The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, September 2, 2015

volume 100, issue no. 2 Mural, Mural on the Wall New art piece at Brockman combines art and science

see A&E p. 6 Overcommiting?

Go for It Don’t be afraid to overextend yourself and explore, a Rice sophomore argues

see Ops p. 4 Owls on the Hunt Women’s soccer team off to a strong start with three wins over the weekend

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wednesday, september 2, 2015

RUPD implements body cameras Anita Alem News Editor

All Rice University Police Department officers must carry body-worn cameras as of April 2015, according to Chief of Police Johnny Whitehead, to align with the best practices of the U.S. Department of Justice. The use of these cameras was first piloted in summer 2014 and spring 2015, after which officers were trained for their usage.

Whitehead said RUPD has used dashboard cameras and audio/video equipment in patrol cars since 2009, to aid evidence collection for crimes such as driving while intoxicated.

“It has provided information to improve evaluation and training of officers and has helped resolve disputes between officers and citizens,” Whitehead said. “We believe body-worn cam-

eras can serve the same purposes.”

Officers must activate the camera in cases of public contact, during car stops, arrest situations and encounters with people on the street. Police officers may choose whether or not to honor individual requests to not be recorded.

Routine service calls such as key services and security escorts do not mandate recording.

In recent years, highly-publicized cases of police brutality have led to a national debate on police-citizen relations and police oversight. Body cameras have often been suggested as a method of monitoring police actions to limit misconduct and even exonerate innocent officers. According to Whitehead, there was no particular incident that caused RUPD to deploy body cameras, but this national conversation led them to research and pilot the cameras.

Whitehead said RUPD has received positive feedback from several organizations, including the college masters and presidents, the Graduate Student Association, the Black Student Association, the Faculty Senate, General Counsel and Public Affairs.

“We have spoken with members of the Rice community and found strong support for the deployment of body cameras for our officers,” Whitehead said. “RUPD officers support the initiative.”

Whitehead said only RUPD has access to the videos but they may release a video to the District Attorney’s Office or under the Open Records Act, which gives the public access to government records. However, student-related requests may depend on the situation.

“We do not plan to routinely provide body camera video to [Student Ju-

dicial Programs] or [University Court],” Whitehead said. “Most of the cases we refer to SJP are for minor infractions and most students take responsibility for their actions. Any request from SJP or UCourt will be considered on a caseby-case basis.”

Will Rice College sophomore Josiah Yarbrough said he thinks the body camera may increase trust in RUPD. “I think it’s an appropriate measure,” Yarbrough said. “I’m from St. Louis and I’ve grown up around police brutality and offenses committed by police officers and even on Rice’s campus, it may bring a lot of people assurance to see that police officers are being watched and being held accountable. I know the chief pretty well and I know he’s a good guy. I think RUPD is doing a fantastic job, but even so, body cameras can do no harm.”

see Sports p. 9 .org

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Students found prochoice group Mengjia Liu

Thresher Staff

Pro-Choice Rice, a new advocacy group and the first college chapter of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, aims to bring awareness of women’s reproductive rights to the Rice University campus and the surrounding community.

Founded by McMurtry College juniors Maddy Adams and Olivia Lee and McMurtry senior Olivia Lammers, the group intends to be more politically active in the future with increased membership and funding but will primarily focus on educating the community for now, according to Lee. “Our goal is to galvanize a pro-choice movement on campus so that we can engage in advocacy and activism for pro-choice causes and also to spread awareness and educate,” Lee said.

Lammers, said one reason the group formed was to address the common misconceptions about being pro-choice and to inform people about their rights.

“We live in a state where there is a lack of accurate information about abortions or other women’s reproductive health services,” Lammers said. “A lot of Texas women aren’t aware that our reproductive rights are in some ways limited compared to women elsewhere, and I think it’s something that publicly needs to change.”

According to Adams, who is also a Thresher sports editor, Texas legislation has significantly limited access to reproductive health services.

