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NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Power outage plagues campus

By Thresher Editorial Board

The power went out across campus around 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and according to Facilities Engineering & Planning a cat could be to blame. Michael Tomongha, FE&P Lead Plant Operator, said that CenterPoint Energy told FE&P that a cat climbed up to a transformer and caused damage, resulting in the power outage. CenterPoint Energy representative Alicia Dixon was unable to confirm that a cat had been involved. "There was an equipment malfunction at a nearby substation," Dixon said. "That caused the power outage."According to CenterPoint Energy, more than 8,000 customers in the Rice University, Montrose, Midtown and Museum District areas reported power-loss. Power was restored to campus around 7:45 p.m.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Volleyball drops match to Tulane

By Julie Doar

The Rice University women's volleyball team had a three-game winning streak after beating Houston Baptist University 3-0 in a nonconference game last Thursday but lost 3-1 to Tulane University at home Saturday. With the loss to the Green Wave, Rice's current record in conference play is 5-7.This Friday, Nov. 15, Rice will travel to Birmingham, Ala. to play the University of Alabama, Birmingham. On Sunday, Nov. 17, Rice will play Louisiana Tech University in its last home game of the season. UAB's volleyball team is slightly ahead of Rice in the Conference USA standings with a record of 6-6. Louisiana Tech is at the bottom of the conference with a 1-11 record.Head Coach Genny Volpe said that despite the loss to Tulane, the team's play had some admirable aspects to it. She said Tulane was a skilled team and Rice made too many errors. "Tulane is a solid team [that] has won 24 matches this season for a reason," Volpe said. "They have a couple of stud hitters that really carry them. I thought we competed well and fought all afternoon. I'm proud of the fight. We just need to eliminate errors at key times." Volpe foresees that UAB will not be an easy team to beat due to their impressive blocking. Despite this, Volpe said Rice could win. She said that if Rice can run an effective offense, they will have a strong chance of victory. "UAB is a big blocking team and will pose a challenge for us at the net," Volpe said. "But I feel confident that if we pass well and control our side, we can create opportunities to stress their blocking and make their floor defense have to work hard."Volpe said Rice does not intend to underestimate Louisiana Tech despite its weak record. Volpe said Louisiana Tech will come out hard this weekend."[Louisiana Tech] is struggling a bit, but we are fully expecting them to battle," Volpe said. "They are fighting for a spot in the conference tournament."Junior middle blocker Jillian Humphrey said the players are maintaining a determined attitude about the final two games of conference play and will work on defense in practice this week."This week in practice, we are going to continue working on defending the ball," Humphrey said. "If our defense is on, then we win games."Volpe said the Owls continue to look forward to the conference tournament with a will to win. Volpe said she would like the team to finish conference play this weekend on a high note. She said momentum would be beneficial for the team as it enters the tournament."I want us to finish the last two matches strong and confident," Volpe said. "Heading into the conference tournament, we want some momentum."To Rice, the volleyball season is not over until the conference tournament ends. Humphrey said winning the tournament is and has been the team's biggest goal. She said the Owls can win the championship if they put forth their best effort."If we keep improving our standings in conference and keep getting better every day, we have a real chance at winning the conference tournament," Humphrey said. "We've just got to understand that we are a good team and play with confidence."

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Color Sickness promises to overwhelm

By Sophie Newman

Local artist Chris Cascio's new exhibit, Color Sickness, will be on display in the EMERGEncy Room Gallery in Sewall Hall Nov. 14 - Dec. 18 with an opening reception Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. By arranging an array of colorful scarves as a backdrop for fluorescently patterned paintings, Cascio said he hopes to create an atmosphere that is "provocative with sheer amount of color." 

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

2013 Mr. Rice results:

By Rice Thresher Staff

2013 Mr. Rice results: Winner:Justin Winikoff (Duncan)First Runner-Up:Chris Chu (Hanszen)Second Runner-Up:Juan Cruz (McMurtry) Mr. Popularity:Andrew Stegner (Wiess)

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Four sets of masters extend terms

