UH’s director of the Professional Geoscience Program was honored for his effort to inform the public during the oil well blowout in 2010 and receiving the Public Service Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Don Van Nieuwenhuise was chosen based on his willingness to go the extra mile when it comes to public affairs.

The Macondo Well, which ruptured because of an explosion on the off-shore oil rig, Deepwater Horizon, was the cause of the largest oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry. Though oil giant British Petroleum successfully capped and sealed the well in the following months, the damage already done was severe.

After watching several news reports, Van Nieuwenhuise said he was surprised by how over-exaggerated claims about the well blowout were and felt obligated to set the records straight.

“As someone from a university, I thought information was the main thing I could provide,” he said.

Van Nieuwenhuise said he recalls the countless interviews he fielded as an oil well expert. Though he said expert might be overstating the fact, it is somewhat accurate. In the 1970s, Van Nieuwenhuise worked with Mobil, personally overseeing the drilling and excavation of 15 separate wells; in addition, Van Nieuwenhuise had been teaching petroleum engineering courses at Tulane University prior to becoming a program director at UH.

Though slow at first, Van Nieuwenhuise said he remembers the sharp increase in his interviews after his debut on Houston CBS affiliate, KHOU.

“The next guy had me on, and the next guy had me on, and I had four interviews on CNN that day. Then 40 interviews on CNN and then national news and a few local,” Van Nieuwenhuise said.

Though the interviews died down for a while, when BP began introducing new solutions to cap the wellhead, the media once again turned to Van Nieuwenhuise, with journalists and the public waiting for his expertise in confirming or debunking the proposed solutions.

What was perhaps most surprising to Van Nieuwenhuise was how outrageous some theories were in regards to the spill and the clean-up process.

“One of them was that the blowout was going to last forever, and that is was a terrible disaster that would never go away,” Van Nieuwenhuise said.

Least surprising, Van Nieuwenhuise said, was that the AAPG took three years to give him his award. In fact, at a recent meeting, fellow AAPG colleagues told Van Nieuwenhuise they had wanted to give him the award sooner, and they hoped that late would be better than not at all.

“Are you kidding? You can give it to me any time, and I’ll take it,” Van Nieuwenhuise said.

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UH researchers and teachers are bridging the gap between the bench and the classroom as the University continues to push into the Tier One bracket.

Ognjen Š. Miljanić, assistant professor of chemistry, has been recently named Cottrell Scholar by the Research Corporation for Science Advancement, a private foundation that supplies funding for science that they feel is impactful in the scientific community, according to its website.

The award, named after the RCSA founder, Frederick Gardner Cottrell, is awarded to teachers and scientists who display an excellence in teaching and research, two aspects usually seen as contradictory.

Miljanić has proven this is not the case.

“I teach a large section of the organic chemistry class and have recently set up a new course on energy issues, which teaches students about the science and engineering behind the technologies currently used to produce and consume energy,” Miljanić said.

Miljanić’s research focuses on supramolecular interactions, non-covalent forces between larger molecules as seen in a variety of biological molecules, and aims to apply those to non-organic systems.

Miljanić has also created an online lecture series to help his class learn the ropes of the oft-dreaded organic chemistry course.

“eLectures are digitized recording of my voice and writing,” Miljanić said.

“I have created them to assist our large population of commuter students — who often have full-time jobs and irregular study habits — in catching up with the material in cases when they simply must miss class. They are very popular and have since their creation been accessed more than 50,000 times,” he said

As UH researchers and lecturers continue to gain awards, the support network and number of discoveries continue to grow.

“The University is clearly on an upward trajectory, and there are many new and exciting things going on. The research support is very good, and I enjoy working with a diverse group of colleagues from across different departments,” Miljanić said.

“As a teacher, I find UH students interesting and fun to teach. I think that with such a diverse student body, UH does an important service to Houston and Texas.”

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UH has been selected as one of 20 U.S. universities to participate in the Honda Civic Marketing Challenge, in which students will have a chance to present their “Miles for Friendship” marketing campaign to Honda executives at the end of the spring term.

The Valenti Group received $3,000 from Honda to develop a marketing campaign. The class’s platform is titled “Miles of Friendship,” which targets college-aged students. | Courtesy of Martin Mathus

The Valenti Group, an in-class marketing agency created by students in Local Advertising Campaigns, is responsible for researching, implementing and evaluating an integrated marketing campaign.

“With the Honda Civic Marketing Challenge, we have a great opportunity to demonstrate what we have learned as students at the University of Houston and gain real-world experience by creating a marketing campaign for a prestigious client,” said Martin Mathus, coordinator of the Valenti Group. “It’s a great opportunity to see what we can do.”

