Kristin Manrique

The Signal

Egyptians have surprised the world with their technological ingenuity, which resulted in the overthrow of a government dictator. The uprising in Egypt is a prime example of youth effectively using social media to bring about social reform.

The nearly 30 year reign that President Hosni Mubarak held over Egypt ended Feb. 11 due in part to the country’s younger generation creating a viral message of defiance towards the Egyptian government.

People posted videos on YouTube, tweeted protest locations and documented on Facebook the atrocities committed in their homeland. Communication through social media played a vital role in instilling change and promoting democratic reform in Egypt.

Everette Penn, assistant professor of criminology, was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship that allowed him to teach in Egypt, as well as absorb the culture.

Penn observed Egypt’s technological modernity firsthand. Penn said, once technology merged with a strong political message, an uprising was only a matter of time.

“A revolution for a deprived people is only one meal away,” said Penn. “The question is not if, but when. Social media provided the means to communicate quickly and broadly to a wide array of people in Egypt. I believe once people access information and have the ability to discuss, verify and analyze change occurs because an alternative is discovered. This is what we are seeing in Egypt and throughout the Middle East.” Continue Reading

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Jennifer Cox

The Signal

Texas Sen. (R) Dan Patrick proposed the Sonogram Bill that will require women seeking an abortion to have an ultrasound at least 24 hours before having the abortion performed. The bill entails viewing ultrasound images and hearing the fetus’ heartbeat in addition to an explanation of what the doctor may find.

The bill passed the Senate in Texas Thursday, Feb. 17, with a vote of 21 to 10. The bill makes an exception for cases of rape, incest and fetal abnormalities. Even though doctors are required to do an ultrasound, women do have the choice to not see the images or hear the fetus’ heartbeat.

Some organizations have strong feelings against the bill forcing women to have an ultrasound prior to getting an abortion.

“The leading cause of abortion is unplanned pregnancy,” Rochelle Tafolla, vice president of communications & marketing at Planned Parenthood stated.

Tafolla feels having women get an ultrasound before an abortion will not prevent them from proceeding with the abortion. Continue Reading

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Carissa Puls

The Signal

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers Feb. 19. Known as the Continuing Resolution Act of 2011, this bill eliminates all funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

The bill arrived in the Senate on Feb. 28, but before it can be put into effect it still has to win the Senate’s vote and be signed by the president.

CPB promotes public telecommunications services for the American public. This includes TV and radio stations such as the Public Broadcasting System and National Public Radio. Many Americans depend upon these stations for news and entertainment.

“I listen to NPR every day,” said Ashley Packard, professor of communication and digital media studies. “I think it is the best source of news available because it is informative and engaging. I also use clips from it regularly in my classes.”

Texas Rep. Kevin Brady wrote The Cuts Act of 2011, which is parallel with the Continuing Resolution Act. Brady’s description of his bill states that the current CPB funding level is around $400 million annually and is the highest it’s ever been. Continue Reading

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Most of us go to our Twitter and Facebook sites to engage in our daily lives and activities. Having this technology helps us understand what is going on worldwide.

Google marketing executive Wael Ghonim helped create a Facebook page devoted to a victim of police brutality in Egypt. Ghonim fought against the poverty and corruption of his country by exposing the body of a young businessman beaten to death for trying to take a stand against police corruption.

Facebook and Twitter have played a big role in the Egyptian uprising. Social networking helped protestors organize and communicate with one another to bring about the downfall of President Hosni Mubarak.

Ghonim, 30, is Google’s head of marketing in the Middle East and a father of two. He was arrested Jan. 27 after joining the protest in Cairo’s Tahrir Square and held for 12 days before being released. Continue Reading

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Roman Rama III

The Signal

With all the discussions surrounding “The Vagina Monologues,” which was recently performed on campus, I thought really hard about the whole empowerment of women topic this show brings, and I’m with it all the way.

I support anyone who can take charge of life and succeed. However, I do wish there was a way to add another version of the monologues. What about a guys’ monologue, or should I say MAN-ologue?

How about “The Penis MAN-ologues?” They could depict many known and unknown problems guys go through. Continue Reading

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Hello,

My name is John and I recently came across your article about the bill currently proposed in the Texas Legislature concerning Concealed Handgun License holders being able to conceal on campus. I had a few concerns about it.