By Molly Chiu

Although a college master's term usually lasts for five years, four current sets of masters will be extending their time in the mastership. The change is a move to even out the number of searches for new masters in a given year, according to Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson.Baker College Masters Ivo-Jan and Rose van der Werff and Will Rice College Masters Bridget Gorman and Mike Reed will stay an extra two years, while Martel College Masters Ted Temzelides and Beata Loch and Jones College Masters Michel and Melanie Achard will stay for one additional year, according Hutchinson.The current congestion in searches stems from a variety of factors, including the addition of Duncan College and McMurtry College in 2009 and occasional instances of masters leaving before their term ended. Under the current schedule, 10 colleges would be searching for new masters within the next three years."There would be a lot of turnover at the same time, and then we would go into these quiet periods where we're not recruiting at all," Hutchinson said. "I would like to be able to tell the faculty who would be interested in being masters that we're looking for at least two masters every year."In January 2013, Hutchinson met with all of the college masters and asked for volunteers interested in extending their term. Four colleges volunteered, and Hutchinson said he was able to accommodate all of them. Under the new schedule, two or three colleges will be searching for new masters every year.Reed said he and Gorman decided to stay on at Will Rice because they both enjoyed being masters and felt the timing was right to stay for two more years."I enjoy being around students," Reed said. "I enjoy being able to give them advice and experience. I enjoy helping them uphold Will Rice traditions, and I like helping them achieve the college's goals."Reed said he thought adding to his current term would be an easy transition."Being a master is a much easier job once you know the college and the college knows you," Reed said. "The first year is tough because you're learning about the college, and the college is learning about you. I think adding on years is easier than starting."Temzelides said making the decision to stay at Martel for an extra year was easy."We would stay as masters at Martel forever if we could," Temzelides said. "We absolutely love the place. It's been an incredibly positive experience for me and my family. We've formed lifelong friendships with the students."Temzelides said he and his wife hope to continue being as active at Martel in their extra year as they have been in their other years."This is a job that is extremely fulfilling," Temzelides said. "But at the same time, it takes something out of you. We hope we will be as productive, involved and energetic as in our first year."In his extra year, Temzelides said one of his goals is to promote the role of masters to other faculty so that more people will be inspired to apply to be a master."I think this is the best job that exists, but I don't think faculty necessarily know that," Temzelides said. "There are things that you have to do sometimes in the middle of the night, but that's not what defines the role. It's incredibly fulfilling, and we want others to want to do it."Baker College junior Raven Graves said she was happy to see the van der Werffs extending their time at Baker."As they stated at our previous Cabinet meeting, this extension will give them the opportunity to witness the current freshmen mature and graduate in 2017," Graves said. "They have been a delight around Baker, and judging by the reception the announcement received, Baker is happy to keep them."Jones College junior Lillian Seidel said she worked with the Achards closely during her time as an Orientation Week coordinator and thought they were completely supportive and always available as resources. She said she is grateful for the time that they have spent at Jones."They are a wonderful pair to have around the college, and they continuously offer fun, creative, and relaxing study breaks and are always available for a chat," Seidel said. "They are incredibly engaging in conversation, challenging us to think further but also respecting our opinions, and you can tell that they truly care about all of our students."

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Powderpuff regular season finishes with Sid in first

By Nicki Chamberlain-Simon

GSA vs. Duncan (19-0)The Graduate Student Association trumped Duncan College 19-0 to earn the North Division wild-card spot. GSA quarterback Stacy Prukop consistently drove her team downfield with precise passes, and Duncan was unable to respond. Even though GSA is 4-3 overall going into the playoffs, it is tied for second place with McMurtry College for the largest point differential.  Lovett vs. Baker (6-0)Lovett College defeated Baker College last Wednesday, Nov. 6 in a cold and slow-moving South Division matchup. Lovett found the endzone with a quarterback sneak by sophomore Maddie Flores in the second quarter, but both teams failed to score beyond that point. While 2-5 Baker would not have advanced to the playoffs regardless of the game's outcome, Lovett's win put them in a position to clinch the South Division wild-card spot. Sid Rich vs. Hanszen (14-7)Sid Richardson College dashed Hanszen College's hopes for the playoffs after junior Hannah Thompson ran an interception back for a pick six in the last 30 seconds of the game. Despite a scoreless first half, Sid Rich put up the first score in the third quarter. Hanszen responded with a late fourth-quarter touchdown by senior Priyanka Duvvuru. However, the final interception by Thompson ended the game and put Sid Rich in a position to win the South Division. Sid Rich vs. Lovett (13-0)While both teams went into this game with a guaranteed playoff berth, Sid Rich earned a first-round bye with a 13-0 win. After a first drive touchdown for Sid Rich, Lovett continually drove the ball near the end zone only to result in fourth-down turnovers. Sid Rich secured the victory with a third-quarter touchdown after a breakaway run play by Thompson.Sid Rich Head Coach Drew Travis said that even though the team finished with the best record in the league, it has to be sharp heading into postseason play."[Getting the first-round bye] puts a big target on our back; everyone's going to bring their A game against us," Travis said. "But it definitely feels good to be the No. 1 seed." Playoffs PreviewBrown vs. GSABrown College will play GSA this Sunday, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. Brown defeated GSA 12-6 in their matchup during the regular season, but GSA's starting quarterback was absent. They will need a repeat performance to advance to the second round of playoffs. The winner of this game will face the winner of the North Division, McMurtry College.  Lovett vs. WRCLovett and Will Rice College, both 4-3 going into the playoffs, will battle Sunday, Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. for a bid to the semi-finals. Lovett lost to Will Rice in the regular season by one touchdown. The winner will face Sid Rich in the next round.Lovett Head Coach Sal Tijerina said his team has gained confidence throughout the season and will be ready for Will Rice this time around."Going into the playoffs, other teams need to recognize that we're not the same team that faced Will Rice a few weeks ago," Tijerina said. "We've grown. We're motivated, battle-hardened, and we're aching for the chance to reap vengeance on Will Rice."

