After being the target of anti-gay attacks throughout his campaign for vice president of the Student Government Association at the University of Houston-Downtown, junior Kristopher Sharp and his running mate, Isaac Valdez, were victorious in the election earlier this month.

“When I found out we had won, I immediately felt incredibly humbled and honored to be a Gator,” Sharp said. “I knew at that moment that despite the negativity surrounding my campaign, my peers had the insight to see my true character and disregarded everything else.”

After announcing their campaign, fliers circulated the campus that targeted Sharp’s sexual orientation with the words “WANT AIDS?” above a picture of Sharp with a large X on it, and “Don’t support the Isaac and Kris homosexual agenda” at the bottom. On the back was medical information from a physician visit, including his HIV status and prescribed medication, along with his home address and telephone number.

Sharp said graffiti stating “Isaac + Kris=AIDS” popped up in bathrooms later on.

“I knew my sexuality could possibly be an issue — I didn’t really think it would be since it’s 2013,” Sharp said. “I was expecting some attacks, maybe some debates, but I never would have thought it would go to the level it went to.”

Director of Media Relations Claire Caton said the university is trying to find the person responsible but no recent updates in the criminal investigation have been made.

Sharp said he has decided to put the past behind him and would like to start focusing on his duties as vice president of SGA, which he will assume in June. Sharp and Valdez will focus their attention on campus eco-friendly initiatives and updated technology. They also plan to educate students on diversity and acceptance.

“I will remain committed to changing the culture of beliefs on our campus and work to foster an educational environment that is accepting of all people from all walks of life,” Sharp said. “If and when we find out who did this, I will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that nothing like this happens at UHD again.”

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Administrators from the Provost’s Office and the Division of Administration and Finance discussed tuition and fees for the upcoming academic year in last week’s forum, including an increase in tuition.

In the last 30 years, the government support that goes into UH’s operating budget, including sources and funds, went from 61 percent in 1983 to 22 percent in 2013.

“This isn’t a UH phenomenon,” Associate Vice President and Vice Chancellor of Finance Tom Ehardt said. “This is a phenomenon typical to all state-supported institutions in Texas and largely typical across nation.”

“The largest share of the dollars that comes from the state of Texas comes through something called formula funding, which is largely based on the semester credit hours that we generate,” he said.

The formula is calculated by multiplying the semester credit hours by the program’s weight and by the rate. Semester credit hours are a measurement of how many classes, and the number of students enrolled in those classes, an institution delivers. Semester credit hours are weighted by discipline, for instance nursing is weighted more than liberal arts, and by level, such as masters, doctoral and professional, according to a report from the Legislative Budget Board.

“All universities are funded level across the state,” Ehardt said. “Some institutions get more or less funding based on the variants of the formula, but the formula is the same.”

Full funding of the formula is number one priority in President and Chancellor Renu Khator’s legislative agenda, Ehardt said.

“It is primarily President Khator who is working with the legislative delegation of this region and the Higher Education Committees to really convey to them the importance of maximizing the formula funding to serve the needs of students,” said Assistant Vice President and Assistant Vice Chancellor of Planning and Policy Chris Stanich.

Stanich went on to speak about some of the problems UH needs to address.

“The availability of resources really does have consequences in terms of the services that we are able to provide students, and the things we are able to do to improve important performance measurements, like the number of graduates that we produce,” he said.

“Graduation rates is one of the most important performance measurements that we are held accountable for, not only by the state but by national rating agencies and other organizations that are evaluating UH for its Tier One status.”

UH’s graduation rates fall short when compared to other major Texas universities. UH’s 4-year graduation rate is at 16.2 percent while Texas A&M and University of Texas at Austin are in the 50 percent range. Similarly, UH’s 6-year rate is at 46.1 against 80 percent of A&M and UT-Austin.

“This is something that is very important for Dr. Khator,” Stanich said. “She has labeled this ‘no excuse priority.’ She wants to move University of Houston’s 6-year graduation rate as quickly as possible to 56 percent.”