1). The image portrayed shows a tactical shotgun in the main compartment of the backpack. This bill doesn’t have anything to do with shotguns at all. It is referring to the legal concealment of HANDGUNS. Therefore, your image gives a false impression of the issue at hand.

2) Those who legally conceal would avoid using their backpacks to do so. Mainly because of the fact that they access it throughout the day and can be prosecuted if someone was able to see their firearm. Search Google “deep concealment holsters” for more appropriate images to portray how a CHL holder would chose to conceal.

3) When visiting your webpage I clicked the story link on your News tab to view the article online. The link lead me to a similar article from 2 years ago. It was basically plagiarized from a previous writer.

After the main article being 2 years old, how would I know if the Editorials on the subject aren’t either?
Thanks,
John Cavuoti, II

Editor’s Note:

The 2009 article Mr. Cavuoti references was written by former Signal reporter Mark Guillory about House Bill 1893. Given the similarities of the gun bills, it’s not surprising that some of the same issues were readdressed. The article that ran in the Feb. 21 issue was an original piece written by Mark Bownds.

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Matt Candelaria

The Signal

With spring break right around the corner, most students are already excited and ready to blow off some stress. The everyday routine of college momentarily comes to a pause for a week and gives students some free time to get out and have some fun.

Instead of going to a bar, heading to the beach or staying at home and watching a movie, go out and have some adventure. Do something that can be a highlight of a lifetime.

Tired of getting tickets, but have that extreme need for speed? Luckily, Grandsport Speedway in Hitchcock is the place to put the brakes on the tickets, and put the peddle to the metal.

Racing Adventures, held at the speedway, offers a speed track where anyone can take his or her car and really test its engine. They also offer two cars for racetrack driving.

First, weighing in at 3,000 pounds is the corvette. This vehicle holds a V-8 engine to deliver the type of power that can make anyone smile. Also, there is a Cobra Repliracer. This open top car can go 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. Continue Reading

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Jessica O’Rear

The Signal

At 14,000 feet in the air, Diana Cotter stepped out of the door of a small airplane and descended toward land. The free fall lasted for about 30 seconds at a speed of 120 mph. In a short period of time, Cotter fell from 14,000 feet to 7,000 feet. At 6,000 feet Cotter deployed her parachute and, after a few minutes of floating in the sky, arrived safely on the ground.

“I remember that after I landed, I was the happiest person on earth,” Cotter said. “Skydiving was one of the most exciting and intense experiences that I’ve encountered.”

Cotter, a 23-year-old communication major, is a self-proclaimed “outdoor girl” who enjoys exciting and intense activities. After moving from Houston to Mexico as a child, Cotter found she liked trying new experiences.

“The exposure to new people, culture and language was crucial for my interest for adventure,” Cotter said. “Since I was a little girl, I have always felt the need for adventure.”

One of Cotter’s earliest outdoor activities occurred at a summer camp where she learned how to put together a tent. Cotter fell in love with the outdoors. Since then, she has tried many outdoor sports including skiing, skydiving, kayaking, rafting, snorkeling and playing paintball.

“I performed many activities that made me feel passionate for adventure,” Cotter said. “Cliff diving was one of the first activities that made me feel an adrenaline rush. We had to climb to the top of the cliff, probably 20-feet high, and when we got to the upper part I looked down and saw excitement.” Continue Reading

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Norma Villarreal

The Signal

Interview Dash, sponsored by Career Services, was held March 1 to help students and alumni practice their interviewing skills with local companies, receive feedback from employers and network with peers.

“Interview Dash is speed interviewing, similar to speed dating with multiple employers,” said Caitlin Weekley, employer relations coordinator. “The job search is something you will be doing for your entire life and these are really valuable skills. The Interview Dash is only practice, not for an actual job, but it could build networking for a potential job.”

Weekley brought the event to UHCL after having a similar experience during her time as a student in college.

“I did something similar when I was in college, and I felt like I learned,” Weekley said. “It was extremely nerve racking because you are getting interviewed over and over again and, you know, it is not for a real job but you’re sitting in front of someone who hires people and critiques interviewing all day every day. The student should be able to seal the deal in a job search.”

Students had the opportunity to perfect their interviewing skills by getting feedback from an actual employer on how to correctly answer interview questions. Twelve employers attended including Harris County Department of Education, IRS, DQ Technologies, Omnipotech and Target. Continue Reading

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