Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Thursday, September 04, 2025 — Houston, TX

Special Projects

A&E 4/22/25 10:53pm

Shepherd comes alive at Rice Chorale’s April concert

By Radhani Kapoor

Echoes reverberated around the Edythe Bates Old Recital Hall and Grand Organ April 14 at the Rice Chorale concert, featuring music spanning different centuries and styles from whispered a cappella songs to full organ grandeur.

FEATURES 4/22/25 10:42pm

Best study snacks to fuel your finals

By Saahithi Sreekantham

Finals are creeping up on us, and that means hunting season for the best study snacks on and off campus. Below are some that are sure to see you through the most enigmatic paper prompts and puzzling practice questions.

FEATURES 4/22/25 10:40pm

Head over handlebars: a brief history of Beer Bike accidents

By Will Patel

In the first heat of the women’s race in this year’s Beer Bike, Melissa Geng said she was biking faster than she ever had, adrenaline pumping through her veins. All was going well, until she crashed into the fence of the alumni viewing area at the turn of her second lap.

FEATURES 4/22/25 10:39pm

Seniors showcase late night artwork in ‘26 Hour Diner’

By Nandini Dasari

As the spring semester comes to an end, 26 graduating seniors find themselves juggling both final exams and final exhibits. Marking the completion of a visual and dramatic arts degree at Rice, the annual senior showcase will open April 25.

OPINION 4/22/25 10:35pm

Obituary for D’Brickashaw Eagleclaw Ibarra

By Tony Brown

D’Brickashaw Eagleclaw Ibarra, nicknamed DEI, has transitioned to the ancestral plane.

OPINION 4/22/25 10:33pm

Rice’s enrollment expansion should preserve campus culture, tradition

By Thresher Editorial Board

Rice is growing again, and President Reggie DesRoches isn’t wrong when he says it’s a good thing.

NEWS 4/22/25 10:31pm

Rice to expand enrollment and financial aid by 2028

By James Cancelarich

Rice will grow another 8%, aiming to enroll 5,200 students by fall 2028, announced an April 21 press release. This is the second recent expansion at Rice, following a 2021 initiative that raised the undergraduate population 20%, from 4,000 to 4,800.

NEWS 4/22/25 10:29pm

Rice research group spearheads wastewater testing for measles

By Ramya Motati

Amid a historic measles outbreak in West Texas, Rice researchers partnered with the city of Houston to monitor wastewater for the highly contagious virus.

NEWS 4/22/25 10:28pm

Research partnership announced with Exxon Mobil

By Josh Stallings

Rice and Exxon Mobil entered into a research agreement that aims to develop sustainable energy projects related to oil and gas operations, according to an April 14 press release.

NEWS 4/22/25 10:19pm

Q&A: Beto O’Rourke and the future of the Democratic Party

By Noa Berz

Ask Beto O’Rourke about having the odds stacked against him. As a Democrat in Texas for the past 20 years, he knows the feeling better than anyone.

NEWS 4/22/25 10:19pm

Q&A: Beto O’Rourke and the future of the Democratic Party

By Noa Berz

Ask Beto O’Rourke about having the odds stacked against him. As a Democrat in Texas for the past 20 years, he knows the feeling better than anyone.

OPINION 4/19/25 6:18pm

Letter to the editor: Saying yes to students means listening to them — not just assuming

By Andrew Kim

Last week, Student Association Treasurer Jackson Darr defended this year’s dramatic Blanket Tax funding cuts as a commitment to equity, transparency and service to all students. The Blanket Tax Committee must scrutinize whether it’s truly upholding those values.

OPINION 4/19/25 6:16pm

In defense of Thresher travel

By Jenna Perrone

I grew up in a small town in southern New Jersey called Columbus. Most people from New Jersey haven't even heard of it. If they have, it’s only ever because of our farmers’ market or our supposedly haunted hotel on Main Street. I attended the local public school from preschool through twelfth grade, and I hated every moment of it.

OPINION 4/18/25 9:29pm

Fund the RWRC

By Felicity Phelan

The Student Association's plan to cut the Rice Women's Resource Center budget is wrong, and you should be mad about it.

NEWS 4/15/25 11:08pm

Five international visas revoked at Rice

By Riya Misra

Federal authorities have revoked visas for five international affiliates at Rice — three current students and two recent graduates, President Reginald DesRoches announced in an April 11 message to campus. The revocations are “not related to social activism or protests,” a university spokesperson told the Thresher.

NEWS 4/15/25 11:08pm

Modified Beer Bike races rescheduled to April 18

By Viola Hsia

Beer Bike races have been rescheduled for April 18 at 5-8 p.m. The makeup event was announced in an email to Beer Bike captains, coordinators and stakeholders, from the campuswide coordinators and the Bike Captains Planning Committee.

NEWS 4/15/25 11:08pm

Good Friday and college night overlap sparks ire among students

By Devan Sanka

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

NEWS 4/15/25 11:06pm

Students discuss budget allocations at SA

By Hongtao Hu

Senate meetings are usually a quiet affair — but this Monday, there was a lively debate over the Blanket Tax Committee’s 2025-26 funding allocations. Rice Women’s Resource Center and ktru waved signs and protested funding cuts to Blanket Tax Organizations, which are funded by the Blanket Tax.

SPORTS 4/15/25 11:06pm

Sports Notebook: April 9-15

By Andersen Pickard and Evie Vu

Rice football concluded its spring practice schedule with an open session Saturday, April 12. While an end-of-spring showcase is common throughout college football, this was Rice’s first under head coach Scott Abell, who was hired last November.

FEATURES 4/15/25 11:05pm

Rice football players go Greek, join Omega Psi Phi fraternity

By Kristal Hanson

Rice has operated without fraternities or sororities since its founding. In their place, residential college systems have served as the core of student life. But this spring, three Rice students joined a fraternity for the first time in school history.

Special Projects

Shepherd comes alive at Rice Chorale’s April concert

Best study snacks to fuel your finals

Head over handlebars: a brief history of Beer Bike accidents

Seniors showcase late night artwork in ‘26 Hour Diner’

Obituary for D’Brickashaw Eagleclaw Ibarra

Rice’s enrollment expansion should preserve campus culture, tradition

Rice to expand enrollment and financial aid by 2028

Rice research group spearheads wastewater testing for measles

Research partnership announced with Exxon Mobil

Q&A: Beto O’Rourke and the future of the Democratic Party

Q&A: Beto O’Rourke and the future of the Democratic Party

Letter to the editor: Saying yes to students means listening to them — not just assuming

In defense of Thresher travel

Fund the RWRC

Five international visas revoked at Rice

Modified Beer Bike races rescheduled to April 18

Good Friday and college night overlap sparks ire among students

Students discuss budget allocations at SA

Sports Notebook: April 9-15

Rice football players go Greek, join Omega Psi Phi fraternity

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