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NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Reflektor

By Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez

Arcade Fire recently appeared on The Colbert Report to support its new album, where Colbert asked "What do you like more: getting people to listen to your message about isolation in the modern world, or getting them on the dance floor to shake that ass?" Despite its comedic intentions, Colbert's question concisely sums up Reflektor, the fourth LP from the Grammy Award-winning, Montreal-based 10-piece. While previous incarnations of Arcade Fire have been noted for their seriousness and sobriety, often performing in Amish-style clothing and retaining solemn poker faces during interviews, this time around, the group seems to feature a relaxed, humorous approach to public appearances, a PR change also "reflekted" in Arcade Fire's new style of music.Arcade Fire's first album, 2004's Funeral, was hailed by critics as a modern masterpiece, noted for its grandiose, orchestral arrangements and deeply personal lyrics depicting the trials and tribulations of dealing with death and sadness as a young person. 2010's The Suburbs was a concept album loosely based on The Woodlands (chief songwriter Win Butler's childhood home) and earned the group a surprise Grammy for album of the year. Now, nearly four years later, Arcade Fire has again shifted its focus, but for the first time, it has significantly altered its style as well. Soaring guitars, dizzying strings and crashing cymbals have given way to pulsating synthesizers and dancefloor drum beats inspired by the creole music of singer Regine Chassagne's native country, Haiti. The influence of producer James Murphy, of former dance-punk giant LCD Soundsystem fame, can be heard in the multiple six-minute-plus, trance-inducing dance tracks like "Reflektor" and "We Exist."Arcade Fire has said the album name and title track were intended to inspire people to reflect on their own lives and place in an ever-changing society as well as to acknowledge the difference between their own true selves and the reflections they present on the surface. Themes of social anxiety and detachment abound, and never more aggressively than in standout rock track "Normal Person," on which Butler rattles off "You know, I can't tell if I'm a normal person / It's true, I think I'm cool enough, but am I cruel enough?" The pair of pained, spacey electronic acts "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" and "It's Never Over (Hey Orpheus)" introduce both tragedy and consolation to a youth stricken with heartache. First, Butler paints the scene: "But when I say I love you / Your silence covers me / Oh, Eurydice, It's an awful sound" then he offers the resolution: "It seems so important now / But you will get over / When you get older." While Arcade Fire once sought refuge from the heavy questions it was unable to answer, it now offers reflections on youth from the point of view of adults 10 years into their career.Former fans of Arcade Fire may initially have trouble receiving Reflektor. While on Funeral, Arcade Fire made an anthemic plea for the public to "Wake Up," the group now asks (on "Afterlife")  "I've gotta know / Can we work it out? / Scream and shout till we work it out?" While its scope has widened relative to the individual, its earnestness and sense of importance has failed to wane. Though some tracks drag, and others lack inspiration, the record works as an album that not only critiques society, but also offers solace for the individuals who feel buried by it. And in that way, Arcade Fire still connects with its listeners, even if it resembles only a reflection of its former self.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