“There’s only eight active clinics in the entire state of Texas, all of which are threatened by legislation every day,” Adams said. “Women in states like Texas, which don’t allow self-admin0see CHOICE, page 3

photo courtesy kaysie tam

Turn up for Texas

Students celebrated on Martel College’s sundeck and rotunda on Aug. 28 as part of the first public party of the semester, Martel’s Don’t Mess With Texas party. Martel College junior Josh Masimore deejayed the event, which had nearly 1,000 RSVPing on Facebook, compared to 500 in 2013 and 700 in 2015.

Athletics exceeds fundraising record Amber Tong

Assistant News Editor

The Owl Club, Rice Athletics Department’s fundraising branch, has raised a record-breaking $2.3 million, a 52.6 percent increase from the $1.51 million in donations they received the previous year.

Director of Rice Athletics Joe Karlgaard said the unprecedented fundraising success speaks to the growing support from Rice’s fan base.

“We surpassed our previous annual fundraising record by $500,000, and we are thrilled with the signal of support this sends from our alumni and friends,” Karlgaard said.

According to Karlgaard, cultivating donor loyalty was key to the accomplishment.

“We really tried to emphasize continued and consistent annual giving as part of our vision for becoming a department with 16 programs of excellence,” Karlgaard said.

Following previous examples, the department is planning to spend the extra money on needs unforeseen in the budgeting process, according to Karlgaard.

“Each year, we set a goal for the Owl Club and incorporate that goal into our budget,” Karlgaard said. “Our goal last year was $2.2 million, and we exceeded it by $100,000. We used those funds to help us fund unexpected expenses that were not accounted for in the budget.”

Sergio Santamaria, football sport head and executive board member of the Rice Rally Club, said since 2013 Rice Athletics has demonstrated a dedication to brand awareness which also predicts the fundraising success.

“I find it as no surprise that Athletics had a record year — ever since the arrival of [Joe Karlgaard], Athletics’ vision for growing the Rice brand has been very evident in all they do,” Santamaria, a Duncan College sophomore, said.

Almost every Athletics employee has spent less than two years at Rice

and brings fresh perspectives to the office, according to Santamaria.

“There’s definitely new blood and an exciting attitude toward the future of Rice Athletics,” Santamaria said.

Athletics’ vision for growing the Rice brand has been very evident in all they do.

Sergio Santamaria Rice Rally Club Board Santamaria said he hopes to see increased investment toward initiatives with lasting impact, such as infrastructure, personnel and publicity.

“I’d like to see the money spent on the long-term investments of Athletics — its facilities, its coaching staff and, of course, its on-campus presence with students,” Santamaria said.

Swim team captain Taylor Armstrong said she hopes the money goes toward sports that are not regularly advertised.

“We see a lot of publicity and game advertising for men’s football, baseball and basketball,” Armstrong, a Martel College senior, said. “However, ask any of these supporters at these games how many women’s sports they’ve attended and the most frequent answer heard is zero.”

Armstrong said she wonders whether the perceived lack of involvement and support in women’s sports is due to student apathy or lack of publicity.

“We can have four people at a home swim meet and they will be the parents of my teammates because Rice lacks advertising for women’s sports,” Armstrong said.

2

NEWS

SA 2015-16 EXPENSES BREAKDOWN FY15 Spent

FY16 Budgeted

$1,403.04 $1,758.65

$1,500 $2,300

$341.77 $1,416.88

$500 $1,000

$477.42

$2,000

$0 $58 $419.42 $0 $0

$600 $500 $800 $100 $250

$271.87

$450

$0 $15.87 $256

$0 $50 $400

$1,411.80

$1,650

$200 $1,211.80

$500 $1,270

Gifts/Awards HedgeHopper Merchandise

$731.97 $0 $1,040.87

$800 $0 $1,700

Total

$7,095.62

$10,400

Meeting Expenses Retreats NSR Welcome Fall, Exec, Spring Retreats

SA Internal Costs Senator Funds Cabinet & Executive Committee Standing Committees USC Committees Blanket Tax Committee

Events SA/GSA Research Mixer Activities Fairs Changeover

Miscellaneous Campaign Reimbursement Others (Office Supplies, website, etc.)

wednesday, September 2, 2015

the Rice Thresher

New RPC constitution proposed at Senate Isaac Schultz SA Beat Writer

Rice Program Council presented the Student Association with a proposal for major changes to the RPC constitution at the first Senate of the 2015-16 school year. Ratification will require a two-thirds majority at an SA vote on Sept. 2. According to RPC President Dixita Viswanath, the new constitution, which will replace the current 2005 document, includes organizational restructuring on the executive board and committees.

