Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916
Wednesday, July 16, 2025 — Houston, TX

Special Projects

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Kennedy's Rice speech should be monumentalized

By Emma Hurt

It was a typically sweltering Houston September day. Around 40,000 people sat in Rice Stadium witnessing a historical moment. It was 1962, and they were not watching a football game; they were listening to President John F. Kennedy launch what would become one of his most enduring legacies: America's race to land a man on the moon.For most Rice University students, the 63-year-old football stadium was not a highlight of our first campus tour. We think of it today as a facility in need of modernization. But our venerable - if outdated - stadium, and indeed our university, have a legitimate claim to fame from this milestone Sept. 12, about 51 years ago.The anniversary of Kennedy's assassination drew the world's attention back to Dallas and to a tragic day in contemporary American history. That 50th anniversary and a tide of new television documentaries and books have reminded a generation not yet born in 1963 that Texas hosted a national nightmare. Largely forgotten is the role of Texas and Rice in fulfilling one of Kennedy's greatest dreams.By 1962, the Soviet Union had stunned the United States and the world by successfully placing the first satellite in orbit five years prior. That the Soviets had rockets of such immense power had grave implications in an era when nuclear war was a real and present danger. So on Sept. 12, 1962, Kennedy announced to America and the world at Rice Stadium that the pendulum was to swing back to the West. The United States was committed to winning the space race.On that day, Kennedy famously said: "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard." He also said: "But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?" Kennedy did not make this speech at Rice accidentally. He said himself, "We meet at a college noted for knowledge, in a city noted for progress, in a state noted for strength, and we stand in need of all three."From that day on, Rice has played a close but often unnoticed role in America's endeavors in space. NASA administrator Jim Webb announced at Kennedy's direction the location of the first manned space flight center with this stipulation: "This laboratory should be located at Houston, Texas, in close association with Rice University and the other educational institutions there and in that region."The selection was facilitated by Rice's donation of the more than 1,500 acres that now host the Johnson Space Center. Rice's site edged out 22 other proposals nationwide. One year after Kennedy's speech, Rice founded the nation's first space science department and played an integral role in the science that made manned space travel possible. Rice scientists worked on the helmets of the first astronauts on the moon, and Rice continues to send graduates to NASA. In addition, 14 current astronauts are former Owls.If you look carefully around Fondren Library, you might notice an informative exhibit to the side about Kennedy's visit to Rice, including the podium he used for his remarks. But this is a story that warrants more, and now we have a chance to give that story its due. Another proposal to renovate our football stadium is circulating, and funds are being raised. Certainly, our football team deserves the best possible facilities, and now is the time to provide them. But now is also the time to commit to a renovation design that will include a permanent commemoration of the historic role of Rice and the stadium in one of the greatest of American achievements. It could be the dedication of a plaza, a statue or some other physical feature. Rice architecture students could contribute to this concept. Regardless, it should educate visitors to what happened on our campus.Kennedy himself evoked the spirit of the city and state when he declared to doubters of the race to the moon, "This city of Houston, this state of Texas, this country of the United States was not built by those who waited and rested and wished to look behind them. This country was conquered by those who moved forward - and so will space."Perhaps as a result of this spirit, Houston has a seemingly inherent aversion to preservation and to memorials of its past. Its history is rich, but little noted. Now we have the perfect chance to break with tradition and honor the university's leadership in one of the greatest scientific quests of the 20th century, and to remind the world that Houston was the launchpad of a fallen president's great and realized dream.Emma Hurt is a  Duncan College junior.

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Ask the Staff

By Rice Thresher Staff

Who are you most excited for at the 2014 Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show?"Zac Brown Band - they are closing out the rodeo, so it should be amazing." - Brooke Bullock, Senior Editor "I'm excited about Hunter Hayes. I love singing along to his song 'I Want Crazy.'" - Molly Chiu, Managing Editor "Luke Bryan - I want to crash his party." - Christine Jeong, Copy Editor "I'm excited for Usher." - Carrie Jiang, Designer "Maroon 5 - is that the one with Adam Levine? He will father my children." - Claire Elestwani, Creative Director "Jason Aldean - he's my favorite country artist." - Alex Weinheimer, Backpage Editor

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Rice team wins TxDOT challenge