Student Government Association’s President Cedric Bandoh discussed four major strategies to improve student success in the upcoming year. He said UH goals need to be to improve student advising through technology and improved student/adviser ratio, increase the number of faculty to meet enrollment demand and improve student-faculty ratio, increase financial aid and enhance libraries, as UH falls below national average on all of those aspects.

To fund these strategies, UH will need  more than $15 million.

“I think that everybody supports these goals and supports the concept of focusing on actions that create student success,” Executive Vice President and Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance Carl Carlucci said. “The estimate of the resources needed appear to be based on reasonable numbers, so I accept them.”

“The problem is the number, $15 million, is more than we accomplish or more than we can ask students to take on a tuition increase,” Carlucci said. “The number itself is just too high, and it would require an increase of something like 7 percent in tuition to produce this kind of revenue. That is just not something that we can do. We don’t think it’s appropriate to ask for it, and we also don’t think that, politically, it’s the right thing to do in a year like this.”

Carlucci said that the recommended maximum that can be asked in tuition increase, and that he believes the public will find acceptable is an increase of about 3.95 percent. This number is based on a bill proposed in 2009, which did not pass but has been informally accepted. This increase would create $10 million, which would take care of two thirds of the problems listed by Bandoh.

“The rest will have to be put off for future years,” Carlucci said. “We are trying to stick with what the legislature and the public thought was a reasonable number.”

Optional fees, housing, parking, study abroad and other expenses will not count toward the $10 million that will be raised from increase in tuition.

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As commencement ceremonies go underway this weekend, Hofheinz Pavilion will be packed with people – but so will the streets surrounding the University.

UHPD said they expect delays from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday and are urging students to take alternate routes if they are traveling to campus on those days.

Significant traffic delays will be expected on Cullen Boulevard, Elgin Street and Scott Street, the University of Houston Department of Public Safety said in a campus-wide email. Holman Street will be blocked off for vehicle through-traffic to accommodate pedestrians walking to Hofheinz Pavilion.

Due to the large amount of visitors on campus, lots 12, 15 and 16 and the Stadium Parking Garage will be impacted, said the Department of Public Safety. They ask the University community to use the lots on Wheeler and Calhoun to minimize delays.

The Department said those who regularly park near Hofheinz Pavilion may wish to adjust their travel times to compensate for potential delays and consider alternative parking areas.

In addition, parking for visitors attending the ceremonies will be limited due to the various campus construction projects.

The University tells visitors they should expect to walk across campus to their commencement venues and should wear clothing and footwear suitable for walking.

For more information on commencement parking, please visit http://www.uh.edu/commencement/commencement-parking/index.php.

The members of the Staff Council took a break from their more formal meeting style and adopted a discussion-oriented event called Conversations with Staff Council. The council broke into groups to brainstorm different hot topic issues at 2 p.m. on Tuesday in Farish Hall.

President and Chancellor Renu Khator spoke at the slightly-less casual Staff Council meeting, which was more conversational than the norm, on Tuesday. | Kayla Steward/The Daily Cougar

Administration and Finance representative Andy Moon moderated the meeting, and President and Chancellor Renu Khator was the guest speaker, offering her insight on problems, solutions and her own goals for the University.

“It’s all of us that push and pull and do whatever is needed,” Khator said.

Khator touched on multiple topics, first praising the staff members for their hard work during this school year, as well as addressing issues that can be improved.

As a Tier One university, Khator said she wants to push for changes in graduation rates and student life.

“The graduation rate must improve. Many students are living on campus now, and we must continue to build student life,” Khator said. “After two years, I know that graduation rates will improve pretty significantly.”

Khator went on to explain the importance of personal interaction and becoming more involved in the Houston community. She made several requests of the staff, including becoming more innovative, engaging in the belief that they can do better and enjoying their jobs so as to not get burned out.

After Khator’s statements, she answered a few questions from staff, such as the concerns regarding the mood in Austin relating to higher education. After she answered several questions, the remaining staff members broke into groups.