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Students must remember respect

By Kai Sheng

I was walking back to Will Rice College from the Intramural Fields Sunday afternoon when I saw my freshman crouched over our Will Rice College stone sign in the grove. I cheerfully greeted him and asked him what he was doing, but it became clear once he stepped aside. My stomach churned as I surveyed the scene. Someone had vandalized the stone sign with offensive words and phallic drawings. My freshman was trying to scrub it off. As a senior, I am unfazed by anti-Will Rice sentiment, but this is different: This is vandalism. This is the third account of vandalism at my college this semester. The first and second vandalism attacks were directed at our murals. Three weeks ago, an individual or group of individuals used paint to black out a 15-by-6-foot mural of Texas and the United States in the Will Rice kitchen between our commons and Seibel Servery. This past weekend, there was a similar attack on New Dorm's third floor 20-by-6-foot mural of a fiery phoenix; the individual(s) blacked out the phoenix's eye. College pride, anti-cheers and jacks are lighthearted and harmless, but anonymous attacks on students and destruction of college property are reprehensible. I read not only mean-spirited Rice Confessions directed at Will Rice but also racist and disrespectful comments written about international students, athletes, universitywide organizations and individuals in different majors. This is not a Will Rice problem - this is a campuswide problem. We are not demonstrating respect for our peers, campus infrastructure or the university. How would your college react if a Rice student graffitied the Wiess War Pig, the Hanszen Guardian or the Fairy Fountain? What if the group of people you identify with is ridiculed on Rice Confessions? What is accomplished through these hateful attacks? The main question I ask is why are we, as Rice students, attacking each other?Although the recent incidents and the few disgusting comments on Rice Confess reflect the characters of a few immature students across campus, the behaviors show there is blatant disrespect for other students, college property and Rice University. Regardless of students' colleges, majors and interests, nothing is achieved when they disrespect others through destroying campus property or cyberbullying. For those who have forgotten, we are all ambitious and brilliant students at a highly respected university. We must cease vandalizing our campus and attacking each other mindlessly. We should not be attacking each other under the guise of anonymity and wasting energy on unproductive hatred. I challenge students to look beyond their friend groups, teams, clubs and colleges and to stand together to be more supportive and honorable Rice Owls. Kai Sheng is a Will Rice College senior.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Football ready for homecoming

