News

Brown-Jones public canceled amidst post Beer Bike rise in COVID cases

Over the past few days, Rice has seen a substantial rise in COVID-19 cases, according to an email sent to students, staff and faculty from the Rice Crisis Management Team. The Brown-Jones College public, scheduled for this Saturday, is now canceled as a result, according to Brown College Social Coordinator Lucian Bennett-Brandt. 

Rice announces Google Storage reduction by Dec. 17

Rice University Google Workspace student accounts’ storage will reduce to 10 GB, while faculty’s account storage will reduce to 50 GB by Dec. 17 of this year. Associate Vice President of IT Infrastructure and Operations Marc Cougle announced the change in an email to Rice students and faculty on March 7. 

Saudi Arabian Oil Co. joins Rice Carbon Hub research initiative

The Saudi Arabian Oil Company, also known as Aramco, recently joined Rice University’s Carbon Hub research initiative, a program that focuses on the development of sustainable uses of hydrocarbons to further the energy transition.

NESB construction remains on schedule amid other delays

The New Engineering and Science Building construction remains on schedule despite the recent disruption of multiple construction projects at Rice caused by pandemic-induced supply chain and inflation issues.

University Court rules in favor of SA president Gabby Franklin

The University Court verdict regarding the Student Association presidential election unanimously found Gabby Franklin not in violation of any campaign bylaws, UCourt Secretary Shivani Kulkarni announced at the April 4 Senate meeting. 

Beer Bike 2022: Hanszen wins women's, Jones wins men's, crash raises track safety concerns

Students voice safety concerns with track prior to Beer Bike

The bike track was closed for repairs to fix safety issues, according to one of Brown College’s bike captains Sara Emami and emails obtained by the Thresher. Several bike captains said they have noticed that the track drains more slowly after rain and that tar and paint have issues caused by heat that reduces surface friction.

New Hanszen Wing construction delayed by supply chain issues

Supply chain issues have delayed the construction of the new wing of Hanszen College, according to an email from Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman. Gorman said she expects construction to finish at the latest by winter break.

Y2K Ushers in a Bygone Era of Rice Publics

This past Saturday, McMurtry College’s Y2K marked the return of publics at Rice after more than two years. Wristbands for the event sold out within two minutes of being available to students. 

Andrew Yang speaks at Rice on state of U.S. politics and democracy

Andrew Yang discussed the state of U.S. politics, democracy and the benefits of a third political party at McNair Hall on March 28. Yang visited Rice as a part of the Presidential Lecture Series.

Rice hits record low acceptance rate for Class of 2026

This year, Rice hit a record-low acceptance rate of 8.56 percent for its admissions cycle. The Office of Admissions received a record high of 31,424 applications, marking a six percent increase since last year and a 74 percent increase over the past five years, according to Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne Romero da Silva. Out of those 31,424 students, just 2,691 were offered admission.

Tuition raises 3.9 percent for 2022-2023 school year

Tuition for next year will increase by $2,030 to $54,100, up 3.9 percent from this year, with the overall cost of attendance rising 3.5 percent to a total of $69,963, according to a news release from the Office of Public Affairs.

Rice receives ‘silver’ distinction for bicycle-friendly campus

The League of American Bicyclists awarded Rice a silver designation as a Bicycle Friendly University, a place up from the bronze designation received in 2017. The silver designation will be active until 2025. 

Moody Foundation announces funding for new student opportunities

The Moody Foundation recently donated $50 million to fund a dozen newly created student opportunity endowments. The funding is part of the Moody Foundation’s $100 million donation announced last September. 

Former SA senator files complaint over SA presidential election

An email endorsement from Rice PRIDE is the focus of a complaint regarding the recent Student Association presidential election. Will Rice sophomore and former SA Senator William Tsai filed his objection with the University Court on March 2.

Masks no longer required indoors

Wearing a face mask is no longer required in the classroom, indoors, outdoors or anywhere on campus for fully vaccinated individuals, according to an announcement from Kevin Kirby, chair of the crisis management advisory committee, on March 13. However, instructors still retain the right to require students to wear masks while in their respective classes if they choose. 

RMC rebuild delayed, likely for one year

The demolition of the Rice Memorial Center has been postponed, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman wrote to administrators in an email obtained by the Thresher. The delay will likely last one year, she said.

Judges crown ‘Rice’s Finest’

In the annual fundraising event hosted by Camp Kesem, McMurtry College sophomore Teddy Gilman was named “Rice’s Finest.” Ten colleges were represented that night — Jones College did not have a contestant this year — in the competition previously known as Mr. Rice. It was renamed this year to be more inclusive of all gender identities, according to “Rice’s Finest” coordinators Kaitlyn Crowley and Ambreen Younas.

SA passes resolution denouncing swim coach comments

The Student Association passed a resolution denouncing Rice swim coach Seth Huston’s statements on the National Collegiate Athletics Association policy regarding transgender participation in college-level sport at the March 7 Senate meeting, with one SA member voting against the resolution.

Chaus, Hoot, Pub to relocate during student center construction

Coffeehouse, the Pub at Rice and the Hoot are moving to temporary locations as a result of the current Student Center’s demolition in late April, according to the three business’ general managers.