Each group had a moderator who led the discussion, introducing issues such as communication problems and staff orientation concerns.

Staff council president-elect for  the 2013-2014 Fiscal Year led one of the tables to a discussion regarding UH’s presence in the community through volunteering. The concern was enthusiastically discussed by staff members.

“I want to know if there are any community service and volunteering opportunities. I’m looking for something to get involved with,” said academic advisor of The College of Pharmacy, Natasha Hindocha.

One of the ideas raised by the discussion’s participants was that an increased presence in community service will shed a positive light on the University.

“If you want to be recognized in the community, there’s no better way than through volunteer work,” said UH Cinco Ranch program coordinator Owen Campbell.

The next staff council meeting will be held on May 9 in Room 306 in the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library.

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A student reported to UH Police Department that she was robbed at gunpoint at 12:18 a.m. on Saturday in the visitor section in the Cullen Oaks parking garage at 4600 Cullen Blvd.

The student said a man approached her from behind, aimed a gun at her and demanded her cellphone.

The suspect has not been identified but is described as a Black male wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts with a red stripe down the sides.  He is approximately 5’10″ to 6’0″ with a thin build.

The weapon was described by police as a small black semi-automatic handgun.

The suspect was reported to be leaving in a dark colored two door older model Buick with a vinyl roof.

For more information about the status of the investigation, visit the UH security alert page.

If you have any information to contribute regarding the investigation, email UHPD.

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Lawyers fresh from law school are finding it hard to get a job, a fact that has seemed to deter hopeful law students from applying.

As of January, there were 30,000 applicants to law schools for the fall, a 20 percent decrease from 2011 and a 38 percent decrease from 2010, according to the Law School Admission Council.

UH Law Center has seen a decrease in applicants as well, and it may be because the economy is improving.

“Usually when the economy is bad, most folks try to apply to law school,” said Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall Law School Dean Dannye R. Holley.

The idea of being an attorney creates a sense of financial security that many other jobs can’t, said Holley.

“I wanted to go to law school because once I graduated I didn’t have to look for a job, I was a job,” said UH law graduate Berhanu Gebreslasie.

The Law Center’s Associate Director for Admissions Nathan Neely said he agreed that the economy affects attorneys, as everyone else, but in a unique way.

Around 2006 and 2007, prior to the economic crisis of 2008, there were historic numbers of law school applicants, Neely said.  Because it takes generally three years to complete law school it wasn’t till 2009 and 2010 that those applicants felt the wrath of the economy.

“It took that long for the applicant pool to react to the housing market and to the credit issues going on at that time.” Neely said.

A focal point of discouragement amongst people wanting to go to law school is the fact that during that time period, only a few years ago, it was more difficult to find a job out of law school than previous years.

“In spring 2009 after some assessment firms said ‘whoa we might not be able to take all these people,’” said Law Center’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs Sondra R. Tennessee.

However 2009 wasn’t long ago, and the discouraging words of those old fresh lawyers still circulate through our hallways.

“My brother graduated from law school in 2010, and it was such a hassle for him to get a decent paying job,” said international business graduate Amanda Baetz.

But Tennessee said the passionate law students do not let the job market deter their application.

“We are working with people that really want to be here,” said Tennessee.

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The David M. Underwood Chapter of the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance celebrated its 20th anniversary and awarded scholarships and recognized students who had completed the program in time for graduation.

The ceremony was held Thursday at the Junior League of Houston. NLA program director, Melanie Fitzpatrick, said she hopes that students take what they’ve learned from the program, and use it in the workplace and throughout the community.

“I think inspiring leadership in these students, and the opportunity to see their compassion for our community and their desire to make an impact, can turn into a professional job that they can love going in to everyday,” said Fitzpatrick.

The NLA partners with colleges and universities throughout the U.S. to certify students and prepare them for careers with nonprofit organizations across the globe. Marketing senior Ni Zhang said that she came to UH after learning about the NLA program.

