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NEWS 9/30/13 7:00pm

Potentially insensitive NOD theme vetoed

By Christen Sparago

The original theme for Wiess College's annual Night of Decadence public party has been vetoed, according to Wiess Social Amber Callan."We had to veto the final theme that everyone had decided on," Callan, a junior, said. "We will be working on it this week to try to get it resolved."The rejected theme, "Around the World in NODy Ways," sparked controversy over concerns the theme was culturally insensitive, Callan said.The Wiess  College masters could not be reached for comment on the issue. Callan declined to comment on who made the final decision to veto the theme but said the Wiess socials took many concerns into consideration. "We talked to a lot of people about [changing the theme]," Callan said. "Everyone was worried about cultural insensitivity."McMurtry College junior Graham Eldridge said he does not think the rejected theme is culturally insensitive."The name doesn't include or reference any specific people, places, cultures or traditions," Eldridge said. "As far as I know, Around the World in Eighty Days is just an old adventure book."Duncan College junior Molly Mohr said vetoing the theme was unnecessary."I don't think it's culturally insensitive," Mohr said, "I think it represents that Rice has a variety of students from different cultures."Martel College junior Crystal Olalde-Garcia said she agreed with the veto."My initial reaction was that it was way too vague," Olalde-Garcia said. "People could dress based on stereotypes, and I think it was a good idea to veto it."Jones College sophomore Jeffrey Piccirillo said the theme was too broad and could have opened the door for students to wear controversial costumes."I could see how the theme would lend itself too well to culturally insensitive costumes," Piccirillo said. "The mentality of being better safe than sorry is probably one that should be taken."Baker College junior Alex Clouse said he thought the veto was a smart decision."There's always the possibility for a culturally insensitive costume," Clouse said. "But with 'Around the World in NODy Ways,' costumes would inherently be related to race."Thresher Editor-in-Chief Rachel Marcus contributed to this article.

NEWS 9/30/13 7:00pm

Alex Zhou, 20, dies after battle with bone cancer

By Zara Khan

Alex Zhou, 20, a sophomore at Sid Richardson College who transferred to Rice University this fall, died the morning of Sept. 23 from osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer. Zhou, who completed his freshman and sophomore years at the University of Texas, Austin, had been hospitalized at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center after the Labor Day holiday. He had planned on taking a medical leave this semester and returning in the spring to pursue a major in bioengineering, according to an email sent by Sid Rich Coordinator Corinne Cammarata.Martel College freshman Daniel Fan said he was a family friend of Zhou and knew him for many years. Fan said Zhou's illness motivated Zhou to change for the better and gave him a new outlook on life."Before, he'd be content with just playing video games all day, but the illness gave him a purpose," Fan said. "It was because of cancer that he chose to major in bioengineering, and it also motivated him to transfer to Rice."Fan said Zhou, despite undergoing aggressive treatment that included the amputation of his right leg, remained his normal self."I'd go on regular trips to his house to drop off things - vegetables from my mother's garden, food and the like," Fan said. "Sometimes, I'd stay and talk [to Alex] for a bit. We were always able to talk about normal things. He could still just be a normal person. ... Even in the hospital, he was still a normal person."Martel College sophomore Elizabeth Sok, one of Zhou's Orientation Week advisors, said Zhou was friendly and optimistic."[Alex] gave no indication of his illness on his O-Week forms," Sok said. "On Move-In Day, when he first stepped out of his car, no one knew what to expect. Within minutes, though, he was really able to put everyone at ease."Sok said Zhou was outgoing and involved on campus despite his illness. "He participated so fully in all of the O-Week activities, going out to 59 Diner at 2 a.m., attending all of the talks across campus, never once complaining," Sok said. "It just goes to show how strong he was, how courageous he was, that he never once mentioned his condition or let it limit him."Zhou's roommate during O-Week, Steven Loyd, said he missed Zhou and wished to have been able to spend more time with him."Alex was a such a soft-spoken, go-with-the-flow sort of guy," Loyd, also a sophomore transfer student at Sid Rich, said. "I knew ... he had some sort of condition, but he never talked about it. I was stunned and had to sit down for a while when I heard the news. ... I'm just glad that he was able to experience Rice, even if only for a little while."At the Sept. 29 memorial service for Zhou held by his family, Zhou's longtime friend Lucy Xie said he would be remembered for his cheerfulness."Alex was addicted to happiness," Xie, a junior at UT Austin, said. "A song, an episode of Friends, a trip to the dining hall. ... All of these simple things cheered him up, and then he would make it his job to spread the happiness that he felt. He was always smiling."Duncan College junior James Ragan, an osteosarcoma patient and co-founder of Triumph Over Kid Cancer, a foundation that aims to make a difference in the lives of children with pediatric bone cancer, said that although he did not personally know Zhou, his heart went out to Zhou's friends and family."I've met so many bright and promising young men and women whose lives we have lost to pediatric bone cancers like osteosarcoma," Ragan said. "We lose bright, creative, hardworking kids like Alex who endure so much pain and suffering yet still fight and persevere to excel in school and extracurricular activities. His memory will always be cherished in the hearts and minds of his Owl family."In a campuswide email Sept. 22, Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson wrote, "We can feel honored that [Alex] chose to join Rice at this challenging time in his life. Let us pause to remember him and to appreciate how fortunate we all are to be part of a caring campus community with exceptional people like him. Let us also pause to take care of each other during our times of sadness, to reach out when we need help, and to reach out to those who need help."

