Special Projects

The Occupy Wall Street Debate: What does our country really need

I am the 40.9 percent. All throughout America, protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement heckle and carry signs proclaiming the disenfranchisement of the 99 percent those not in the so-called economic elite, but they focus on the wrong number. Those currently picketing in Zucotti Park, N.Y., claim that the system only works for the top one percent of the population and that most Americans are not represented in Washington. However, I find this claim hard to take seriously when most Americans didn't even make the short trip to the ballot box in the last midterm elections. I am the 40.9 percent, the portion of voting eligible citizens who went to the polls in 2010.

Book explores American gay culture

After travelling across the United States of America collecting stories and photographs from gay men, photographer Scott Pasfield spoke at Rice University about his book of portraits, Gay in America.

Land of Enchantment anything but that for golf

Seeking to capitalize on the positive vibes from the Lone Star Invitational, the golf team traveled to Las Cruces, New Mexico for the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate. Instead of another positive finish, they left New Mexico with a bit ter taste in their mouths from a last-place finish.

Cougar High Sends Owls Back to Pre-School

Before Thursday night's game at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston, many Owls' fans were taking a page out of Governor Rick Perry's book and praying for a sudden deluge of rain that would surely help ground the Houston air attack. Apparently only part of the prayer was heard as heavy rain lasted for a just a quarter-and so did the Owls' grip on the game, as they ended up losing by a score of 73-34.

Class ring changes start new era of ring traditions

In an attempt to get more students interested in Rice class rings, a student-initiated ring committee in conjunction with the Association of Rice Alumni implemented its first plans, including ring ambassadors, proposing college crests on rings and more senior-alumni events.

Photo: The Philharmonics performs for Families Weekend

Rice a cappella group The Philharmonics performs for Families Weekend

Autism linked to Type 2 Diabetes

Biochemistry and Cell Biology professor Michael Stern proposed a possible link between autism and Type 2 diabetes.

On the electron superhighway

Forget cars racing along highways and start thinking electrons. Physics professor Rui-Rui Du and fourth year physics graduate student Ivan Knez have created and recently published on a topological insulator, described as an "electron superhighway". Their research is paving the way to the creation of topological insulator superconductor junctions and, eventually, quantum computers.

Student Association Minutes Oct. 24th

The following were noted at the most recent meeting of the Student Association on Oct. 24.

$40 million updates

Football players may be next in line to benefit from a new building at Rice. A $40 million proposal for a new two-story football training facility at the south end of the stadium came out last week and is contingent on an approval from the Rice Board of Trustees as well as fundraising for the necessary money.

Baker Blues surpasses expectations

Baker Blues definitely exceeded the expectations set by poor precedents from past parties. Baker Blues, which traditionally falls on Families' Weekend, is often deemed as lackluster and not worth attending. The cocktail tables full of parents and the subdued nature of the party place it in stark contrast with the other more traditional parties.

Mylo Xyloto another iteration of Coldplay's success

Rebounding from disappointing record sales for their last album, Viva La Vida, plagiarism accusations and the incipient criticism that comes with increased popularity, Coldplay's new album is a fresh start for the band.

Acts of animal atrocities are no rare occurrence in today's society

A few months ago, I was on a motorcycle trip from my hometown in Germany to Cape Town in South Africa.

Margin Call a relevant film that brings financial crisis to life

Margin Call is one of the most interesting movies imaginable about one of the most boring jobs in existence: stock trading. Loosely based on the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, the film shows how quickly an investment banking firm can go from record profits to liquidation, and is told from the perspective of the bankers themselves.

Styling Tips of the Week

Ron Paul a viable candidate for the 2012 GOP nomination

Ron Paul is typically viewed in Republican circles to be little more than a minor nuisance – a libertarian crank who has no real chance at winning the GOP nomination and is generally unelectable. Paul ran as a Libertarian Party candidate in 1988 and a Republican Party candidate in 2008 with limited success.

New athletics building to affect only small subset of students

Rice has expressed interest in accumulating monetary donations towards a new $40 million athletic facility to replace the current one adjoining Rice Stadium. The building would house football team locker rooms, coaching staff offices, a media room and a sports medicine complex.

Errata

In the Oct. 21 issue, "What's their secret" incorrectly stated that the professor's hometown had a population of one million; however, the population is actually approximately 100,000. Furthermore, the number of COMP 140 students has grown from 20 to 113, and the number of Computer Science majors has increased from 21 to 75.

Limelight: Trent Navran, flutist of the Campanile Orchestra

Engineers can play the violin, psychologists can play the guitar, linguists can play the clarinet. Trent Navran, a McMurtry College freshman and a member of the Rice/Baylor Medical Scholars Program, plays the flute. Non-music majors like Navran are encouraged to foster their musical passions via the Rice University Campanile Orchestra.

New traditions could increase value of class ring

Rice's class rings have been a tradition since 1916; however, there is now a student push to create more of a tradition and culture around the ring itself. The committee involved with this initiative would like to increase student participation in ring purchases and would like to help make the ring more special by planning events around it.