According to Viswanath, a Will Rice College senior, the legislation will add a director of college relations and codify the roles of internal and external vice president, which RPC has informally filled for several years. The director of college relations will promote RPC events across campus, manage the college representative system and aid in other publicity-related functions.

“Our goal is to enhance campus community and increase the quality of life,” Viswanath said.

“Our events do not achieve our mission and goals if the Rice community is not aware of them.”

Viswanath said further constitutional changes include more stringent repercussions for absences and other clauses stipulated by SA legislation.

RPC has also proposed several bylaws to better govern and restructure their membership.

Viswanath said the bylaws added a Publicity Committee to better advertise their events, while removing the Concerts Committee. RPC also reapportioned funds to Welcome Back Day. “When we started pricing out big names that students asked for in the concerts, the costs totaled well over $100,000,” Viswanath said. “With only $54,000 to support an entire year of programming through blanket tax, … we [instead] moved toward a Welcome Back Day festival that was more effective, provided more food, and could be appreciated by a wider range of students.”

The Passport to Houston program, which offers students subsidized event tickets, is being revitalized through the Vision for the Second Century, which encourages going beyond the hedges.

Additionally, a new design team will work with publicity to advertise each event with newly developed graphic designs.

NSF grant funds new nanotech water treatment system center Sapna Suresh & Colin Locey STEM Beat Writers

In early August, the National Science Foundation announced a $55.5 million grant for the opening of three new Engineering Research Centers. Of the total, $18.5 million is dedicated to creating a center for Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Systems at Rice.

The center will be led by Pedro Alvarez, professor of civil and environmental engineering, who said his goal is to create a durable, efficient and cost-effective water treatment system that will produce potable water from either wastewater or seawater. He hopes to accomplish this goal through nanotechnology. “[Nanotechnology] is critical for making small systems that are easy to deploy and have significantly greater capacity to treat a wide range of water sources that would otherwise require large and complex treatment trains,” Alvarez said.

The grant will also expand the environmental engineering program at Rice and allow more students to get involved with research and pursue graduate degrees, according to Alvarez.

Alison Archabal, an environmental engineering major, said she is proud her school is taking

a leading role in fighting the global water crisis.

“Having lived in countries where water purification is almost nonexistent including Cuba, India, Philippines, I’ve experienced the difficulty that is questioning every source of water,” Archabal, a Baker College sophomore, said, “I think Dr. Alvarez’s work is a great step not just for Rice but also for the larger community around us.”

Archabal said worldwide environmental problems have made water treatment research increasingly important.

“With the earth’s population increasing and the increase in water crises, like droughts or flooding, sustainable water purification is vital for the future,” Archabal said. “The fact [that] Rice is going to be part of a collaboration to develop the systems that can achieve this is exciting.”

Though the flagship center will be located at Rice, Alvarez said the project leaders will partner with Arizona State University, the University of Texas, El Paso and Yale University.

The other two schools with flagship Engineering Research Centers are the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, which will focus on compacting mobile power, and Arizona State University, which will examine soil engineering tasks.

Court rules RUPD officers have full law enforcement power Miles Kruppa Senior Editor

Rice University Police Department officers are “officers of the state” according to a May 11 ruling by the Texas State Supreme Court. As officers of the state, they have the power to enforce the laws of Texas within their jurisdictions, which includes the Rice campus and Harris County. “[T]he private university police officer is an officer ‘of the state’ because by statute the Legislature has conferred on him the authority to enforce state law on the Rice campus, a public purpose and vested him with all a police officer’s powers, privileges and immunities,” the ruling read.

The decision also granted RUPD the right of interlocutory appeal, which gives them the ability to appeal rulings previously made by appellate courts before any trial could occur.