By Tina Nazerian

A team of six Rice University undergraduates won the first annual Texas Department of Transportation College Challenge, held Jan. 6-8 in San Antonio at the Ninth Annual Texas Transportation Forum in San Antonio, for developing an expandable bike rack that would attach to buses and allow for more bicyclists to ride public transport, according to the official Texas Department of Transportation website.Team member Annabelle McIntire-Gavlick said the Metropolitan Transit Authority asked the group to design a rack that could hold three bikes without blocking the driver's field of vision. "[METRO is] ordering new buses that have larger front windows, which created the need for this new technology," McIntire-Gavlick, a Lovett College freshman, said. "We came up with a design solution that has a sliding third wheel mount. When the bike rack is in use, the wheel mount can slide outward, allowing enough room for bikes to load and unload without coming into contact with each other."McIntire-Gavlick said the third wheel mount slides in and the bike rack folds up when not in use, making it short enough so that it will not block the driver's visual field.Team member Kenny Groszman said that due to time and budget constraints, the team did not build a bus attachment."The [method of] attachment is different for each different type of bus," Groszman, a Hanszen College freshman, said. "Also, that technology exists in current bike racks, so we decided to focus more on the innovative part of our design, which is the sliding attachment."McIntire-Gavlick said the bike rack is only a working prototype."Any further progress toward getting it on a bus is left up to METRO and out of our hands," McIntire-Gavlick said. Groszman said the team tried many failed designs before successfully making a locking mechanism for the sliding attachment."We went through four different iterations for the locking mechanism that allow the sliding attachment to deploy and collapse," Groszman said. "It took that many repetitions until we found something that didn't almost immediately break under the weight of the sliding attachment. We did not initially expect to have to go through that many iterations but we learned quickly that the prototyping process is cyclical rather than linear."Team member Kivani Sanchez said the team designed the bike rack in the ENGI 120: Introduction to Engineering Design class last semester, hoping it would improve Houston's biking culture."As we delved into our research about bike racks, public transit systems, and rules and regulations set forth by communities all around the nation that are meant to support and encourage biking as a means of primary transportation, we realized that in comparison to the rest of the U.S., the Texas biking culture has fallen far behind in development," Sanchez, a Lovett freshman, said. According to team member Max Hasbrouck, the contest emphasizes technology and innovation. "[The contest is] focused on bringing new thinkers to the field of transportation," Hasbrouck, a Will Rice College freshman, said. Team member Brian Barr said the team learned it does not have to be experts on a subject to contribute to the field. "What you need is the desire to learn and work hard," Barr, a Brown College freshman, said. The prize was $3,000 and a plaque to be displayed at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen, according to team member Sharon Ghelman."Though our group was brought together almost randomly with a shared desire to participate in building a bike rack, over the course of the semester and this competition, we have found common interests and become very close as a team and as friends," Ghelman, a Will Rice freshman, said.

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Men's tennis aims for C-USA title

By Luke Samora

As 2014 begins, the Rice University men's tennis team is ready to jump-start its season with home matches this week against the University of Texas, Austin and Louisiana State University. After a 4-0 loss to the University of Memphis in the Conference USA semifinals last season, the Owls have their eyes set on the main prize this year: the C-USA Championship.Head Coach Efe Ustundag, who has eight seasons of experience, said the team ultimately wants to make it to the NCAA tournament."We set two goals at the beginning of the season," Ustundag said. "One [was] to win the C-USA championships, and the second was to qualify for the NCAA championship. I believe we have the quality to achieve both."The team will have to look for contributions from four new freshmen and one junior transfer. Jonathan Chang (Wiess '13), Peter Frank (Martel '13) and senior Philipp Seifert have graduated and been replaced by jun ior Srikar Alla and freshmen Zachary Yablon, David Warren, Max Andrews and Henrik Munch.Ustundag said he expects all of these players to make a major impact and help the team this season."We have four new freshmen in Zach, David, Max and Henrik and a junior transfer in Srikar who we expect to help the team immediately," Ustundag said. "This class is going to be instrumental in the success of this [team], and I expect a good portion of these newcomers to be starters for us this semester and [help us] compete [in] C-USA."Without any seniors on the team, younger players may have to step up and be leaders when the situation calls for it, Ustundag said."It's always tough when you lose quality senior leadership like you had in Jonathan and Peter," Ustundag said. "But at the same time, I feel like this year's team has a much different vibe and [overall] character. They are very committed to leaving their footprints on the program. So far, it has been a complete team effort in leadership. They are doing a great job holding each other accountable and responsible. I expect every one of them to step up and lead this team."Last weekend, as a warmup for the start of the season, the team played in the University of Central Florida quad tournament in Orlando, Fla. The Owls played against the University of Louisville, Texas Christian University, Indiana University, UCF and The Citadel. Andrews capped off an undefeated singles weekend (4-0) by defeating TCU freshman Andres Alfonzo 6-2 on Sunday.Ustundag said the tournament challenged the players and helped prepare them for the upcoming games against UT and LSU this weekend. "The Orlando trip accomplished much of what we wanted to [achieve]," Ustundag said. "We played four quality matches, and each [player] was pushed physically and mentally. It also gave us the opportunity to see how everyone looked after a long break where they had to work out on their own. Overall, this gave us the best opportunity to prepare for LSU and Texas, two teams which have had very good fall season results and two teams that our guys are really excited to play right off the bat."

