by Leslie Linehan Betts
News Reporter
Despite the miserable weather Friday night, all the gambling tables were full at Horizons for Casino Night. Participants in the mock gambling event rolled the dice in craps, bet on the roulette wheel and tried their luck at blackjack.
One of the Residence Halls Association's oldest traditions, the University of Houston's Department of Residential Life and Housing and RHA, in conjunction with the Houston Association for Retarded Citizens, presented the annual Casino Night fund raiser to benefit Camp Cougar.
The proceeds from Casino Night go toward scholarships for Camp Cougar, a UH-sponsored, on-site summer camp held during the first two weeks of June for individuals with mental retardation, autism or other developmental disabilities.
Campers stay in the Moody Towers dormitory and participate in a full range of activities including sports, arts-and-crafts classes, a talent show and a masquerade dance in which campers make their own costumes.
Camp Cougar is now in its 24th year at UH. The campus provides all the necessary accommodations for the campers, who are usually in wheelchairs or walkers and have limited mobility.
"The University of Houston is a fabulous location because it is completely handicapped-accessible," said Nicole Bradford, director of programming of the Houston Association for Retarded Citizens. Families of the campers feel secure because of the safety and the facilities on campus.
"The campers get some new experiences as well as a vacation and they make so many new friends," Bradford said.
Camper David Hernandez has been coming to Camp Cougar for 22 years. He said he enjoys the friendships he has made over the years.
"I like staying in the dorms and eating here," Hernandez said. "I have a good time every single year and I hope it continues."
Camper Carl Ditta also regularly attends Camp Cougar. "I have a good time at Camp Cougar. My favorite part of Camp Cougar is meeting the University of Houston cheerleaders and the Cougar Dolls."
The counselors and volunteers at Camp Cougar are high school and university students. They are all required to participate in the activities as though they are campers, Bradford said. "The University of Houston students get a lot out of it.
"I've seen counselors shaped by their experience at Camp Cougar. It opens their eyes to see that people with disabilities are real people and have real feelings," she said.
Sandy Davila, a senior double major in child psychology and Spanish, was this year's Casino Night chairwoman. She started working as a counselor at Camp Cougar in the summer of 1995 and will continue this year.
"I have so much patience and love for the campers. I get so much joy and happiness seeing them have the time of their lives," Davila said. "It's a lot of fun and I love seeing all the smiles on the campers' faces."
According to Bradford, Camp Cougar is in need of counselors and volunteers for this year. "Without the help of the students at the University of Houston, we would not have anything to offer. We get plenty of applications from females, but we are definitely in need of male university students."
Bradford added ARC will pay for the minimum room-and-board package on campus for the entire summer.
"The counselors just have to be available for the two weeks of Camp Cougar and for two days of training," Bradford said.
Those interested in volunteering at Camp Cougar can contact Ricky Mathis at 743-6024.