Special Projects

ChatGPT is far from the villain it’s made out to be.

Last week’s issue of the Thresher included a letter to the editor that discussed the use of ChatGPT by Rice students. Felicity talks about how the reason we came to Rice was “to grow as a student and individual,” and I believe that in this regard, they are absolutely correct. Where she errs is when she implies throughout the article that this growth and intellectual stimulation are completely incompatible with the use of ChatGPT as an online tool. She is most certainly not the only one who holds that view. Many professors at Rice and across the world are currently grappling with how to handle the rise of A.I. I firmly believe that ChatGPT does have a place in academia and that the vast majority of Rice students are using ChatGPT in a positive manner that actually contributes to their educational pursuits. 

It can be hard to make sense of a tragedy like Michigan State. Here’s how.

If last Monday’s shooting at Michigan State University shows us anything, it is that our grounds for learning are not immune from the uniquely American plague of gun violence. 

02-15-2023 Crossword Solutions

02-15-2023 Crossword: "Heads or Tails?"

Crystal Unegbu runs uncontested for EVP

Hanszen College sophomore Crystal Unegbu is running uncontested for the Student Association external vice president position. She previously served as one of Hanszen’s new student representatives and is currently appointed as the SA Director of Government Relations.

Alison Qiu runs for IVP without opposition

Alison Qiu, a sophomore from Hanszen College, is running uncontested for the Student Association internal vice-president position.  Previously the  SA new student representative for Hanszen her freshman year, Qiu now serves as the Hanszen senator.

Sex Week heats up campus

This Monday marked the beginning of two Sex Weeks at Rice, one hosted by the Student Association’s Student Health Services Committee and another by the club Sex Week Educational Awareness Team at Rice. Both weeks are devoted to increasing awareness within the Rice community about sexual health and wellness.

Sachdeva runs uncontested for treasurer

Yuv Sachdeva, a Jones College sophomore, is running uncontested for Student Association treasurer.

Ni runs unopposed for SA president

Fresh off his term as Student Association treasurer, Jones College sophomore Solomon Ni is running unopposed for SA president.

Online ticketing system MurtPass debuts at Y2K

McMurtry College held their annual Y2K public on Saturday, Feb. 4, launching the online MurtPass ticketing system developed by McMurtry senior Eliot Solomon.

Faculty senate makes Election Day 2024 non-instructional

The faculty senate passed a Student Association sponsored resolution on Feb. 1, making the 2024 presidential Election Day a non-instructional civic engagement day. Therefore, no classes will be scheduled on Nov. 5, 2024, a change that currently only applies to the 2024 academic year. 

Halas becomes second woman named University Professor

Naomi Halas was recently named University Professor, the highest academic title Rice offers. Halas, the only Rice faculty member to be elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering for her research at Rice, is the tenth person and second woman to receive the honor in Rice’s 111-year-history. 

Campus munches on meal plan changes one semester later

Last semester, Rice made changes to Meal Plan A that included the introduction of “Munch,” an additional meal period between 2:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on weekdays and an adjustment in how meal swipes are recorded. According to David McDonald, director of Housing & Dining, these changes resulted in an  increase to the amount of meals being served per day, something McDonald expects to continue in future semesters.

Black at Rice: Malaika Bergner fosters a found community

When Black Student Association President Malaika Bergner came to Rice, she and a group of other Black freshmen girls started eating lunch together.

“Bigger and better”: Africayé! the Musical is back

Africayé, the Rice African Student Association’s annual cultural showcase, is being held at the Shepherd School of Music’s Stude Concert Hall for the first time in history on Feb. 18, with doors opening at 4 p.m. Celebration of African culture is at the core of Africayé, from the overarching storyline to the food, music and fashion show. This year’s theme is Africayé! The Musical, with the aim of spotlighting the art, dance and music that come from African culture.

Rice Divorce Pact

2-15-2023 Sports Cartoon: "Owl-American"

MBB falls to conference-leading FAU in high scoring affair

The Rice men’s basketball team fell 90-81 to Florida Atlantic University on Thursday. It was a matchup of the Owls, but ultimately Sammy and Rice were no match for Owlsley and FAU, who remained undefeated at home and moved to 23-2 on the season. The loss was Rice’s fourth consecutive in conference play, dropping the Owls to 6-7 record in Conference USA and 15-9 on the season. 

Five years later, Wayne Graham reflects on retirement, end of Rice tenure

Wayne Graham lives in Austin now. A lifelong Houstonian, the former Rice baseball coach decided to move three hours east in 2020 after spending nearly each of the first 84 years of his life in the Bayou City. But according to Graham, who left the Owls after 27 seasons in 2018, he doesn’t miss his hometown.

Smigelski hopes to build on breakout freshman season

When your name is mentioned in the same breath as former Rice Owl and MLB all-star Anthony Rendon, you’re in good company. For sophomore infielder Aaron Smigelski, that honor was bestowed early in his career, as he became the first Owl since Rendon to hit two home runs in a game three different times over the course of his freshman campaign.