Special Projects

Rice Women's Cross Country excels at Conference

The Rice women's cross country team took its talents to Hattiesburg, Miss., on Oct. 29 to compete in the 2012 Conference USA Cross Country Championships, hosted by the University of Southern Mississippi. Last year, the women finished in third place behind Southern Methodist University and the University of Tulsa. This year, the women found themselves finishing in a tie for fourth place with University of Alabama at Birmingham. They finished behind SMU, Tulsa and East Carolina University.

Endorsements

Centennial spectacle expresses what it means to be a Rice student

Consumed

"Who dressed up as a police officer? Is this legit[imate]?" After you discover that your friend at the door is actually not a Nintendo character, but an officer from the Rice University Police Department, you begin to panic. You see alcohol all around you but cannot decide what to do next. Since Orientation Week, you have been taught that compliance is important, but what does that actually mean? You hand over your student ID, and the officer swiftly writes down that terribly unfortunate number. What happens now?So what exactly occurs after an infraction such as a Minor in Consumption? While many different courses of action exist, your college's University Court representative is best equipped to answer that question. So, in order to better understand this somewhat confusing process, I spoke to my own representative, Hanszen College sophomore Rohit Reddy. After a discussion, here are some possible and generalized explanations to the question of what happens after a citation a for first-time MIC.The OfficerStarting with the RUPD officer, the result of such an occurrence can take many different paths. Usually dependent on the severity of the infraction, the officer makes the decision whether to solely make a referral to Rice Student Judicial Programs or to also issue a Harris County ticket.College MastersAfter it has become apparent that some form of disciplinary action has been taken, the various college masters will likely become involved. Even if the violation has not yet been directly reported to the masters, talking to your masters is an excellent opportunity to involve a figure of authority in the case. They can serve as guides throughout the process and can help assess the situation.Harris CountyAt this point, the officer has decided that the significance of the action has required the intervention of the official judicial body of Harris County. Legal counsel is highly suggested in order to ensure your rights are protected in this legal process. This will almost always accompany the additional internal proceedings of SJP, which is an independent process, the result of which is not dependent on the outcome of the Harris County process.Student Judicial ProgramsIf the case has been referred to SJP, the office will determine what, if any, violations have occurred and will issue associated sanctions in person at its office in Lovett Hall. In this meeting, the student will decide whether to accept the accusations and subsequent sanctions or to contest the violation of the Code of Student Conduct in further action within the University Court system. UCourt refers to this procedure as pleading "in violation" or refusing to submit to such allegations. If the student feels falsely accused, then pleading "in violation" is not necessary. Importantly, UCourt determines which violations occurred and the appropriate sanctions based on further review; this process is not limited to SJP's initial findings, and the initial sanctions can be increased, reduced or upheld based on UCourt's findings.University CourtStudents who believe they are not in violation of the Code of Student Conduct, they can appeal the SJP decision and request a preliminary review by their peers on UCourt. During this phase, the accused student prepares a written statement and files it for the preliminary review. UCourt subsequently issues a decision and corresponding sanctions that it feels best fit the violation. This can increase, diminish or uphold the sanctions initially determined by SJP.Formal HearingAfter learning of the results of the preliminary review, the student once again has the opportunity to contest the decision. At this phase, the student can request a formal investigation and hearing. At the in-person tribunal, the student has the opportunity to bring witnesses and present formal testimony. At this stage, a UCourt member also interviews the referring RUPD officer to analyze and corroborate the various stories. Also, the student's residential college's UCourt representative serves as an ombudsperson to provide procedural guidance throughout the process. Unless very particular circumstances necessitate another round of appeals, the ensuing sanctions and decisions are largely final. (Such appeals involve Associate Dean of Undergraduates Don Ostdiek and, in cases involving suspension, a second appeal to Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson.)Now What?If the student is found not in violation, the UCourt process ends. Otherwise, the student is found in violation of the Code of Student Conduct. If a student is found in violation, an internal record will be kept for 10 years. As such, this information is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. However, most programs of graduate education - including law schools and medical schools - require that these accusations be accounted for in the assorted applications. The typical sanctions of a citation such as an MIC include the following: a CHOICES class with the Rice University Wellness Center, a university-imposed fine, an evaluation with the Rice Counseling Center and the issuance of a disciplinary warning.CHOICESThe CHOICES program is specifically offered by the Wellness Center to help students analyze their drinking habits and their implicit safety concerns with a focus on making safer decisions with regard to alcohol. As per the Wellness Center website, the program is encouraged for all Rice students and can help students make educated decisions regarding alcohol usage.FineWhile not considered punitive, SJP uses the fine to encourage students to seriously evaluate their behavior and decisions. It adds gravity to the situation and encourages a felt and monetary presence of the situation. Although certain standards exist, the fines are greatly variable dependent upon the situation. Influencing factors include the severity of the violation and any mitigating or aggravating factors relevant to the particular situation as determined by SJP or UCourt.Although the entirety of the process is at times confusing, Rice's intricate judicial policy largely tends toward involving students as often as possible. The cooperation of RUPD and likewise supportive administrative officials makes possible a system by which democratic peer governance remains a possibility. 