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Women's tennis starts season ranked 22nd

By Nicki Chamberlain-Simon

This weekend, Rice University women's tennis team, which is ranked 22nd in the nation, will kick off its 2014 season. Two years ago, the team began the season 71st in the country, and the Owls climbed to No. 30 by the beginning of last year. With the start of a new season, Head Coach Elizabeth Schmidt said the women's tennis team will continue its pursuit to success."Our main goal remains the same: to improve every day," Schmidt said.The Owls will begin their season at home against Lamar University at 1 p.m. Saturday. Last year, their opening match against Lamar resulted in a 6-1 Rice victory.    The team will be led by No. 1 singles player junior Natalie Beazant, who finished last season as the 41st-ranked singles player in the nation. Beazant made it to the quarterfinals of the 2013 NCAA tournament, setting a record for the best performance by a Rice women's tennis player in the NCAA singles tournament. Beazant has also made her stamp this fall after winning the Women's Longhorn Invitational at Austin Nov. 8.Schmidt said she is excited to see the development of Beazant as the season progresses. She said Beazant's first two years have been amazing and believes Beazant will continue to excel in her final two.     "Natalie has been extremely solid for our team the past two years, and I expect more of the same," Schmidt said. "She brings a great energy to the court, sets a tone with her attitude and performance, and is the consummate team player."Senior Dominique Harmath has also contributed significantly to the team, qualifying for the NCAA singles tournament last spring.Sophomore Solomiya Zinko performed well at this fall's Cougar Classic tournament at the University of Houston, where she claimed the No. 6 singles title and the No. 2 doubles title with Harmath.Other players to watch will be junior Liat Zimmerman, who played No. 3 singles last year, and freshman Alison Ho. In addition to Ho, freshman Katherine Ip will be joining the squad this year from Hong Kong.While the team only lost two seniors from last year, Rice will be facing other changes with the Conference USA adjustments. The University of North Texas and Florida International University have been added to the conference for the 2013-14 season. While more changes are in store for next year, top competitors Tulane University and the University of Tulsa will remain in the conference for another year.Schmidt said expectations are high, but the Owls are equipped with the talent to deal with the difficult schedule."We are extremely excited about the upcoming season," Schmidt said. "We have a challenging schedule, which is great, as it will push us to our limits every day and help us be the best that we can be."

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Winter TV premieres to mixed reviews

By Rachel Marcus

I really wanted to like Intelligence. Any show that features a well-known, good-looking actor as a spy figure working to save the world through pure intellect pretty much has me sold even before the pilot airs. Unfortunately, Intelligence falls short in comparison to its predecessors Sherlock and Chuck. While Chuck also told the story of a spy with a computer implanted into his brain, the former show boasted strong characters and a wonderful balance of drama and comedy. In contrast, Intelligence has only flat characters with simple motivations and "complicated" pasts so far.The main character and human-turned-computer Gabriel (Josh Holloway, Lost) works on saving the world while searching for his potentially murderous wife who disappeared five years ago, but I am already convinced he should be with his new handler Riley (Meghan Ory, Once Upon a Time) and therefore care very little about his supposed internal motivation. Riley, meanwhile, is an accomplished former Secret Service agent with a complicated past who unfortunately already revealed her big secret, making me lose interest in her character. While the show features some mystery and some minor characters that could prove to be entertaining, this newbie will have to buff up its characters' plots and pasts before I become interested again.