“I’ve wanted to work in the nonprofit sector since I was in high school,” Zhang said. “Unfortunately in China, we don’t have academic study with non profit organizations and we don’t have any laws for nonprofit sectors which is why I wanted to study this and why I came to America.”

A brief presentation was given about the growth within the program since it started in 1993 before scholarship recipients were awarded and graduating students were recognized for completion of the program. The Graduate School of Social Work Dean Ira Colby nicknamed the NLA program the unofficial honors college of the GCSW.

Students from any major are welcome to join the program and can learn more and apply online. Finance junior Kayla Lail joined NLA after explaining to her adviser that she wanted to do more for her community.

She said NLA connected her with like minded individuals who also wanted to serve the community.

“(NLA) fueled  my passion for the community,” said Lail. “I enjoy being around people who feel the same way as I do and know that  it’s okay to want to volunteer and want to get involved, and NLA has given me a support system for that.”

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UH will become tobacco-free June 1, school officials announced Thursday.

The new policy, approved by UH President and Chancellor Renu Khator, bans the use of tobacco products in all university buildings and grounds, including parking areas, sidewalks and walkways. It will apply to all employees, students, contractors and visitors to the campus.

“We are very well aware that this will be an inconvenience to the UH community of smokers,” said Kathryn Peek, assistant vice president of University Health Initiatives and co-chair of UH’s Tobacco Task Force. “But nobody has to quit smoking. What we’re trying to do is eliminate second-hand smoke on the campus.”

For smokers, the University will provide 20 designated open areas for tobacco use mostly situated away from buildings and walkways. People will be able to smoke there, but after a year the task force will decide whether to disallow on-campus smoking entirely.

During this phase-in period, Peek said, the task force plans to do surveys and asks that the UH community — smokers and non-smokers — visit its website to report observations regarding the tobacco use areas. Depending on its findings, it will decide if the number of areas will decrease or go away completely.

“We can certainly be responsible for adding designated areas as well,” Peek said. “If it turns out that there is an obvious need in a particular location then that would be considered.”

The ban includes, but is not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, water pipes, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chewing tobacco and any other non-FDA approved nicotine delivery devices.

Last year, the University established the UH Tobacco Task Force as part of its commitment to providing a healthy and sustainable environment for everyone in the campus community.

UH is a recipient of more than $9.4 million in funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, or CPRIT, which began requiring its recipients in 2012 to have tobacco-free policies in and around all locations where research is conducted.

“CPRIT accelerated the university’s tobacco-free campus policy, but that isn’t the sole reason,” Peek said. “This was a student-led movement from the beginning.”

LiveRED, a campaign initiated by students in 2010 prompted discussions to expand anti-smoking policies, which the SGA addressed during meetings with the tobacco task force last year.

“I predict that enforcing the smoking zones will be difficult since it requires student monitoring and a cultural shift on campus,” said Yesenia Chavez, SGA Student Life Committee Chair. “However, I am confident that student smokers will become more aware of how their habit affects bystanders and foresee a healthier student body population at UH.”

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TODAY

Remembrance: From noon to 1 p.m. at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center, the annual memorial service, UH Day of Remembrance, for members of the UH community who passed away in 2012 will take place.

Intramural sports: Starting at 1 p.m. at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center, intramural sports will host its version of the NFL Draft Combine. Admission to this event is free.

Breaking the Silence: From 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Room 124 at the Classroom Business Building, Impact Congo Students Association presents its first “Breaking the Silence” lecture with guest speaker Kambale Musavuli. The event is aiming to educate students and faculty on what is being called “Africa’s World War,” a conflict that has taken the lives of 6 million people, with countless women being raped since 1996 in the D. R. Congo. Admission is free and refreshments will be provided.

FRIDAY

Reforming Mexico’s Oil Sector: From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 328 at the Classroom and Busineess Building, the CICS Spring Mini Conference “Reforming Mexico’s Oil Sector” roundtable discussion with four noted experts: Duncan Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center; David Enrique, energy lawyer at Goodrich Riquelme y Asociados; Eduardo Andrade Iturribarria, corporate director at Iderdrola; and Ricardo Colmenter, regional general council at Weatherford International, will take place. Admission to this event is free with an RSVP, and lunch will be provided.