This Week in Entertainment

By Louis Lesser

The Hunger Games:    Catching FireIn TheatersThe highly anticipated sequel to the 2012 blockbuster The Hunger Games returns to Panem and the adventures of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, Silver Linings Playbook). Following the events of the first film, Katniss and fellow tribute Peeta (Josh Hutcherson, Bridge to Terabithia) embark on a "Victory Tour," celebrating their success in the 74th Hunger Games competition. However, amid the Quarter Quell to select the next tributes to enter the games, a rebellion against the government begins that threatens the future of Panem. PG-13. 146 minutes.Delivery ManIn TheatersVince Vaughn (The Internship) and Cobie Smulders (How I Met Your Mother) star in this American remake of the 2011 French comedy Starbuck. The plot follows a man who has unknowingly fathered over 500 children as a sperm donor. When a large group of his offspring sues the sperm bank, demanding to learn the donor's true identity, he has to make the decision whether or not to reveal himself and become involved in their lives. PG-13. 104 minutes.Britney Jeanby Britney Spearsalbum The queen of modern pop returns with her eighth studio album, working with producer will.i.am to create a more personal, raw collection of songs while staying true to her upbeat, dance-influenced sound. The album comes just in time to promote Spears' new residency at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, where her show Britney: Piece of Me will be performed. While lead single "Work Bitch" made a solid debut on Hot 100, it failed to catch on. But with promotion closer to the album's release and new single "Perfume" arriving on airwaves, look for Spears to continue her chart-dominating ways.Days of Goldby Jake OwenAlbumJake Owen is part of a growing trend of more rock-oriented mainstream country music, a movement spearheaded by stars like Luke Bryan. Buoyed by the support  of his previous release Barefoot Blue Jean Night, which exploded as the biggest hit of his career to date, as well as supporting appearances on tour with stars such as Florida Georgia Line and Jason Aldean, Owen's newest set is an optimistic collection of rock-inspired tunes likely to propel him into the spotlight.Red 2DVD This sequel to the 2010 action-adventure Red reunites Bruce Willis (A Good Day To Die Hard), Helen Mirren (Hitchcock) and John Malkovich (Warm Bodies) as a team of retired CIA operatives on a mission to track down a missing nuclear device. Traveling throughout Europe and facing terrorists, assassins and power-crazed government officials, the crew must use its old-school skills to save the world. Bonus features include deleted scenes, outtakes and behind-the-scenes documentariesGran Turismo 6Video Game One of the most popular video game series of all time continues with the latest edition of its acclaimed racing simulator, featuring more than 1,200 vehicles on nearly 70 new tracks. Other new features for the sixth version include a redesigned physics engine, allowing for the most realistic driving experience ever programmed, and new customization capabilities that allow players to design their own circuits. The new installment also includes mobile device compatibility, allowing players to take their game from their TV to their smartphone, tablet or PC. Available for PlayStation 3.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Tupperware a good idea but not a replacement for paper

By Rice Editorial Staff

Despite the divisive nature of the paper products debate, we commend Housing and Dining on its efforts to adapt to students' mealtime habits using a sustainable takeout container system (see story, p. 1). While Rice students love their paper plates, the addition of tupperware could help reduce the amount and cost of paper products used over the year, thus redirecting more funds to food quality.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Computer science team places second in region

By Jennifer Shen

A group of computer science students put their skills to the test earlier this month to compete in a programming competition. The team from Rice placed second out of the 57 teams that competed in the USA Southwest Central regionals of the Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest.Two other teams from Rice also competed in the competition and placed 11th and 42nd, respectively.According to its website, ICPC is a team-based programming competition first held at the ACM Computer Science Conference in 1977. Participants are given eight to 12 problems to solve in five hours. Each problem lays out a real-life scenario, for which participants must identify the underlying topic and develop algorithmic solutions in Java, C or C++. The participants for the world finals last year were chosen from over 2,000 universities and 91 countries.The Southwest Central regionals included schools from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, and the competition was held Nov. 2 at Baylor University, Louisiana State University and LeTourneau University simultaneously. The winning team, from the University of Texas, Brownsville, will represent the region in the world finals in Ekaterinburg, Russia in June 2014.The second-place team consisted of Sid Richardson College senior Jeff Arenson, Hanszen College sophomore Derek Peirce and computer science graduate student Marcus Shen, all returning participants in the competition. The team completed seven of the eight given questions, according John Greiner, a lecturer in computer science who coached Rice's teams."I originally got involved during sophomore year, when one of the competitors dropped out at the last minute and I took his place," Arenson said. "I met a bunch of amazing people - both from Rice and from the schools we competed against - and decided to go back. I almost didn't get involved, but I'm really glad I did."Arenson, who serves as the student organizer, said he organized the three teams that represented Rice this year by experience. He said the participants started preparing for the competition soon after the semester started."[Arenson] led weekly practices for the participants, doing practice problems and talking about common issues that come up within the contest," Greiner said.Rice has participated in the competition before, according to Greiner. Many members of the current computer science faculty had competed and represented Rice in the world finals, including Greiner and professors of computer science David Johnson and Joe Warren."[Rice's participation in the competition] goes back decades, although more recently the participation got restarted in 2003," Greiner said. "The best [we've placed] is second in the world ... [by] Johnson in 1981."Greiner said he has served as the coach since Rice began competing again in 2003, when a student came to him after Rice stopped competing for four years."A student came to me and said, 'Hey, I want to do this,'" Greiner said. "And I said, 'OK, let's look for some volunteers.' We ended up having two teams that year."Arenson said the three members on his team were the only returning participants this year, but he said he has high hopes for Rice's future performance in the competition."We had tons of interest from new freshmen and sophomores, and they all did really well," Arenson said. "I think the contest has gotten far more publicity and new blood this year .... Next year and the year after have a lot of potential."

