Special Projects

Rice Swim celebrates seniors

Prior to their meet against the University of Miami on Jan. 27, the swim team celebrated their seniors. The senior class includes Lauren Brantley, Mimi Filkin, Briana Gellineau, Lauren Hurt, Imogen Meers, Elizabeth Myers and Hunter Smith.

New culture: Baseball gears up for 2024 season

As Rice Baseball prepares for its spring season, the echoes of last year’s triumphs and challenges still resonate. After finishing 21-37 overall and 9-21 against conference opponents last year, junior catcher Manny Garza believes that this year will prove different. 

Rice’s McCaffrey showcasing talents at Senior Bowl

As the 2024 NFL Draft inches closer, junior wide receiver Luke McCaffrey has earned an opportunity to showcase himself on one of the biggest stages.  

Review: ‘Les Misérables’ is powerful, enthralling and not miserable

“Les Misérables,” a show centered around the 1832 June Rebellion in France that follows one man’s path from rags to riches and saving those along the way, arrived at Houston’s Hobby Center Jan. 24. The French club at Rice took full advantage of the visit, arranging guest lecturers to come speak about the French Revolution, as well as arranging a lunch with cast members for all students to attend.

Review: ‘Wall Of Eyes’ cements The Smile as more than just a side project

The Smile is a group composed of Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, and Tom Skinner of jazz group Sons of Kemet. More than just a side project, The Smile has been a venue for some of Yorke and Greenwood’s most vital music in years, filling in the gaps since Radiohead’s most recent album was released in 2016. The band originally formed during COVID-19, allowing the musicians to continue recording new music and utilizing Greenwood’s fresh ideas, even when the other members of their band were unavailable. “Wall of Eyes” is The Smile’s sophomore album, following the acclaim of their debut and solidifying the group as a musical entity — not just a one-off.

Review: Disney’s ‘Percy Jackson’ is the adaption fans deserve

Readers’ obsession began with “The Lightning Thief,” the first installment in author Rick Riordan’s series about Greek gods and their demigod children, which was released in 2005. Over the decades, Riordan expanded the series to include Roman mythology, then Egyptian, then Norse. The “Riordanverse” grew immensely with its fans.

Review: ‘The Zone of Interest’ is a chilling portrait of evil

Films about the Holocaust face an impossible question: How are we meant to render such an atrocity? Countless filmmakers since the end of World War II have tried to answer this question, some – like Steven Spielberg in “Schindler’s List” – answering that we must try to voice its individual stories as much as possible, and others – like Claude Lanzmann in his 9 ½ hour documentary, “Shoah” – answering that it is ultimately impossible. 

Moshe Vardi stands up and shouts

Moshe Vardi started his computer science career over 7,000 miles away, never planning to end up in the U.S. 

Campus arborist Dawn Roth-Ehlinger talks trees

Bearing witness to late-night anxious walks, romantic strolls and inebriated shenanigans, the trees at Rice are a backdrop to the campus experience.

Get fired up for the Year of the Dragon

With Lunar New Year approaching on Feb. 10, there are plenty of events happening both on and off campus. The 15 days following the new moon will be filled with delicious food, intricate lion dances, firework shows and gift-giving in auspicious red envelopes. Get ready to welcome the Year of the Dragon in style. 

Reevaluate the costs of student leadership

Solomon Ni announced their resignation from the Student Association presidency Jan. 22, citing mental health concerns and burnout. Ni’s resignation resurfaces conversations about the responsibilities and benefits of student leadership. 

The burden of tradition: NOD 2023 was the fault of systemic issues, not the students

Student discourse in the aftermath of Night of Decadence has frequently taken a defeatist character. A muted “I guess that’s what we get” has risen in response to the cancellation of publics, without any form of organized protest. This passivity in the face of blatant paternalism ignores a major systemic issue: the loss of student autonomy in maintaining traditions.

WRC commons roof undergoes repairs

Roofing repairs are currently underway for the old Will Rice College commons. According to senior facilities engineer and project manager Matthew Hoffman, 7,250 square feet of roofing is being replaced, and the project is expected to be completed in four weeks.

Liu and Mounajjed launch Bonfire

Bonfire, a new startup platform for sharing on-campus social events, launched Jan. 17. The student founders Michael Mounajjed and Ben Liu say Bonfire aims to unite students. The founders say there are currently 770 users on the platform, equivalent to one in every six Rice undergraduates using the app.

Rice Owls Away Program pilot introduced following student advocacy

Editor’s Note: Students interviewed were given the option of remaining anonymous in the interest of keeping their experiences private. The anonymous student was given false names, which have been marked with an asterisk on first mention.

CCD to hold spring career expo

The Center for Career Development will host the Spring 2024 Career & Internship Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 2. The expo will include more than 70 employers, representing industries from aerospace, consulting, engineering, medical devices, education and financial services, among others, according to Camille Elmore, the associate director of employer engagement and data management for the CCD.

Molecular Jackhammers present novel method of eradicating cancer

Rice, MD Anderson and Texas A&M researchers have developed a novel method of eradicating cancer with a nanoparticle that shakes so hard, it can break apart a cell.

We will not wait until the next school shooting

Despite calls upon lawmakers to do something about this epidemic of violence, our cries for action fall upon deaf ears. We are tired of being ridiculed as “radical” by lawmakers for championing common-sense gun reforms like expanding background checks, which are supported by a majority of Texans. What is radical is the status quo, where gun violence is the leading cause of death among Texas youth — more than cancer and more than car accidents. Year after year, Texas loosens restrictions on guns, and year after year, the rate of youth gun deaths increases. 

01-24-2024 On this day in Thresher history

Carefully cataloged by the University of North Texas’s Portal to Texas History and the Rice University Woodson Research Center, the archives of the Rice Thresher contain issues of the paper since its creation in 1916. Any Internet user brave enough to venture into over a century of reporting can uncover hidden bits from Rice’s history. From scientific breakthroughs to programming victories, the Thresher is proud to bring you a selection of newsworthy events from Jan. 24.

01-24-2024 Crossword Solutions