Police are searching for three suspects wanted in a shooting during a robbery at a Subway near the UH campus Wednesday.

According to KPRC, at least one shot was fired around 4:30 p.m. at the shopping center along Scott near Alabama, near the stadium construction.

An employee, who wasn’t working at the time, told KPRC the men threatened him with a gun and demanded he open the register.

One of the robbers fired a shot, but no injuries were reported.

The suspects escaped with an unknown amount of cash and an employee’s wallet.

Police said they recovered the getaway vehicle, a light blue van, about a half mile away, but the workers did not have a detailed description of the suspects, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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Thousands of underprivileged students grades kindergarten through fifth grade attended the Mayor’s Back to School Fest at UH to prepare for the coming school year, receiving donated items like backpacks and uniforms, as well as free health and vision screenings. Aisha Bouderdaben/The Daily Cougar

Despite the rain, thousands of families attended the mayor’s third annual Back to School Fest on Saturday at UH, an event to help students gear up for the upcoming school year.

The Shell–sponsored event lasted from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. and aimed to help 25,000 underprivileged students from kindergarten through fifth grade get their school necessities including backpacks, uniforms, immunizations, a hair cut voucher, and more. In addition to this, students could get a health screening, which included a vision screening provided by the UH College of Optometry.

The annual Back to School Fest had not been hosted at UH in the past, but was held on campus to encourage students to attend college. In doing so, the event may have found its new home.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people that there are a lot of pleas for it to be here on campus because at the George R. Brown, where it’s been in the past, is such a large facility and there’s a lot of walking rather than just having everything in one room,” Student Body President Cedric Bandoh, a supply chain senior, said. “It was difficult to navigate, but they’re happy with the kind of system we have.”

Families were able to start in the Field House, where they could get a health screening and explore the booths, then continue to Hofheinz Pavilion where they could pick up a backpack and a lunch before heading out.

Among the booths, UH was well represented and helped inform and excite kids about where their futures can take them. One booth that got a lot of attention was the College of Engineering booth, which featured Robo Shasta, a robotic cougar.

“We’ve been presenting the parents and kids with what engineering is,” volunteer and mechanical engineering junior Mark Admani said. “We’re letting them get a feel for what the program is so kids can get interested in that at an early age. It’s important because, if you start out wanting to do this, it will carry through.”

The ribbon cutting ceremony took place at 7:45 a.m. the day of the festival and in attendance was Mayor Annise Parker, Chancellor Renu Khator, Robert Pease of Motiva Enterprises LLC and Fraizer Wilson of Shell Oil Company.

“Today, we not only equipped students with the supplies they need for a positive start of the new school year and connected parents to essential year-round services, but we also introduced families to a Tier One institution and the possibility of a college education,” said Parker.

“Many of the families we met today have never stepped onto a college campus.  We want these young students and their parents to start thinking about college and to make a college degree their goal.”

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The Board of Regents approved a budget for the 2014-2015 year, a resolution of support to develop the William P. Hobby School for Public Policy and other measures.

The UH system budget, presented by Vice Chancellor and Vice President for Administration and Finance Carl Carlucci, grew to $1.57 billion from $1.49 billion in 2013 and included the budget for UH, UH-Downtown, UH-Victoria and UH-Clear Lake.

“Overall, it’s a very simple story about enrollment growth,” Carlucci said.

Seventy percent of the budget will consist of “academic spending”, which includes instruction, research, academic support, scholarships and fellowships.

“We’ve focused on adding new faculty to our institutions and we’re increasing our support towards our graduate students,” said Provost Paula Short.

The resolution of support that was approved allows the William P. Hobby Center for Public Policy to act as a fiscal agent and shows Board support for development of the school for public policy. The school will receive funds from legislation that Texas Representative Garnet Coleman supported.

“The other Tier One schools in the state have schools for public policy near the top of the rankings, so clearly they believe it’s an important area,” Coleman said.

William P. Hobby Jr., who served as the lieutenant governor of Texas from 1973 to 1991 and chancellor of the UH system from 1995 to 1997, received a standing ovation from the regents and those in attendance after speaking.

“This school will develop a niche,” Hobby said. “We don’t know what that niche will be yet, but it will reflect Houston, Texas as a booming, national city.”

