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A&E 3/4/25 11:08pm

Students react to Sarofim

By Charlie Cruz

For years, art students say they’ve worked within the constraints of the aging Sewall Hall and the “insufficient,” inaccessible Hamman Hall. But with the 80,000 square-foot Sarofim Hall set to open next semester, students are preparing to transition into a purpose-built space that finally feels like home.  

A&E 3/4/25 11:06pm

R&B legends electrify Toyota Center on Mary J. Blige’s “For My Fans” Tour

By Arman Saxena

A sold-out crowd at Toyota Center witnessed three R&B legends combine forces on Feb. 18, delivering a night that was equal parts nostalgia, powerhouse vocals and pure soul. Titled the “For My Fans” Tour, Mary J. Blige’s first major outing since her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction felt like a homecoming of sorts — not just for Blige, but for openers Mario and Ne-Yo, who brought their own timeless hits and crowd-pleasing flair to the stage.

A&E 3/4/25 11:03pm

‘Perforations’ celebrates fashion, art, sustainability

By Charlie Cruz

Inside Anderson Hall, student designers, models and artists gathered for “InThread” and “Archi-Arts,” two student-run showcases that blurred the line between fashion and visual art. This year’s shared theme, “Perforations,” explored transformation — through cut fabric, layered textures and fragmented materials.  

FEATURES 3/4/25 11:00pm

May your costume trick or tr(eat) at Hanszen Halloween

By Sophie Garlick

It’s time to make a public appearance, and Hanszen College’s Halloween public, or Halloweekend pt. 2, is just the place to do it. March can be just as frightening as October was, and not just because of midterms. If you’ve already donated, recycled or sold your Halloween costume for parts on Depop, we’ve got your back. 

FEATURES 3/4/25 10:59pm

Sports Law Society connects contracts and catches

By Aisha Khemani

Breaking into the sports industry can feel like trying to score a touchdown without a ball. Rice’s sports management program, ranked #1 in the country by Niche, offers a specialization in sports law that allows undergraduates to explore the legal side of the field. 

OPINION 3/4/25 10:56pm

Condemn DEI censorship, protect campus research

By Ivy Li

The Office of the Provost announced that Rice’s DEI office will be renamed to the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence on Feb. 28. As a graduate student, I am not privy to the reasons for this rebranding. I hope that, in light of recent federal and state directives and ongoing censorship, it is obvious why I am wary, even if the office claims to continue to promote values of diversity, equity and inclusion while removing these words from its website.

OPINION 3/4/25 10:46pm

Rice protects rich abusers — but we shouldn’t

 

“Culture of care” is our central motto at Rice. Orientation Week, Beer Bike, publics and even random days are accompanied by the phrase — a reminder that we’re always supposed to protect each other. We do not stand for harm. Yet even after being previously exposed for failing victims of sexual violence, Rice continues to bury cases in the name of its image, and more importantly, its endowment.

OPINION 3/4/25 10:44pm

DEI office name change is symbolic, maybe necessary

By Thresher Editorial Board

Amidst federal funding cuts impacting research and firings of federal workers, higher education feels chaotic right now. At first glance, it seems alarming that Rice’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was renamed to the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence, announced in a campus-wide email. However, we feel this name change is mostly symbolic and necessary to ensure Rice can continue supporting those values — in action, if not in name.

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.

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