By Dan Elledge

After an unusual 17 days without a game, the Owls will be back at Rice Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. to play Louisiana Tech University. The Bulldogs started the season off slowly with a 1-4 record but have since won three of their last four games, bringing their record to 4-5. If Louisiana Tech can win two of its last three games, it can still go to a bowl game.Assistant Head Coach Darrell Patterson said coming off of a long bye week can make a team rusty, but he said he is not too worried about that in the middle of the season. Patterson said the bye week could prove to be beneficial in November."A long break is [for] nothing but to get healed up, maintain your focus and get healthy," Patterson said. "With the long break, the bumps and bruises, it gives you an opportunity to get better."The Owls have been on the road in recent weeks, playing only one home game since Sept. 28. Patterson said the team is finally excited to get a chance to play in front of its home fans again, especially since this is the homecoming game."It's fun to be back for homecoming after being away for a long time," Patterson said. "The stadium barely recognizes us at this point."After the Owls' disappointing Oct. 31 loss to the University of North Texas, Offensive Coordinator John Reagan talked about the importance of limiting turnovers. Reagan said the team will be energized and ready to go."[We can't] turn the ball over," Reagan said. "That's the No. 1 thing. I think the second thing our kids talked about was the atmosphere. North Texas was hyped about the game, and it lit a fire under us [moving forward]."Defensive Coordinator Chris Thurmond said he is concerned about the Bulldogs' use of two quarterbacks: redshirt freshman Ryan Higgins and redshirt junior Scotty Young. Thurmond said the two quarterbacks have subtle differences, so the Owls must be ready when the substitution is made. "[They use] two quarterbacks, but they both present different types of problems," Thurmond said. "[There are] subtle differences between play selection when the different quarterbacks are in."Even though Louisiana Tech has struggled this year in comparison to their 9-3 record last season, Thurmond knows they have a winning history, and he said they will be ready to play Saturday."They've proven they know how to win over the past couple of years, so it will be a challenge for us, and we are ready," Thurmond said.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

10 days program will fund wells in Rwanda

By Tina Nazerian

The 10 Days program of the Living Water International Project splashed its way to Rice Nov. 10, when students pledged to drink only water for 10 days and donate the money they would have spent on other drinks to help build water wells in five villages in Rwanda's Ruhango district, according to Rice Navigators service event coordinator Becca Buthe."The money that you would have spent on other beverages, you donate to the 10 Days program, which goes directly to Living Water," Buthe, a McMurtry College junior, said.Michelle Won, another of the organizers, said 64 members have signed up so far and that students are still encouraged to join."On Wednesday, I believe we'll be having a table outside Fondren Library again for people to drop by and sign up," Won, a Duncan College freshman, said.Living Water creates clean water sources for people in third-world countries who do not have access to uncontaminated water, Buthe said. "A lot of times, you'll still have to use chlorine tablets or something to extra purify it and sanitize it," Buthe said. "People get water from boreholes and springs that are a lot dirtier."Simply getting the water from the well to the home can be a problem for some people. Living Water wells provide easier access to water because they are closer to where people live, Buthe said. "Sometimes women have to walk 7 miles with those huge jerry pans that are 20 liters each, so [the wells] drastically [cut] down on the time they have to spend doing that," Buthe said.Living Water International is a nongovernmental organization that works in 24 different countries, with Henry Proegler starting the 10 Days program six years ago at Texas A&M University, Buthe said."[Proegler] heard about the water crisis," Buthe said. "Back then it was a lot more, but now 738 million people lack access to clean water. He decided to sit outside with a table ... and [raised] money. It ended up turning into the Wells Project. It got adopted by Living Water."Buthe said she believes giving up drinking everything except water will make students think about water with a new perspective. "It really forces you to see how much you need water and how much we take it for granted when we desire drinking so many other things [while] so many people don't even have a clean source of water," Buthe said. Sid Richardson College junior Natasha Cruz said the beauty of this project is that it causes students to get out of their comfort zones. "It causes you to really put yourself in the position of a lot of the people [who] don't even have access to clean water," Cruz said. "We take advantage of [water] so much." Buthe said the project is being run by campus ministries instead of a club this year."I was going to make it a club, but people [were] supporting me, and getting a professor or faculty member to support it was a lot of work," Buthe said.Buthe said the project kicked off with a concert before pledges began their beverage fast Monday, Nov. 11. She said a closing event will be held Thursday, Nov. 21 and that Living Water will be releasing information about Ruhango throughout the week on its Facebook event page.According to Buthe, Rice students who only drink water or get all their drinks from the serveries will have alternative donation methods."If you get all your drinks from the servery, we're going to be putting up posters about the equivalent of what it does cost," Buthe said.Buthe said she is leading the program with Won, Baker College senior Isaac Chao and Duncan sophomore Kinsey Dittmar. 

