Student Run Since Volume One May 14, 2021 | Vol. 66, Iss. 8 In This Issue............ By Shaheryar Gator Life...........................2 Gators elect new SGA administration Khan News.................................10 UHD’s Office many Gators as they could. of Student Activities Although not elected, Arts and Entertainment......15 announced May 4 the during the SGA election Opinions............................20 winners of the Student debate on April 22, Owens Government Association and Gutierrez emphasized election for the 2021-2022 that no matter the outcome academic year. of the results or what their SGA Presi- roles are at UHD, they dent-elect Shamika would do their best to Jefferson and Vice Presi- make an impact. dent-elect Michelle Duvall The other win- will succeed SGA Pres- ners of the SGA election eSports seeks ident Alan Modrow and include Miya Parker, the Vice President Leboriah next chief justice; Ashley student teams Chavez. Martinez, the new sen- see Gator Life, Page 3 Both running ator for Marilyn Davies parties, Shamika Jefferson College of Business; and and Michelle Duvall, as Mahalia Ogude, the new well as Riley Owens and senator for College of Sci- Lorena Guitierrez, worked ences and Technology. Shamika Jefferson (left) and Michelle Duvall (right) will take office as tirelessly, engaging with as Continued on page 5 SGA president and vice president respectively on July 12. Photo courtesy of Michelle Duvall. Mother and daughter finish strong, Faculty spotlight: By Sheryl Robert Wilson graduate together Sellers see Gator Life, Page 5 It is truly a family Maria Esparza, who affair for the mother and will graduate with a degree daughter team, Maria Espar- in interdisciplinary studies, za Garcia and her daughter, began her college experi- Mariey Garcia. They will ence prior to having chil- graduate from UHD together dren, by attaining her asso- on May 15. ciate degree from Houston Mariey graduates Community College in the spring 2021 as an English mid-1990s. At that time, she major with a minor in was pursuing a career as a Local business creative writing and looks secretary, then decided on spotlight forward to attending grad- nursing, but as she began to see Gator Life, Page 6 uate school in the future. have children, she put her Since she wants to work education on hold. and get experience first, Then one day Mariey she is considering a career said to her, “You know as an elementary librarian. mom, you should go back to Her future goal is to teach school.” Chicano literature in higher And so began Ma- education. ria’s journey and the unique Mariey is the re- experience of attending Campus captures cipient of UHD’s Fabian UHD with Mariey. Worsham Award for creative Continued on page 5 Spring 2021 graduates, Maria Esparza Garcia (left) and her daughter, see Gator Life, Page 8-9 non-fiction. Mariey Garcia (right). Photo courtesy of Mariey Gracia. The University of Houston-Downtown 2 Gator Life May 14, 2021 The Dateline says farewell to By Sheryl Sellers helped foster a cul- mental in assisting our editor ture where one is with the redesign The end stories to fit the proud to work with of The Dateline of any academic space, but she also The Dateline team. webpage and in THE DATELINE semester ushers in set the print and University of Houston-Downtown She will be missed. adding cartoonists, new beginnings layout and handed It’s bittersweet see- and graphic design- 1 Main Street, Houston, TX 77002 and at the same the product over ing her move onto ers to enhance the Office: S-260 Phone: 713.221.8275 time closes the the printer for the next chapter paper. door on memorable publishing. She but I’m confident And we [email protected] events.e W relish was known to work The Dateline was want also to ap- Spring 2021 Staff both as we look through the night to a steppingstone for plaud Jaida, for her forward to the next meet the deadlines. her bright future recent accomplish- step and take the At each ahead.” ment. During the Editor.............................................................Jaida Doll time to reminisce weekly meeting Well said, semester English Assistant Editor......................................Indira Zaldivar about those experi- Jaida led a lesson Indira. The Date- department awards, Social Media Manager..............................Jema Pantoja ences and relation- on the do’s and line grew from a Jaida took first Business Manager....................................Sheryl Sellers ships that embold- don’ts of journalis- handful of writers prize in the Best News Section Editor...............................Aansa Usmani ened us. tic style and offered last spring to nearly Essay Contest for A&E Section Editor..............................Varah Thornton For mem- group breakout ses- 40 this semester. Upper-Division Opinions Section Editor..........................Briana Garcia bers of The Date- sions to workshop She led the team English