DATELINE: Volume 56 Issue 3 DOWNTOWN WHAT’S INSIDE: UHD President UHD Daycare Poet Moody Fine Arts Fair Fitzgerald’s Zika Virus ISIL & Social Media Metro Changes Prison Pipeline NAACP Awards Black History Parade Trump Phenomenon GOP Nomination Slut-Shaming Pro-Rape Rally Formation Color Me Happy JooYoung Choi Exhibit Houston Rodeo Su ers UHD Calendar and Campus Events EDITORIAL DIRECTOR 2 Darci McFerran Staff MANAGING EDITOR Joshua Burgman ASSISTANT EDITORS Kara Moore Terrance Turner STAFF REPORTERS Jason J. Rivas Elisa Gonzalez Miguel Nunez Karen Reyes Christina Movaghar Christopher Joseph Phillip Feldwisch www.datelinedowntown.com Chelsea Chance COPY EDITOR Lydia Jackson ADVISOR Dr. Anthony Chiaviello www.facebook.com/DatelineDowntown datelinedowntownhtx @ gmail.com 713.221.8569 SUBMISSION POLICY www.twitter.com/datelinedowntown Dateline Downtown welcomes submissions to the editor from any member of the UH system. 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Editorials, cartoons, columns and letters are the opinions of individual students and do not necessarily refl ect the opinions of other individual student writers, editors, advisors of the University of Houston-Downtown, its administration or students. 3 Letter Editor’s Desk FroM Quote from UHD alum Mario Salinas: As a proud UHD alumni, I am the Editor thankful for Dr. Flores’ vision and leadership, especially in the areas Latino leadership development Unanswered Questions in the Face of Change in Houston and increasing civic by Darci McFerran engagement. It’s my hope that UHD can continue to develop in Change is an undeniable aspect Dr. Flores was a beloved mentor very quickly took over the position. An these areas and continue Dr. Flores’ of the workings of any organization, and to many students at UHD, and the lack interim president is intended to maintain legacy. the University of Houston-Downtown of compassion that the chancellor’s the university until a replacement can is no exception to that rule. Often omission showed, was jarring and be found and introduced to the position. unwelcomed, change can also be the disrespectful, for many of them. Student Olivas could potentially be overseeing Quote from former SGA harbinger of positive and beneficial Government Association President the office of President for the next year, President Ivan Sanchez: things for the bearer of those changes. John Locke granted an interview to while they continue the national search Former UHD President When you consider the students at the Dateline, stating, “Dr. Flores was a deftly for a permanent replacement and there Dr. William V. Flores is one of the University of Houston-Downtown, our inspirational leader, and I really believe, are a lot of responsibilities already upon most effective, influential, and hard- unique make-up consists of a widely and the students really believe, in his him. Having been with UHS since working individuals I know. I served as the 2012 Student Body President varying demographic that is largely message of community engagement and 1982, he carries an impressive history of of UHD, and I personally witnessed, considered unconventional. That fact redefining UHD to give us a reason to achievements from that time; he seems to with great respect and appreciation, can mean many things, but what is be proud.”(Please see right-hand side of be more than competent to fill the role of the openness and time Dr. Flores seemingly escaping representatives of page for more quotes about Dr. Flores interim. Having experience in, “student willingly provided, out of his busy the University of Houston System, is from other students and former SGA affairs, legal issues, financial aid, and schedule, to meet with students. that students are stakeholders in the Presidents who worked closely with him.) convocation,” arguably, the choice made Dr. Flores would regularly meet with students to discuss, plan, school. Far more so, in fact, than at any During his time as President, there were for who should fill the interim position and take action on student concerns conventional university where students many positive changes, which resulted in was a sound one. It is not a coincidence to create solutions. are not paying for their education. I paid the advancement of new programs and that the new interim has a background out-of-pocket for my first two and half academic achievement. that will better position the university Under Dr. Flores’ empowering years here, which is not an easy thing to Through social media, I was to tackle ongoing matters such as a leadership, he provided real “Major Opportunities” to one of the most do and, like many other students, I juggle able to determine that Flores suffered budget deficit, the re-accreditation of diverse student bodies the world has work while also enrolled. Therefore, two minor coronary events on Friday, UHD, tuition increases, and legislation ever seen. He oversaw the growth of what you are doing with my money is Feb. 6, 2016 and another on Monday, regarding each. However, it seems to be the largest and best valued Houston of extreme importance to me, as are the February 8, for which he was hospitalized a risky gamble to make those changes MBA Program in Houston; helped decisions made that affect my education to receive medical treatment. During right in the middle of a semester, while UHD receive recognition, nationally, for its community service and civic and experience at the University. this time, the decision was made by so many significant things are already engagement; and advocated for Making the decision to attend UHD is Chancellor Khator to act swiftly and happening. During the meeting with student high impact practices that based on academic programs, cost, and have him removed from the position of Olivas, his only mention as to why the personally empowered me to go an overall trust that the leaders will make President of the University of Houston- change was imminent alluded to the from pushing carts at Krogers to decisions with student’s best interest at Downtown. So, from the very beginning, average length of time an individual pushing legislation in Congress now. heart. her actions were suspicious. I had to ask serves as President, which according to I am one student, among thousands, who thanks Dr. Flores for Recently, President William myself why, as did many of the students him is five years. If this is true, why does his endearing service to education Flores was removed from his position and faculty that spoke with Dateline. the chancellor remain in her position? he provided. On behalf of Houston and reassigned to another within the It is not absurd to think that there is According to this principal, she should Millennials, thank you for your school system. Flores’s new position a justifiable reason for these actions, have been replaced three years ago, service! was stated in a message from the new but hiding them from your primary considering she officially took her dual interim president, published on the stakeholders, and deliberately burying position as president and chancellor in UHD website, “Dr. Flores will serve as information, will not go undetected. 2008. Quote from former SGA a research fellow in the Policy Research Furthermore, disregarding the necessity Rumors have spread furiously President Isaac Valdez: and Assessment Center in the College of to explain these choices to students left around the campus, primarily due to During my tenure as Education at the University of Houston many feeling as though their right to the deliberate attempt to restrict the UHD-SGA President (2012-2013), Dr. Flores was a devoted and before returning to UHD as a tenured know had been ignored. information. Handling the situation in inspirational mentor to our group. faculty member.” This sudden change Seeking answers to these this manner fosters feelings of suspicion. He collaborated, supported, and was announced via an email from burning questions, I tried to go directly Transparency should be the standard exposed us to major opportunities UHS Chancellor Renu Khator. No to the source and contacted a few when important decisions that affect the that shaped us into the people that explanation — or further information people at the university. What I quickly future of university are made. In any we are today. Dr.Flores became regarding why this change was necessary discovered was that there is a blanket other profession, where stakeholders more than just a university president as he pushed for strong citywide — was given. Due to privacy concerns, response in place regarding Dr. Flores invest tens of thousands of dollars, this initiatives that improved the Greater it is to be expected that information, and his departure: “don’t ask, don’t tell.” information would not be withheld. Houston area. Dr. Flores took the especially regarding personal matters, The most people could tell me was that Many students, including myself, time to get to know me personally would be made available on a limited this was an order that came directly from are very proud to be Gators and want and helped me with my struggles. I basis. More concerning, is the fact that the chancellor.