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Men's basketball wins opener

By Luke Samora

The Rice University men's basketball team kicked off its season Nov. 9 in Tudor Fieldhouse with a 69-60 win against the University of St. Thomas. The team was looking to start the season strong after a difficult season last year that ended 5-26 and was marked by six players' abrupt transfers from Rice.The Owls defended well in the first half, with the St. Thomas Celts scoring 27 points and Rice scoring 36 points. Head Coach Ben Braun said he wanted the Owls to make St. Thomas take tougher shots in the second half, hoping to lower the number of transition baskets Rice allowed."I said, 'Let's come out in [the] second half and try to make St. Thomas earn their baskets,'" Braun said. "I thought we did a much better job in the second half by building our lead and limiting them to no offensive rebounds and very few transition baskets."Last year, Rice lost 72-59 to the Celts in the opening game. Braun said he wanted the team to go into the game with the mentality that the past was in the past and said he emphasized that the team should not focus on its previous losses before the game. "I always want us to play our best regardless of who we're playing, but certainly many of the guys on the team remember last year's loss to St. Thomas," Braun said. The Owls are a relatively young team, consisting of two seniors, two juniors, four sophomores and seven freshmen, three of whom saw significant minutes. Sophomore Max Guercy, who was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team last season, talked about the transition over the offseason into being a leader for the team."Being more vocal is something I worked on this year," Guercy said. "It's also about making sure that I know where everyone is on the floor, making sure we know who we have on defense and lastly, making sure that everyone knows how to get into our offensive sets."Guercy said certain skills are still a work in progress for the team that will have to be main focuses of practice in the coming weeks."We're going to have to work on our transition defense," Guercy said. "I thought we did a poor job for most of the game and allowed them to come back when they shouldn't have."Freshman Marcus Jackson said he was not concerned with finding his specific role on the team after the first game. He said he was more worried about bringing a high level of intensity and effort whenever he was on the court. He finished his debut game with 12 points and five assists."I just want to come in and bring defensive energy to the game," Jackson said. Guercy said it is always good for a team to win the first game of the season because it starts everybody off in the right direction."It feels a lot better this year," Guercy said. "Everyone on the team is happy and ready to focus on the next game."The Owls were set to play Southeastern Louisiana University Nov. 12 at Tudor Fieldhouse in their second home game of the season, but at the time of printing, the game had not yet been played.The Owls will head to College Station Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., where they will play Texas A&M University for their first road game of the season. The last time the two teams met, in 2011, Rice beat Texas A&M 65-58. 

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Charitable giving: Every dollar counts

By Christian Neal

Child poverty, HIV/AIDS, loss of biodiversity. What do these three things have in common? Yes, they are all social issues that many of us care about. Yes, they are all complex problems which no single one of us can solve. Most importantly, however, they all have charities linked to solving or alleviating their problems.As college students, we often think we cannot change the world just yet. Perhaps we do not believe we have the time, authority or knowledge to effect change on an issue that we care about. Personally, looking at all of the world's problems, or even one problem, can cause me to lose heart about my ability to change that issue. One of the ways to help that we do not often think about is our ability to give donations, even in small amounts, to a good cause. Most likely, we think the small amount of money we have to give will not do anything meaningful. Furthermore, we might think we can just give larger amounts later, after we have established our careers and our families. Alternatively, we may think our charitable donations may not be going to our cause, but instead paying overhead or fundraising costs. Although many of us (myself included) may rationalize our decisions these ways, I argue that they are largely ungrounded.Many students believe we cannot give a meaningful amount, but our dollars can go much further than imaginable. The Against Malaria Foundation can provide mosquito nets to families in Sub-Saharan Africa for a mere $5 per net, and the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative can prevent long-term development problems in children by vaccinating them against parasitic worms for a mere $5. Even a small contribution to these funds can make a huge difference for individuals around the world. I have found myself thinking I cannot afford to give now, telling myself I will just give more as I get older. If I do not give now, when I have relatively few regular bills to pay, I have to ask myself when I will begin to give. Will it be when I pay off my student loans? When I have saved for a down payment on a home? When all of my children are out of college? We can always find a good reason not to give up a portion of our hard-earned money for a cause we care about. While it may be true that we can give more when we are older, a book called The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg made me believe in the power of starting to give to charity while we are young. By setting aside a portion of income from each paycheck, students can get into a habit of charitable giving that can last a lifetime. If you set an income percentage habit now, think of how powerful that percentage will be in 10, 20 or even 50 years. While some charities do a great deal of good with their donations, some charities spend an enormous amount on administrative or fundraising costs. To help inform donors of donation effectiveness, several watchdog groups provide information rating different charities. Charitywatchdog.org even gives out grades to thousands of different charities and provides information about the top charities for a variety of causes. If you are not sure about which causes you care about the most, then try taking a look at the GiveWell website (givewell.org). Each year, this charity research group helps to identify the top three most fiscally responsible and meaningful charities around the world. Giving to charity regularly is a powerful habit all students should start. We all care about some cause that is too complex for only market forces to solve. By setting aside a set percentage of each paycheck, we are helping our own fiscal habits, individual lives and the world. Please join me this National Philanthropy Week to reflect on our charitable giving and to make a commitment to a cause.Christian Neal is a Lovett College senior.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

