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NEWS 3/4/25 11:25pm

Current RMC to remain, second building to open in 2027

By Riya Misra

A brand-new, second student center will open by Fall 2027, president Reggie DesRoches announced in a March 3 email to campus. The current Rice Memorial Center will not be demolished, and will continue to house Rice Coffeehouse, Pub and student media during construction over the next two years. It will undergo renovations after the second building is complete. 

NEWS 3/4/25 11:25pm

SA voting delayed by one day after ballot errors

By James Cancelarich

The Student Association election ballot was recalled just an hour after it went live Feb. 26 after voters found errors. At the end of the ballot, voters were presented with five different constitutional amendments, which proposed varying changes ranging from grammatical fixes to raising the Blanket Tax. The original ballot only allowed students one vote instead of five individual ones, presenting the amendments as a bundle.

NEWS 3/4/25 11:25pm

Rice rebrands DEI office amid federal scrutiny

By Viola Hsia

Rice has renamed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence, announced in a Feb. 28 campus-wide email from Provost Amy Dittmar. This change arrives as universities across the country adapt — often altering or erasing diversity statements entirely — to federal anti-DEI legislation.

NEWS 3/4/25 11:24pm

Students petition for immigrant student sanctuary policies

By Abigail Chiu

Students are petitioning university officials to declare Rice a sanctuary campus, which offers protections to international and undocumented students and, notably, does not cooperate with immigration enforcement without a judicial warrant. The petition garnered over 400 signatures by March 4, said Conner Schultz, the co-chair of Rice’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Rice YDSA spearheaded the petition, which has now been co-signed by campus organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine, Planned Parenthood Generation and Rice Urbanists.

NEWS 3/4/25 11:24pm

Admin agrees to $10 min. wage

By Hongtao Hu

The Student Association’s Labor Commission received a verbal commitment from Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman Feb. 10 to raise the student minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 an hour. This change will be applied in July 2025 for the start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

NEWS 3/4/25 10:37pm

‘Topping Out’ next step for new business building

By Abigail Chiu

Rice Business celebrated the completion of the highest point of its new building with a “topping out” ceremony Feb. 28, where President Reggie DesRoches and Peter Rodriguez, dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business, signed the building’s final beam before it was lifted into place atop the structure. 

NEWS 3/4/25 10:36pm

Rice reflects on Black History Month

By Charlie Cruz

Rice concluded its Black History Month celebrations, which lasted from February until early March and featured more than 30 events highlighting Black culture, history and contributions to labor movements.

NEWS 2/27/25 11:18am

SA voting delayed one day after ballot errors

By James Cancelarich

The Student Association election ballot was recalled just an hour after it went live, after voters found errors in the ballot’s language. At the end of the ballot, voters were presented with five different constitutional amendments, which proposed varying changes — ranging from grammatical fixes to raising the Blanket Tax. The ballot only allowed students one vote instead of five individual ones, presenting the amendments as a bundle.

NEWS 2/26/25 12:06am

SA candidates debate Blanket Tax, DEI

By Noa Berz

Candidates for Student Association president, internal vice president and external vice president took to Pub’s stage Feb. 24 to answer questions about their candidacy and the future of the SA. They debated topics like SA efficacy, budget concerns and national politics.

NEWS 2/26/25 12:05am

Dastur runs for EVP uncontested after Zahra withdraws from race

By Abigail Chiu

Mahtab Dastur, a current Duncan College New Student Representative, is campaigning for External Vice President uncontested. She was previously running against McMurtry College sophomore Lajward Zahra, who announced her withdrawal from the race, citing “unforeseen personal circumstances,” at the Student Association debate Feb. 24. At the debate, Zahra endorsed Dastur for the role.

NEWS 2/25/25 11:06pm

DEI unclear amid federal bans

By Prasi Desai

A letter from the Department of Education, issued Feb. 14, warned schools to eliminate race-based programs within 14 days. According to the letter, the ED intends to “take appropriate measures to assess compliance” with these guidelines. 

NEWS 2/25/25 10:49pm

New media studies major in the mix for next spring

By Abigail Chiu

A media studies major is in development as an expansion of the existing cinema and media studies minor, with the proposal to be submitted to the University Committee on the Undergraduate Curriculum in March. If approved, classes for the major would become available in spring 2026.

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