Special Projects

Core Teams talk raising kids at Rice

At most colleges, resident associates are students juggling their responsibilities alongside homework. At Rice, students aren’t the only ones who call the residential colleges home — RAs could be anything from a professor to a dean living down the hall along with their children.

Alumna Susannah Wright journeys from student to professor

When Susannah Wright graduated from Rice in 2018, the prospect of returning as faculty was nothing more than a pipe dream. Much like the tales she studies, Wright’s journey to professorship has taken her across the country and back again, landing her in a faculty role at Rice in fall 2024.   

COMP At Rice: Computer science majors talk ups and downs of Rice computing

Rice’s computer science department has unleashed a number of changes this year, introducing COMP 222 and 312 this semester and planning for an AI major in fall 2025. 

Fairness means saying yes to students — not just to budgets

Every year, the Blanket Tax Committee faces tough questions: How should we prioritize funding and ensure every student dollar goes toward something meaningful?

What it’s like to be undocumented at Rice

I’m scared and don’t know how to stop being scared. For years, the fear of deportation loomed over every moment of my life. I developed a phobia of police officers — just seeing one made my stomach turn. The thought of someone discovering my undocumented status was enough to send me into a spiral of anxiety. Even now, despite having legal protections, those fears persist, reminding me that freedom is fragile.

Rice should commit to protecting its international students

Last week’s news that five international students – three current students and two recent alumni – have suddenly lost their visas should alarm anyone who values this campus’s global community. The federal government’s “Catch and Revoke” program has already revoked the visas of hundreds of students from universities across the country, raising widespread fears about the stability of international study in the U.S. 

Good Friday and college night overlap sparks ire among students

Four college nights are happening on Good Friday this year. This overlap has caused controversy amongst students who observe the high holy day. 

Linguistics consortium brings two new organizations to campus

At the induction ceremony for the inaugural cohort of linguistic emissaries April 10, faculty, scholars and guests gathered to celebrate the launch of two new institutions for linguistics at Rice University: the Texas Linguistics Consortium and the Center for Advancing Linguistic Science. 

Pride Week celebrates LGBTQ+ art, performance

Art de’Resistance, held on April 10 at the Multicultural Center, invited participants to paint self-portraits — not of how they look, but of who they are. One canvas showed a luscious green field, another a burst of layered colors. Each piece told a different story of identity and expression. 

Diversity Facilitators change name, now Community Facilitators

Amid sweeping national crackdowns on diversity, equity and inclusion, Diversity Facilitators will now be called ‘Community Facilitators.’ 

Beer Bike canceled due to weather concerns

Despite talk of rain and a possible ‘Beer Run,’ the Beer Bike races seemed like they were proceeding as normal on Saturday. Alumni races were well underway at noon. At 1:30 p.m., the women’s teams were teeing up for their second heat when, under sunny skies, the races abruptly stopped.

‘Will we survive? Will the movement survive?’

Rice Students for Justice in Palestine staged a demonstration April 8. Students walked out in protest of various issues including the detainment of international students; diversity, equity and inclusion rollbacks; ongoing “U.S.-backed genocide” in Palestine; transgender rights and federal funding cuts at the Central Quad from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

The Hoot to close after 15 years of late night service

After 15 years in business, the Hoot will shut down at the end of the semester. The Hoot has faced staffing and financial challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic, and has reached a point where operations are “no longer sustainable,” Hoot management wrote in an April 8 Instagram post.

Students speak out about canceled internships, research opportunities

Ian Chen, a biosciences and mathematics major, applied to a computational biology lab through the National Institutes of Health Summer Internship Program. Like many students, Chen was looking for professional experience over the summer. He then heard the program was paused in light of the funding cuts, then entirely axed.

Printing credits passed by Senate, funding unclear

The Student Association passed a resolution urging Rice University to implement a $10 student printing credit April 7. The resolution passed 22-4. 

Study Abroad Photo Contest spotlights global experiences

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, students gathered in the Ley Student Center to celebrate global experiences through photography. 

04-09-2025 Crossword Solution

04-09-2025 Crossword: "Masala Madness"

The Riceberg

Sid wins again, defeats Baker in coed IM flag final

Illuminated by the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza’s red and yellow lights, Sid Richardson College defeated Baker College in the intramural coed flag football championship April 3. Sid Rich took home the title for the second year in a row, outscoring Baker 19-7 in the final after an undefeated season.