The campaign is aimed at increasing purchase consideration and interest in the 2013 Honda Civic Sedan among people in the 18 to 35 age group.

“Our goal is to present the Honda Civic as a cool vehicle,” said electrical power engineering junior Ronald Sampson. “We are trying to get young people to want to buy the car.”

On April 4, the Valenti Group will present its campaign, named “Miles of Friendship,” to the target audience at the University Center. Advertising senior Angel Gonzalez, who is in the class, said the group going to have games and music to make the event as interactive and attractive to students as possible.

EdVenture Partners, an organization dedicated to developing innovative industry and education partnership programs to provide hands-on experience and recruiting access to college students, is working with Honda to bring this program to life.

The Valenti Group was provided $3,000 by Honda to create its campaign. Students will begin by conducting research to find out more about the target market, analyze the findings and design the campaign.

“Through programs like this, Honda gets all the research information they need through students for about a third of what they would pay if they were working with an advertising agency,” said Charlie Thorp, who teaches a class on local advertising campaigns and is the adviser to the Valenti Group.

“And the students get experience in return. They learn about the conflicts and controversies involved in getting a marketing campaign accomplished. They work with real clients and real deadlines. If they miss a deadline, they waste the client’s money. That’s a big deal.”

Students also learn that every client is different, and that they have to adjust to their particularities.

“We came up with the name “Friends with Benefits” at first, but Honda refuted it immediately because it had a suggestive double meaning,” Thorp said. “Then we learned that Honda is more on the conservative side, so we have to play by those rules.”

On April 25, the Valenti Group students will conduct a post-campaign research and conclude with a formal presentation to Honda and EdVenture Partners representatives summarizing the campaign results.

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The UH Law Center’s dean of seven years has retired so he can return to teaching law, after a year-long sabbatical. During this transitional period, the Law Center will look for a new dean to take the lead.

Following the retirement of former Dean Raymond Nimmer, the center has named Richard Alderman, the previous associate dean, as the interim dean. Even though Nimmer will return to teaching, his strategy to constantly improve the law center will remain as Alderman takes control.

“I’ve had the privilege of working with Nimmer for the past seven years. I hope to continue in his footsteps and place the law center in the best position possible to attract a permanent dean,” Alderman said.

Nimmer’s renowned service to the Law Center is also reflected by students at the law school who are confident the prestige that Nimmer’s established during his time as dean will continue.

“The Law Center is run with such efficiency that Dean Nimmer’s leave of absence will be noted but without loss of daily function,” said Katherine Wilson, first-year law student at the Law Center.

Alderman, also referred to as the “The People’s Lawyer” in the Houston area for the legal advice he gives the community via television shows and newspaper columns, is the director of the Consumer Law Center.

Alderman announced that professor Lonny Hoffman would be the associate dean at the Law Center. Hoffman, who specializes with state and federal civil law, joined the faculty at the Law Center in 2001. At the press release, Hoffman was named the associate dean.

Hoffman addressed his colleagues by ensuring he will continue to push the Law Center forward in the right direction.

“I welcome the opportunity to serve as associate dean as we continue to implement improvements to make a great law school even better,” Hoffman said.

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In the fall, the C.T. Bauer College of Business will launch the energy and sustainability minor. The  program was the main discussion for attendees and lecturers at the Distinguished Leaders series Tuesday at Cemo Hall.

Joseph Pratt and Greg W. Hopper, during the C.T. Bauer College of Business Distinguished Leaders Series on Tuesday, explained how shale affects
sustainability. | Aisha Bouderdaben/The Daily Cougar

Greg W. Hopper, the director of Black and Veatch Management Consulting, joined Bauer professor Joseph Pratt, one of the new minor’s faculty members, at the lecture series. They discussed shale’s impact on the economy, environment and security — a mere teaser to what the program will bring to participants.

“We want to bring industry into our classroom to stay engaged in the business community,” said Bauer Dean Latha Ramchand, “and better prepare students (for) when they graduate.”

This is first of the many leadership series to come on different subjects relating to the field of energy.

The interdisciplinary minor, which is not limited to business students, has a blend of classes with professors from across campus. Technology, architecture, political science and natural science professors make up the faculty to ensure a well-rounded educational experience.

“(Pratt) brings students and faculty from different parts on campus together,” Ramchand said.

Interested students do not have to declare the minor to take the introductory course. The minor will educate students on the basics of the energy sources, fossil fuels and the future of energy.

