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Now that the Cougars have a winning football record, some students and alumni are hoping to outfit two of the University's most well-known buildings with shining red lights to mark each victory.
At a Student Government Association Senate meeting Oct. 1, business junior John Diaz rallied senators to lend their support to an idea that would illuminate Moody Towers with red lights after each win. This would let everyone know “whose house” this really is, he said.
“I want to make more people aware that it's possible to do something like this,” Diaz said.
The idea to shine red light on Moody Towers, the 17-story set of residential halls located at the southeast corner of the campus, originated with then-Students' Association President Rusty Hruska in 1992. The alumnus helped author a bill that would punish any person caught wearing paraphernalia from any other college or university with a Student Life Referral. They would have also been required to write a two-page report on UH history traditions and serve five hours of community service on campus.
While a student, Hruska said he hoped the team would turn around, but it only got worse. As an alumnus, he and other planners, including Cougar Marching Band Director David Bertman, are working to make the idea a reality for next season's anticipated wins.
“Everything is ready. It's only a matter of phone calls,” Hruska said.
Residential Life and Housing Executive Director Andy Blank has already given Hruska support for the project. It's estimated to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 for materials and labor to install the light fixtures. Hruska said he plans to obtain funds and materials for the project through alumni donations.
“(After) a victory, we want to light up a significant building for students,” Hruska said. “At the end of the game, it would be a wonderful tradition to watch the towers to light up from the stadium. It's something we need to make happen.”
The Towers would stay lighted only for a few hours following a victory, but Hruska said he hopes the lights will be used to celebrate other events, such as anniversaries.
Hruska and Blank determined that the buildings have sufficient electrical capacity to accommodate the huge lights. At the top of the two towers, half-arcs line the perimeters, creating crowns that would encapsulate the red glow.
“The only problem is that it looks more pink than red at night,” but Hruska is considering ways to fix this problem, he said.
Hruska also gained the support of Student Government Association Vice President Jon Quintanilla after presenting the idea to him and Diaz in September.
“It would be great to be able to see these lights from I-45. We would let the city know we've won from one of our most prominent buildings,” Quintanilla said.
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