NEWS 1/13/14 6:00pm

Camp Kesem supports kids of cancer patients

By Tina Nazerian

A group of undergraduate students have brought Camp Kesem, a national program whose chapters at over 50 universities organize a free weeklong summer camp for children of cancer patients, to Rice University. The group hopes to host 30 campers at its inaugural camp, according to Baylor College of Medicine student Vidya Eswaran.Eswaran, who helped create the program's Rice chapter, said Camp Kesem's mission is to recognize and embrace the often-overlooked population of children affected by a parent's cancer, as well as to empower college student leaders to create free, life-changing summer camps for the children.According to Eswaran, there were camps at Texas A&M University and the University of Texas, Austin, but none to serve the Houston area."When I moved back to Houston to attend medical school, I felt that Houston could really benefit from a Camp Kesem chapter," Eswaran said. "With the Texas Medical Center and the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in our backyards, there are many patients and families battling cancer. I felt like people in Houston could really benefit from what Camp Kesem has to provide."Camp Kesem won its second Livestrong grant in 2013, which allowed for 10 more camps, including Rice's, to be founded, Eswaran said. The first camp will be held from Aug. 3-8 at the Uskichitto Retreat Center in Leblanc, La.,  according to the Rice Camp Kesem website.Co-director Stacey Yi said the operations team narrowed down campsites to those accredited by the American Camp Association within a three-hour radius from Houston. "Together with Camp Kesem National, we decided that the state we held our camp in didn't matter as much as the distance away from Houston," Yi, a Duncan College sophomore, said. "Camp Uskichitto turned out to be one of our favorite campsites as well as the best fit for our camp's needs."Marketing co-coordinator David Lam said the coordinators are working to make the impact last beyond the camp. "After we have our first camp, we're having a reunion for [the campers] that involves their [families]," Lam, a Martel College sophomore, said.Yi said the camp's schedule and activities will be created by the operations team and that applications for the operations committee will be released Jan. 15 and are due Jan. 19."The operations team is currently planning activities that include arts and crafts, rock climbing, low ropes course, daily swimming, mini golf, archery, and probably lots of outdoor games and sports," Sophia Parente, the Rice Camp Kesem operations co-coordinator, said.Parente, a Duncan College senior, said the operations team might try to include a downriver canoe trip if there are enough older campers. According to co-director Mariah Lawhon, the Rice Camp Kesem coordinators' short-term goals are to increase awareness and gain support on campus and in the greater Houston area, and their long-term goals are maintaining a sustainable and growing student organization benefitting the city."Being right across the street from one of the largest cancer treatment centers in the world, there are so many opportunities for us to make a difference in the lives of families affected by cancer," Lawhon, a Jones College sophomore, said. Wiess College sophomore James McCreary said he agrees with Camp Kesem's mission to address the specific needs the children of cancer patients have."Cancer can be one of the most devastating things that anyone can face, and that is no less true than for children whose most beloved individuals are facing it," McCreary said.The two-part counselor applications can be found at campkesem.org/rice/join-the-team and are due Jan. 18.

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Professor heads study abroad program at sea

By Tina Nazerian

He's on a boat. In fact, he's the dean of the boat. Professor of kinesiology Nick Iammarino has been sailing the high seas as the executive dean of Semester at Sea, a nontraditional study abroad program.Run by the nonprofit organization Institute for Shipboard Education, Semester at Sea focuses on giving students a global education, usually offering a fall and spring voyage lasting about 100 days. "It also offers a shorter summer voyage of 67 days that is generally in the Mediterranean," Iammarino said. "However, this fall and in the fall of 2012, the SAS voyage decided to do an Atlantic Exploration and sail the perimeter of the Atlantic Ocean."The SAS website states that students choose the program to have a greater understanding of the world, cultural differences, multiple perspectives and their own culture. Additionally, the website states that students pick the program to increase their self-confidence and autonomy, flexibility, acceptance of others, their own opinions and their ability to live in a close community. "Semester at Sea has always been focused on global education," Iammarino said. "As such, its mission is different than these other traditional study abroad programs."The current voyage has approximately 575 students, 40 faculty members, 31 staff members and about 200 crew members, Iammarino said.According to Iammarino, students are typically juniors and represent 247 colleges and universities, with 94 percent from the United States and the remaining 6 percent from 18 other countries.Destinations change every semester but are typically countries and ports that highlight the world's largest cultures, Iammarino said. This semester, the MV Explorer has visited London, England; Saint Petersburg, Russia; Hamburg, Germany; Antwerp, Belgium; Le Havre, France; Dublin, Ireland; Lisbon, Portugal; Cadiz, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Accra, Ghana; Cape Town, South Africa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Salvador, Brazil; Havana, Cuba; and Freeport, Bahamas before arriving home to Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on Dec. 16, Iammarino said.  "This is the first time in many years that the ship and program will call on Havana, Cuba," Iammarino said. Students can choose from more than 100 courses taught aboard the ship in a wide variety of disciplines, including history, sociology, environmental science, astronomy, psychology, business and public health, Iammarino said.Iammarino said he first became involved with SAS in 1996, when he was selected for a faculty position aboard the old ship, the SS Universe Explorer."That voyage took us around the world," Iammarino said. "As an avid traveler and one who is very interested in international education, this was a perfect fit for me."In 2008, SAS President Les McCabe visited Houston and asked Iammarino whether he would consider sailing as the executive dean for fall 2009, SAS's 100th voyage, according to Iammarino."Given my love for and involvement in this organization and my belief that we are preparing global leaders through global education .... I am now again serving as executive dean for the 50th anniversary voyage of the program," Iammarino said.According to Director of Study Abroad Partnerships Beata Loch, Semester at Sea is not among the programs selected for Rice undergraduates. "Students wishing to participate would need to take a semester leave from the university to participate," Loch said. Duncan College senior Leah Fried, a current Semester at Sea participant, said she wanted to travel to multiple places and learn about the world. "Semester at Sea definitely does that," Fried said. "It's the only program where you go to so many countries and have such a close community, since you're all living on a ship together and can't really go anywhere." Martel College junior Yutian He, who sailed during summer 2013, said her experience at SAS was life-changing."I am still reflecting on the ways the trip has changed my perspectives," He said. "I learned to always expect the unexpected and that no plan is often the best plan when one travels."