The board also approved four new degree programs: a bachelor of science in honors biomedical sciences, a Ph.D. in higher education leadership and policy studies at UH, a B.S. in nursing at UH-Clear Lake and a B.S. in health studies at UH-Victoria.

The honors biomedical sciences program will allow students to spend their fourth year of undergraduate study at a partnering medical school or dental school. Upon completion, students will receive a bachelor’s degree as well as a medical degree.

“This program is designed to attract top students and provide a rigorous education experience,” Short said.

Chancellor Renu Khator was also granted authority to execute the third phase of construction for the new football stadium, hire a manager for facilities management, purchase UH campus-wide Microsoft licenses, and negotiate a ground lease towards the construction of a Delta Upsilon fraternity house.

The Board issued resolutions of appreciation for three regents: Chair Nelda Blair, Michele Mosbacher, and Jacob Monty as their term expired after the meeting, and elected Jarvis Hollingsworth as the new chair, Nandita Berry as the vice chair and Welcome Wilson Jr. as the secretary.

Before adjourning the meeting, Blair encouraged the Board members and administration, characterizing the University as one that has “shot through the sky” and one that is “a force in Houston”.

The next Board of Regents meeting will take place on Thursday, October 31 at 8:30 a.m. in the UH Hilton Hotel.

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On Tuesday, the Board of Regents Endowment Management Committee approved four measures and tabled another that will modify the asset allocation of the UH Endowment Fund.

The measures, recommended by the administration and Cambridge Associates, included an increase to investments in private equity and developing markets, putting the $577 million endowment fund in a more aggressive position.

“I’m in support that we should be targeting higher growth rates,” said Jarvis Hollingsworth, vice chair of the committee. “We’re very fortunate to be in a strong financial position, and we need to start putting our money to work.”

There was also a recommendation to make a switch in international equity investment managers. William Blair, the firm currently contracted by UH, lost a top portfolio manager, raising concerns about the firm.

Although MFS Equity Management was recommended as the replacement, the board, led by Chair Mica Mosbacher, tabled the measure until the next committee meeting.

“I’m not comfortable making a decision based on ambiguity,” Mosbacher said. “(The committee) would need concrete reasons if we were to terminate William Blair.”

Another proposal included redeeming an investment in Three Bridges Capital after losing its most recent senior manager. The firm is left with the majority of analysts who had less than 18 months of experience. The firm also shifted its investment style since UH’s investment.

“I’ll say anecdotally that while they have lost people, their performance has been outstanding,” Hollingsworth said.

Mosbacher added that “it’s about the level of trust” in the investment. After calling a vote, the board unanimously passed the proposal.

The board then approved a proposal to delegate authority to Chancellor Renu Khator to replace Three Bridges Capital with Sheffield Asset Management as the long/short equity hedge fund manager.

The final measure enacted was an additional $1.5 million investment in an existing hedge fund manager.

Board of Regents committee meetings will continue on the second floor of the Hilton UH Hotel on Wednesday starting with the Academic and Student Success Committee at 8:30 a.m. and ending with the full Board meeting at 1:30 p.m.

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As the University prepares for the Mayor’s Back 2 School Fest that will be held Saturday at the Athletics/Alumni Center, Hofheinz Pavilion and parking lot 20A, students and community members should prepare for heavy traffic on and around the campus, according to a University of Houston Traffic Alert.

Significant traffic delays are expected on Cullen Boulevard, Elgin Street, Scott Street and Texas Spur 5.

The traffic alert said that the UH community should expect delays throughout Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking lots 16B and 18A will be near capacity and Cullen between Holman Street and Elgin Street will have a heavy amount of vehicles and pedestrians.

Students and those visiting the campus way wish to adjust their travel times to compensate for potential delays and consider alternative parking areas. The use of the parking lots on Wheeler Street and Calhoun Road may minimize delays.

More information can be found here.

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The University Career Services is hosting a career fair Wednesday where students will be able to speak to faculty and staff from about 50 departments about on-campus employment.

Although jobs on or off campus share many similarities, Lauren Moore, chairperson for Campus Jobs for Coogs, sees some key differences.

“Their work schedule can be flexed around their classes,” Moore said. “Most UH students must work to pay for college costs. An on-campus job saves money on transportation costs.”