NEWS 9/30/13 7:00pm

Student-taught courses important to Rice

By Rice Thresher Staff

The Thresher would like to encourage more students to consider teaching student-taught courses. STCs are an important part of Rice's culture of student-led initiatives. We are fortunate at Rice to have the opportunity to be not only students, but also teachers. STCs offer a new perspective on academics. Often, we can learn the most from our peers. Students at Rice have a wonderful variety of interests and areas of expertise, and STCs can be a great way for others to learn about something they would not usually have the opportunity to learn. Where else can you take a course like the 2011 STC on the theories and techniques of the dating game?In the past year, the requirements for becoming a teacher of an STC have increased to include a seven-week preparatory course, (see story, p.1). We understand that this adds another layer of difficulty for teachers, but we strongly urge students to not let this deter them from teaching. It may be more work for teachers, but STCs are worth the extra effort, especially if the new requirement improves the quality as intended. 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 9/30/13 7:00pm

Freshmen reprise Wiess thespian tradition with modest success

By Yasna Haghdoost

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26-28, a group of newly inducted freshmen took part in a time-honored Wiess College tradition, braving the stage and subjecting themselves to the mercy of an audience in Wiess Tabletop's Freshman One-Acts. This year's freshmen created a series marked by ups and downs, but the funny scenes far outnumbered the less successful ones. One-Acts began a little awkwardly, and the ending was not particularly engaging, but it was interspersed with brilliant chunks of directing and acting.The first one-act, "Check Please" (directed by Wiess senior Ife Owoyemi, Wiess junior Ingrid Mong and Wiess senior Ian Bott), started out quietly in its sketches of awkward dating and meet-cute situations but slowly gained momentum. The minimalist setup of two separate tables at a coffee shop, each showcasing a dating fiasco, was effective. Wiess freshmen Rui Zhang and Ariana Morgan each delivered standout performances; Zhang portrayed various insane people, and Morgan performed as a girl still not over her ex, a psycho who needs her meds and an always-on-the-phone diva.In the final one-act, "May the Best Fan Win" (directed by Wiess senior Jim Sheng and Wiess juniors Olivia Hu and Chloe Nguyen), the concept of sportscasters commentating on sports enthusiasts watching sports was amusing in theory, but the slow pace detracted from its entertainment value. However, the ending, in which the sportscasters (Wiess freshmen Yash Tarkunde and Marlene Rizo) replay a slow-motion victory dance featuring the sports fans (Wiess freshmen Kathy Wei and Jessica Dawson), was entertaining.There were a couple of acts that fell slightly short. Directors Max Payton and Christian Hauser, both Wiess juniors, made their one-act, "There Shall Be No Bottom," extremely bizarre. Though the play was amusing at times, its ending was abrupt and perplexing."The Break-Up," directed by Wiess sophomores Ryan Deal, Isabel Scher and Gavin Cross, was another unusual one-act that compared a girl's (Wiess freshman Priyanka Chandraker) relationship with her mom (Wiess freshman Morgen Smith) to her relationship with her boyfriend (Wiess freshman Malik Wilson). The twist in which the mom and the ex-boyfriend end up dating was even odder."No More Mister Nice Guy," on the other hand, is an example of wonky done right. Directed by Wiess seniors Naomi Fa-Kaji and Karen Li, the one-act portrays a nice teacher (Wiess freshman Yasmin Khalfe) who is arrested for being, well, too nice. Once the audience gets on board with the idea that kindness is frowned upon and that awful people, such as Ricky the resident jerk (Wiess freshman Ryan Newell), are venerated as heroes, things get entertaining. The good cop/bad cop routine (Wiess freshman Brian Wahlig as good cop and Wiess freshman Greg Harper as bad cop) displayed some excellent chemistry, especially with Newell's collar-popping extravaganza of a performance.One of the best things about Wiess Tabletop's production is that it never took itself too seriously. Directors Wiess senior Meredith Jackson and Wiess senior Thomas Ladd's exemplified this feel-good mood with their play "Murder Most Foul: the Search for William Marsh Rice's Gold." The tree (Wiess freshman Cary Okerlund) broke the fourth wall from the get-go by acknowledging that, as a member of a low-budget production, he was really just a guy with a few leaves taped on; this was a running gag that the treasure-hunting students (Wiess freshmen Josh Kaye and Monique Groen) playfully went along with. This fun atmosphere helped make "Murder Most Foul" one of the strongest one-acts in the series, with its excellent performances, an entertaining plot line involving Albert Patrick's scheming ancestor (Wiess freshman Stephen Xia) and its cheeky references to Rice University culture.The best play of the night was "Sportscenter, Uncut" (directed by Wiess juniors Marie Chatfield, Matt Keene and Andie Eikenberg), which brilliantly portrayed an oddly feminine sportscasting trio (Wiess freshmen Sam Gavenman, Allen Hu and Raymond Cano) who constantly frustrated their much-manlier-in-comparison stage manager (Wiess freshman Lucy Matveeva). There was even a funny moment when Matveeva's character tried to drown her sorrow in a can of Frio Light, which led to a few snickers from an audience clearly amused by college students' poor taste in beer. The gender-reversal humor throughout the play was strikingly similar to the Harvard Sailing Team's "Boys Will be Girls" series. However, "Sportscenter" infused this premise with a life of its own thanks in large part to the chemistry that Gavenman, Hu and Cano brought to the table. From Hu's brilliantly effeminate character to Gavenman's fantastically sassy persona to Cano's mentally unstable character as the desperate ex-boyfriend, this trio stole the spotlight with the best performances of the night.As a low-budget production, the play was by not a masterpiece in set design, sound, costumes or lighting, but at the end of the day, none of that really mattered. There were no glaring technical issues, and the minimalist approach was appropriate given the overall playful nature. That the acts sometimes cheerily made fun of their production's inherent shortcomings did not hurt, either.All in all, Wiess' Freshman One-Acts were an enjoyable experience. While some acts were a little rough around the edges, there were a fair amount of standout performances and a light-hearted atmosphere that any spectator could appreciate.