The ruling came on a false imprisonment case brought by a man who was arrested by an RUPD officer on drunk driving and evading arrest charg-

es after a car chase near campus. He then sued the officer and Rice for false imprisonment, negligence, gross negligence, assault and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

In a written statement, RUPD Chief of Police Johnny Whitehead said RUPD supports the Supreme Court decision. He said the ruling does not change RUPD’s mission and operations, but instead affirms their rights as officers.

“Our officers face the same dangers as any other peace officer in the state and deserve the same protections and rights,” Whitehead wrote.

RUPD came under scrutiny in 2014 for alleged misconduct during a bike theft. A dashboard camera video from the incident shows two RUPD officers using batons on the suspected thief as two others attempt to handcuff the man’s arms while he resists arrest. A grand jury neglected to indict the two officers alleged of misconduct.

The case has been remanded to the Court of Appeals for further proceedings.

wednesday, September 2, 2015

0CHOICE FROM PAGE 1 istered abortions in the form of pills, are prosecuted for utilizing those services.”

Lee said she hopes Pro-Choice Rice will also increase activism on campus.

“Our campus isn’t very political in general and lacks a sort of activist nature that other college campuses do have, so I think we’re hoping to add to a broader political engagement on campus,” Lee said.

We’re hoping to add to a broader political engagement on campus.

Olivia Lee Pro-Choice Rice Founder

The upcoming events, which will be open to everyone, will include a broad range of speakers who will offer information and provide different perspectives, Lammers said.

“We plan on bringing in speakers from the outside community to host talks on campus that are related to being pro-choice and to women’s reproductive health,” Lammers said. “We plan on reaching out to professors or health professionals on campus, and we might host debates or even invite members of the religious community.”

Lee encouraged everyone to become informed about the pro-choice movement.

“Pro-choice isn’t just for women,” Lee said. “We want to provide information to everyone. Women’s health and access to reproductive health is a public good for society, so it is important for everyone to get involved.”

the Rice Thresher

NEWS

3

Student, professor partner to found start-up ‘Data and Design Company’ Andrew Ligeralde Assistant News Editor

“I think that if data is expressed in the right ways and contextualized properly, it can be visualized in a way that people will understand it and gain something new from that perspective.”

This is the guiding principle of Data and Design Co_, a startup founded by Brown College senior Brian Barr and Matthew Wettergreen, engineering design lecturer at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. Over the summer, the pair designed, manufactured and marketed a series of household objects that Barr says he hopes will change the way people look at data. The flagship product, “Houston: A Story of Sprawl in 5 Coasters,” illustrates the growth of the Houston metropolitan area from 1836 to the present day with glass drink coasters, each laser etched with a map of the city at a different point in time.

“We want to make objects that act as a conversation piece and can use data as a way to do that,” Barr said. “So this is interesting because if you had this at a dinner party or something like that you could look at it and compare between coasters. People could talk about how Houston has really grown.”

Barr said the coasters received positive feedback, and he plans to expand the project to encompass the gradual expansions of Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. However, he said the long-term goal is to move beyond the coasters and continue creating novel tools for data visualization.

“This is one cool idea, but we have a whole bunch of things that fit within the umbrella of what we’re trying to do,” Barr said. “Like we make other household objects. And from there, I think we just need to focus on sales and focus on designing more things. So our goal is to come up with one product a month.”

The idea for the business stemmed from Barr’s final project for the course Fabrication and Design, a woodcut map of Houston in which zip codes were elevated to different heights

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based on the number of people registered to vote per capita.

“We thought it was pretty neat, but not very useful,” Barr said. “I use it as a jar opener now.

But there’s something about seeing it so stark, where you have one section of a city is raised much higher than the other sections right in front of you.”

The initial inspiration led Barr and Wettergreen on a path to help others visualize and interact with data. The duo began brainstorming product ideas, figuring out supply chain logistics and filing for an LLC, culminating in the startup’s July launch. Barr said neither he nor Wettergreen had originally aimed to start a business, but they ended up finding a shared interest in the process.

“I don’t think it was so much that he was picking anybody to start a startup with,” Barr said. “I think we just had a really good working relationship, but also a creative relationship. It was something we were both invested in.”

