Chris Curry

The Signal Staff

The University of Houston-Clear Lake is in the process of updating student life policies, and dealing with stalkers on campus is one of the more pertinent issues being addressed.

The National Center for Victims of Crime reported that 13 percent of college women were stalked in 1996, but the extensiveness of stalking among adults in the United States has not been assessed on the national level since. Statistics on this issue may be difficult to gather accurately because most stalking victims do not report incidents to the police.

Anthony Jenkins, dean of students, and Paul Willingham, chief of police at UHCL, are working together to promote stalking awareness at UHCL. Continue Reading

The spring 2009 graduation commencement.

Leslie Cokley

The Signal Staff

This fall, the University of Houston-Clear Lake commencement will be split into two ceremonies. Commencement will be held Dec. 19 at the Reliant Arena in Houston.

There will be 900 graduates this year. The commencement ceremony for the School of Human Sciences and Humanities and the School of Science and Computer Engineering will be held at 10 a.m. Graduates need to arrive at 8 a.m. The commencement ceremony for the School of Business and the School of Education will be held at 3 p.m. Graduates need to arrive at 1 p.m.

During this year’s spring commencement, students were walking across the stage to receive their degrees and then walking out the door. Graduates’ family and friends left before the end of the ceremony as well. Continue Reading

Justin Joseph

The Signal Staff

The University of Houston-Clear Lake hosted its first annual Transgender Day of Remembrance event Nov. 19 to pay respect to those in the transgender community who are proud of who they are.

Over the years members of the transgender community have had little to no rights when it came to discrimination. UHCL and other colleges and universities across the state are currently working on adding a new clause named “gender expression and gender identity” to their current nondiscrimination policy.

Schools in Texas would like to add the “gender expression and gender identity” clause, but some are confronted with resistance in their efforts to do so, while some schools have the clause already in place. On July 23, 2009, colleges and universities met to discuss adding the policy to schools, during the first Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Summit. Continue Reading

Daniel Benitez

The Signal Staff

The University of Houston-Clear Lake has created the Crisis Awareness Response Emergency Team to provide a comprehensive, coordinated approach to more effectively address student behavioral issues that directly or indirectly impact the university community.

The mission is to identify students at risk or those whose behaviors are disruptive or threatening. The team was created, in part, to prevent tragedies such as those that took place at Virginia Tech or Columbine. Continue Reading

The Veterans Day celebration at UHCL.

Courtney Brodbeck

The Signal Staff

It was a day of thanks, admiration and acknowledgment at the University of Houston-Clear Lake, honoring veterans from all branches of the military at its seventh annual Veterans Day celebration Nov. 11 at Liberty Park.

“We really want to recognize, honor and most of all thank the veterans for their service,” said William Staples, president of UHCL.

The program’s keynote speaker was, Walt Cunningham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel, a fighter pilot, NASA’s second civilian astronaut, physicist, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, lecturer, author of The All-American Boys and host of Lift-off to Logic, a radio talk show. Continue Reading

Everyone has heard the golden rule: do unto others as you would have others do unto you. Yet, not everyone has grasped the simple logic behind this statement.

It has become so common for society to quickly judge someone for his or her race, gender, religion and even sexual orientation. Unfortunately, these judgments have led to individuals being violated, harmed and even killed.

It doesn’t seem as if the world has taken a step back to look at the big picture: no, we are not all going to be the exact same person. In fact, not a single person is the same; otherwise we would be robots. Continue Reading

Grant Chesshir

The Signal Staff

Tuition is not cheap, and almost all students have had to work part-time jobs throughout their collegiate journey in order to cover costs. It is not a secret that these jobs are typically terrible. Of these terrible titles of employment, one stands out as the hardest and most under appreciated: server.

Here are a few suggestions from a retired server to ensure you are not regarded as “that customer” upon your departure from the dining establishment. You know the customer I mean, the obnoxious one no one wants back.

The first bit of advice seems to be the most obvious, but I guess if this were really so obvious then I would still be asking people what they would like to drink and whether or not they want to start with an appetizer.

But I digress, so back to the advice; don’t be rude to your server. When the server approaches your table and begins his or her introduction, don’t cut him off and bark out the beverage you desire. That’s a deal-breaker and a guaranteed first step toward being “that customer.” Allow him to finish his spiel as if he were a human being. Continue Reading

Cody Anderson

The Signal Staff

An abundance of good food, dancing, fun and games all have one thing in common here at the University of Houston-Clear Lake — the Intercultural and International Student Services held its annual Global Expo Nov. 16 showcasing international and cultural diversity.

As many as 28 booths specific to various cultures and countries lined Atrium II in the Bayou building. These representations included booths dedicated to specific countries and many walks of life.

“Global Expo is an opportunity for not only the UHCL community to learn about other countries, cultures, traditions and the diversity around the world, but for the world to also learn about us,” said Linda Bullock, assistant dean of student diversity. “Our mission is to educate about the global society that we live in.” Continue Reading

Matt Griesmyer

The Signal Staff

Houston has seen its fair share of conferences and expositions running the gamut of all interests from all walks of life: the bridal expo, home and garden show, the Nutcracker Market, etc.

For the first time ever, guys will have a place to go and do what they do best: be guys.

The Guy Expo came to the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston Nov. 6 – Nov. 9.

So what all does a “Guy Expo” involve? Continue Reading

Frank Lemus

The Signal Staff

Dogs are a man’s best friend, and this year’s Nutcracker Market used that very theme to welcome the coming holiday season. Every year, for the past 29 years, the Houston Ballet has put on the Nutcracker Market to raise funds for their endeavors.

Gaylon Gullquist, market chairman of the 2009 Nutcracker Market, originated the idea for this year’s dog theme, calling it “Puttin’ on the Dog,” and was inspired when she discovered the artistry of Jim Tweedy, a Louisiana-based artist.

More than 300 national and international merchants participated in the four-day event, which last year alone brought in more than $2.5 million and 74,000 shoppers. This is truly a shopper’s paradise, as vendors offer a whole array of different items ranging from kid’s tents to frogs with slotted backs that make realistic frog noises when a stick is rubbed against them. Continue Reading