NEWS 9/30/13 7:00pm

MARSHLAND depicts the diversity of Houston

By Rachel Marcus

Street artist Gaia has transformed the walls of Rice Gallery's installation space into a patchwork of Houston culture with a structural allusion to Rice University at its center in his new installation MARSHLAND, which opened Sept. 26.Three walls of the gallery space are painted with layered images meant to symbolize different parts of Houston culture. Both sides of the mural are flanked with portraits of George R. Brown, influential Houston architects Philip Johnson and John Burgee, and Rice architect Ralph Adams Cram, all historical figures who shaped the Houston landscape. The left side of the mural is overlayed with the depiction of a traditional white marble sculpture which then merges into the modern city skyline, representing the intersection of the old and the new within the city. The cityscape, which was painted using a series of projections, dominates the back wall of the gallery and is a colorful overlay of downtown skyscrapers that wonderfully evokes the complexity of urban development but still only depicts the most prevalent and interesting buildings. Downtown then evolves into longhorns at the back right corner of the space. According to Gaia, these cows represent the herd mentality common in big cities, both among big-business investors and among the general population.These cattle morph into a medley of signs from different neighborhoods in Houston which offer just a glimpse into the cultural and ethnic diversity of Houston."[In this corner,] there's this representation of Houston and the embracing to the new [along with] the grassroots, bottom-up energy and invigoration of the diverse populations that have come to meet [opportunity in Houston]," Gaia said. "All of this comes together with these signs from all over Houston and Bellaire."This concept of the Houston melting pot is furthered by the flock of migratory birds that come next in the mural; they reference the large populations of immigrants that have established their homes in Houston as well as the large populations of birds that actually migrate to the marshlands surrounding Houston.The birds and their habitat are also referenced with the title of the installation, which, according to Gaia, is a reference to the character of Houston."Houston itself is a relatively unattractive place," Gaia said. "[But it's also an area] that's actually extremely robust and diverse. Coincidentally, [MARSHLAND] also references the middle name of the founder of this school."Perhaps the best part of the installation is the effortless detail that exudes from the mural itself; everything from the striking details in the birds' eyes to the layering of spray paint over more traditional portraiture creates a contemporary, modern feeling characteristic of Gaia's work while maintaining the realistic symbolism of the mural.This mural, while almost a complete work in itself, also surrounds a square of colonnades that mimic the arches seen around Rice. Gaia said these colonnades are a direct reference to the architectural decisions of Rice architect Ralph Adams Cram."The arches on this campus demonstrate the Spanish Byzantine reference [Cram] imported into southern Texas," Gaia explained. Portraits of Houston community members hang in the archways within the colonnades. These portraits demonstrate the diversity of Houston and do not only focus on prominent figures. "[The portraits] were derived from interviews conducted with a pastiche of randomly selected individuals from faculty to staff to all sorts of students from many different backgrounds," Gaia said. "Their interviews and stories and insights will be provided in an associated text that informs visitors about the context of these individuals, which will be available in the center of the room."The installation, with the Rice colonnades and portraits at the center surrounded by the eclectic mural of Houston, quite astoundingly captures part of the experience of being a student at Rice; when standing in the middle of the colonnades, it is easy to imagine Rice as the center of Houston itself, despite the glimpses of the much more complex and diverse Houston mural that can be seen through each of the archways. Gaia himself is a recent graduate of Maryland Institute College of Art and speaks very much like an enthusiastic student excited about discovering his subject and material. As he ambles around the gallery explaining his artwork, his mind seems to work faster than he can talk, and he consistently jumps from one philosophical idea behind his work to the next. Generally, Gaia works with impermanent materials and considers himself a street artist, but he said he does not view himself simply as a graffiti artist. Rather, Gaia strives to provide neglected spaces with the artwork they deserve, and he does not consider this work at all criminal."My work is determined by the site that it exists in, whether sanctioned or unsanctioned," Gaia said.Gaia said he is also very comfortable with the temporary nature of his work."It's perfectly fine [that this will get painted over at the end of my exhibition]. Once I'm done with [my work,] I relieve myself of any sort of ego or attachment to it and let go of it," Gaia said. "I'm very comfortable with the fact that most of my work is in neglected space, so it's interesting to see how it changes over time. Once it's done, I would rather it have some sort of interaction. If not with anyone, then at least with the weather."With MARSHLAND, Gaia succeeds in allowing his site to determine his work, as the installation clearly references both Houston and Rice life."[Many people's] initial reaction to Houston is often one of anathema," Gaia said. "But then people become seduced and find something extremely attractive beyond the generally unattractive surface and really become able to find Houston's wonderful diversity."The installation will be open Sept. 26 - Dec. 8. Gallery admission and events are free and open to the public.

