the best schools in the U.S. are going to be your typical Ivy League colleges like Stanford, Harvard and Columbia, but most of these schools are outrageously expensive with some costing as much as $60,000 or more per year.

Luckily, many of the cheaper options are right here in Texas. Here’s a good list of schools that offer top-tier graduate programs and their tuitions based on if you were a full-time student.

Business

The University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business

Tuition: $32,298 per year (in-state), $48,832 per year (out-of-state)

McCombs School of Business is currently ranked 17 in the top business schools in the U.S., and is ranked 40th in the world. The school offers various internship programs, giving students hands-on experience in various firms. It’s also the cheapest option for students who don’t want to move too far from home.

Indiana University Kelley School of Business

Tuition: $25,500 per year (in-state), $44,460 per year (out-of-state)

Kelley School of Business is currently tied for 21st best business school in the nation, and is fairly inexpensive given the tuition price of other top-tier universities. IU has close ties to China, making it a great university for those interested in global economies.

University of Washington Foster School of Business

Tuition: $29,250 per year (in-state), $43,086 per year (out-of-state)

Settled in the great city of Seattle, UW’s Foster School of Business is currently ranked 23rd in the nation. The benefit of this school is its close proximity to major companies like Amazon.com, Inc., Starbucks Corp. and Microsoft Corp.

Engineering

Texas A&M University – College Station Dwight Look College of Engineering

Tuition: $227 per credit (in-state), $581 per credit (out-of-state)

A&M was recently named in the top 10 engineering programs worldwide. It’s currently ranked number 12 in the nation, with specialty degrees focusing on computer science, electrical and chemical engineering and more. With its close proximity to Houston, A&M is a great choice for those not wanting to be too far from home.

University of Texas at Austin Cockrell School of Engineering

Tuition: $9,564 per year (in-state); $17,506 per year (out-of-state)

UT offers engineering programs specializing in more than 10 globally recognized fields ranging from aeronautical, chemical and environmental engineering and more. UT is also ranked third in the nation for civil engineering.

University of California – Berkley

Tuition: $11,220 per year (in-state); $26,322 per year (out-of-state)

If it weren’t for the cost, UC Berkley would be at the top of this list. UC Berkley is third in the nation for its engineering program. The university has an accelerated one-year master’s program, offering programs in industrial engineering and applied science and technology.

Social sciences, humanities and fine arts

The University of Texas at Austin

Tuition: $5,500 – $6,706 per semester (in-state), $11,106 – $12,697 per semester (out-of-state)

In terms of liberal arts schools, UT has almost every field of study you want. They offer master’s and doctorate programs in English, theatre, communication and is one of the best fine arts colleges in Texas.

The University of Houston – Main Campus

Tuition: $5277 – $6447 per semester (in-state), $12,627 – $13,797 per semester (out-of-state)

We can’t forget our own school. With the recent designation as a Tier I university, UH offers an array of programs right here at home. In particular, the Moores School of Music has been gaining prestige with its recent accomplishments, and the UH School of Theatre and Dance works hand in hand with the Alley Theatre right here in town, giving many opportunities for students.

Indiana Unversity

Tuition: $12,459 (in-state), $35,313 (out-of-state)
IU is renowned for its incredible music department. The school itself is currently tied for number one in the nation with The Julliard School. IU’s education and English departments are also highly prestigious.

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“Most wallet-friendly graduate schools for your major” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar

Thousands of career paths and education options are open to explore after completing your undergraduate degree, but there are still a few majors that haven’t made the graduate school cut.

These majors are quirky, unique and only available as undergraduate degrees. Whether it’s a master’s in wine tasting or a doctorate degree in lawn care, these majors should to have higher-education status.

Fermentation Services

Only available at Appalachian State University, the listed description for this bachelors of science is “an interdisciplinary degree within the College of Arts and Sciences intended to provide students with a strong background in chemistry and biology and a considerable focus in business, marketing, and entrepreneurial principles.”

So it’s more than just fancy brewing methods. If this major had a graduate degree we would probably all be thankful that our craft drafts were handled by someone with a master’s degree.

Comedy

Sure, they have a “performing arts” graduate program, but comedy is its own genre and deserves its own degree. This major is unique to Humber College in Ontario, and specializes in a variety of studies including how to manage a crowd, comedic timing, improv and stand-up. America would be more hilarious if comedians could prove their hilarity with a doctorate.

Popular Culture

Contrary to what you may think about this major, it has a greater purpose than giving students an excuse to watch Netflix for homework. According to Bowling Green State University’s description of this major, “examining television programs, movies, cars, houses, music, museums, celebratory events, holidays, magazines and many other manifestations of culture, insights can be used to examine society presently and historically.”

This strangely specific major would make a great graduate program that would realistically provide insight into media studies.

Entertainment Engineering and Design

This one’s only available as an undergraduate program at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. Its core study involves learning how the entertainment and casino industry operates. It takes students from the ground up into learning the behind-the-scenes of the entertainment industry. So take heed, graduate programs; you don’t want billion-dollar gamblers rolling the roulette on a machine made by someone without a higher degree.

Ecogastronomy

Food tasting at its finest. This program, developed and offered by the University of New Hampshire, takes an in-depth look at how food gets from the farms to the table. Its central focus is on sustainability and the environmental impact of food growing and consumption. With a few people owning master’s degrees in ecogastronomy, our plates would definitely be filled with more organic food and less chemically-enhanced fare.

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“Five majors that should have a graduate degree” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar