News

NEWS 5/29/20 10:38pm

Clancy Taylor, graduate student in the English department, dies at 25

By Ivanka Perez

Clancy Sheridan Taylor, a graduate student in the English department, died on May 16 at age 25. They had just received a Master of Arts in English for their two years of study.

NEWS 5/26/20 8:19am

Rice mandates mask-wearing, shares vision to reopen campus

By Brian Lin

Rice announced the health protocols, which will be in place starting June 1 until further notice, in an email to students yesterday. Leebron had previously shared a $10 million budget gap caused by COVID-19 and the potential for full-time employees to be furloughed in a town hall on Friday.

NEWS 5/17/20 5:30pm

First-ever virtual commencement held for the Class of 2020

By Savannah Kuchar

With an in-person graduation ceremony indefinitely postponed, the class of 2020 was presented in a virtual commencement ceremony, livestreamed yesterday on the university’s YouTube and Facebook page. The undergraduate ceremony included footage of students and campus, messages from various community members, and a reading of all the graduating seniors’ names.

NEWS 5/16/20 1:04am

Students and administration respond to new Title IX rules on sexual harassment

By Saniya Gayake

Rice administrators are working to change Rice’s sexual misconduct policy in response to the Department of Education’s Title IX changes announced May 6. Students have also mobilized to express concerns over the implications of these policies for survivors of sexual violence at Rice.

NEWS 5/10/20 10:02pm

History professor Caleb McDaniel wins Rice’s first Pulitzer Prize

By Rynd Morgan

History professor Caleb McDaniel became the first Rice professor to win a Pulitzer Prize for his book “Sweet Taste of Liberty: A True Story of Slavery and Restitution in America” on May 4. The book is about Henrietta Wood, a woman who in 1870 successfully sued the man who abducted her and sold her into slavery.

NEWS 5/4/20 9:17pm

Leebron announces plans for fall semester: Shortened semester, dual in-person and online classes

By Rishab Ramapriyan

President David Leebron announced plans for reopening campus for the fall semester in an email to all faculty and staff on Monday evening. Rice plans to reopen for the fall semester in mid-August with its full population on campus, but there will be significant modifications to class and campus operations, according to Leebron’s email that was obtained by the Thresher.

NEWS 4/23/20 6:19pm

Rice accepts $3.4 million allocated for student financial relief under CARES Act, amid controversy

By Rynd Morgan

Rice University will accept the $3.4 million allocated to them through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, according to Kathy Collins, vice president for finance. The purpose of the fund is to provide emergency financial aid grants to students. The U.S Department of Education prohibited Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients and undocumented students from receiving the federal aid provided by the CARES Act.

NEWS 4/22/20 2:26pm

Faculty Senate passes additional academic accommodations, discuss fall semester concerns

By Talha Arif

The Faculty Senate has unanimously approved a second round of academic relief measures, including moving the Pass/Fail deadline to June 1 and allowing undergraduates who drop courses after this Friday to receive a “NG” designation.

NEWS 4/21/20 7:16pm

Rice University pays $3.7 million to settle claims of defrauding the National Science Foundation

By Rishab Ramapriyan

U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick announced last Wednesday that Rice has paid the United States more than $3.7 million to settle allegations of fraud relating to the use of National Science Foundation research and development grants. Rice officials said that they do not admit any liability or violation of the law, according to the Office of Public Affairs.

NEWS 4/21/20 7:14pm

Student Association proposes suspending standardized testing requirements, officials respond

By Hajera Naveed

In light of financial and academic challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Student Association recently passed a resolution asking the Office of Admissions to suspend standardized testing requirements for applicants for Fall 2021 matriculation. However, Rice officials have said that they will not be making this decision without significant deliberation.

NEWS 4/21/20 6:51pm

Inflatable dome construction delayed once again

By Kelly Liao

The construction of the inflatable dome has been delayed by at least one month after the company that manufactures and installs the air structure paused all construction operations, according to Rick Mello, the deputy athletics director. The company’s operations, which have been halted due to the coronavirus pandemic, are currently set to resume in mid-May.