NEWS 9/30/13 7:00pm

Powderpuff showdown, week three

By Naoki Shiba

Jones vs. GSAJones College recorded its first win of the season, defeating the Graduate Student Association 6-0. The only touchdown of the game was scored when Jones sophomore Alex Brown threw a 25-yard pass to Jones senior Sara Nydick. "We were able to out-speed the GSA and consistently get yards," Jones Coach Nicolas Semon said. "Our blocking was also very good."With the win, Jones improved to a 1-2 record, while the GSA went down to 0-2 for the season. Jones vs. BakerBaker College recorded its first season win 18-0 against Jones, which played two games this week."We need to make sure that the team stays aggressive," Semon said. However, Semon said he was still impressed by the new members of the team. "We had some good contributions from the freshmen, and the future of the team is hopeful," Semon said. Wiess vs. SidAfter a tied game at 12-12, Wiess College scored in the last two minutes of the game, defeating  Sid Richardson College Thursday night. Wiess junior Andie Eikenberg was the key player who sealed Wiess' victory."Sid was able to score on reverse plays," Wiess Coach Bobby Prengle said. "I thought we were almost about to go into overtime, but the last field-length drive won us the game."With the win, Wiess improved to a 2-1 record, while Sid went down to 1-1.  Wiess vs. McMurtryOn Sunday afternoon, Wiess also played against McMurtry College. McMurtry made skillful passes, winning the game 21-6. "It would have helped to have practiced," Prengle, a senior, said. "We had many opportunities to score, but we didn't capitalize." Martel vs. DuncanMissing a couple players from its team, Duncan College could not overcome Martel College's defense and lost 24-2. Duncan was still able to score two points on a 101-yard interception return by Duncan freshman Michelle Won off an extra-point attempt by Martel. "When Martel was on offense, we had a hard time pulling flags and keeping their running back contained," Duncan Coach Jordan Bley said. "She broke off a couple of great, long runs where we couldn't catch her."Martel is now 2-1 this season, and Duncan is winless at 0-2.Bley said that, despite the loss, he is optimistic about the future."I was really proud [of] the way we played," Bley said. "We fought hard until the very end." Hanszen vs. BrownAfter a tight game, Hanszen College was finally able to clinch the victory 19-6 against Brown College to win its  second game of the season. Brown's record fell to 2-1. "We need to work on the little things," Brown Coach Miles Wilson said. "Football is a game of inches, and we didn't get enough inches today."Wilson said he was proud of the team's efforts nonetheless."We showed a lot of heart," Wilson said.  Lovett vs. WRCOn Friday evening, Will Rice College defeated two-year reigning powderpuff champions Lovett College 12-7. Will Rice senior Brittany Carter scored both touchdowns for Will Rice, bringing its record to 1-2."Our defense was able to shut them out," Will Rice Assistant Coach John Robertson Lopez said. McMurtry vs. BrownAfter a defensive struggle through three quarters, McMurtry returned an interception for a touchdown to take a 6-0 lead and never looked back, winning 13-0. McMurtry Coach Ross Michie-Derrick said the defense was extremely motivated to beat Brown."Many of our defenders had troubled childhoods," Derrick said facetiously. "They are filled with hatred and anger. But in the Brown game, they channeled their aggression. Brown never had a chance of scoring. Rebecca Maher was especially good. Some said we should have suspended her after the armed robbery, but she proved us right to believe in her this weekend with three interceptions, including a pick six." Duncan vs. WRC (Postponed)On a rainy Sunday morning, Will Rice started play against Duncan, leading 18-0. The game was postponed due to the rain and will be rescheduled. Carter scored all three touchdowns in the game.

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

iOS 7 design underwhelms while functions improve

By Christen Sparagoby Christen Sparago Thresher Editorial Staff iOS 7 makes my phone look like it belon

iOS 7 makes my phone look like it belongs in a candy store.Nobody has time for that.I simultaneously hate it and love it. The changes are distracting, I cannot find anything, and the morning after I updated my iPhone 4s, I overslept because my alarm clock sounded so different.I am usually skeptical about software updates, but in fairness, iOS 7 is a mixed bag of the wonderful and bizarre.It is shockingly peppy - even overwhelmingly so. The Messages, Email and Calendar apps - and their color schemes - look like they were imported from the '90s.But in this case, retro does not necessarily equal hip. The built-in Apple backgrounds include a mix of calm nature scenes and bold geometric patterns, but there are no longer the middle-of-the-road choices, like the peacock feather, for noncommittal iPhone users like me.It is beyond me that Apple still does allow users to customize things like text color. Message text is now white, which is decidedly annoying. It's hard to read unless you are in a dark place like a closet or Fondren Sixth on a Sunday, and let's face it: Most iPhone users reading this probably text while walking, biking or sitting in a lecture hall lit by fluorescents.Even more unsettling is that text bubbles are no longer 3-D, even though the background shifts when I tilt my phone - one of the more entertaining changes. And the Safari icon looks more than ever like a compass, even though it is harder to navigate the Web without the Google search bar.Design-wise, Apple took a step backward with this update. What was advertised as beautiful and innovative is reminiscent of the graphics from the bright pink flip phone I had in middle school. However, in terms of usability, this is the best phone I have ever had.The control center holds infinite pleasant surprises; this glorious addition can be used to set alarms. And to change the screen brightness, adjust the music volume, and toggle the Do Not Disturb and Airplane modes. Pretty much everything I need to do is there - which is probably the point of a control center.Just like all other first-world problems, iOS 7 will take some getting used to.