SA moves to revise process for blanket tax review

By Molly Chiu

The Student Association Committee on Constitutional Revisions proposed a set of bylaw amendments at the Nov. 11 Student Senate meeting that will revise the blanket tax review process. The changes include stricter standards for recommending that funding be reduced or eliminated, more diverse representation on the blanket tax review committee, and more clearly defined steps for the review process, according to SA Parliamentarian and committee chair Brian Baran.These amendments come in advance of the complete constitutional revisions, to be presented at the Dec. 2 SA meeting and placed on the ballot in the spring General Elections for ratification by the student body. The committee proposed these amendments for review early so that they would be able to take effect in time for this academic year's blanket tax review, Baran, who is a Thresher copy editor, said.The revisions detail a more clear procedure for the review process, including steps to ensure adequate documentation is submitted to the review committee. The new procedure ensures that organizations have a chance to meet with the review committee and submit appeals or corrections prior to finalization of the committee's recommendation, according to Baran.The committee can then recommend that the organization undergo further review. In that case, a contingency committee would be created for that particular organization. The contingency committee would include blanket tax organization officers and the adviser of another blanket tax organization. This committee then has the power to make a recommendation to the SA to reduce funding if issues are found."The procedure, as it stands, was not clear in how the committee was supposed to be composed and how the process was supposed to work," Baran said. "[The procedure] left it open for the government to make, on the basis of not a whole lot of information, a recommendation to defund an organization based on a single year's review."The revisions add a requirement which states that organizations must be found in violation of blanket tax criteria for three years in a given four-year period in order for the review committee and the Student Senate to recommend a change in funding, Baran said.Campanile Editor in Chief Anastasia Bolshakov said she thinks the new requirement will be helpful for blanket tax organizations because it will give them time to fix any problems that arise."If you just look at it at on a year-by-year basis, there could be a bad president or person in charge," Bolshakov, a Duncan College junior, said. "Taking away an organization that serves the whole student body just because one person messed up one year seems to be extreme."The criteria for properly using blanket tax funds include ensuring that funds go toward the organization's mission, purpose and goals and that spending follows Rice rules and regulations. The constitutional revisions add a provision that organizations should use student money with student interests in mind, according to Baran.The last major change proposed is to adjust the representation of the blanket tax review committee. The new rules would require both blanket tax organization officers and general student body representatives to be on the committee. The SA treasurer, SA parliamentarian and the associate director of Student Activities would also sit on the committee.Baran said he welcomes student feedback."The reason we presented [the revisions] was so we can get feedback and make [the new process] work as well as possible for all of the students and organizations affected by this process," Baran said. "We are open to feedback and to making adjustments if people have concerns or suggestions."The Senate will vote on the bylaw amendments at its next meeting Monday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. in Farnsworth Pavilion. The Committee on Constitutional Revisions plans to present the entire revised constitution at the Monday, Dec. 2 Senate meeting.

NEWS 11/12/13 6:00pm

Letter to the Editor:

By Rachel Mitchell

To The Editor:I am disappointed in the Baker Institute Student Forum's choice of topic for the fall 2013 student debate, "The U.S. Government Shutdown: Whose Fault Was It?" I understand that it is a debate, but pitting Republicans against Democrats to point fingers and lay blame echoes the extreme partisanship and political gridlock in Congress that got our country into this mess in the first place. There has to be a more meaningful way to explore and debate United States policies and political problems than by debating which political party or individuals behaved most disgracefully. I think it would be far more interesting and relevant to think about the potential long-lasting effects of the shutdown on a variety of issues: domestic policy, foreign relations, the economy, minorities, women, future elections. I do not want to debate who is more to blame for the idiocies of our elected government - I want to know whether Americans will remember the shutdown come next election and kick their representatives to the curb. Rachel MitchellSid Richardson College Junior