Party Patrol

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Controversy surrounds 11 NOD transports

Wiess College's annual Night of Decadence garnered attention beyond the hedges this year when outside news reports claimed 11 students were transported to the hospital on the night of the party. 

Owls Football dominates Southern Mississippi, 44-17

There is definitely something magical about Rice Stadium for the Owls: Something different seems to happen when the team is at home.  The offense seems more efficient, the defense hits harder - and all of this results in more wins on the field.In their four home games this year, the Owls have played noticeably better than on the road, beating and competitively playing some teams that logic says they would not.  But, on the flip side, the team has struggled mightily on the road, with its win against a one-win University of Kansas team as their only victory.  A loss against University of Memphis on the road is one of the largest blemishes so far this season.This weekend, the Owls lived up to their reputation at Rice Stadium, rolling over the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Hurricanes, the defending Conference USA champions.  The game was an absolute rout, with Rice clicking on all cylinders."I'm really proud of this football team," Rice Head Coach David Bailiff said.  "Proud of how we started the game, and really proud of how we started the second half.  I thought the defense today, with five forced turnovers, was where the separation really started h appending in the second half.  When you looked up on the scoreboard, we had 17 second-half points."  By halftime, the score was 21-10.  The Owls finished 44-17 and their biggest win of the season.  Turner Petersen, a junior running back, led the way for the Owls without an impressive 136 rushing yards.  He had a rushing and a receiving touchdown, helping stoke the offense for Rice.  Petersen ended without an average of over seven yards per carry. Both Rice quarterbacks contributed, with junior Taylor McHargue going 7-12 80 yards and a touchdown before being slammed to the ground on a nasty horse collar.  Freshman backup Driphus Jackson entered the game, contributing 92 yards and two touchdowns."I was so proud, offensively, of Driphus Jackson, who came in and played early and then finished the game," Bailiff. "McHargue could have come back in, but we opted to keep out with the score being where it was."The Rice defense was ferocious, allowing only 116 rushing yards out of a good rushing team.  Gabe Baker, a sophomore starting in only his second game, led the way with nine total tackles.  Red shirt juniors Cody Bauer and Hosam Shahin and red shirt senior Jared Williams all contributed two tackles for losses."I think defensively as a whole, we worked better each week," safety Paul Porras said. "With Tulsa,  they ran the ball, and with Southern Miss, they tried to air the ball out a little more.  I think it's really preparing us to go against [Tulane University].  They have a very pass-oriented offense, and our defensive backs are going to be ready." Tulane, the Owls' opponent this week, presents a decent passing offense but is one of the worst teams inside C-USA.  With only two wins on the season, Tulane could be an easy Owls victory - if Rice shows up to play on the road.The Green wave has a decent passing offense, averaging over 250 yards per game, but has struggled both on the run and defensively.  Tulane seems to handle every position, with a large number of quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers all getting touches on the ball.The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, where Tulane plays, has a rough atmosphere.  Not necessarily because Tulane fans pack the stadium, but because the NFL-sized dome presents an atmosphere in which most college teams are not used to playing.If Rice can adjust to the challenging dome environment, this is a very winnable game.  With a 6-6 record needed to be eligible for a bowl, the Owls need to win their next three games to have a possibility of playing December football.  The big problem is that two of those games come on the road. Surely, it has snuck into at least a few of the players' minds that a bowl appearance, which would be the first since 2008, is still on the table if t he team can just win.  After the Southern Miss game, McHargue was feeling optimistic about the team's chances.  "Great team win," McHargue tweeted.  "No reason why we can't rip [three] more off and make a bowl!"

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The Fifth Lap

I was late to the last Rice women's soccer game of the regular season at the University of Houston last Friday. Very late, actually.

This week's editorial cartoon

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The Drowsy Chaperone is anything but tired

Hanszen College and Brown College theater's The Drowsy Chaperone offers a hilarious sendoff of the beloved classical musicals of yesteryear, resulting in a meta-experience that is both strange and enjoyable. It is perfect for those who have ever had one too many Cole Porter songs ingrained in their minds as the musical both mocks and celebrates the corniness of old-school musical theater.