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

NASA astronaut shares space flight experiences

By Tina Nazerian

NASA astronaut and chemical engineer Donald R. Pettit spoke about his outer space experiences Thursday, Sept. 19 at Anne and Charles Duncan Hall as part of the Space Frontiers Lecture Series.According to Director of the Rice Space Institute David Alexander, Pettit has been on three space flights.The official flyer advertising the event stated that Pettit has spent a total of 370 days in space, including two long-duration stays on the International Space Station and one space shuttle mission.Pettit said he thinks frontiers can be found all around us and are places to discover answers to questions we might not even know exist."I define 'frontier' as where normal intuition doesn't really happen anymore," Pettit said.Pettit spoke about his experiments in outer space, which included investigating surface tension forces with a sphere of water, measuring capillary rises in microgravity with soda straws, and making a venigraph generator with Legos."We have a whole suite of wonderful things that we're doing on [the International Space Station]," Pettit said. "But because you are there and in this environment, there are other observations that you could make ..., observations that aren't on the script. You make something that's 'Wow, this is different.' These little clandestine observations, this science of opportunity becomes the ... science of the future."Pettit said astronauts going to the International Space Station can take only a few personal items. He said he took knitting needles for charging demonstrations. "It's a little bag ..., [and] whatever you can stuff in there, ... that's it for six months in terms of personal effects," Pettit said. "I didn't take [knitting] needles because I thought we were going to have so much spare time ...; I took [knitting] needles because I could make them out of special materials and use them for charging demonstrations."Pettit said that in a frontier, even tasks we consider menial are done differently, something he found out when attempting to grow a plant."When you're in a frontier, you could do things that you don't normally do at home, partly because what you do at home doesn't even work there," Pettit said. "[Raising a plant] was my attempt at trying to figure out how to do something that comes so [easily] on Earth, in our environment."Pettit said he faced some challenges raising his plants."NASA has these amazing pieces of equipment, these terrariums with [the] power ... to raise research plants," Pettit said. "What I rapidly found out was a spacecraft environment that's designed for human beings is not very friendly toward a potted plant in the corner, especially if you're in a microgravity environment."Pettit said he struggled to figure out how he could grow plants without a lot of equipment and found a solution in plastic bags."If you fold it in the right way, the surface tension forces will control the water," Pettit said. "You can actually use aeroponics as a means for growing these plants. What I did was I raised a zucchini. We were struggling. There's all kinds of problems. [The plants] would almost die ... as I was learning how to make these plants thrive in a weightless environment."Pettit started a blog called "Diary of a Space Zucchini," written as if the zucchini plant he was growing were a crew member. The blog can be found at blogs.nasa.gov/letters. According to Pettit, the Cupola, an observatory on the International Space Station with seven large windows optimized for looking at Earth and its horizons, has cameras set up for taking different types of pictures."The Earth does go by quickly, and if you have to stop to change lenses on the camera, or a setting, you might very well miss whatever you want to take a picture of, so you just grab a different camera that's set up the way you need," Pettit said.Wiess College sophomore Brady Buescher attended the lecture and said he thinks Pettit captured the mystery and wonder of space in the experiments he showed."I thought [Pettit's] lecture was absolutely enthralling," Buescher said. "Each experiment made my jaw drop; we really have no physical intuition about space. To hear from someone who has had the enviable opportunity to be in the frontier of space was an enlightening experience."Buescher said Pettit's comments about the real-world benefits of space exploration stood out to him."The hard thing for many to see, and this is what [Pettit] pointed out, is that we can't really know the next huge advancement that could come from researching in space, but simply that we have to push our frontiers in order to continue to expand our horizon," Buescher said. 

OPINION 9/23/13 7:00pm

Life's a Mitch: We are all pedaling this bike together

By Mitch Mackowiak

Hello, readers! My name is Mitch Mackowiak, I am a freshman at Lovett College, and I am the new Thresher opinions editor. You might find me slinging discs at frisbee practice, (joyfully) slaving away in Anderson Hall, or relaxing in that courtyard with the extremely photogenic tree outside the Humanities Building. It is my job to ensure your voices are heard regarding any issue around campus - I am essentially a suggestion box for Rice

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

100 Days sponsor up in the air

By Rachel Marcus

Rice Program Council will not be financing 100 Days this year, according to RPC President Aisha Jeeva.Jeeva, a Martel College junior, said the RPC budget had already been set when the Office of Alumni Affairs made the decision not to plan 100 Days."Our budget has been set since April, when the executive board sat down and planned for the year," Jeeva said. "We really are unable to fund [100 Days] .... It has never been our event, and we have never been linked to it."Jeeva said RPC is choosing to stick to its original plan for its traditional events."We can't change what we're doing, pick up the slack and rearrange our whole year because of something someone else decided," Jeeva said.According to Jeeva, RPC aims to strengthen its planning for Rondelet to revive that event."Our primary goal is to have Rondelet because we've received so many student requests asking for it," Jeeva said.The Student Association, in its effort to find a way for the tradition of 100 Days to continue this year, asked RPC to consider the possibility of planning the event, according to SA President Yoonjin Min. Min said she understands RPC's decision. "I think [RPC] is really trying to revive Rondelet as this pre-Beer Bike event, and they've already bought into this idea, planned for it and are really excited about it," Min said.According to Min, no campus organization has stepped forward to plan the event, and many are worried about the liability that has come to be associated with 100 Days.Min said the SA is not currently planning on being responsible for 100 Days, either.However, Min said the college presidents are working on finding a way to ensure 100 Days will still happen. Min said groups that could potentially host the event include the Future Alumni Committee - independent of Alumni Affairs - and a group of representatives from each college's senior committee.Martel College senior Thomas Plackemeier said he is disappointed that 100 Days has yet to be planned."I think that 100 Days offers seniors a chance to celebrate their collective experiences over the past four years," Plackemeier said. "I'm disappointed that no organization would step up to carry on a Rice tradition [like 100 Days]."Min maintains that 100 Days will happen."100 days [to graduation] will be marked in some way," Min said. "I don't know if the way it has been marked in past years is feasible for this year, but we also still have a lot of time."

