Special Projects

Ruth Simmons book reading launches $1 million scholarship

Ruth Simmons gave a talk on her New York Times bestselling memoir “Up Home: One Girl’s Journey” at the Brockman Hall of Opera on Sept. 22. in which she described her experiences growing up in the segregated South and creating a place for herself in this world. The talk ended with a surprise announcement from President Reggie DesRoches on the creation of a $1 million scholarship in Simmons’ honor. 

09-20-2023 Crossword Solution

09-20-2023 Crossword: "Anime Mania!"

Unscrew-Yer-Roommate

09-20-2023 "Owl-American"

Owls soar over Sharks, Wildcats at K-State Invitational

Rice Volleyball won both their games this weekend at the Kansas State University Invitational, defeating Long Island University 3-2 Friday and sweeping K-State in straight sets Saturday. Bouncing back after being swept by No. 6 University of Texas last Monday, the Owls are now 6-4 as they kick off their conference schedule Wednesday when they host the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Rice Soccer is losing its identity

In their most recent match against No. 17 Xavier, ESPN displayed a graphic detailing the “Keys to the Game” that each team needed to follow to put themselves in the best position. What did they say for Rice?

Rice Soccer lose to SMU, No. 17 Xavier over the weekend

One word can describe both the start of Rice’s matches this weekend and the start of the season: slow. 

09-20-2023: WEEKLY SCENES AND SCREENS

Taste autumn at Trader Joe’s

Fall isn’t for everybody. For some, it’s nothing more than boring pumpkin patches, dead leaves and an awkward autumn wardrobe. Arguably the best part of the season, though, is the food — especially pumpkin, apple and maple-flavored everything. This fall, despite the crippling heat in Texas, Rice students can find some semblance of autumn in Trader Joe’s best snacks.

Review: On ‘Magic 3,’ legendary rapper Nas continues to deliver

For the last few years, Nas has quietly been dropping some of the best work of his career. The legendary hip-hop artist still receives love for his revolutionary 1994 album “Illmatic,” but not enough attention is given to his recent output. Since 2018, Nas has dropped eight albums — five of these released in the past two years. Nas has been a musical machine, churning out lyrically adept, introspective and ultimately triumphant work that never feels stale. “Magic 3,” the third album in a series that started with “Magic” in 2021, is the product of an artist who knows he’s at the top of his game, even after three decades in the rap world. 

R2 to host open mic Sept. 28

Nearly a year ago, friends and art lovers alike filled Ray’s Courtyard, listening, laughing and maybe even crying along to poetry, prose and music. Held for over a decade, R2: The Rice Review’s Open Mic Night has celebrated Rice student’s creativity. On Sept. 28, these scenes will return from 7 to 10:30 p.m. when R2 hosts their annual open mic night, again in Ray’s Courtyard. 

Review: Mitski teaches us how to heal after years of emotional turmoil

After a summer of anticipation, Mitski’s seventh album has been released just in time for sad girl autumn. Rife with her signature longing and self-reflection, “The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We” is Mitski’s opportunity to show us how she lets go and where she goes from here through a tale of heartbreak, memories and recovery.

Hidden in plain sight: Explore Public Art at Rice

Art is all around us at Rice. Everyone knows about the Moody Center for the Arts or James Turrell’s Skyspace, but tucked away across the university in unsuspecting places, there is art that is sure to astound. Sometimes, it’s hidden in plain sight. Look around and you might notice pieces of one of Rice’s most ambitious art projects — Rice Public Art.

Quirky college traditions to sweeten your week

We all love Radio Free Sid and Baker 13, but are you feeling tired of the same old songs and shaving cream year after year? Here’s a list of lesser-known college traditions that might break up some of the monotony. Grab a snack while you’re at it.

Timothy Morton likes to find things in weird places

A well-known mind in ecological studies, pen pal of Icelandic singer-songwriter Björk and English professor at Rice, Timothy Morton is a modern-day philosopher. With over 15 books published and translated in over 10 languages, Morton said they’ve spent their career learning how to help people talk about environment, ecology and inherent meaninglessness. 

Focus on the students. The rankings will follow.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal released their list of the 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. This ranking features a brand-new methodology that prioritizes student outcomes, graduation rate and median annual salary. Rice came 64th.

The Thresher tours the new O’Connor building

The O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science was officially inaugurated in a Sept. 14 ribbon cutting ceremony. 

Liftoff for the Biotech Launch Pad

The Rice Biotech Launch Pad accelerator was announced on the 61st anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s moonshot speech. This initiative aims to develop new research and emerging technologies into practical clinical applications by bridging the gap between researchers, medical companies and healthcare professionals, Omid Veiseh said. 

Rice celebrates ‘Our Heritage Month’

Rice is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize the achievements of the Hispanic American community, as well as their contributions to the culture in the U.S. and at Rice. This year, the Hispanic Heritage Month planning committee has renamed the event to “Our Heritage Month.”