Opening Reception: From 6 to 9 p.m. at the Blaffer Art Museum, the UH School of Art annual student exhibition opening reception will be held. Admission to this event is free.

Dance Works: From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Wortham Theatre, whether you’re a dance aficionado or a dance newbie, you’ll enjoy this annual show featuring contemporary works by faculty and guest artists with our pre-professional dance company, the UH Dance Ensemble. Student tickets are $10.

SATURDAY

As You Like It: From 8 to 10 p.m. at the Quintero theater, a play by William Shakespeare, directed by Sara Becker will display Shakespeare’s perennial crowd pleaser. This comedy includes mistaken identity, cross dressing, wrestling, fools, snakes and lions. Rosalind and her cousin Celia flee the dangerous court and travel into the mysterious Forest of Arden, kicking off a grand adventure that changes everyone involved. Student tickets are $10.

Dionysia: From 8 to 10 p.m. in the Rockwell Pavilion of the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library, Dionysia 2013 presents an adaptation of “The Iliad,” Homer’s classic tale of war and suffering, entitled “Ilium.” Jen Sommers of the School of Theatre and Dance choreographs and directs, with music composed and conducted by Moores School of Music vocal performance major Alyssa Weathersby. An RSVP is recommended.

SUNDAY

March of Dimes: From 9 to 11 a.m. at the corner of Cullen Boulevard and Elgin Street, UH will serve as the host site for this year’s March for Babies walk, one of the most successful walking events in the area. This will mark the 17th year that UH will participate, bringing more than 30,000 participants to campus. UH’s is the nation’s largest and best-attended walk site, and last year, its volunteer team ranked No. 25 among the top 100 teams in the Houston area.

University president Renu Khator will deliver a speech Thursday in honor of the members of the UH community who have passed away in 2012. | Courtesy of UH.edu

With essays, finals and the spring graduation ceremony fast approaching, it can be easy to disregard those who passed away recently. However, the A.D. Bruce Religion Center holds an annual UH Day of Remembrance to honor faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends who have passed within this academic year.

“This University of Houston tradition has been held for over 20 years,” said manager of A.D. Bruce Religion Center Bruce Twenhafel.

“Many colleges and universities have annual memorial services or programs that honor their students, faculty, staff and alumni that have passed away.”

UH Day of Remembrance is coordinated both by the religion center and the Campus Ministries Association with support for the event given by the University Center and the University Development. Those being honored at the event will be honored all at once, not individually, because there are too many people to fit into the ceremony. There will be a candlelight service and words from President Renu Khator and other UH members.

“There is the Memorial Service at 12 in the afternoon and then a reception following. During the service, Dr. Khator will offer comments,” Twenhafel said.

“Then, four candles will be lit individually by Cedric Bandoh, president of SGA, Steven Wallace, president of the Faculty Senate, Ron Gonyea, president of Staff Council and John Clarke, chairman of the Board for the UH Alumni Association. The service will close with the singing of the Alma Mater by members of the UH Man Choir under the direction of Dr. Jeb Mueller.”

Bandoh is participating in the UH Day of Remembrance for the second time this year.

“I had the honor of lighting a candle during the ceremony to honor all of the students who have passed during the past year,” Bandoh said.

“This is definitely a UH tradition and an opportunity to pay respects to all the members of the Cougar family who have passed. I would encourage everyone who can make it to come and be a part of this very special ceremony.”

For those unable to attend the event, Twenhafel said there is an alternative to honoring the deceased UH members

“If they can’t attend, we do have red honor bands that they can wear in support,” Twenhafel said.

Day of Remembrance will be honoring dozens of deceased UH members from noon to 1 p.m. For more information and the full list of those being honored at the event, visit UH.edu/adbruce.

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