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Students revive women's rugby team at Rice

By Nicki Chamberlain-Simon

Two students revived the Rice University women's rugby team this year after its dissolution in 2011. Duncan College senior Courtney Applewhite and Sid Richardson College junior Stella Keck teamed up to get the club sport going again last spring, and the team has since grown to have 14 members and two head coaches.After having been an official club sport for 14 years, the team disbanded in 2011 due to an inability to field enough players. Two years later, though, Applewhite said she was inspired to create a new rugby team."I wanted to put the team back together mainly because I wanted to play," Applewhite said. "I had just retired from a professional BMX racing career and wanted something new and challenging to participate in, and starting up the rugby team seemed like the perfect thing to keep me occupied."Keck, who transferred to Rice last year, had played rugby since her junior year of high school and continued in her freshman year at Occidental College. Since Applewhite did not have any experience with the sport of rugby and Keck was relatively new to the university, Keck said the two teamed up to recruit a new squad and prepared the paperwork to become an official club sport. Keck said the team is still in its growing phase but is continuing to improve."I am the only player on the team who has really played rugby before besides Courtney, who played over the summer, so the team is really young and is definitely in the learning stage," Keck said. "But they're learning very quickly; our future looks good."To prepare for their games, the players practice twice a week and attend 12 Saturday games per year. However, unlike past teams that competed with 15 players, the women's rugby team is competing in matches with seven players. The team is currently a member of the Lone Star Conference, which consists of other universities such as the University of Texas, San Antonio, the University of Texas, Austin and Lamar University. After losing its first two games and winning its last two, the women's rugby team finished its fall season Nov. 23 with a 2-2 record; the team will be continuing its year-long season in January.Keck said she believes the team's record does not reflect its potential. "I think the 2-2 record doesn't really show all the work we've done," Keck said. "The learning curve for rugby is very fast, and the first couple games we lost, we were still learning all of the basics. I think if we were to play the teams we lost to now, it would be a very different score."While this redeveloping club sport is continuing to develop and recruit, the response from current members has been positive. Sid Rich freshman Skye Wang, the team's public relations representative, said having Keck as her Orientation Week advisor and talking to Applewhite convinced her to join the rugby team."At the [activities] fair, I met Courtney, and she talked a little about rugby and how there's a position for everyone," Wang said. "This sounded cool to me because I felt like in other sports you had to learn the positions and then pick one you think you're able to do well. In rugby, it's the other way around. However you like to play, there's probably a position just for you to do."While the women's rugby team is still in the rebuilding process, it has been attracting women across campus who want to try a new sport and experience the camaraderie of a team. Applewhite said she hopes the team will grow enough to play with 15 players in the future."The No. 1 thing that it will take for the team to stay alive is recruiting," Applewhite said. "Rugby is a tough sell for some people, and few are willing to come out and try it without encouragement. We were very lucky to have a lot of freshmen join the squad this year, and I hope the girls will continue that trend and [the team will grow] next year."

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Volleyball ends season in first round of C-USA tournament

