Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 — Houston, TX

News

NEWS 2/13/24 10:24pm

Fresh off term as EVP, Unegbu is sole candidate for IVP

By Belinda Zhu

Crystal Unegbu, a junior from Hanszen College, is running uncontested for the Student Association internal vice president position. Unegbu is currently the SA’s external vice president, and previously served as one of Hanszen’s new student representatives.

NEWS 2/13/24 10:20pm

Rice enters new university paid partnership with the MFAH

By Viola Hsia

Starting this year, Rice IDs will no longer be sufficient to enter The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Instead, Rice now participates in the MFAH’s University Paid Partnership program, requiring students to pick up a UPP membership card to gain access. This is due to a change in the MFAH’s pricing, which has caused the Rice Program Council and Student Activities to revise their partnership, according to Brianna Bukowski, an RPC Passport to Houston Committee co-chair.

NEWS 2/13/24 10:15pm

Rice hosts Science Olympiad Tournament

By Hope Yang

For the first time, the Rice Science Olympiad Alumni Association invited 14 middle school teams from around Houston to the Rice University Science Olympiad Regional Tournament Feb. 3. Previously open to only high school students, the team decided to include middle school teams for their second regional, according to the association’s co-director Aishani Gargapati.

NEWS 2/13/24 10:13pm

Motif Neurotech startup secures $18.75M initial funding

By Prasi Desai

Motif Neurotech, a start-up formed through the Biotech Launch Pad and founded by Rice professor Jacob Robinson, received $18.75 million from venture capital investors in Series A funding — one of the first major rounds of external funding for a start-up company. Motif was created to commercialize a pea-sized brain stimulator which was developed in Robinson’s lab at Rice to treat treatment-resistant depression.

NEWS 2/13/24 10:06pm

New public menstrual dispensers launch

By Kenzie Langhorne

The Menstrual Product Accessibility Program installed 36 public menstrual product dispensers in high-traffic areas on campus. Housing and Dining and Facilities and Capital Planning have worked together to stock at least 3,600 menstrual products in dispensers across campus. According to Fidel Gonzalez, the director of custodial services at Facilities Engineering and Planning, all products will be free of charge for the Rice community. 

NEWS 1/30/24 11:21pm

Qiu steps into SA presidency

By Nayeli Shad

Alison Qiu, the outgoing Student Association internal vice president, assumed the role of SA President Jan. 29 following former president Solomon Ni’s resignation. Qiu, a Hanszen College junior, will remain in the role until March, when a newly elected president will take office after the February SA elections.

NEWS 1/30/24 11:20pm

S.RES 17 passes, SA president to consider academic workload

By Viola Hsia

A resolution calling for Student Association presidents to meet with an academic advisor and the SA advisor to discuss workload with presidential duties was passed unanimously Jan. 29. Solomon Ni, the outgoing SA president, originally introduced the resolution Jan. 22 with a limit on the number of credit hours an SA president can enroll in, but an amendment Jan. 29 removed that clause. 

NEWS 1/30/24 10:13pm

WRC commons roof undergoes repairs

By James Cancelarich

Roofing repairs are currently underway for the old Will Rice College commons. According to senior facilities engineer and project manager Matthew Hoffman, 7,250 square feet of roofing is being replaced, and the project is expected to be completed in four weeks.

NEWS 1/30/24 10:12pm

Liu and Mounajjed launch Bonfire

By Kenzie Langhorne

Bonfire, a new startup platform for sharing on-campus social events, launched Jan. 17. The student founders Michael Mounajjed and Ben Liu say Bonfire aims to unite students. The founders say there are currently 770 users on the platform, equivalent to one in every six Rice undergraduates using the app.

NEWS 1/30/24 10:07pm

CCD to hold spring career expo

By Belinda Zhu and Maria Morkas

The Center for Career Development will host the Spring 2024 Career & Internship Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2. The expo will include more than 70 employers, representing industries from aerospace, consulting, engineering, medical devices, education and financial services, among others, according to Camille Elmore, the associate director of employer engagement and data management for the CCD.

Editor's Picks

Most Popular

The Rice Thresher