The fair is open to all students, from incoming freshmen on up. Not just jobs are up for grabs annually, however.

“The job fair is informational and punctual,” said chemical engineering junior Michael Clardy. “The fair is yet another great opportunity to meet new people and expand your network, especially for freshmen. Plus the various jobs and departments give out free stuff!”

One concern that may arise is previous experience as some students may have never worked a formal job before. The UCS provides solutions.

“If an incoming student has a blank resume I would recommend that they visit the UCS office to speak with a career counselor,” Moore said. “Examining a student’s past experiences such as volunteer activities, high school organizations, etc., the counselors are experts at helping students draw from past experiences to translate them into skill sets that interest potential employers.”

Despite all the efforts towards placing students in the workplace, the maxim still stands that education comes first. “Students should come first and it is recommended to work only the hours that fit in with their study and class schedule,” Moore said.

“Even part-time jobs can be demanding, requiring juggling between school and work, although studies show that students work on-campus jobs up to 15 hours a week actually do better academically compared to those who do not.”

Campus Jobs for Coogs will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, in UC Houston room.

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Although Ana Trujillo was charged with capital murder in the death of professor Stefan Andersson, her attorneys are hopeful that she will be released before her trial. | Courtesy of KHOU Houston/Channel 11

The woman charged with capital murder in the death of a UH professor was refused a lower bond when she appeared in court July 22.

Harris County Judge Brock Thomas denied 44-year-old suspect Ana Trujillo’s request to reduce her bond from $100,000 to $30,000. According to Houston Culture Map, Trujillo’s attorneys remain optimistic that evidence they plan to present at an August bond hearing will secure her release in advance of a trial.

Trujillo confessed to stabbing her then-boyfriend, Stefan Andersson, 59, and is expected to offer a plea of self-defense.

Andersson’s body was found in his upscale apartment on June 9 with numerous puncture wounds to the head, arms and neck from a high-heel shoe. Trujillo was still in the apartment when police arrived, and she was immediately arrested.

Assistant district attorney John Jordan told a district judge that the couple had been at a bar when Andersson became angry after another man offered to buy Trujillo a drink. Upon returning to the condo, the suspect claims Andersson became abusive as the two argued about plans to visit her daughter in Waco.

Trujillo is expected to appear in court again in August. According to Culture Map, Trujillo’s attorneys are determined to get Trujillo out of custody, despite the judge’s refusal to lower her bond.

“The allegation is pretty severe, so I can understand where (the judge) is coming from,” said lawyer Jack Carroll, who joined the defense alongside attorney Lott Brooks, explained to reporters. ”We’ll get the bond reduced, if we don’t bond her out in the meantime.”

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Psychology Professor Clayton Neighbors is using a unique approach to finding participants for his research: convenience.

Neighbors’ five-year $2.8 million study, titled Social Norms and Alcohol Prevention, asks students for their views on health issues through a four-question online survey.

“We’ve tried to make it as easy as possible. We have a mobile-friendly site, so it’s accessible on your iPads or smart phones,” Neighbors said. “It takes one minute. It’s quick. It’s easy.”

SNAP is funded by the National Institute of Health and will survey 1,000 students and examine whether their views on drinking habits are in line with that of their peers.

Biochemistry junior Wade Tao initially took the survey for the $75 offered to students that are eligible for the study, but now understands its use.

“I feel like they were trying to get a feel for how much college kids drink and how the types of risks that are associated with drinking affect those who drink,” Tao said.

Tao was also surprised by how different his perceptions on drinking were from reality.

“I think it’s an important survey because it will help people realize that college students actually drink much less than you would think,” Tao said. “The first time I took the survey, my guesses for average drinks by a student were much higher than the actual averages.”

According to Neighbors, who is also the director of social psychology and the Social Influences and Health Behaviors Lab, 45 percent of college students overindulge in alcohol consumption.

“We’ll use their responses to help us better understand how to assist students in reducing alcohol-related consequences, and then share that information with other universities,” Neighbors said. “This may result in new programs or awareness campaigns.”

The online survey can be found at www.UHProjectSnap.com.

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Today

Exhibition: The Andy Coolquitt exhibition at Blaffer Art Museum is free and will be running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday until Aug. 24. The event marks Coolquitt’s first solo museum exhibition.

