News in Brief
Rice University has stopped offering professional Spanish classes, which previously included Commercial Spanish, Spanish for Engineers and Medical Spanish, according to a petition on the Student Association website.
Duncan College junior Nimish Mittal, who started a petition to bring back the classes, said the removal of the courses is a loss to students.
"These classes are some of the most practical classes offered in almost any discipline at Rice," Mittal, a bioengineering major, said. "They help prepare us on how to properly use Spanish in the context of the profession we plan on entering, and having that kind of background and experience gives Rice students an edge when competing for jobs in the real world."
According to the Student Senate, over 300 students have signed the petition so far. Mittal said the amount of support received since he created the petition shortly before winter break indicates students are passionate about the effort to restore the courses to the curriculum.
Director of the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication Rafael Salaberry declined to comment at this time.
More from The Rice Thresher
Jones wins men’s and women’s Beer Bike races, GSA snags alumni
Jones College won both the women’s and men’s Beer Bike 2024 races, while the Graduate Student Association claimed the alumni team win. Hanszen College bike teams were the runner-up in the alumni and men’s races, while Brown College was the runner-up in the women’s race. Martel and McMurtry Colleges did not bike in the alumni race, according to the Rice Program Council’s final report, and the GSA was disqualified from the men’s race for accidentally sending out two bikers simultaneously.
Super Smash Bros. ultimate tournament sees smashing success
The Super Smash Bros. Club held their second annual ultimate tournament Friday, April 12. Club president Jashun Paluru said all Smash players were welcome, regardless of ability, experience or involvement in the club. The event was held in collaboration with Owls After Dark, a late-night activity series headed by the Rice Student Center, at the Rice Memorial Center’s Grand Hall.
‘Off the beaten track’: Commencement speakers through the years
A former American president, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Nobel laureates and the founder of Khan Academy. All may share similar traits or levels of fame, but there’s another, quieter, common ground: They’ve all spoken at Rice’s commencement.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.