By Julie Doar

The Rice University volleyball team's season came to an abrupt end when it lost to seventh-seeded University of Alabama, Birmingham in the first round of the Conference USA tournament Nov. 21. The Blazers swept Rice 3-0. With the loss, the Owls finished the year at 11-19 overall and 7-8 in conference play. Head Coach Genny Volpe said UAB played a strong and confident game and that, while the Owls were in good form, they could not quite keep up with their opponent."UAB came out at the conference tournament with a really strong presence and executed their middle attack really well, which I think rattled our team," Volpe said. "They had a more confident air about them, which was a bit surprising since we had won five out of the last six matches. I felt like we were in a good place and confident, but UAB dominated that match from the start. They played great and fearless volleyball. We didn't respond until the third set, and by that time, it was a little too late."   Volpe said the team was disappointed with the results of this season. She said Rice had ambitious goals, and it was frustrating when these goals were not met. Volpe said Rice's struggles were due to unfortunate injuries and a difficult schedule."Obviously, we are disappointed in how the season went for us, as we had high goals that were not reached," Volpe said. "I do think we played a very tough schedule, and when you are missing some key players due to sickness and injury, that will not end well. When the results weren't there, it affected our confidence."Volpe said the team is trying not to concentrate on failures of the past and is instead looking forward to next season. "We learned and grew as a team as time went on, and we will carry those [lessons] into the spring and next season," Volpe said. Volpe said the Owls have youth on their side, and the players who are set to return next fall will be working hard throughout the spring."I think in general some of the high points of the season were the performances of our youth," Volpe said. "Sara Blasier and Chelsey Harris [played major roles as] freshmen. They played key roles this year and led our team in many matches. Our future is bright, as we return several starters from this past season, and I can guarantee they will remember this season and be motivated this spring to improve."  Senior outside hitter Mariah Riddlesprigger said she wished for more wins her final season but sees the good that came from this team. She said the team was a close-knit group of people, and she enjoyed the season despite its disappointments."My senior season was filled with so many ups and downs," Riddlesprigger said. "This team faced so much adversity from beginning to end, but I couldn't have asked for a better season. This group of girls was such an amazing group, and they made this season [one] I will never forget." Riddlesprigger said she has complete faith in the team's ability to have a successful future."We are all excited about the future," Riddlesprigger said. "Even though I am done, I know these girls are going to bounce back and do amazing things next year. Everybody [had] better watch out because they are on a mission."Volpe said the team will miss Riddlesprigger and her three fellow seniors - setter Megan Murphy, outside hitter Tyler Jenkins and right side hitter Lindsay Daniel - that will graduate this year."I do want to thank our four seniors for all of their dedication over the years," Volpe said. "They are wonderful young women and have influenced our program in so many ways."

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Rice students to compete in 'Up to Us'

By Jieya Wen

A team of five Rice University students was selected for the Up to Us competition and will compete against 23 teams from other universities across the nation to educate their peers about the effects of the country's federal debt, according to team leader Maggie Edmunds."Up to Us is a program run by Net Impact, the Clinton Global Initiative and the Peterson Foundation," Edmunds, a Hanszen College sophomore, said. "Teams were selected to run [an] awareness campaign about the national debt. The campaign will begin on Jan. 21 and last until Feb. 21."The competition rules stipulate teams will have to work within a $2,000 budget, team deputy leader Giacomo Frateschi said."Teams' campus [campaigns] are designed to educate their student peers on our long-term federal debt, how it could affect their economic opportunities and what their generation can do to have a voice," Frateschi, a Duncan College junior said. According to Edmunds, the team, currently being trained by Net Impact, is working on their campaign proposal, recruiting ambassadors from residential college and finalizing their budget."We are going to be publishing videos on Facebook of different professors talking about their expertise and how the American economy is going to be affected by the global economic crisis," Edmunds said. "We also have events such as TA sessions with [Rice club] Moneythink that will talk about how to write a budget and how to keep a budget. We are thinking about doing a corny pick-up line competition on Valentine's Day based on the national debt, doing a halftime show in a basketball game, doing polls, game shows."According to Frateschi, the campaign will be judged on a variety of criteria, including Facebook visibility, civic engagement and campaign creativity. "The winner of the competition receives $10,000 and a chance to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University conference," Frateschi said. "We plan to reinvest that money into student programs at Rice; some ideas have included creating an investment fund to teach students responsible financial practices."The other team members are Hanszen sophomore Rachel Garber, Duncan sophomore Sean Leong and Hanszen junior Larson Rogers.

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Take time to appreciate what really matters in life