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Volleyball wins final two games, ends conference play with 7-7 record

By Julie Doar

The Rice University women's volleyball team ended its conference play on a high note, beating the University of Alabama, Birmingham 3-0 on the road Friday. The team continued its winning streak Sunday, sweeping Louisiana Tech University 3-0 to win its final road game of the season. The team concluded conference play at .500 with a record of 7-7.The Conference USA tournament will take place in Murfreesboro, Tenn., where Rice is the 10th seed out of 12 teams. The Owls will face seventh seed UAB again Nov. 21, just six days after their win over the Blazers.Head Coach Genny Volpe said the team has hit a high point in the season. The Owls are heading into the tournament aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and Volpe said she believes the team will pull off a win."I think the team is just coming into their own and playing the game freely and confidently," Volpe said. "We recognize that we are not perfect and we will make mistakes, but we are gritting it out and finding a way to win. I am so proud of how they are competing and fighting."Senior outside hitter Mariah Riddlesprigger said that despite being seeded 10th, the Owls have lofty ambitions and a lot of confidence. The team is looking forward to the tournament with eager anticipation. "We are very excited for the conference tournament," Riddlesprigger said. "We know our potential and are excited to see what we can accomplish in the tournament."Riddlesprigger said the team is counting on its ability to upset higher-seeded teams. She said that if the team focuses on finishing games strong, the Owls might shock some teams in the tournament."We are going to work on finishing games," Riddlesprigger said. "We know we have the potential to upset people in the conference tournament, and we are going to prepare for that."In practice this week, Volpe said Rice will review its recent game against UAB. She said they won the game handily, but there is still room for improvement. Volpe said that since UAB will be more knowledgeable about Rice's style of play the second time around, the Owls will be in for a battle."We don't have much practice this week," Volpe said. "But we are playing UAB first round, so we are evaluating that match and seeing what we did well and what we need to continue to do to improve our game and stay focused."  Volpe said the team will focus on its fundamentals, which can make all the difference in tournament play."I believe that all teams right now are focusing on the serving and passing game, as that is key to success, and that will continue to be a focus," Volpe said.  Volpe said that after an up-and-down season, Rice is glad to head into the tournament. She said this is what the team has been getting ready for all season."Our team is excited about the tournament," Volpe said. "We have been preparing for it for some time now, and it's really just about playing freely and being willing to grit it out over the four-day tournament."

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Club soccer advances to nationals with 8-2 record

By Dan Elledge

After posting a dominant 6-1 record during the regular season and upsetting Texas A&M University in the Region IV Tournament championship game Nov. 3, the Rice University men's club soccer team is going to nationals. The team is traveling to Phoenix this week, where the tournament will be held Nov. 21-23.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Will Rice, GSA win in powderpuff first round to go to semifinals

By Nicki Chamberlain-Simon

The Graduate Student Association and Will Rice College won their quarterfinal matchups with a single score late in the second half of their respective games. As they move onto the semifinals this weekend, GSA will take on Sid Richardson College, and Will Rice will face McMurtry College. Both Sid Rich and McMurtry had a first-round bye, but all four teams are now one win away from making it into the championship game. GSA vs. Brown (6-0) Despite only scoring one touchdown, GSA commanded the field for the majority of the game. GSA managed to reach the red zone twice in the first half, but two Brown defensive stands forced it to a turnover on downs. Towards the middle of the second half, GSA made it to the end zone and put six points on the board. Brown responded with a long drive late in the fourth quarter that carried them all the way to the 3-yard line. However, after a pass on fourth down fell incomplete with little time remaining, GSA secured the first-round victory. GSA quarterback Stacy Pesek said that despite only successfully converting once on offense, the defense gave the team the edge it needed to win.    "Our defense was on target all night, and they really won the game for us," Pesek said. "Sid will be the toughest team we've played yet, so we plan to keep our defense sharp."  Will Rice vs. Lovett (6-0) Will Rice defeated two-time defending powderpuff champion Lovett College in overtime on Sunday. The first-round game took place Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. and had a similar start to the GSA/Brown matchup earlier in the day. Will Rice was unable to earn a first down for its first few drives, and Lovett maintained possession of the ball for most of the first half. After a delay of game penalty, Lovett was unable to score after reaching the 5-yard line. Another scoreless half brought the game to overtime, and Will Rice was unable to score on its first possession. However, on its second offensive play in overtime, Lovett threw an interception to senior Brittany Carter, who would return the ball over 90 yards for the winning touchdown to move Will Rice to the next round.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

