Second doses of the vaccine are coming soon. The Rice community should be prepared.

Last month, over 800 members of the Rice community received a surprise first dose of the Moderna vaccine, which was provided by the Harris County Public Health Department after a power outage caused vaccines to unexpectedly defrost. Individuals who were vaccinated on campus are slated to receive their second dose on March 22. It is imperative that students and administration adequately prepare for hundreds of Rice community members to receive their second doses in the coming weeks.

‘We find each other’: Students open up about the first-generation low-income experience

For students who are the first in their family to attend college and come from low-income backgrounds, the transition to Rice can be especially tough — they might not have the benefit of advice from parents and family who have gone through college before, or the assurance of financial support from their families. However, many first-generation low-income students have found support and community at Rice, often among other FGLI students.

No. 1 seed Women’s basketball poised for C-USA tournament

Women’s basketball wrapped up their regular season schedule last weekend with a series against the University of North Texas. The Owls started the weekend on the right note, winning the Thursday night game 64-58 to clinch the Conference USA West Division title. The Owls fell to the Mean Green on Saturday afternoon, bringing their record on the season to 16-3. Despite this loss, they still enter the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. 

Rice’s mask policy will remain unchanged following Gov. Abbott’s decision to lift state-imposed mask mandates

Rice University will continue to require face masks on campus after Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift state-imposed mask mandates and allow businesses to operate at full capacity starting on March 10, according to an email sent by Kevin Kirby, vice president for administration.

Rice researchers develop two new sensors to detect COVID-19

Researchers at Rice University have been developing two new innovative tools to detect COVID-19: a real-time sensor that can detect small amounts of the virus in the air and a mobile phone reader with a chip that can detect the virus from a blood sample. 

Review: Clutch City Cluckers brings the best of Nashville hot chicken to Houston

Zoom Fatigue: What it is and how to combat it

The Zoom call finally ends, and after waving goodbye to the rows of faces on your screen, you close your laptop and just sit there. And even if it’s just for a brief moment, you stare off into space, sometimes with burning eyes and a heavy head, and other times with a strong desire to just run off into a field away from all technology. We’ve all been there. 

Ranking the top 10 silver screen portrayals of true crimes

Movies and TV shows based on true crime are about so much more than the crimes themselves — they provide filmmakers with a medium to tell compelling stories of the complex layers of our human condition. Whether heavily fictionalized or strictly factual, these stories are all the same at their core: they point to the shared humanity we all possess, the good and the bad. The result is an expansive genre that is far more artful and diverse than many would think. From serial murder to con men and securities fraud, here are my top 10 movies and TV shows based on true crime.

Students, faculty discuss sprinkle days amidst unconventional semester

Two sprinkle days have occurred so far, with one occurring during the winter storm, and the final three will occur on March 16, March 26 and April 8. Students have generally responded well to the implementation of sprinkle days, but some say it is hard to take a break as intended with only one day off.

Pop culture that defined a year of COVID

A year ago in March 2020, no one was prepared for how life would change due to COVID-19. The average student likely had little idea of how their lives would likely be dominated by Zoom, social distancing and uncertainty. Now that we’re in March 2021, the past year seems incredibly monumental in the change it caused to human existence around the world. Here, I sum up some of the most noteworthy cultural happenings that defined our year in quarantine. 

Owls set to start conference tournament

With the Rice men’s basketball team wrapping up their regular season last weekend, the Owls head to Frisco, TX where they will compete in a play-in game for the Conference USA basketball tournament. The team enters the tournament as the No. 6 seed in the West Division, and will play the University of Southern Mississippi (the No. 7 seed in the West Division) tomorrow night. 

Rice receives approval to receive and distribute vaccines on campus for eligible individuals

Rice has been officially approved to order, store and distribute vaccines on campus, according to Kevin Kirby, chair of the crisis management advisory committee. In an email to the Rice community today, Kirby also wrote that Rice community members who received the first dose of the Moderna vaccine on campus on Feb. 15 will likely receive the second dose on Mar. 22.

St. Luke’s Health and Rice partner together for new vaccine clinic at the Rice Stadium

St. Luke’s Health announced on Monday that it has partnered with Rice University to open a new vaccination site at the Rice Stadium on March 15 to run through the end of July. The Rice Stadium clinic will be focussed on administering vaccines to the most vulnerable populations, such as healthcare workers, seniors, school teachers, child/adult care workers, and underserved communities. 

President Biden visits Houston following disastrous winter storm

President Biden visited Houston last Friday, Feb. 26, following the disastrous winter storm that affected millions of Texans. During his visit, Biden traveled to the Harris County Emergency Operations Center, the Houston Food Bank and the Federal Emergency Management Agency  COVID vaccination site at NRG stadium. 

Volleyball sweeps UTSA, extends winning streak to eight

Rice volleyball beat the University of Texas at San Antonio in both legs of a two-match series in San Antonio this week. On Sunday, the Owls defeated the Roadrunners in five closely contested sets, while on Monday they won in straight sets. The Owls have now won all eight of their matches since conference play began, and are 9-3 on the season.

The show goes on: 'Hello, Hamlet!' adapted for the screen after a year of delays

This past Saturday, Feb. 28, Wiess Tabletop Theatre streamed their quadrennial rendition of “Hello, Hamlet! A Play in Too Many Scenes,” a comedic retelling of William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Performed roughly every four years since 1967, the musical is characterized by pop culture references and songs from movies and other musicals, rewritten each time to stay relevant. After the 2020 production was put on hold shortly before its premiere due to COVID-19 restrictions, it took a year for it to be adapted to digital media, starting nearly from the ground up.

Rice Mutual-Aid distributes thousands to undergraduates during polar vortex

Rice Mutual Aid, a community-funded and student-led organization, redistributed thousands of dollars to Rice and Houston community members in need due to the recent winter storm. Two weeks ago, Texas experienced a historical polar vortex that resulted in power outages affecting millions of homes across the state. The impact upon the Rice community resulted in classes and campus operations being ceased for a week.

How to actually relax on a Sprinkle Day.

Weekly Scenes and Screens: Mar. 3

VIRTUAL ESCAPE ROOM

3-3-21 Crossword #2: "Do the Worm"