By Joyce Chou

The day before my 21st birthday was two days before classes started. It was also the day I learned my dad had cancer.The prognosis was brutal. At such a late stage of development, my dad's tumor was inoperable. Moreover, given his weakened state and the aggressive nature of his cancer, chemotherapy was not practical. In other words, my dad was dying.I cried so much in the following weeks that I thought my tear ducts were broken. The selfish part of me was angry that this was happening in my senior year, what should have been the best time of my undergraduate life. The supposed joys of turning 21 never felt more like a lie.What began initially as my dad's battle against cancer became my entire family's war. It was devastating to see my mom and brother cry. I hated that I dreaded receiving calls from them, afraid of the latest update on my dad's condition. More than anything, it hurt to realize that in my last year of college, my own father would not make it to my graduation. I decided to stay in school for several reasons; in some ways, doing so preserved a sense of normalcy. On the surface, I was generally OK. But sometimes it would hit - so hard and so inexplicably. It was difficult to accept that life was still happening, that the usual school and work routine continued - with the exception that my weekends came to include visits home or to the hospital. After my dad was moved to the Houston Hospice, an end-of-life care facility, visits to the hospice began to punctuate my week. I felt like I was watching him die.On Oct. 7, barely six weeks after his diagnosis, my dad passed away. No amount of mental preparation could ever fully ready me for his loss, but I found comfort at least knowing that his pain was finally over. In sharing my family's hardships, I do not intend to elicit pity or attention. I want to instead pass on the insight such a situation has elucidated. Every upperclassman has advice to share with new students, and this is mine. Be kind and reach out to others. The college experience is more than a GPA or scoring the perfect internship. The genuine moments of understanding and the relationships shared with people of both similar and different backgrounds are just as significant - if not more.As busy and hard-working Rice students, it is easy to prioritize academics and take for granted the wealth of interpersonal relationships around us. It is easy to miss out on meaningful interaction for the sake of focusing on the immediate, an upcoming test or major assignment due next week. That is not to say that academic excellence should be neglected. Rather, it is important to take a break and recognize the social aspect of college as more than parties and networking. Kindness transcends boundaries; it is the first step to investing in a deeper and more meaningful friendship. Perhaps this investment does not mean much for a resume, but its worth far outweighs the surface-level connections we do not so often actively seek to breach. So look at your friends and classmates; ask genuinely how they are doing. It can make all the difference in brightening someone's day.I am infinitely grateful for all the support I have received this past fall, in what has been the hardest time of my life. From Orientation Week and alternative spring break connections to my college masters and professors to my closest friends, coping with my dad's illness would have been a thousand times more difficult without their sincerity and concern. For checking in on me, for comfort food, for crying with me, for listening. Even those who did not know about my father's situation were there for me. Whether through a simple gesture or word, I found incredible solace in everyday kindness. These small things encouraged me to stay positive in spite of the grief when I felt utterly lost and overwhelmed.This spring, I will leave Rice having endured some of the worst times of my life and also having enjoyed some of the best. I thank all those who have made such an experience what it was. My dad would have been happy to see me surrounded by such loving individuals, to know that I am in the comfort of such a warm community. May he rest in peace.  Joyce Chou is a Hanszen College senior.

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Dustin-Prestige to perform at 'Beats and Beer'

By Reed Thornburg

Dustin-Prestige will perform at Willy's Pub on Thursday for the last "Beats and Beer" event of the semester. This third act in KTRU's semester-long journey through local hip-hop will feature the side of Houston hip-hop focused on melody and smart songcraft. 

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Albums and Abominations

By Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez

2013 is practically gone, and we have seen a lot of great records put out in what is sure to go down as an important year for music in recent history. Rather than rank albums head-to-head in a giant end-of-the-year list, I decided to give various eclectic awards to a select group of albums that represent the entire spectrum of music released this year.

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

Letter to the Editor:

By John Hutchinson

Dear Rice students:In my meeting with the Student Association senators during the week after Esperanza, I learned that drinks mixed with hard alcohol were served by the caterer at Esperanza. I was told by the senators that some students have complained about this service, given that the alcohol policy specifically prohibits this. This criticism is entirely accurate and completely understandable: We screwed up. My office should not have granted the Rice Program Council permission to allow the caterer to serve mixed drinks. Although RPC should not have requested this on the event approval form, the mistake rests with us for failing to deny the request.My staff and I regret the error. This clarification is important for two reasons. First, when we make a mistake, we admit it, and we take measures to correct the error. That is my responsibility. I have already talked with my staff about this mistake, and we have discussed the necessary corrections. Second, this mistake in no way changes our expectations under the alcohol policy. The serving of hard alcohol, including mixed drinks made from hard alcohol, is banned from all public parties and private gatherings, and private consumption of hard alcohol is banned specifically on the nights of major events such as Esperanza, even for those of age.I would like to thank the Student Association for bringing this problem to my attention, and I appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Sincerely,John HutchinsonDean of Undergraduates