[title of show] provides laughs and catchy music

By Ian Bott

[title of show] is a musical about friends who decide to create a musical about creating a musical. Confused? Allow Hanszen and McMurtry College Theatre to clarify with their collaborative production of [title of show], Jeff Bowen's 90-minute musical based on Hunter Bell's book of the same name. Producer Rachel Landsman, a McMurtry sophomore, and associate producer Grant Raun, a McMurtry junior, have helped in fashioning a comedic and entertaining production that excels in poking fun at the artistic process while also touching on serious and relatable themes. Hunter (Hanszen College sophomore Joshua Kee) and Jeff (McMurtry sophomore Cory Gross) have the idea to create a musical to enter into a festival. Kee and Gross show excellent onstage chemistry, playing off each other's humor unreservedly in a way befitting two good friends. They develop a fine harmony both with their voices and their characters. Hunter is a writer who is full of ideas and is charmingly ambitious and optimistic, propelling the show toward Broadway. Gross adeptly portrays the composer Jeff as a sassy, grammar-correcting character, while also showing a keen sensitivity and understanding.Hunter and Jeff enlist the help of actresses Susan (Brown College senior Elizabeth Pogue) and Heidi (McMurtry sophomore Emily Statham) to perform their musical. Heidi is a budding actress forced to choose between securing minor ensemble roles on Broadway and chasing a risky dream with the group, while Susan is sharp-tongued and frenetic. Most of the time, Pogue is able to pull off a challenging role convincingly, while it is easy to empathize with the struggle and career dilemmas of Statham's character. The mysterious Larry (Hanszen sophomore Edward Cordell) enters and exits to accompany on keyboard and is a man of few words, spending more time reading the newspaper than engaging in dialogue. Cordell plays proficiently and delivers his rare lines to good comedic effect. Vocally, Gross and Statham are worthy of special mention. Gross shows off a powerful voice when the script calls for it, particularly in "Part Of It All." Statham's voice is tuneful and melodious, showcased very expressively in "A Way Back To Then." "Die, Vampire, Die!" and "Nine People's Favorite Thing" are among the show's most enjoyable songs.Director Audrey Chao, a Hanszen senior, spares no expense to detail. The song "Monkeys and Playbills" is made particularly amusing by the impressive coordination of art-covered playbills. The set itself is minimalistic, composed in large part by four chairs and Larry's keyboard. Voice recordings and the efforts of the cast ensure smooth scene transitions. With no costume changes, costume designer Daniel Burns, a McMurtry senior, has the actors wearing everyday clothing that reflects individual character personalities, including Jeff's delightful green socks. The production's attention to detail also shows in the lighting choices. Jones College freshman Steven Pappas sets the mood well with a range of both warm and cool lighting, most noticeably with an eerie red glow as the play's intensity peaks. With a small cast and stage, the setting is intimate, and the actors even break the fourth wall on occasion. A potent sound system assembled by McMurtry junior Sean Harger and operated by Baker College freshman Bryce Willey only helps to strengthen this audience connection.With plenty of expletives, the show is not the most family-friendly, and the actors poke fun that the show does not follow the typical Broadway formula. Some of the satirical references are difficult to grasp. As the novelty of the show's self-awareness fades, the cast does an excellent job performing with a liveliness and synergy that provides a high entertainment value throughout. Though the production is laced with comedy and good laughs, there are also serious undertones, and it is easy to identify with many of the obstacles the characters face.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