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

After UH loss, Owls prepare for start of C-USA play

By Dan Elledge

Trying to bring the Bayou Bucket back to Rice University for the first time since 2010, the Owls fell short Saturday in a 31-26 loss to the University of Houston at Reliant Stadium.After being down 31-13 in the fourth quarter, the Owls fought back. Rice scored the next 13 points, including a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by redshirt freshman linebacker Alex Lyons. On the ensuing kickoff, redshirt senior kicker Chris Boswell kicked the ball onside to the 45-yard line, where redshirt senior Paul Porras recovered it. Rice failed to capitalize on this quick turnaround, turning the ball over on downs at Houston's 36-yard line with 1 minute, 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter to seal the game for the Cougars. Head Coach David Bailiff said he was frustrated with the loss but happy the team fought to the end. Bailiff said there were times when the Owls could have thrown in the towel but did not give up."I was really proud of this team Saturday with the passion and effort they played with," Bailiff said. "You always want to win, but I thought it was the first time athletically we played really well against [Houston]."Bailiff said communication issues were one of the major reasons the team committed errors. He said the coaches and players have to fix these issues before this weekend's game against Florida Atlantic University."We still had communication problems we have to work out offensively," Bailiff said. "That's on us as coaches, and that's on me as the head coach. We have to do a better job of getting everybody on the same page offensively and defensively."Porras said although he was disappointed with the loss, the Owls could learn from this game and use those lessons as the season moves forward. "We can take other things from this game, but [Houston] is a good team, and [we] are ready for the future," Porras said. "We have a very mature team with over 20 seniors. We are going to do some damage this season, and we are really excited."Conference USA play starts this weekend for the Owls at Rice Stadium, where Rice will face FAU at home. FAU is 1-3 so far this season and has already played two conference games, losing away to East Carolina University and at home to Middle Tennessee State University.Bailiff said FAU can be dangerous both offensively and defensively. He said the defense needs to be ready for FAU sophomore quarterback Jaquez Johnson, who is quick and an efficient pocket passer."[FAU] is very athletic, and their quarterback is very athletic," Bailiff said. "He runs the ball really well, and he throws effectively. That whole football team is fast. Defensively, they are not quite as big as Houston is up front, but they are extremely fast on offense and defense."Porras said conference play is the start of a whole new season. He said that even with a 1-2 record, the Owls have a fresh start in C-USA, and the team is ecstatic about the opportunity."We had tough nonconference games, and I'm just excited that we have Florida Atlantic and [the University of Tulsa] to start off the conference really strong," Porras said. "It's going to be fun to start conference [play] at home, and it's going to be a great one. It's always fun to play here."Porras said that with all of the seniority and experience on the team, this squad is mature enough to pick itself up off the ground and focus on the goal in front of them: winning Rice football's first C-USA championship."I think with all the seniors on the team and the maturity level we have, we can accomplish what we want to in conference with that mindset," Porras said.

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

Self-help exhibit debuts

By Julia Liu and Sophie Newman

EMERGEncy Room Gallery, a gallery located in Sewall Hall and run by the Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts will be debuting a new exhibit beginning Sept. 26. Entitled "Help Yourself," this special presentation is the product of a collaborative effort between artists Ariane Roesch and Mark Ponder. The purpose of this joint effort is to display themes of the aspects of self-help pervasive in our culture through sculpture, video and song. Ponder will contribute a video, which will be shown in conjunction with three of Roesch's ladder sculptures. The exhibition will be located in Sewall Hall Room 402 from Sept. 26 to Oct. 31. The opening reception will be held on Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. Roesch will also perform original music at 9 p.m. on both the opening and closing dates.

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

Salinger offers insight but no answers

By Madeleine Tibaldi

J.D. Salinger is famous for writing arguably the most influential, contentious and critically appraised book of the 20th century, The Catcher in the Rye. While readers of this timeless classic are made to feel they know Holden like a best friend, the author devoted considerable effort to keeping his life as private and isolated as possible, even ending publishing after selling over 65 million copies of his famed book.Salinger, the new biopic released nationwide Sept. 20, attempts to uncover one of the greatest mysteries in American literary history by addressing the questions on many people's minds: Who was this man who gave birth to one of the most iconic literary characters in history? Why was he so private? Why did he abruptly stop publishing after such strong sales?Salinger provides a thorough description of Salinger's upbringing and early life, attempting to deduce from his personal life the struggles which shaped his characters. The film focuses on some of the highly concealed aspects of Salinger's private life, including his fascination and obsession with underage women, his struggles with fatherhood and his attempt to escape from post-traumatic stress disorder following his experiences in World War II. The documentary, directed by Shane Salerno (Armageddon), uses a series of interviews, photographs and dramatic re-enactments to peel back each layer of Salinger's mysterious persona. The difficulty in achieving this task lies in the lack of evidence available to expose this great mystery of the literary world. Perhaps the biggest problem with the film is that it depicts Salinger only through the extremely minimal collection of photographs that have been made available to the public. The film relies largely on secondhand accounts and the scarce amount of personal information available to paint a multifaceted and vivacious picture of the man so many fans have yearned to know. Yet it is this lack of clear firsthand detail that validates Salinger's odd privacy; it helps viewers understand the extent of Salinger's reclusiveness and the struggles the filmmakers faced in uncovering any information about the elusive author.It is unfortunate that melodramatic music, punchy subtitles and character re-enactments are dispersed throughout the footage, helping to maintain the audience's attention but ultimately cheapening the quality of this otherwise tasteful documentary. These sensationalized aspects cause the film to seem more like a 20/20 news segment than a high-quality investigative documentary. In directing a highly dramatic and overly hyped portrayal of Salinger's life, Salerno has created a product Salinger himself would probably loathe were he alive to see it.It is likely for that very reason that the documentary was not released until after Salinger's death on Jan. 27, 2010. According to Deadline.com, which broke the news of the film's existence two days after the author's death, Salerno began conducting extensive research and interviews in secret in 2005 while self-financing the documentary. The film remained shelved for three additional years until The Weinstein Company acquired the rights Feb. 27, 2013.Despite its shortcomings, Salinger is a must-see for any fan of his work. Perhaps the most important lesson gained from the film is that Salinger himself did not have the answers to all the deep questions he posed in his books. Salinger teaches us that this world-famous author was in fact a deeply troubled man who found refuge from his demons by creating his own reality through his beloved characters. Salinger wrote for sheer pleasure, keeping dozens of completed manuscripts under lock and key. According to Salerno, some of Salinger's manuscripts will begin to be published in irregular installments in 2015. After 50 years, readers will once again be faced with the existential questions posed by Salinger's work, but this time, they will be on their own to answer them. 

