Features

FEATURES 2/28/23 11:44pm

‘I don’t like to lose’: Reggie DesRoches puts work and family first — but won’t say no to a good game of Monopoly

By Ben Baker-Katz

The first thing to know about Reginald DesRoches is that he prefers to go by Reggie. He’s also a Jets fan and the first Black president of Rice University. But above all else, according to his wife and three children, he’s the most competitive person they know.

FEATURES 2/28/23 11:43pm

‘Because we’re the first generation’: Myritney Saint-Cloud faces the challenges and motivators of being an FGLI student

By Murtaza Kazmi

The daughter of Haitian immigrants, Myritney Saint-Cloud is acutely aware of the generational pressure that accompanies her time at Rice. While both her parents hold degrees, they did not go to school in the United States – thus putting the onus on Saint-Cloud to pursue her education in the face of being a first-generation American and low-income student.

FEATURES 2/28/23 11:42pm

Senior Spotlight: Sofi Aguilera blends art, work

By Sejal Gupta

When Brown College senior Sofi Aguilera first wrote her fantasy book, “Paragon,” she didn’t know she was about to become the youngest published author in Mexico. Now, five years and a book series later, Aguilera is preparing for a full-time role at a California-based venture capitalist firm and, of course, still writing.

FEATURES 2/28/23 11:41pm

Spring break plans that’ll save you bucks

By Sarah Knowlton

The infamous college spring break is (thankfully) nearly here. While these breaks are often associated with lavish and loud trips to the likes of Cancun and Aruba, the Thresher rounded up a few enjoyable ways to spend the upcoming break that won’t shatter your bank.

FEATURES 2/21/23 10:31pm

Black at Rice: Tamaz Young narrates life experiences through poetry

By Murtaza Kazmi

Tamaz Young didn’t begin writing with the intention of becoming a poet, let alone publishing a poetry collection. Instead, Young said that writing served as a way to release his emotions.

FEATURES 2/21/23 10:29pm

Science, tech, engineering and crochet: looking at COLL courses

By Adam Leff

Like any other course, COLL 113 begins with a discussion of the assigned readings. The current discussion topic is the relationship between crocheting and coding, and how the fields can be used to inform one another. Afterwards, the teacher demonstrates crochet techniques for the class, projected on a screen so her hands are visible.

FEATURES 2/21/23 10:28pm

Yin and yang: Castleberry twins discuss self-identity

By Grace Zhou

Upon meeting a pair of identical twins, many may wonder what it’s like to have someone who’s only distinguishable by a fingerprint — or in Drew and McKenna Castleberry’s case, a toenail painted blue.

FEATURES 2/15/23 12:19am

Black at Rice: Malaika Bergner fosters a found community

By Sarah Knowlton

When Black Student Association President Malaika Bergner came to Rice, she and a group of other Black freshmen girls started eating lunch together.

FEATURES 2/14/23 11:45pm

Dating Science: Marriage Pact takes campus by storm

By Emelia Gauch

Concerned that you won’t find love at the ripe age of 18 to 22? Fear not. Rice students now have a new opportunity — or backup plan — for romance. The Marriage Pact borrows from the romantic comedy trope of two friends agreeing to get married at a certain age if they don’t find anyone else. Essentially, they agree to be each others’ romantic backup plan. Developed by Stanford University undergraduates Liam McGregor and Sophia Sterling-Angus as their final project for an economics class, the Marriage Pact takes this idea and translates it into a 50-question survey that students have brought to 78 colleges and universities across the U.S., now including Rice.

FEATURES 2/14/23 11:43pm

Finding love next door: Married professors talk love, literature

By Grace Zhou

The circulation desk at Fondren is perhaps one of Rice’s most underrated matchmaking spots. Back in 2001, it was where now-married professors Sarah Ellenzweig and Scott McGill first met. Ellenzweig had already been teaching at Rice for a year, while McGill had just started teaching in the Classics department.

FEATURES 1/31/23 10:50pm

Owls after dark builds community

By Adam Leff

Tahj Blackman, assistant director of campus events, keeps an array of Lego sculptures in his office, remnants from a competition he helped host on Jan. 19. Owls After Dark, a late-night events program, recently hosted this Lego competition in collaboration with the Doerr Institute.

FEATURES 1/31/23 10:50pm

From Main Street to Marais: Rice Global Paris Center starts new course

By Hugo Gerbich-Pais

Houston, we have lift off — to Paris. Beyond just expanding the university’s footprint and providing another opportunity for students to take wide-angle selfies, Rice’s new Global Paris Center promises to be a transformative experience for students, researchers and faculty.