NEWS 4/21/20 6:48pm

Hidalgo discusses pandemic management with the Thresher

By Savannah Kuchar and Rynd Morgan

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, announced a stay-at-home order for the county on March 24 which, originally scheduled to end on April 3, has been extended to April 30. Working alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Hidalgo has been responsible for instituting these and other precautions for the city of Houston during the current pandemic. The Thresher recently sat down with Hidalgo to discuss next steps for the city.

NEWS 4/21/20 6:44pm

Multicultural Center to relocate to H&D building

By Talha Arif

The Rice Multicultural Center is temporarily relocating from the Rice Memorial Center basement to the former Housing and Dining office. The move is scheduled to occur at the beginning of the fall semester, according to Kevin Kirby, vice president for administration.

NEWS 4/14/20 10:24pm

Students, Faculty Senate propose and debate appropriate academic relief measures

By Talha Arif

After recently rejecting a proposal for the Double A grading policy, the Faculty Senate will deliberate over potential additional accommodations at their April 22 meeting. However, the Student Association released data from a survey of 34.6 percent of the student body on Monday which showed the majority of student support was in favor of the Double A policy.

NEWS 4/14/20 10:03pm

2020 US Census: what students should do, impact on federal funding

By Brian Lin

While the transition to digital classrooms has brought much change to campus, the process behind the U.S. decennial census, a count of every person in the country that helps determine how federal funds are dispersed, at Rice has remained relatively unchanged.

NEWS 4/14/20 9:14pm

O-Week Coords, First Year Programs plan for O-Week with uncertain future in mind

By Jennifer Li

Rice is planning for a full, face-to-face Orientation Week in August, but O-Week coordinators are preparing for an online O-Week followed by a possible Welcome Week when campus reopens if an in-person O-Week is not possible by August, according to Araceli Lopez, associate director of First Year Programs.

NEWS 4/14/20 8:04pm

Zoom bombings disrupt online classes

By Dan Helmici

After moving all classes and programs online over three weeks ago, Rice faculty and staff are still experiencing difficulties teaching, including a common trend known as “Zoom bombing.” On top of other technical difficulties associated with the transition to remote learning, some classes and online programs have reported being interrupted by individuals that randomly join Zoom calls in order to cause disruptions.

NEWS 4/14/20 6:47pm

Student Association moves to Canvas

By Savannah Kuchar

Following Rice’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the transition to all online classes, the Student Association has moved to an online platform for the remainder of this semester. Without the option of in-person Senate meetings, the SA is now using a Canvas page to hold discussions and send announcements.

NEWS 4/10/20 3:39pm

Rice students petition for Double A policy, Faculty Senate Executive Committee unanimously rejects

By Talha Arif

After a recent Thresher opinion piece in support of Rice adopting a Double A grading policy, students mobilized their support through the creation of a petition. The Faculty Senate Executive Committee unanimously rejected this proposal on April 10, according to Christopher Johns-Krull, speaker of the Faculty Senate.

NEWS 4/8/20 4:11pm

Rice announces $1 million COVID-19 research fund

By Rynd Morgan

Rice officials announced that a $1 million accelerator fund will be established to support COVID-19-related research projects, according to a press release on Monday.

News

Clancy Taylor, graduate student in the English department, dies at 25

Rice mandates mask-wearing, shares vision to reopen campus

First-ever virtual commencement held for the Class of 2020

Students and administration respond to new Title IX rules on sexual harassment

History professor Caleb McDaniel wins Rice’s first Pulitzer Prize

Leebron announces plans for fall semester: Shortened semester, dual in-person and online classes

Rice accepts $3.4 million allocated for student financial relief under CARES Act, amid controversy

Faculty Senate passes additional academic accommodations, discuss fall semester concerns

Rice University pays $3.7 million to settle claims of defrauding the National Science Foundation

Student Association proposes suspending standardized testing requirements, officials respond

Inflatable dome construction delayed once again

Hidalgo discusses pandemic management with the Thresher

Multicultural Center to relocate to H&D building

Students, Faculty Senate propose and debate appropriate academic relief measures

2020 US Census: what students should do, impact on federal funding

O-Week Coords, First Year Programs plan for O-Week with uncertain future in mind

Zoom bombings disrupt online classes

Student Association moves to Canvas

Rice students petition for Double A policy, Faculty Senate Executive Committee unanimously rejects

Rice announces $1 million COVID-19 research fund

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