When Data and Design Co_ first started, Barr

and Wettergreen funded the venture out of pocket, manufacturing the items themselves and covering the cost of materials. However, for Barr, it was never about the money.

“This is what you’d call a lifestyle business,” Barr said. “It makes just enough money to sustain itself. If I wanted to make a ton of money, we would’ve done something else. But this gives me a chance to exercise a set of skills that aren’t really addressed by other aspects of the engineering curriculum.”

Barr said while he wishes Rice’s engineering programs offered more design opportunities, some of his most valuable experiences came from looking outside the curriculum.

“There’s no formal program in design, so you should create your own, do things that interest you,” Barr said. “So I think just working on projects on your own, even if you don’t launch a business or manufacture anything, just going through the exercises will help you build up a portfolio. I think taking art classes is good, just doing it on your own. It’s not too hard.”

4

Go ahead, bite off more than you can chew Body cameras raise questions and offer opportunities Rice University Police Department recently adopted the policy of equipping all officers with body cameras (see p. 1). Many support the implementation, including faculty, graduate students, undergraduates and Rice’s attorneys.

The Thresher, too, is happy that RUPD has embraced body camera technology.

Dashboard cameras can capture only so much, and recent events nationwide have shown that what can and cannot be verified through video footage is critically important not only in court, but also to public opinion. Considering the recent Texas Supreme Court decision (see p. 2) ruling RUPD officers as “officers of the state,” it is commendable for Rice to be a part of the movement toward increasing police oversight and operational transparency.

However, both students and university administration have a responsibility to consider how the availability of body camera recordings may impact future judicial proceedings at Rice. Although it is true that the majority of RUPD arrests occur with individuals off campus who are not affiliated with Rice, there certainly are occasional altercations with students, especially related to parties. Students who are undergoing Student Judicial Programs or University Court proceedings may now have a potential source of evidence for their cases.

RUPD statements should be taken at word, but if video evidence exists, it should be considered alongside or even given greater value than the original statement. Ideally, video evidence would be considered in every case, but this may not be feasible in order to deliver timely rulings. Some students will inevitably choose to defend themselves through this avenue.

RUPD, SJP and UCourt should collaborate with the Student Association to set up a framework for handling video requests from students, whether that is within the original trial or through an appeals process. To ensure cases are adjudicated as fairly as possible and to minimize future complications, it is necessary to define criteria to determine which requests for evidence will be honored before such requests arise. There is an opportunity to pre-empt confusion and frustration, and Rice should work together to take it.

As students with the privilege of a police force with body cameras, we have a responsibility to be aware of our rights when it comes to policing as a whole. We must educate ourselves on which situations require officers to turn on the video recordings and understand that RUPD is not obligated to honor requests to refuse recording, which may be especially important in sensitive situations. Claiming ignorance of either police or citizen rights is inexcusable.

Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the piece’s author.

Editorial Staff Andrew Ta* Editor in Chief Yasna Haghdoost* Managing Editor Miles Kruppa* Senior Editor news Anita Alem* Editor Drew Keller* Editor Andrew Ligeralde Asst. Editor Amber Tong Asst. Editor Justin Park Designer

During last year’s Orientation Week, thenStudent Association president Ravi Sheth detailed his underclassman years, explaining how he overloaded himself with activities, cramming extracurricular after extracurricular into his schedule until he found himself burned out. In spending so much time on things he wasn’t actually interested in, he lost sight of what he was doing at Rice.

His story has a happy ending, but so many other people devote their college years to biting off more than they can chew. It’s one thing to be an overzealous freshman who signs up for way too many organizations at the club fair, and a completely different thing to be someone who continues to pursue position after position, just for the sake of having some title. In fact, the latter is the major issue, not the former.

If we constantly seek to stuff our resumes, we end up never doing anything for ourselves; everything is for the benefit of someone else. In high school it was for admissions, now it’s for potential employees. Ironically, we might find that in all the BS-ing and flubbing through activities we don’t really care about, we end up getting caught up in the pitfalls of our constantly forward-looking generation. (And we might be taking an opportunity away from someone else.)