Both speakers at the lecture said they value the importance of not only this minor but minors in general.

“You gotta know what your plan B is,” Hopper said.

Not only can it help you fulfill a passion, but also make you seem much more diverse to employers, Pratt said.

“Having a minor allows students a good understanding of broad themes,” Pratt said.

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Through a new interactive Facebook app launching for the fall, students can to pick their roommates and select their room assignments from available rooms.

RoomSync is available for residents, and students can make this important decision up to May 31.

Hotel and restaurant management freshman Ryan Foley said he believes RoomSync will be a helpful tool for students to try.

“I think RoomSync will be very helpful for students looking to find a compatible roommate especially for students of the LGBT community who will no longer feel bullied or be forced to live with someone who isn’t accepting (of) them,” Foley said.

RoomSync is available to new students who have applied for a residence hall space for the 2013-14 academic year. After a student has applied for housing using the Student Housing Passport online system, an email will be sent to his email account with a link to join the RoomSync group for the University of Houston on Facebook.

Once logged into Facebook, a student can go to the app and begin the application process by entering their lifestyle preferences, ideal roommate information and start searching for their roommate by clicking on the find a roommate option.

Don Yackley, Student Housing and Residential Life Executive director, says this new app is the result of feedback given by students living in the dorms and new students who are interested in living on campus.

“Students have told us that they would like more say in the roommate selection process, and RoomSync allows us to do just that,” Yackley said.

“Not only does it facilitate roommate selection, but it also allows new students to the University of Houston opportunities to meet, get to know each other and build community even before stepping foot on campus.”

Some students are happy that they have the option of selecting their roommates, and others wish the app had become available for them sooner. Communications freshman Jeremy Arcarola knows a few students that do.

“I have a friend who complained that they were not comfortable with the roommate that was chosen for them, had RoomSync been available sooner, my friend would not be complaining to me about it,” Arcarola said.

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With only two weeks left until Frontier Fiesta begins on March 21, the biggest event of the spring semester is coming up fast.

Frontier Fiesta, UH’s spring event, transforms an area of campus into Fiesta City. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

Last year, the event was in the Robertson Stadium parking lot, but the Frontier Fiesta Association was forced to choose a new venue because of the construction — one that could further complicate the already common complaints of parking on campus.

March 8-24, parking lots 20C and 20A, across the street from the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center, will be closed to make room for the festival.

The parking closure will come in phases, with a section of parking lot 20C closing on March 8, an additional section closing on March 15, and the last of lot 20C along with a portion of 20A on March 19. All parking lots will reopen on March 24.

“We have additional parking that our organization, in collaboration with Parking and Transportation, has provided at the Energy Research Park. There’s plenty of parking out there,” said Keith Kowalka, the assistant vice president for Student Affairs — Student Life.

“We’re going to have additional buses on the route for ERP so that students can make that quicker, and so that students can make that (trip) a lot safer.”

The intramural field across from the Moore’s School of Music was considered for Frontier Fiesta, but it was determined to be too difficult to clean if the area was significantly trashed.

Another option was parking lot 8A, which is across from Cambridge Oaks apartments. This location was considered too risky, as the music and commotion from the festival could cause the surrounding neighborhood to call in a noise complaint.

The Energy Research Park itself was considered as well, but given the area’s distance from the university it was deemed unlikely that students and community members would go out of their way to get to it. It would lose the casual guests and the students who stumble across the festival after class.

“This year, with our slogan ‘In time, our time, this time,’ my board came together and (said), ‘what is the best bet. Where is the place where we’re going to be seen, to be heard, to have the chance for us to be here?’ (…) That’s when we chose lot 20,” Kowalka said.

While many students are upset about the change, citing existing parking issues, some do not mind.

“I think it’s fine. I think it’s a nice event, like having the rodeo here at UH. So I don’t have any issues about parking somewhere else,” said construction management senior Carlos Puerta.

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With only two weeks left until Frontier Fiesta begins on March 21, the biggest event of the spring semester is coming up fast.

Frontier Fiesta, UH’s spring event, transforms an area of campus into Fiesta City. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

Last year, the event was in the Robertson Stadium parking lot, but the Frontier Fiesta Association was forced to choose a new venue because of the construction — one that could further complicate the already common complaints of parking on campus.

March 8-24, parking lots 20C and 20A, across the street from the Campus Wellness and Recreation Center, will be closed to make room for the festival.

The parking closure will come in phases, with a section of parking lot 20C closing on March 8, an additional section closing on March 15, and the last of lot 20C along with a portion of 20A on March 19. All parking lots will reopen on March 24.