NEWS 11/5/13 6:00pm

Private gala marks Baker Institute 20th anniversary

By Anita Alem

The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy will celebrate its 20th anniversary Nov. 8 with a private gala featuring former President George W. Bush, according to Ambassador Edward Djerejian, the institute's founding director.According to the Baker Institute website, the gala will honor Hushang Ansary with the James A. Baker III Prize for Excellence in Leadership, an award given to individuals who have gained international recognition for their work in government, science or philanthropy. Ansary has been active in both the private and public sectors. A native of Iran, Ansary has served in cabinet positions there, including as the minister of economy and minister of finance and economic affairs. He has also served as the ambassador to the United States. Ansary is also a founding member of the Baker Institute. The event will also celebrate the Baker Institute's contribution to policy worldwide. According to a 2012 study by the University of Pennsylvania's Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program, the Baker Institute ranks 13th among university-affiliated think tanks worldwide."At that event, we'll be recognizing all of our fellows and our scholars, as well as our student forums and student internship exchanges," Djerejian said. "The overall goal of this event is to commemorate symbolically the 20th year of an institute that has arisen really from a very small operation."Djerejian, who served as a diplomat in the United States government for 32 years, said the Baker Institute has been highlighting its research over the course of 2013 in order to commemorate the anniversary. He said the institute focuses on several areas of research, including international economics, energy, health policy, space policy and Middle East relations.According to Djerejian, the Baker Institute first opened its doors in 1994, modeling itself after some of the best think tanks in the world. However, the founders focused on making the research relevant to Houston and Rice students; energy policy was chosen to be the first topic of research because the energy industry is integral not only to public policy, but also to Houston's economy. The founders also incorporate space and health policy into the institute's research because of the proximity of NASA and the Texas Medical Center.Djerejian said Rice students are an integral part of the institute, and said he encourages them to engage in the discussions, forums and debates at the Baker Institute. According to Djerejian, the Jesse Jones Leadership Center Summer in D.C. Policy Research Internship Program offered by the institute is one of the most rewarding internships offered by Rice, allowing students to actively participate in the federal government."It's difficult to create something new in any institutional structure in academia, and it takes a lot of reaching out, listening and forming productive collaborations with faculty, students and administration," Djerejian said. "We had a very, very [difficult] challenge: What were we going to do here at Rice in Houston to become a premier think tank? Our vision was a very high one: that we would be a bridge between the world of ideas and the world of action [by] bringing together scholars, statements and students."The celebration of the anniversary will continue Nov. 9 with the event Club Berlin. According to the Baker Institute Anniversary website, this event will honor James A. Baker III's contribution to the fall of the Berlin Wall, with honorary event chairs Jenna Hager Bush and Henry Hager. The event will feature a more casual dress code of "Punk-Chic: Chaos to Cocktails," and New York City-based DJ KISS. Tickets to the gala start at $1,500, and tickets to Club Berlin cost $100. Both can be purchased online.

