News

NEWS 11/10/20 11:56pm

Rice physics professor appointed to Vatican science academy

By Nicole Lhuillier

Rice professor José Onuchic has been appointed by Pope Francis as one of the 80 members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences based in the Vatican. The scholars of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences advise the Catholic Church on scientific matters such as climate change and technology, according to Raymond Cook, chaplain and director of the Rice Catholic Student Center and Campus Ministry.

NEWS 11/10/20 11:25pm

Sidizens prepare for move-in to new Sid in the spring

By Talha Arif

Sidizens are preparing for move-in to the new Sid Richardson College building for the spring semester by participating in room draw and parking jack and using PODS located at various residential colleges in the coming weeks.

NEWS 11/10/20 8:24pm

Faculty senate to vote on extending drop deadline to early January

By Talha Arif

The Faculty Senate will vote on Nov. 18 on whether to extend the drop deadline for the fall semester to early January after final grades are posted, according to Speaker of the Faculty Senate Christopher Johns-Krull.

NEWS 11/6/20 12:07pm

Maximum in person class size will increase to 40 students for spring semester

By Rishab Ramapriyan

The Academic Restart Committee announced Friday morning that the maximum in person class meeting size will increase from 25 to 40 for the spring 2021 semester, which begins on January 25.

NEWS 11/5/20 9:46pm

Margarita Rodriguez, staff member, passes away due to COVID-19 complications

By Talha Arif

Margarita Rodriguez, a member of the Rice Facilities Engineering and Planning custodial team for almost 40 years, passed away on Oct. 30 due to complications related to COVID-19. She is survived by her son Mario Rodriguez, who is also a member of the FE&P team.

NEWS 11/4/20 12:17am

“Equipment contamination” causes 17 cases false positive COVID-19 tests

By Savannah Kuchar

After 19 students tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, Rice Crisis Management discovered that 17 of these tests were inaccurate and false positives. The testing error, which is believed to be caused by equipment contamination, resulted in 80 people being quarantined and isolated.

NEWS 11/4/20 12:14am

Award-winning architecture firm selected to design new student center

By Rynd Morgan

Adjaye Associates, an architecture firm with offices in Accra, Ghana, London and New York, will design Rice’s new student center, which is expected to be complete by fall 2023. The winner was selected by a committee of Rice administrators and faculty, with input from the Student Association and Graduate Student Association.

NEWS 11/4/20 12:10am

Around 150 students participate in Baker 13 Halloween run amid pandemic

By Brian Lin

Around 150 students gathered on Saturday to participate in this year’s Halloween Baker 13 run, which had to follow several pandemic safety guidelines, according to Nick Lester, a co-captain of Baker 13.

NEWS 11/4/20 12:09am

Rice Program Council hosts homecoming week under COVID-19 guidelines

By Talha Arif

Rice Program Council is hosting Homecoming Week in person this week with three main events: a Rice Bubble event, which was held on Monday, Picnic Under the Stars on Wednesday and Esperanza on Saturday. Each event for Homecoming Week required a prior safety plan to be reviewed and approved by the Student Center and the Crisis Management Team, according to RPC President Samantha McClendon.

NEWS 11/4/20 12:04am

Administration announces petition for winter break housing

By Katimah Harper

Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman sent out an email on Wednesday, Oct. 8 with details regarding winter break housing as well as general updates on plans for Thanksgiving, winter recess and the spring semester.

NEWS 11/3/20 8:27pm

Alumna and renowned opera singer Erin Wall passes away at 44

By Ivanka Perez

Rice alumna and renowned opera singer Erin Wall passed away on Oct. 8 at 44, after a years-long struggle with breast cancer. She is survived by her husband and two children.

NEWS 11/3/20 8:01am

Students cast ballots for early voting, exceed previous turnout rates

By Savannah Kuchar and Rynd Morgan

As early voting came to a close last week, many Rice students cast their ballot ahead of national Election Day, either by mail-in or early voting at one of the many sites in the Houston area, including this year on campus at Rice Stadium.

