Gas company gives university $1 million

University of Houston – The University of Houston will receive a donation of $1.1 million from ConocoPhillips Co. this year to pay for the growth of the Energy Research Park and various engineering, business and science programs.

“This donation will only further the progress we’ve made by helping additional students, providing various new programs including an offshore energy program, and strengthening the corporate bond,” said Marshall Schott, assistant vice president for instructional support and outreach.

This is the second year UH has received a $1 million donation from the company, and a third donation of the same magnitude is expected next year.

The ERP at UH was built and funded to research alternative energy solutions to the problems arising from the use of fossil fuels.

“This donation is expected to be tremendously helpful to the petroleum program and to the expansion of the undergraduate program,” Scott said.

-The Daily Cougar
By Courtney Johns

Shoeless students raise awareness in global event

University of Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s College – The chill felt around South Bend on Tuesday did not keep Saint Mary’s students from spending a day without wearing shoes.

A global event sponsored by the footwear company TOMS, “One Day Without Shoes” is a day when groups of people walk around barefoot to raise awareness for people who cannot afford shoes.

According to the event’s website, health and education are major concerns for those without shoes. Millions of children are at risk of injury, disease and soil-transmitted infections, the website said. In some areas, shoes are required for children to attend school.

“Four million people have podoconiosis, a debilitating and disfiguring disease caused by living barefoot in volcanic soil,” the website said. “740 million people are affected by hookworm, a soil-transmitted parasite that can cause intestinal pain, weakness and cognitive impairment.”

After learning about the event, senior Hannah Hupp decided Saint Mary’s should get involved in “One Day Without Shoes.

“We had a great turnout,” Hupp said. “All 300-plus shirts were gone by 3:30 p.m. to only girls with no shoes on.”

-The Observer
By Jillian Barwick

Athletics and Diversity Panel holds luncheon for past, current UNL athletes to discuss issues

University of Nebraska – The Athletics and Diversity Panel hosted a luncheon Tuesday at the Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center as a part of Gaughan Week. The panel, made up of current and past UNL athletes, discussed diversity issues. Charles Greene, a gold medalist in the 4×100-meter relay in the 1968 Summer Olympics and a UNL graduate, moderated the discussion.

One question asked the panelists what they would tell a student who had a dream to play on a team, but wasn’t good enough to make the team yet.

Sara Sackett-Haag, a former golf player for UNL, emphasized having an alternative option in case the first one doesn’t pan out.

“You have to make college what you want it to be,” Sackett-Haag said. “If plan A doesn’t work out, there is always plan B.”

-Daily Nebraskan
By Heather Haskins