Grant allows research into new cancer treatment technique

Staff question drop in Rice's sex health rank

Letter to the editor

Smooth Eats runs trial nights

Soccer falls to SMU in Opening Round of C-USA, 3-1

With a potential conference co-championship on the line, the Rice University Owls did not disappoint, winning 1-0 against in-city rivals University of Houston. The Owls were victorious due to the great defense of sophomore goalkeeper Amy Czyz and the penalty kick by captain Lauren LaGro. LaGro, a senior, did not miss in the most consequential minute of play and scored the decisive championship goal. With the win, the Owls ended the night and the regular season as Conference USA co-champions alongside Colorado College. At the end of the season, the Owls had an 11-6-3 record, including an 8-2-1 conference record. While the Owls were able to celebrate their glory for a short while, there was a quick turnaround in their schedule: the C-USA Championship Tournament.Before the tournament even began, C-USA released its all-conference honors for the year. Four Owls made the cut. Freshman forward Holly Hargreaves, who has had an impressive season this year, received the honor of C-USA Freshman of the Year. Hargreaves is the first to receive the honor in Owls soccer history. Hargreaves also received two other honorable distinctions. She was selected to the all-freshman team along with teammate Lauren Hughes, and Hargreaves was also named a member of the all-conference first team along with sophomore midfielder Quinney Troung. The Owls also posted two members, Hughes and LaGro, on the all-conference second team. These recognitions to the all-conference teams are equal in number to those of conference rival and nationally ranked University of Central Florida, emphasizing just how great a season the Owls have had.With the loss to Colorado College two weeks ago, the Owls were relegated to the No. 2 overall seed heading into the tournament. This was definitely a surprise for many in C-USA, as the Owls were projected to finish sixth in the conference during preseason rankings. Heading into the tournament, Head Coach Nikki Adams was cognizant of the work still ahead."The tournament's tough," Adams said. "SMU has always been a rivalry with Rice. We expect the best coming from them."The Owls began their tournament play on Oct. 31 with a loss against the Southern Methodist University Mustangs, 3-1. Hagreaves scored the lone goal for the Owls, her tenth of the year. With the loss, the Owls have been eliminated from the tournament. With the tournament behind them, the Owls must wait to see if they receive an at-large bid invite to the NCAA tournament next week. Until then, we can assess the success that the team has had this year. The Owls, as mentioned before, defied all expectations of everyone in the conference. They were projected to finish sixth in the conference, but ended the season with a co-championship.The future looks even brighter for the program, especially with Hughes and Hargeaves having a lot more soccer to play for the Owls. If their freshman season was this good with many records broken, imagine what the 2013 season has in store for the women's soccer. Add to the fact that the whole team for the most part was young this year, one more year of play together has them primed hopefully to repeat as C-USA champions.

This Week in Entertainment

R.E.D. (Ne-Yo) - The fifth studio album from the R&B superstar (the name is an acronym for "Realizing Every Dream") hopes to reenergize a fan base after 2010's disappointing effort Libra Scale. This marks the first Motown Records album for NeYo, who was recently appointed senior vice president for artists and repertoire of the label. As evidenced by his top-10 single "Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)," the singer seems to be placing a heavier emphasis on dance synth and lyrical content and attempting to cross his appeal over to even larger mainstream audiences.

Baker Institute here for students

As Rice University looks ahead after its Centennial Celebration, another organization on campus will soon be celebrating as well. The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy will mark 20 years of excellence next year. During that time, we have built programs in energy and geopolitics, science and technology, space policy, health policy, public finance, Latin American issues and Middle East conflict resolution - all making valuable contributions to policy here and abroad. In the past two decades, we have also been fortunate to host distinguished statesmen, scholars and business leaders. However, throughout our development, our core mission remains to connect Rice, its students and the world of ideas on campus to the world of action on a global scale. 

Football's Alex Lyons wins NFF scholar-athlete award

Rice University has distinguished itself from many other Division I universities by having student-athletes who not only excel in their respective sports but also perform well in the classroom. Freshman Alex Lyons has demonstrated what it takes to be a high-achieving student while playing sports at the high school and the collegiate level. Lyons, a linebacker for the Owls football team, was awarded the National Football Foundation National High School Scholar-Athlete Award, an honor given to only five football players throughout the country for their exemplary performance both on the football field and in school. The award was given based on  merit and the region where the athletes played during their high school career. Lyons represented the South Region. He and the other four winners were chosen from a total of 450,000 high school football players who were followed by the NFF Chapter Network. "It feels pretty good," Lyons said. "I guess the true feeling has not hit me yet, but I do feel extremely blessed to receive the award."Lyons said that he did not anticipate receiving the award at first and was pleasantly surprised to hear that he was a winner. "My initial reaction was shock," Lyons said. "I was on my way back home to Dallas when I got the call. When I heard the news, I seriously could not believe it." Lyons and the other winners will receive their awards during the NFF Chapter Awards Luncheon on Dec. 4, 2012, in New York City. Lyons said that he was appreciative of winning the award, and was quick to express gratitude toward those who had helped him get to this point. "My high school experience with football and academics was great," Lyons said. "I saw a lot of success in both areas. Balancing time for football and school was not difficult in high school because most things came naturally."On the football field, Lyons won numerous accolades, including First Team All-District. He said he is most proud of being named Defensive Newcomer of the Year in his district as a sophomore, as well as the NFF Scholar-Athlete Award.Lyons said he hopes to bring the same motivation, effort and dedication to his sport as a student-athlete at Rice University. At the college level, this could prove to be more difficult because of longer practices, travel and harder classes. "Honestly, managing football and academics at Rice is by far the most challenging task I have ever faced," Lyons said. "Actually, I am still in the process of figuring out the most effective way to do it. I cannot wait for the day when I figure it out."Lyons joins just a total of 96 all-time winners for this prestigious award. He can also go on to win the same award at the college level by maintaining the levels of academic and athletic excellence that helped him win it in high school, a feat only five athletes have accomplished.