Rice should be more environmentally conscious

By Tierra Moore

Today, recycling at Rice University is either hit or miss. Even with Houston's single-stream recycling system, a college-oriented Eco-Rep Program and a designated campus sustainability director, we are still missing an important mark in campus sustainability - outdoor recycling. With merely two outdoor recycling bins on the entire campus, students more often than not will simply throw away their recyclable waste as they move between classes. Environmentally minded students begrudge this fact, going as far as saying Rice is not as eco-friendly as its peer institutions. This is a fair sentiment, considering that our neighbors at the University of Houston have 250 outdoor recycling bins. This lack of infrastructure is not only a lost opportunity to recycle, but also a lost opportunity to instill a sustainable campus culture in the student body.But I am happy to say we are taking strides toward greener pastures. Under the insistence of University Representative Y. Ping Sun, Rice has allocated a $50,000 grant to install approximately 30 outdoor recycling bins on campus. In his campus sustainability course, Director of the Administrative Center for Energy and Sustainability Richard Johnson has assigned a team with the task of mapping out where these bins will go. This project is a tremendous step for campus sustainability. It means that someday soon, students will be able to recycle their empty water bottles as they trek from West Lot to their rooms. Tossing recyclables in the trash can be a thing of the past provided that the recycle bins are used properly.Although paper, cardboard, aluminum, glass and all plastics (with the exception of No. 6) can be disposed of in the same recycling bin, many existing bins are confusingly labeled as "Paper," "Aluminum" or "Plastic." Students are also uncertain of what is recyclable and what is not. Rather than ruminate over whether their paper plate can be recycled (it can), students will just throw it away and move on. This confusion contributes to our overall recycling rate - a paltry 25 percent, according to Johnson.Furthermore, Housing and Dining staff remark that the biggest issue with existing recycling bins is contamination. It only takes one item to contaminate an entire recycle bin; custodial staff will not recycle material that has been mixed with trash. With this in mind, it is crucial that students not only have access to outdoor recycle bins, but also that they know how to use them as well. Rice can become more green by encouraging students to be environmentally conscious. Recycling education and other aspects of sustainable living should be discussed during Orientation Week, a period in which students develop habits that carry them throughout their academic careers. Moreover, the administration should set formal and visible goals for campus sustainability. Curiously, President David Leebron's 10-point Vision for the Second Century does not mention any goals for sustainability. In a world of growing environmental issues, it is short-sighted to rank environmental consciousness on the low end of Rice's to-do list.In short, Rice can increase its environmental edge by instilling a sense of environmental consciousness across campus. How we prioritize environmental measures is a reflection of our environmental health as a university. When sustainable culture meets sustainable infrastructure, Rice can truly call itself green. Tierra Moore is a Baker College junior.

NEWS 11/18/13 6:00pm

BISF hosts debate over government shutdown

 

The Baker Institute Student Forum held its fall 2013 debate between the Rice Conservative Forum and the Rice Young Democrats on Nov. 13. Debaters verbally sparred over who was to blame for the 16-day United States government shutdown that occurred in October. 

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Grade inflation requires careful consideration

By Rice Editorial Staff

The Faculty Senate Working Group on Grade Inflation presented preliminary recommendations to the Student Senate Monday, Nov. 11 meeting (see story, p. 1). While grade inflation may be an issue at Rice University, information on grade distribution and Latin honors are available online for employers and graduate schools. Employers and graduate schools already recognize that GPAs are calculated differently at different institutions and are accustomed to using this information to place grades in context or deflate them as appropriate. Students may also be reluctant to admit grade inflation is a problem, as fixing grade inflation - if indeed it needs to be fixed - would put their own GPAs at risk. For those applying to medical school or law school, changes to grading policies could damage their chances for admission by lowering grades. While this is an ethical issue of its own, it means that students are unlikely to advocate for changes in grading policies. The administration, faculty and students alike should be cautious in making a decision on this matter and should first critically evaluate the extent of the problem. The data presented to the Student Senate was incomplete and potentially misleading given the lack of proper numerical labeling of the axes on the graphs presented. Failure to label the y-axis can skew the perception of the magnitude of changes; without a scale, an increase could be on the order of an entire grade point or could be merely a hundredth of a grade point.While combating grade inflation has its benefits in ensuring Rice students' grades most accurately reflect the quality of their academic work, it is important to consider the potential fallout changes in grading policies could cause. Any measures to address grade inflation should be carefully considered in terms of their potential impact on Rice's collaborative atmosphere. Many of Rice's peer institutions have a far more competitive atmosphere, and the collaborative nature of the Rice community can be an important factor in prospective students' decisions to attend Rice. Combating grade inflation at the expense of this important aspect of the Rice experience would not be a worthy trade-off.Further, it is important to consider the differences between schools, between departments, and even between courses within those departments when making decisions regarding grading policies. What works in one context may be inappropriate for another; any policies must take account for this reality.Ultimately, any decisions regarding grade inflation should involve students throughout the process and at all levels - including in the conversations within each department recommended by the working group. The Faculty Senate has already made an effort to involve students in this discussion, and the Thresher encourages it to continue doing so.Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the piece's author.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Baker Institute hosts party with Jenna Bush Hager