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

SA committee presents constitution revisions

By Andrew Ta

The Student Association Committee on Constitutional Revisions presented its draft of a proposed SA constitution at the Dec. 2 Student Senate meeting. The proposal may replace the current constitution if the Senate votes to ratify it on Feb. 3, until which point it is still being amended, SA Parliamentarian Brian Baran said."[With] the previous document, we think a lot of the confusion was that procedures were outdated and not really what we were doing," Baran, who is a Thresher copy editor, said. "Each topic was covered in the constitution and bylaws in separate pages. You'd [have to] flip back and forth, and it got very confusing in terms of identifying all the procedures for what you needed to do and then applying them."The proposed draft would restructure what currently exists as two separate entities - the constitution and the bylaws - into a single document that would group information by topic and make references to other sections if necessary for clarification, Baran said."We're restructuring it to make it easier to find procedures for what you're going to do," Baran, a Duncan College junior, said. "[We're] preserving what the SA is [and] how the SA works."The most recent version of the draft is available at sa.rice.edu/constitution. Questions, concerns, comments and suggestions should be sent to bbaran@rice.edu.

NEWS 12/3/13 6:00pm

KPRC reports alleged RUPD beating

By Molly Chiu & Rachel Marcus

Local news station KPRC aired a story on Tuesday, Nov. 26 entitled "Local 2 investigates controversial arrest involving Rice University police" which featured a man who claimed "police went too far" during his arrest. The report showed a police car dashboard video of two RUPD officers striking a man on the legs with batons while a third officer stood nearby.The man, whose name is Ivan Joe Waller, claims Rice University Police Department officers unnecessarily beat him during the arrest. In the video, Waller can be heard calling out "Why y'all beating me?"Rice released an official statement in response to the KPRC report discussing details of the arrest. Rice has since declined to comment further. According to the original statement, the arrest occurred Aug. 10 at approximately 11 p.m. after the suspect was caught with a stolen bike outfitted with a GPS tracking device near the intersection of Montclair Drive and Holcombe Boulevard. Officers then tried to arrest the suspect, but after he repeatedly resisted handcuffs, they struck him in the legs with batons.Waller has a criminal history of assault and burglary, according to the KPRC report. Following his arrest, he was taken to the Harris County Jail, and he pled guilty to stealing the bike, according the Rice official statement. KPRC reported Waller has since filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Division of the Harris County District Attorney's Office.According to Rice's statement, RUPD Chief Johnny Whitehead conducted an internal review of the incident. The review determined that an appropriate amount of force had been used.According to KPRC, the report shows only a portion of the original video because KPRC could not obtain the entire video. KPRC did not disclose how it had gained access to the video. RUPD could not be reached for comment.KPRC aired a follow-up story Wednesday, Nov. 27 about Rice's refusal to release the entire video, but the report did not contain any additional information specific to the incident.Rice has since updated its official statement concerning KPRC's report, saying that they will release the full dashboard video "after the investigation by the district attorney's office has been completed and any other legal matters resolved." The most-recent full statement can be seen below.  "Around 11 p.m. on the night of Aug. 10, 2013, the Rice University Police Department was alerted that a bike equipped with a GPS device had been stolen from campus. Rice police officers caught up with the bike and suspect at Montclair Drive and Holcombe Boulevard. The officers approached the suspect and ordered him off the bike and onto the ground so that they could handcuff him, search for weapons and make the arrest. When the suspect failed to comply with verbal commands, the officers followed standard police protocol:  They ordered him to the ground and attempted to handcuff him.  The officers placed a handcuff on the suspect's left wrist and ordered him to show his right arm, which he had pinned under himself.  The suspected refused to comply and despite the officers' repeated orders to allow himself to be handcuffed, he continued to resist arrest. The officers then used pressure point control techniques in an effort to subdue the suspect. After repeated attempts to gain control with verbal commands and physical control techniques were unsuccessful, two officers deployed their batons and struck the suspect's legs, which is standard protocol to subdue an aggressive suspect without causing serious bodily harm. Officers were finally able to gain control of the suspect and finish handcuffing him.  At that point, the officers stopped the use of force, although the suspect then resisted being placed in the police vehicle.  At no point did the officers draw their weapons.  The suspect, who has a previous criminal record, was transported to Harris County Jail, where he pled guilty to the bike theft. Rice University Police Chief Johnny Whitehead conducted an internal review, which is standard policy when use of force is involved, and the department is continuing to review its techniques for dealing with suspects who resist arrest and will offer additional training and tools to its officers.   Rice University police are charged with protecting the campus and its students and employees, and are fully trained and commissioned police officers. Rice University has received several requests to release a videotape of the arrest taken at the scene. Rice immediately provided the video to the Harris County District Attorney's office when it was requested for an investigation. Although Rice is a private institution and not required by law to make the video public, it will do so after the investigation by the district attorney's office has been completed and any other legal matters resolved."

Editor's Picks

Most Popular

The Rice Thresher