Exhibition: A brown bag gallery tour will be held for Pamela Fraser’s exhibition, “The Fourth Dimension was Ha-Ha, in Other Words, That it is Laughter.” Guests are encouraged to bring a lunch to eat while the education curator leads the tour and gallery talk from noon to 1 p.m. in the Blaffer Art Museum.

Lecure: ”InfoEd Training: Funding Opportunities using SPIN” will teach attendees how to build a proposal using the SPIN databse, a comprehensive listing of funding opportunities. The lecture will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in E. Cullen Room 407.

Friday

Academic: End of late filing period to apply online for graduation with non-refundable $50 fee.

Saturday

Exhibition: Feast, a dinner series featuring artists The Art Guys and hosted by Jo and Jim Furr, will be held in cooperation with Blaffer Art Museum, Texas Monthly magazine, Uchi restaurant and Whole Foods Market. The private dinner series is inspired by the upcoming exhibition, Feast: Radical Hospitality in Contemporary Art, which opens Sept. 6 at the Blaffer Art Museum.

July 23

Academic: Last day of class for Summer Session 3.

Lecture: “Slow but steady: Temporal properties of ganglion cell photoreceptors“ will be given from noon to 1 p.m. in Health and Biomedical Sciences room 203.

July 24-25

Academic: Final examination period for Summer Session 3.

July 24

Lecure: ”InfoEd Training: Funding Opportunities using SPIN” will teach how to build a proposal using the SPIN databse, a comprehensive listing of funding opportunities. The lecture will be held from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in E. Cullen Room 407.

July 25

Academic: Official closing of Summer Session 3.

July 30

Academic: Last day to drop a course or withdraw with a “W” for Summer Session 4.

A team of UH-Clear Lake and San Jacinto College students are working with NASA’s Microgravity University program to research how to suppress fires in microgravity. While it is not absolute zero gravity, NASA’s 747 Carrier is the closest a person can get to weightlessness on Earth. | Courtesy of NASA

NASA’s Weightless Wonder aircrafts, which follow an elliptic path relative to the center of the Earth, are some of the closest approximations of zero gravity on the planet. They have been used for research, training and movie sets since 1959. A small team of students from San Jacinto College and UH-Clear Lake will get to experience one of these flights in order to conduct research on how to suppress fires in microgravity.

Students from universities and colleges nationwide submitted their proposals on why they should be chosen for NASA’s Microgravity University program, but only 14 were selected. The team consists of three SJC students, four UHCL students and a faculty advisor representing each school.

“You can’t really have a low gravity environment on Earth, so the teams stimulate a low gravity environment by flying a 747 carrier. They then climb in the air and combine the decent of the air and the gravity, making the people feel as they have more gravitational pull than usual,” said Kwok-Bon Yue, UHCL’s faculty adviser and professor of computer science.

“(When the plane) reaches a very high altitude some of the decent field will cancel the gravitational pull, so for a very brief moment, only about ten seconds, the people inside the aircraft will experience low gravity, and they call that the microgravity environment.”

This is not the first trip for some students. Two UHCL students, Ryan Page and Jarrett Lockridge, participated in last year’s flight when they attended SJC.

“Being able to participate in a microgravity flight last April was an amazing experience, and I’m hoping that this will be even better. On your first flight, there are always so many unexpected things that can distract you from the experiment. I remember the dry mouth from the motion sickness medication being so bad that I couldn’t really talk towards the end of the flight,” said Page, a computer engineering senior, in a press release.

“But, the prior flight experience should come in handy and allow us to design and conduct a better experiment.”

The team’s experiment, called the Acoustic Flame Suppression Mechanics, will test the use of sound waves to alter the physics of flames and suppress them without using water or fire extinguishers.  This knowledge can prove the difference between life and death when flames break out in the closed sections of space shuttles or stations.

“Getting a chance to be on a 747, to have the microgravity experiences, it’s very exciting,” Yue said.

“(The students) work with professionals and get a sense of what the real world looks like in a cutting-edge science and engineering institute.”

The project is part of the Microgravity University Minority Serving Institutions and Community Colleges program, which rewards minority serving institutions with the opportunity to research in low gravity environments. The flight is expected to take place in early November.

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