By Christen Sparago

Party guests toasted the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with champagne flecked with gold at Club Berlin, the one-night-only event held Saturday, Nov. 9.Professionals and students alike poured into the tent constructed for James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy's 20th Anniversary Gala. The theme, "Punk-Chic: Chaos to Cocktails," inspired outfits featuring feather boas, faux-hawks and fedoras. Upscale restaurants Reef, Uchi and Killen's Steakhouse contributed food for the evening. Throughout the evening, guests danced to an upbeat mix of contemporary and 80's music by New York-based DJ KISS.Honorary Event Chair Jenna Bush Hager said she was excited to attend the event."James Baker has been a family friend for many years, and I'm happy to be here supporting an event for the [institute] founded in his name," Hager said. "Tonight is the anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down, which is awesome. For those of us who grew up in the '80s, that's especially meaningful."According to Vince McElligott, the Baker Institute's senior director of development, the purpose of the event was to get young professionals involved in the Baker Institute."One of the challenges we face at the Baker Institute is how to involve the younger generation," McElligott said. "We're hoping this afterparty will help do that because it's less traditional and more fun."Martel College senior Kenneth Misner said he appreciated that the event targeted young professionals."It's great to see the effect the Baker Institute has had on students and the younger generation," Misner said.Lovett College junior Shannon McNamara said transforming the tent into a nightclub was a great idea."This is the perfect place to get Rice undergraduates involved in public policy," McNamara said. Baker Institute Senior Fellow Steven Lewis said the contrast between the previous night's 20th Anniversary Gala and Club Berlin emphasized the wide interest in the Baker Institute."The gala was appropriate to celebrate donors who have been here a long time," Lewis said. "But the 1980s theme is appropriate for tonight because we're interested in making it more enjoyable for the younger generation."J.D. Bucky Allshouse, the co-chair for the Baker Institute's 20th Anniversary Gala, said he enjoyed the event's nontraditional theme."The whole idea is to get young people involved," Allshouse said. "It's a good time to dress up and be foolish."

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

RPC sells out Esperanza tickets within one week

By Andrew Ta

The 1,705 tickets for Esperanza 2013: "A Night of Fire and Ice" sold out in under one week, Rice Program Council President Aisha Jeeva said."[In] 24 hours, we sold half [of the tickets]," Aisha, a Martel College junior, said. "It was about the same [amount of time to sell out] as last year."Jeeva said a campuswide survey after last year's Esperanza indicated that an on-campus location was a major reason for tickets selling out."The biggest feedback was that [having it] on-campus was good," Jeeva said. "We worked really hard to bring it back on campus this year, and obviously there isn't a venue on campus that's big enough to hold [this] kind of event."According to Jeeva, RPC will strive to keep Esperanza on campus for future years."Since it seems like that's what students want, it is definitely our goal ... if it is within our means," Jeeva said. "It was very expensive. We were lucky that [a venue] was already going to be on campus for the Baker Institute events."Jeeva said logistics worked out such that costs were minimized for RPC."We worked a lot with Alumni Affairs to keep the tent up because they're using it for an event on Friday, so we're paying to keep it up for an extra day until Saturday," Jeeva said.Jeeva said that despite only paying for an extra day, RPC was not making a profit from ticket sales."We're not making money off Esperanza," Jeeva said. "We're covering our costs. We worked out our budget so that we would be able to break even. All of the tickets had to be sold [and] all of the sales are going directly to covering the costs, especially the cost of the tent."Jeeva said that although people are still looking to buy tickets, ticket scalping did not seem to be too large of an issue. "For the most part, it seems like most people are keeping their tickets," Jeeva said. "It's kind of out of our hands. We're not handling the actual reselling of the tickets." McMurtry College junior Da Yae Jeong said she wished there were more tickets available."After Centennial last year, a lot of people are interested in going," Jeong said. "Maybe [RPC] could even sell the tickets at two different times so people who are initially unsure if they want to go or not won't miss out."Sid Richardson College freshman Connie Do said that when she decided to go to Esperanza, tickets had already sold out."I either wish there were more tickets available or that the process to buy them off of people was a bit more formal," Do said. "I would really like to go."