Courses. Faculty Advisor................................Joe Sample, Ph.D. line staff, one such articles in small from creating Woo Hoo, experience is the groups. The staff approximately Jaida!!e W are leadership we came was given tips on 12 pages of news proud of you! The Dateline is the official student newspaper of to respect in our writing headlines, and events during Jaida, you the University of Houston-Downtown. Since its first editor, Jaida Doll. conducting inter- spring 2020 to will be missed. But issue in 1982, The Dateline is proud to be “Student Jaida will leave views, correct verb upwards of 20-25 we are not only Run since Volume One.” We strive to meet the needs UHD at the end of usage and much pages per issue in confident that your of a growing university as well as the growing metro- the spring semes- more. (Semicolons spring 2021. future is bright, politan city that surrounds us. ter to finish her have met their Under her but also that your last step towards end.) leadership The leadership will con- Submission Policy a degree in En- She always Dateline published tinue to enhance glish taking a final displayed patience The Dateline staff consists of students from the a summer issue The Dateline as it required course at and respect, never University of Houston-Downtown who complete all and a winter issue moves into the next UH, a course not condescending. tasks required to produce the newspaper, which serves during semester semester. The les- offered at UHD. Assis- all UHD campuses. The opinions and commentaries breaks, historical sons you leave will We wanted tant editor, Indira expressed within reflect the views of the contributing according to Date- be remembered and to take this op- Zaldivar, has these writers. No opinions expressed in The Dateline reflect line, Advisor Dr. will continue. portunity to thank comments about the viewpoints of the University of Houston-Down- Joe Sample. Jaida Jaida for the many working alongside town, its administration, or students. has been instru- contributions she Jaida. The Dateline reserves the right to edit or modify made to the cam- “Jaida’s submissions for the sake of clarity, content, grammar, pus newspaper and leadership was al- or space limitations. All submissions become property also recognize one ways very welcom- of The Dateline and may not be returned. of her many ac- ing to anyone who All paid writers must be currently enrolled stu- complishments. did not know much dents at the University of Houston-Downtown. She ac- of AP journalis- Press releases, story ideas, news tips and sugges- cepted the position tic style. No one tions are always welcomed. We encourage all students of editor midway was turned down to contribute. through the spring from The Dateline Any student interested in joining The Dateline 2020 semester instead she always staff may request more detailed information sending when the current taught us in ev- an email to the editors at editordatelinedowntown@ leadership van- ery meeting how gmail.com. ished. Jaida picked to become better up the reins and journalists, more galloped full speed inclusive of diverse Follow us on Social Media! ahead to lead the people and writing staff in learning more precisely and writing in jour- and concisely. The nalistic style and Dateline grew so Doll led The Dateline for three semester, but she was growing the news- much under her never officially recognized on UHD’s Student Lead- paper. leadership, sur- ership WallThe Dateline team improvised (using a a Not only passed publication printer, a selfie and some tape) to assure she was re- congized for her time with the newspaper. Photo credit: @the_dateline did Jaida edit the goals, and she Indira Zaldivar. The University of Houston-Downtown May 14, 2021 Gator Life 3 Faculty Senate wraps up academic year By Sheryl Sellers The final Fac- Link, Ph.D., departs January 2022. Several also responded to Ph.D., inquired about Associate ulty Senate meeting UHD at the conclu- questions followed, lecturer of biology the structure of the professor of biology, of the spring 2021 sion of the spring the first from assistant Rachael Hudspeth search committee. In Amy Baird, Ph.D., semester was held semester. On Feb. professor of criminal who inquired about response, Blanchard stated that “some May 4. 12, he was officially justice, Nina Barbieri, an interim provost stated that the com- schools will not President Lo- named provost at the Ph.D. Blanchard mittee will include follow guidelines.” ren Blanchard, Ph.D., University of North “Will the pro- shared, “We are representatives from She questioned if addressed attendees at Dakota. vost search be inter- working on that and the Faculty Senate, Blanchard felt “any the start of the meet- The search nal or external?” will have an idea be- faculty, operations, similar pressure” and ing and discussed, will begin in the fall Blanchard fore the spring semes- and other groups.