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

Volleyball strives for consistency back home

By Julie Doar

Rice women's volleyball ended its nonconference season with three losses last weekend at the Active Ankle Challenge tournament in Louisville, Ky. The Owls lost Friday to Virginia Tech 3-0 and lost 3-0 to the University of Louisville Saturday afternoon. The Owls managed to take one set Saturday night against Bowling Green State University but ultimately fell 3-1, concluding their nonconference schedule with an overall record of 3-11.   Next weekend, Rice begins Conference USA play with a home game Friday night against Middle Tennessee State University. After that, the Owls will host East Carolina University on Sunday.Head Coach Genny Volpe said the team heads into conference play on an upward trajectory despite the multitude of preseason losses. "This weekend, we did lose, but there were a lot of bright spots," Volpe said. "The team is definitely in a better place mentally and getting tougher and stronger. So we're just going to keep building on that."Volpe said the team needs to polish up its fundamentals in order to continue to improve. She said she hope the wins will follow shortly thereafter."We're pretty athletic, and we do a lot of really good things, but sometimes our fundamentals can get away from us at key times," Volpe said. "So we're just going to focus a lot on our ball control and our serving and passing, and I think that that's going to keep us really composed and allow us to run the offense that we are capable of running."Senior outside hitter Tyler Jenkins said she believes the team is capable of running a better offense and recording better results. She said the Owls will focus on making fewer errors. "We're going to work on getting more consistent and just turning all of our hard work into results," Jenkins said. "[We're] all working really hard; we're just not getting the results that we want."According to Volpe, the team's morale is not deflated by its recent losses to talented teams. Rather, Volpe said the Owls are looking forward to conference play with excitement. "We're excited to get into conference," Volpe said. "It's been a rough preseason. We just played an extremely tough schedule. I do think in a lot of ways we are prepared for conference play because we've been definitely battle-tested. So I think that going into conference will bring some new energy."Jenkins said she was enthusiastic about building a better conference record. "We're really excited to get started because our record doesn't reflect how much we've learned and how much we've grown as a team, not only in skill, but [also] as a team unit," Jenkins said.Volpe said Middle Tennessee is a formidable first opponent, but she said it will be good for Rice to be challenged with steep competition.  "We are starting off with Middle Tennessee, which is a very strong team," Volpe said. "That will be nice to play a team as strong as Middle Tennessee."Volpe said the Owls are ready to face their challenges and to gain more victories than they did in the nonconference part of the schedule. "We'll be tested right away," Volpe said. "We're definitely looking forward to starting conference and basically getting a fresh start."

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

Albums and Abominations

By Benjamin Huber-Rodriguez

Remember "Kids"? That catchy synth line, those cryptic lyrics - that song was everyone's jam four years ago. How about the dance floor anthem "Electric Feel"? Both songs are by Brooklyn duo MGMT, off its 2008 debut album Oracular Spectacular. Songs like that will not be heard on the duo's latest release, MGMT. Instead, expect to see 10 eclectic, experimental, progressive synth-pop tracks reminiscent of early Animal Collective and completely devoid of the hook-soaked pop that powered Oracular. MGMT is a decent album, but it does not have the "Woah, what is this song?" feel of four years ago that so many people knew and loved. Weird and different? Sure. Will anyone know and love this record five years from now? I doubt it.Take "Astromancy," a tribal, spaced-out dirge featuring rolling bongos and anesthetized lyrics describing (presumably) a drug trip through a colorful alien world. No one is being "shocked like an electric eel," but the track does what it wants to, providing a low-key soundscape to match the description. The next track, "I Love You Too, Death," begins with a blast of enough off-key recorders to rival a fourth-grade music class rehearsal and builds into another droning land filled with a million synthesizers while lead singer Andrew VanWyngarden, just above a whisper, falsettos a scene of heaven. These songs are neither exciting nor groundbreaking, but they represent what MGMT is: willing to experiment and do its own thing.This is not to say the album does not have some interesting moments. Opener "Alien Days" twists two cyber voices into a strum-along ballad about the repetitiveness of everyday life. And the duo, which consists of VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, does not stop there when it comes to reflections on everyday life. On "Your Life is a Lie," VanWyngarden puts it rather bluntly: "Count your friends, on your hands, now look again, they're not your friends / Hold your breath, everyone left, no surprise, living a lie." These feelings are real and resonant with the quarter-life, postcollege crisis but are not stated nearly as elegantly as on, say, fellow New York City band Vampire Weekend's new album."Introspection" is the album's best cut, as the duo takes a break from reflecting on life in one's 30s to reflect on reflecting. The song has a catchy chorus, and snares and hi-hats march the beat along. The best lyrics are also found here, with some interesting lines about looking into oneself. "Plenty of Girls In The Sea" is also solid, harking back to some earlier MGMT work and containing a dark, cunning play on the familiar anecdote. The song is pure honky-tonk meets electropop goodness and would serve as a break from the monotonous synths were it not the penultimate track.MGMT does exactly what it sets out to do, but does not reach any kind of high - not the shrilling, fantasy star electro-rock highs of Oracular; not the grooving, rippling story songs of 2010's Congratulations; and not the ambient highs of any of the records it tries to imitate. There are bright spots, yes, but when a band releases an album, personal as it may be, its value can only be reflected in the impact it makes on others. MGMT fails to interact with the listener or share any insights of value. 

