Juliana Serrano

NEWS 11/12/09 6:00pm

Penny for the guy!

By Juliana Serrano

From the elaborate make-up and costumes, to the captivating story line, to the bewitchingly surreal voices of the main actors, The Threepenny Opera is guaranteed to keep viewers enthralled and lost in another time and place more distorted than our own: one filled with poverty and corruption instead of problem sets and college systems. The show, first written in 1928 by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and based on John Gay's 1728 The Beggar's Opera, is an ironic satire of the political state of Victorian England. Penned as a Marxist critique of the capitalistic world, The Threepenny Opera was supposed to be the opera of the beggars who could not go to the traditional, opulent opera of the time.

NEWS 10/8/09 7:00pm

Can't Beat this Retreat

By Juliana Serrano

No one goes to a Vince Vaughn movie expecting an epiphany. In that sense, Couples Retreat gets high marks for meeting expectations. The film is simply a funny movie that lets the viewer unwind and laugh at penis jokes for two hours without needing to delve into the deeper meaning. Something, I would wager, we could all use over fall break.Couples Retreat follows four couples who go to an island paradise designed to help troubled marriages. Only one of the couples actually wants to work on their marriage, but because the island promises water sports and fun, the others agree to tag along. The couples do not realize that the "couple bonding" sessions on the schedule are mandatory and that they cannot just lounge around all day. Hilarious adventures ensue and the couples end up appreciating the marriage counseling more than they thought they would.

NEWS 5/14/09 7:00pm

Malik, Henderson to coordinate Beer Bike

By Juliana Serrano

Beer Bike may have just ended, but plans for next year's event are already underway. The campus-wide Beer Bike Coordinators for next year will be Jones College junior Nazish Malik and senior Brian Henderson.

NEWS 10/2/08 7:00pm

Families Weekend well-attended despite Ike

By Juliana Serrano

Unwilling to let Hurricane Ike prevent them from seeing their children, almost 1,975 parents flocked to Rice for last week's Families Weekend. Student Association External Vice President Nicholas Muscara, who helped organize the event, said this number was consistent with turnout in previous years. Parents and students participated in a variety of activities, which included walking tours, coffee with President David Leebron, speeches, a football game and Baker Blues last weekend during Families Weekend. The number of participants was probably higher because 1,975 only reflects the number of parents and guests who registered over the weekend. Muscara, a Martel College sophomore, said the turnout was especially impressive considering that Families Weekend took place just two weeks after Hurricane Ike. There were concerns that factors such as high gas prices and lack of electricity in some parts of Houston would keep many parents from making the trip.