“We have additional parking that our organization, in collaboration with Parking and Transportation, has provided at the Energy Research Park. There’s plenty of parking out there,” said Jeff Syptak, Frontier Fiesta chairman.

“We’re going to have additional buses on the route for ERP so that students can make that quicker, and so that students can make that (trip) a lot safer.”

The intramural field across from the Moore’s School of Music was considered for Frontier Fiesta, but it was determined to be too difficult to clean if the area was significantly trashed.

Another option was parking lot 8A, which is across from Cambridge Oaks apartments. This location was considered too risky, as the music and commotion from the festival could cause the surrounding neighborhood to call in a noise complaint.

The Energy Research Park itself was considered as well, but given the area’s distance from the university it was deemed unlikely that students and community members would go out of their way to get to it. It would lose the casual guests and the students who stumble across the festival after class.

“This year, with our slogan ‘In time, our time, this time,’ my board came together and (said), ‘what is the best bet. Where is the place where we’re going to be seen, to be heard, to have the chance for us to be here?’ (…) That’s when we chose lot 20,” Syptak said.

While many students are upset about the change, citing existing parking issues, some do not mind.

“I think it’s fine. I think it’s a nice event, like having the rodeo here at UH. So I don’t have any issues about parking somewhere else,” said construction management senior Carlos Puerta.

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Following three meetings in which due to lack of quorum kept it from voting, the SGA Senate is trying to tie up the loose ends before the term ends.

Guns were a hot topic at the meeting. The senate saw two bills, on opposite sides, concerning firearms on campus.

In addition to this, UH Police Chief Ceasar Moore gave a special report at the meeting to express his thoughts on concealed handgun rights on campus.

“Guns will escalate conflicts,” Moore said. “Police officers that are trained to carry, 8 percent of those are killed with their own weapons. There will be an impact on the campus that will be significant.”

Wednesday, by a vote of 16 to 3, an SGA resolution titled “Reaffirm Opposition to Allowing Concealed Handguns on University of Houston Campuses” passed. The resolution, first introduced in January, opposes legislation that would prevent universities from regulating carrying.

Introduced for the first time was the University of Houston Freedom of Personal Protection Bill, which aims to allow students, faculty and guests with a concealed handgun license to carry firearms on campus grounds and in buildings.

When speaking about the opposing bill, Dustin Phipps, a senior majoring in biology and French as well as the author of the pro-concealed carry bill, said, “By passing this resolution you are preventing law abiding citizens from bringing their weapons on to the campus. I assure you that they are very aware of the consequences of removing the gun from the holster.

“Over 70 universities across six states have allowed concealed handguns on campus without any gun related incidents,” Phipps said.

Other items on the agenda voted on included the SGA bill to streamline executive appointments, which passed unanimously; the University bill requesting a font change on diplomas passed with 17 to 2; and the resolution supporting a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform passed 14 to 1, with 1 abstain.

Only one senate meeting remains before the 50th administration takes office on April 1.

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Just past noon Tuesday, students were on high alert after UH sent out a warning of a possible gunman, described as an Asian male wearing a white shirt, seen near Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall and Agnes Arnold Hall.

The area around Philip Guthrie Hoffman Hall turned into an apparent ghost town after the incident. | Nichole Taylor/The Daily Cougar

Within the hour, students received an all clear through the emergency alert system, as the UH Police Department said the gun was, in fact, a barcode scanner.

“A community member recognized that the description fit that of an employee who was in the area and carrying a barcode scanner at the time. Once we were advised of this, we met with the employee, had the reporter make a positive ID and confirmed that there was no actual threat,” said Lieutenant Bret Collier, UHPD chief of staff.

Although the report of a gunman turned out to be false, Collier does not want this to discourage students from making reports.

“The student thought that what she saw was a real gun,” Collier said. “In this situation, she did exactly the right thing in calling the police.”

Collier said it is important for students to be aware of their surroundings and take note of details in the event they need to make a report.

“Try to be a good observer. Details are important when trying to locate a person on a busy campus, and details can make all the difference. Of course this should never come at the cost of your personal safety,” Collier said.

While students should take note of their surroundings, some wouldn’t have realized what was happening had it not been for the alert.

“When the alert was sent, I was sitting in my biology class that is located in Agnes Arnold auditorium,” said biology and anthropology freshman Guadalupe Orozco. “The people in my class were nervous but (stayed) calm.”

The quick response of the police and the media is what surprised Orozco.

“I was relieved to know it wasn’t a real gunman, but somewhat surprised to how quickly local media aired the story of the alleged gunman,” Orozco said.

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