FEATURES 1/31/23 10:48pm

How to be single on Valentine’s Day

By Zaara Shafi

Being able to genuinely enjoy time by yourself is a rare feat. Everyone is swept up in the whirlwind of constantly socializing. Being alone and having fun with yourself is something many values. Yet, having fun alone is the ultimate power move. This Valentine’s Day, take pride in being able to celebrate self-love even if you aren’t celebrating a romantic relationship. After all, you can’t exactly break up with yourself, so show yourself some love and foster this important relationship. Take a break from social media and doom-scrolling, and recharge by taking some time off studying. Here are some exciting solo dates perfect for a session of self-love wooing.

FEATURES 1/31/23 10:47pm

Leave before you get left: Navigating your V-day situationship

By Riya Misra

So your situationship ended things by saying “we’re not friends with benefits because we’re not really friends,” and now ten months later, you’re sitting on the Texas Medical Center sidewalk crying on his shoulder. Happy Valentine’s Day. So you’re not single and you’re not cuffed. You’re stuck in the weirdest, worst in-between stage possible: the situationship. I am — resentfully so — a seasoned veteran, so here’s my advice: end it. If you won’t listen to that, because there is absolutely no reason to ever listen to my advice, then read some situationship V-Day plans I’ve rounded up for you.

FEATURES 1/31/23 10:45pm

I’m happy for you and not jealous at all: V-Day couples activities

By Felicity Phelan

So Valentine’s Day is here, and you get to spend it frolicking around with your other half and basking in mutual affection. That’s awesome. No, really. Everyone at the Thresher is so happy for you. Especially me, whose Valentine’s plans entail a very romantic Zoom call with my long-distance partner. Though I can’t participate myself, I’ve rounded up some activities for you lucky little monsters to do with your sweethearts. Go forth, enjoy, and remember to send your single friends an apology Venmo on the 15th.

FEATURES 1/24/23 10:31pm

‘It’s close to home, always’: Sharing and preserving AAPI stories

By Riya Misra

A handful of decades ago, the Gee family came to Houston. Rooted in the era of Jim Crow and tracing its way through the civil rights movement, the Gee family spent much of the mid to late-20th century building their legacy. Now, the family name marks a large and vibrant network of Chinese Americans across Houston.

FEATURES 1/24/23 10:30pm

Rice’s debate team talks awards, bonding

By Sarah Knowlton

David Worth, director of the George R. Brown Forensics Society — Rice’s competitive speech and debate team — said that his team has been described as fanatical.

FEATURES 1/24/23 10:29pm

Vincent Chen scoops out place on campus for new business

By Zoe Katz

From Coffeehouse to The Hoot, Rice students love to frequent student-run businesses. Vincent Chen, a Duncan College junior, hopes to start a new one: Rice Scoopz.

FEATURES 1/24/23 10:28pm

Take it or leave it: EUA hosts book exchange event

By Nishanka Kuthuru

The English Undergraduate Association hosted a “Take a Book, Leave a Book” event on Thursday, Jan. 19, where people could swap books with other students to refresh their collections. The EUA also welcomed students to just stop by and chat with others about their favorites and pick up a free book — or two.

FEATURES 1/17/23 11:58pm

Owls run past the hedges, into Houston

By Riya Misra

The Chevron Houston Marathon, Houston’s annual marathon hosted every January, took place on Jan. 14 and 15 this past weekend. Rice students, faculty and even president alike took part, running anywhere from 3.1 to a whopping 26.2 miles.

Features

‘I don’t like to lose’: Reggie DesRoches puts work and family first — but won’t say no to a good game of Monopoly

‘Because we’re the first generation’: Myritney Saint-Cloud faces the challenges and motivators of being an FGLI student

Senior Spotlight: Sofi Aguilera blends art, work

Spring break plans that’ll save you bucks

Black at Rice: Tamaz Young narrates life experiences through poetry

Science, tech, engineering and crochet: looking at COLL courses

Yin and yang: Castleberry twins discuss self-identity

Black at Rice: Malaika Bergner fosters a found community

Dating Science: Marriage Pact takes campus by storm

Finding love next door: Married professors talk love, literature

Owls after dark builds community

From Main Street to Marais: Rice Global Paris Center starts new course

How to be single on Valentine’s Day

Leave before you get left: Navigating your V-day situationship

I’m happy for you and not jealous at all: V-Day couples activities

‘It’s close to home, always’: Sharing and preserving AAPI stories

Rice’s debate team talks awards, bonding

Vincent Chen scoops out place on campus for new business

Take it or leave it: EUA hosts book exchange event

Owls run past the hedges, into Houston

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