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

News in Brief

By Rice Thresher Staff

A committee may soon be formed at Martel College to gauge whether residents would like to change the college crest, according to College President Izzy Spanswick."The crest is talked about every year," Spanswick, a Martel senior, said. "There has been discussion concerning the crest and potentially changing it."Spanswick said no design is in the works because college residents and alumni have not decided whether they want to change the crest."The main argument in favor of changing the crest is that people feel it doesn't represent the culture and values of the college as well as it could," Spanswick said. "If we find that the majority of Martelians are interested in altering the crest, then we will move on to the design process."Martel freshman Abbi Gutierrez said that since the crest was made before Martel culture was created, some people want a crest that better visualizes that culture, but others believe the crest should be kept the same because of tradition."Since we are fairly new but have a few years under our belt, we just want to explore our creative freedom to design something that may potentially represent us better," Gutierrez said. "We pride ourselves on being a family, so that really is our culture."Spanswick said the college will vote on Wednesday, Nov. 13 on a bill that will decide whether or not a Martel crest committee should be created. She said this committee would be responsible for collecting data from current students, alumni and other interested parties to gauge interest on whether or not they want to update the crest."This is a very important issue to the college," Spanswick said. "Nothing will happen in regards to the crest without consent from both current students and alumni."

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Jon Warren continues great run with Rice

By Nicki Chamberlain-Simon

Ever since he put on a Rice cross country jersey 25 years ago, Head Coach Jon Warren (Jones '88) has been involved in Rice Owls' track and field. After setting university records in both the mile and the 3,000-meter distances during his four-year career, Warren began volunteer coaching at age 23. The imprint Rice has had on Warren has been reciprocated throughout his many years with the men's track and field and cross country programs. According to the Rice Athletics website, under Warren's guidance, the track and field team has won three individual NCAA individual titles, 27 individual conference championships and four team conference championships, and it has finished in the top 25 as a team three times at the NCAA championships. In addition to his successes as a runner and his four Conference Coach of the Year titles, Warren has achieved much beyond the hedges. He has made the Olympic trials in both the steeplechase and the marathon. In 1996, he finished eighth in the U.S. marathon Olympic trials. According to the Rice Athletics website, he is the only American to run a mile in less than 4 minutes and finish a marathon in under 2 hours and 20 minutes in the same year.The Thresher sat down with Warren to talk about his accomplishments at Rice and his career as a coach.  Rice Thresher: What are your favorite track moments from your time at Rice?Jon Warren: In 1986, I was second in the 5-kilometer in the Southwestern Conference championship that we hosted, which was huge. Also in 1986, I ran a school record in the 3,000-meter, which is still a school record, and I'm supposed to be coaching people to break that. In 1987, I qualified for the Indoor National meet in the mile. I set the pool record for that, too, but since then, I've had somebody break that, so I'm happy about that. Teamwise, in 1987, our cross country team was 19th in the nation. That was a pretty big moment. RT: How did you feel after running a sub-4:00 mile?JW: That was a lifelong dream, and it was one of those funny things - my dad had bought a bottle of wine for whenever that happened. We opened the wine, and of course the wine was vinegar, [so it] had gone bad. He'd had it for a very long time. I was 29 years old when I broke 4:00; I didn't do it at Rice, so I was a bum for a long time. RT: Why did you decide to coach at Rice?JW: The idea of coaching is an awesome profession. Rice is very different from the vast majority of universities out there in that it's not essentially just about the athletics; it's not just about how much faster can these kids run. We truly do want all students to not only grow as athletes, but also grow as people as well. The people that we get want to be students. They don't come to Rice because they want to be athletes only; they come because they want the rare opportunity to be a true student and not sacrifice anything at all academically and also be able to compete and be the best athlete they possibly can. I love being in that environment. RT: What is your coaching philosophy?JW: In a word, it's individualization. Oftentimes things will overlap with other athletes, but everyone's a little bit different, and whether I need to help them in the weight room or on the track or with their academic schedule, every individual is different. I build toward that as our primary goal. RT: Would you say you've enjoyed running or coaching more?JW: I've had friends that have done both coaching and running, and they'll say it was easier being a runner because they can control it more. My response is that's true, but it doesn't hurt to coach. Running a 10-kilometer or a steeplechase or a cross country or a mile, you're going to experience discomfort. I've experienced a lot of emotions as a coach, but I have never been in pain because of it. So they're very different. I still run now, and I compete a little bit to keep that mindset together. I've very much enjoyed my running career, but the coaching career is awesome as well. And it's one of those great ways that you choose to spend a life where you'll get up in the morning and go do it every day.This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