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

Joshua Bell wows in Houston Symphony

By Henry Bair and Chloe Tula

Bright, pealing notes from a 300-year-old violin pierced the spacious hall, settling into a cadenza spanning the entire range of the instrument, from dazzling streaks of light to dark chords, broken only by carefree pizzicato flourishes. Audiences were taken on a journey by the Houston Symphony. This concert series - "Joshua Bell Returns" - was remarkable not only for the Symphony's collaboration with the renowned violinist Joshua Bell, but also for the involvement of maestro Lawrence Foster, a prominent conductor who directed the Houston Symphony from 1971 to 1979, returning for the weekend to conduct the orchestra once again.Celebrating its centennial this year, the Houston Symphony is one of the oldest performing arts organizations in America. Its rich history has included conduction by numerous esteemed directors and involvement with the best musicians around the world. In the last century, the orchestra has grown and matured from what was once a humble semi-professional group of part-time performers into a symphony today internationally recognized for its excellence.The complex program consisted of works by Modest Mussorgsky, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Edward Elgar and featured Peter Tchaikovsky's famed Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35. The deeply romantic music was filled with nuanced solos, soaring melodies and rich, velvety interludes, whisking the audience through Russia, England and even Persia.Incorporating his vast knowledge of the intricacies of each piece, Foster never lost control over the massive orchestra; at the same time, his passion for the music was conveyed through the fiery vigor of his conducting.An exotic English horn solo began the opening piece, "Dance of the Persian Slaves," a ballet from the opera "Khovanshchina" by Mussorgsky. Allowing for a more expressive tone in an otherwise dry concert hall, the piece exposed the varying textures from different sections of the orchestra.Bell performed the Tchaikovsky violin concerto with limitless ease, playing with the energy of someone half his age and the skill of the experienced virtuoso he is. Having recently recorded the same piece with the Berlin Philharmonic earlier this year, Bell is no stranger to the immense challenge the piece presents to any performer. He has also recently become the conductor of the highly acclaimed Academy of St. Martin in the Fields ensemble. With confidence, he assumed a commanding role over the Houston Symphony but may have blurred the line between soloist and conductor more than necessary. However, his gusto and flawless playing won the hearts of the audience, which gave him a hearty standing ovation.The second half of the program shifted from the music of Russia to that of the British Isles, beginning with Vaughan Williams' "Fantasia on Greensleeves," a whimsical take on a traditional folk song. The piece is known for its harp and flute duet, which was flawlessly executed by Rice University Shepherd School of Music associate professor of harp Paula Page and seasoned flutist Judith Dines.The closing piece, Elgar's "Enigma Variations," provided a sharp contrast to both the virtuosic themes of Tchaikovsky and the simple yet poignant brilliance of Vaughan Williams, finishing the concert with a fresh feeling. The piece was written as multiple musical caricatures of Elgar's friends, originally conceived by the composer as a joke. Despite the often-jarring tonal shifts, Foster guided the orchestra's interpretation of each variation masterfully, effectively communicating each movement's distinct character.The Houston Symphony's upcoming season features impressive soloists including Midori, Emanuel Ax, Gil Shaham and Johannes Moser. Student tickets, available for purchase one week prior to any given performance, are priced at $15 and provide the best seats available at the time of purchase. Additionally, a student pass priced at $50 gives access to every concert, both classical and pops, for the rest of the school year. A powerful, intellectually enriching experience for musicians and non-musicians alike, the Houston Symphony's concerts are something all students should take advantage of.

NEWS 9/23/13 7:00pm

SOAR core part of freshman recruiting, so why are hosts hard to find

By Rey Amendola

Overnight stays play a large role in the recruitment of prospective students, enough so that many Rice University students can remember who hosted them as prospective students or can trace their decision to come to Rice back to when they stayed overnight. If this is the case, why is it so difficult to find hosts for overnight programs at Rice, like Vision and SOAR?As a two-year member of the Minority Interest Committee, I have had to publicize and recruit for Seeking Opportunities at Rice, our fall program, and Vision, the larger spring program. In recruiting hosts for SOAR this year, I have tried almost everything, from appealing to college competition by reminding Brown College that we have had the most hosts in previous years to telling people about free dinner this Saturday night. Even with Facebook posts, mass emails and lunch announcements spread across all of the colleges, MIC has still had trouble finding enough hosts for the 60 students arriving at Rice this weekend for SOAR.When people tell me they cannot host, I usually hear the same reasons: "I'm too busy this weekend" or "I don't even know where they would sleep." While I understand that as Rice students, we are all busy, I also understand that as Rice students, we are all busy. I am sure that for most people who tell me they are too busy to host, there are other people just as busy who are signing up. And although someone may think before signing up that there is not enough time, when prospies actually come, there are usually activities planned for them, so hosting is not as big a time commitment as most people seem to think it is.Even if the time commitment turns out to be substantial, it should not really be enough to prevent people from hosting. Every one of us decided to come to Rice for a reason, and hosting is a chance to share that with someone. Students should recall that someone probably hosted them before they came to Rice, which means they were probably influenced positively by that experience. Students should want to share that experience with someone else. Hearing my host talk about Orientation Week and Beer Bike on my visit and listening to all his friends as they talked about Rice's great community was a great experience. Programs like Vision and SOAR are a great way to serve the Rice community by ensuring as many people as possible know about our school and why we chose it. MIC's programs are especially important because they diversify the student body, making Rice the multicultural community we know. If not for that diversity, Rice would miss out on the many experiences students from underrepresented minorities bring to our campus and the added perspective they bring to all activities at Rice.So yes, most students are probably pretty busy this weekend. But that does not mean they cannot introduce a prospie to Rice. Students can still show prospies their colleges and have them meet their friends. And as hosts, students might even make friends they will see next year as freshmen. So I will ask students the question I have been asking people for the past month: "Are you hosting for SOAR?"Students can sign up to host for SOAR at http://tinyurl.com/k57nd2z.

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