NEWS 10/27/20 11:00pm

Rice not currently planning for additional academic accommodations this semester

By Talha Arif

The Academic Restart Committee is not currently considering accommodations via adjusted grading systems due to COVID-19 for this semester, according to Speaker of the Faculty Senate Christopher Johns-Krull. Johns-Krull said the committee is open to recommending accommodations to the Faculty Senate if it seems to be necessary.

NEWS 10/27/20 10:44pm

Prominent Rice Donor Charged in Multi-Billion Dollar Tax Fraud Case

By Keegan Leibrock and Skye Fredericks

Robert T. Brockman, the namesake behind two campus buildings and an overseer for the Jones Graduate School of Business, has been charged with hiding $2 billion in income in the largest tax evasion case in U.S. history, purchasing $30 million in luxury vacation properties along with a yacht. The news came in a press release on Oct. 15 from the U.S. Department of Justice, just one day before Brockman’s first official court hearing.

NEWS 10/27/20 10:27pm

Maskless visitors roam campus despite RUPD enforcement

By Morike Ayodeji

This semester, non-Rice personnel and visitors have come to campus for several reasons varying from exercise to photoshoots, and students have noticed that these visitors are frequently maskless. Rice University Police Department is still enforcing the mask policy as it was originally announced, according to RUPD Chief Clemente Rodriguez.

NEWS 10/27/20 10:23pm

Admission office to offer self-guided tours for prospective students

By Savannah Kuchar

The Rice Office of Admission plans to launch a new self-guided tour program for prospective students, starting with a pilot this weekend for Houston area high school seniors and their families, according to Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne Romero da Silva.

NEWS 10/20/20 10:36pm

Faculty senate vote on pass/fail policies delayed due to disagreements

By Rynd Morgan

The upcoming Faculty Senate vote on the pass/fail policy changes, which were proposed in March, has been postponed due to disagreements among faculty about the changes, according to Faculty Senate Speaker Christopher Johns-Krull.

NEWS 10/20/20 10:30pm

Students navigate medical hold, quarantine and isolation procedures

By Sumin Yoon

When students call Student Health Services with symptoms that overlap with the broad symptoms of COVID-19, they may be placed on medical hold. Although the purpose of a medical hold is to contain a potential infection, students have shared concerns regarding communication.

NEWS 10/20/20 10:28pm

COVID-19 shifts student sex patterns, sexual health resources remain

By Hajera Naveed

In light of the pandemic, campus organizations are trying to balance providing open access to sexual health resources while simultaneously not encouraging unsafe COVID practices. While some students have stated they are choosing to change their sexual behavior to accommodate safety regulations, others voiced their choice to remain sexually active.

NEWS 10/20/20 10:13pm

Dean Gorman discusses spring semester and accommodations at SA Senate

By Savannah Kuchar

The format and calendar of the spring semester are currently being designed based on feedback from this fall, according to Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman, who addressed these and other concerns at the Student Association’s virtual Senate meeting Monday night.

News

Rice physics professor appointed to Vatican science academy

Sidizens prepare for move-in to new Sid in the spring

Faculty senate to vote on extending drop deadline to early January

Maximum in person class size will increase to 40 students for spring semester

Margarita Rodriguez, staff member, passes away due to COVID-19 complications

“Equipment contamination” causes 17 cases false positive COVID-19 tests

Award-winning architecture firm selected to design new student center

Around 150 students participate in Baker 13 Halloween run amid pandemic

Rice Program Council hosts homecoming week under COVID-19 guidelines

Administration announces petition for winter break housing

Alumna and renowned opera singer Erin Wall passes away at 44

Students cast ballots for early voting, exceed previous turnout rates

Rice not currently planning for additional academic accommodations this semester

Prominent Rice Donor Charged in Multi-Billion Dollar Tax Fraud Case

Maskless visitors roam campus despite RUPD enforcement

Admission office to offer self-guided tours for prospective students

Faculty senate vote on pass/fail policies delayed due to disagreements

Students navigate medical hold, quarantine and isolation procedures

COVID-19 shifts student sex patterns, sexual health resources remain

Dean Gorman discusses spring semester and accommodations at SA Senate

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