News in Brief

By Rice Thresher Staff

The Center for the Study of Languages is now the Center for Languages and Intercultural Communication, according to the center's website.The center's mission statement states the CLIC will guide the development of communicative and interactional abilities in a second language; analytical and critical-thinking competence developed through the study of linguistic, social and cultural factors; and intercultural awareness and abilities that will help students become productive members of a multilinguistic and multicultural society.According to the website, the overall vision of the CLIC is to make a better world through the creation, implementation and promotion of an academically substantive second-language program.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Kuster leads basketball to early 2-0 start

By Michael Kidd

The Rice University women's basketball team opened its season with a 77-63 victory at Texas A&M University, Prairie View Nov. 8. Senior Jessica Kuster led the charge with 33 points and 15 rebounds. The Owls led the game from start to finish, and sophomore Megan Palmer and junior Christal Porter both finished with double digits.Head Coach Greg Williams said he was particularly pleased with the poise his team showed on the road. He said playing on the road is difficult and being able to take the crowd out of the game was key."Going on the road is always difficult, but we knew since the offseason how [much more] experienced [we were] coming into this year," Williams said. "We helped keep the crowd out of the game ... a formula for success on the road for any team." Williams said Kuster, the only senior on the squad, played exceptionally and was aggressive on the offensive end. He said the team's effective passing was a major factor in Kuster's high-scoring game. "[Kuster]  had a spectacular game with 33 [points] and 15 [rebounds] and on only 17 [shot] attempts," Williams said. "I felt like she was very aggressive offensively, and that is something we need her to be [this year]. [Our] players did a great job finding her, and she's also great at creating her own shots. [She] played a really solid game from start to finish."Williams said he is pleased with the progress many of his starters have made over the offseason. Williams said that with four returning starters - Kuster, Porter, Palmer and junior Nakachi Maduke - the Owls played more confidently as a team in their first game."It was nice to see how hard [the returning starters] worked in the offseason," Williams said. "[If they] can lead with more poise and confidence this year, [it's] is going to be big for us."Kuster led all scorers on Friday evening and said she felt excited for the first game of the season. She said having gone through this process for four years, she did her best to stay relaxed. "I actually felt pretty relaxed, [since] I've been through this for four years. Prairie View has a unique atmosphere, and I stayed calm so the rest of the team [fed] off that vibe and kept jitters to a minimum."Kuster was pleased with the way the team worked together on offense to pull out the victory. She said the Owls improved upon their  stability at point guard from last year."I think that we passed the ball extremely well, and we worked very well as a team on offense," Kuster said. "Even when changing up our point guards a bit, [we] played the same regardless of who was bringing the ball up the floor. [The vibe] was enthusiastic and pretty positive out there."Porter said she has been working hard in the offseason to improve her game and contribute more to the team. She said players have an opportunity to improve each additional year at Rice."[After] sophomore year, you know what to expect, and you know [your] weaknesses, and that makes you feel a lot more confident," Porter said. "I feel that knowing what you do best on the court gives you confidence, and I feel like I'm in that kind of spot right now." Porter said she hopes the team can win more close games this year, but to do so, the Owls must dig deep down the stretch. "It's [always] going to be competitive, and we are going to dig deep," Porter said. "Last year, we lost a lot of close games ..., so this year, we will dig deeper and end up winning those games."Rice followed up their opening night victory with their first home win of the season Nov. 11 against Texas Southern University 61-54. The Owls got off to a slow start, falling behind 15-6, but they rallied to tie the game 26-26 at halftime. Rice took the lead late in the game and did not look back, recording a 61-54 win. Kuster scored 16 points and had 12 rebounds while junior point guard Reem Moussa recorded 13 points and helped lead the Owls to 2-0.Rice's next game is Thursday, Nov. 14 at McNeese State University before heading to Waco on Monday, Nov. 18 to play Baylor University.  

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