NEWS 11/5/13 6:00pm

Rapper Fat Tony to visit Willy's Pub for "Beats and Beer" event

By Reed Thornburg

Houston-area rapper Fat Tony returns to Rice University Thursday, Nov. 7 for the second "Beats and Beer" event of the year. This follow-up event to early October's successful twerk-filled KTRU event will feature an entirely different sector of the Houston rap scene represented by local favorite Fat Tony and exciting upstart The Aspiring Me.The man behind Fat Tony is Anthony Obi, and he has been hard at work at the forefront of a youthful hip-hop scene in Houston since before his earliest mixtapes in 2008. His first true album came in the form of RABDARGAB, an album as noted for its impressive marketing strategy as for its quick-witted lyricism. The title references a Houston Independent School District youth program in the '90s that incentivized recreational book reading by paying students for completed book reports ("Read A Book, Do A Report, Get a Buck"). In conjunction with the album's release, Obi introduced his own LISDARGAB, where listeners could submit a review of the album and post it to some form of social media in order to receive a dollar.Living outside the established and hype-driven contemporary rap scenes of Los Angeles and New York City, Fat Tony gets his music heard by the power of his wit - an idea equally important for his music. His latest release, "Smart Ass Black Boy," has this characteristic balance of whimsy and perception. On the excellent single "Hood Party," which features former Das Racist member Kool A.D., Fat Tony uses this titular party to talk about the ever-changing demographics of Houston: "Around my block I hear they're building buildings with a lobby."Whereas other rappers across the country have turned to the screwed-sound of Houston for inspiration (see A$AP et al.) Fat Tony seems to descend from a different side of Houston rap - the side in which lyricism and storytelling tend to weigh more heavily than production. "I was born here, I was raised here, and I've lived here damn near my entire life," Fat Tony said. "Houston music and Houston culture is embedded in me. I don't have to put out a screwed-and-chopped record to prove that I'm from Houston." Fat Tony's version of Houston rap is defined by smart hooks and clever songcraft, and it is the distinct product of his charismatic swagger. Perhaps the greatest achievement of "Smart Ass Black Boy" is just how entertaining Fat Tony makes his insightful rhymes. Foregrounded atop pleasant, bassy production from longtime collaborator Tom Cruz, Fat Tony works his lyrical directness to an all-around enjoyable and satisfying effect.The other main act of Thursday's event is rapper The Aspiring Me, the alias of 24-year-old Houston native Andrew Davis. His first self-titled release came out last July, and the album boasts a blend of spacey, ambient production and trap-influenced beats that back The Aspiring Me's confident flow. He oscillates between well-conceived aggression and cautious rhymes, both of which work toward his selling his compelling plan for Houston that he paints in detail throughout the album.In addition to both rappers, the show will also feature a return appearance from DJs and twin brothers Siddiq and Jay Smith. With another excellent sampling of Houston's productive rap culture, these two approachable and crowd-friendly acts offer an easy entrance into the local scene.

NEWS 11/5/13 6:00pm

National Philanthropy Week to thank donors

By Jeremy Huang

Rice students, faculty and staff will be able to celebrate the donors who sustain the Rice experience during National Philanthropy Week happening the week of Nov. 11. Participants will be able to write thank-you notes to donors, receive free T-shirts and partake in a Rice trivia contest throughout the week sponsored by the Rice Annual Fund for Student Life and Learning, according to Annual Fund intern Anastasia Bolshakov."A lot of people don't realize how important philanthropy is," Bolshakov, a Duncan College junior, said. "Philanthropy is what started Rice, with William Marsh's gift. While our tuition is higher than is it has been in past years, it is still very low [in comparison] to other universities of our caliber. Philanthropy makes up some of that difference."According to Rice Annual Fund Assistant Director Erika Moul, the fund, which consists of donations from alumni, families, seniors and friends of Rice, is an essential resource for Rice."The Rice Annual Fund is the university's immediate-use fund, meaning that every dollar donated to [the Annual Fund] in a fiscal year is spent in its entirety the following academic year on campus programs and maintenance, research stipends, scholarships and more," Moul said.According to Moul, the Annual Fund goes not only toward students' scholarships and coverage of educational costs, but also to their social and lifestyle resources such as residential college budgets, intramural sports, and the Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center."Full tuition covers less than half the cost of undergraduate attendance at Rice, and the Annual Fund is one of the sources of funding that covers the remainder of these costs," Moul said.According to Moul, participants in National Philanthropy Week will learn about the giving culture that the university encompasses. "We hope that [participants] will see the importance of every gift of every size and its impact," Moul said. "Not only in new structures and improvements to campus, but also through scholarship support and the influence of giving participation on rankings and the university's receiving of substantial gifts from corporations and foundations."Moul said that by writing thank-you notes, students will recognize people who contribute to the Annual Fund, as well as to other areas such as Leadership Rice, Rice 360 and the Alternative Spring Break program."The hope is, by educating students about philanthropy while they are on campus, that they will understand its importance ... and give back themselves, particularly as seniors and alumni," Moul said.  According to Bolshakov, one way for students to get involved in the philanthropic community is to join the Rice Annual Fund Student Initiative. She said philanthropic endeavors come in more forms than cash donations."RAFSI has helped plan and organize events like the Senior Class Gift, NPW and Jar Wars," Bolshakov said. "Most people think philanthropy only encompasses monetary gifts, but it also includes volunteering time and other resources."Bolshakov said it is never too early to donate or give to the funds that furnish the Rice student experience - even in small amounts."The more people who choose to give, the greater the collective impact will be," Bolshakov said.

NEWS 11/5/13 6:00pm

Correction

By Rice Thresher Staff

In the Oct. 23 issue of the Thresher, a quote in the article entitled "Rice announces new student center director" stated that Kate Abad is in charge of Leadership Rice. The Center for Civic Engagement runs Leadership Rice. Kate Abad is in charge of Leadership Summit. 

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