Many of us have fallen into the trap of blindly seeking one extracurricular after the next, constantly on the prowl for some nonacademic activity we can boast about on our Linkedin profiles. In our attempts to make our stack of titles bigger and better, we lose sight of our genuine interests.

I met an engineering director at the Sunnyvale Yahoo office over the summer who, as a sociology major who ditched law school, told me I should do what I love, and money will come later. It is an age-old message: Follow your passion, follow your heart, etc. (The cheese ensues.) But it’s one that people perpetually take for granted and disregard because of its supremely obvious nature.

We need to find that perfect medium: Without truly pushing ourselves to the point of “too much,” we won’t know the full capacity of our capabilities.

I think we should bite off more than we can chew, just for a semester or a year — on the condition that we use that time to explore what we’re actually interested in and curious about.

It’s okay to extend ourselves a little too far so as to pull back, re-evaluate and regroup. We need to find that perfect medium: Without truly pushing ourselves to the point of “too much,”

we won’t know the full capacity of our capabilities. And without exploring as wide a range of subjects or activities, we may never discover our genuine passions. I seriously admire those who knew upon or before entering college what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives, because I don’t, and I bet more than half of all college students have not found their passions (even seniors). We should take the time, while we have it, to dabble and dip our toes in far-flung ponds, because we won’t get many chances post-graduation. Many people claim “it’s never too late,” but sometimes it actually is. A barrage of eventual responsibilities completely out of our control lies beyond the college years — eventually, we won’t be able to permit ourselves to be selfish and explore whatever we want. Here and now, we can create and benefit from our obligations.

College is for figuring out who we are and what we want to do with our lives after all the schooling and instruction. It seems to me there’s no more suitable nor perfect time to indulge in over enthusiasm and extracurriculars.

Julianne Wey is a Jones College sophomore and a Thresher Copy Editor

Hoot’s move will damage their revenue The Hoot seems to be very proud of their new move to the Rice Memorial Center, and at a cursory glance, it makes sense. The hot food will arrive in stages, preventing it from running out in under two hours, as it did far too often last year. The Hoot’s new location will help people at Pub find food, and will also nourish the night owls at Fondren.

However, it ignores the incredible convenience the Hoot represented on campus. Prior to this year, both north and south colleges had easily accessed late night food and drink in their nearby servery, but now students must factor in a much greater distance to get food. It may seem like a minor inconvenience to have to walk to the RMC for the Hoot, but I argue the new distance will discourage many students from making the trek.

When I first visited Rice during Owl Days, I thought the Hoot was the coolest thing. The college cafeteria turned into a Chick-fil-A at night, just seconds from my dorm room! Over the last

two years my opinion has not changed. I cannot count the times I was doing homework in the McMurtry commons and suddenly craved a pizza or chicken sandwich. I practically went into tetra debt from the Hoot’s convenience.

The greatest thing about the Hoot was its ability to incite spontaneity.

Now, the decision to go to the Hoot will be much more involved. Is the walk to the RMC worth it, especially if I have a lot of work to do?

With mobile apps like Postmates and Favor allowing for food to be delivered essentially to your door, it may now become more convenient — and cheaper — to just order food from my phone. I doubt the Hoot’s move will encourage people to work and study near the RMC, since college commons are already too established for the Hoot to create that kind of culture shift.

That being said, I completely understand the Hoot’s rationale. Maintaining a profitable food reselling business at two different locations must have been extremely difficult. With-

out considering how the relocation of the business will affect customer behavior, the move seems to be the most viable economic option.

The move will, however, discourage people from going to the Hoot. How that will affect the Hoot’s profitability remains to be seen. I think this move will hurt their sales; I see the inconvenience of the new location strongly discouraging business.

Evan Neustater is a McMurtry College junior and a Thresher Sports Editor.

Letter to the Editor: Until they forgive, don’t forget I have not written to the Rice Thresher before, but after seeing the article about the removal of the Taiwan “banners” I feel I should express my opinion as well. I find such actions to be highly insulting not only to members of the Taiwanese community, but to the entire Rice community. In short, this action says that our faculty have chosen money and political pressure over the ethical behavior

opinions Mitch Mackowiak* Editor sports Maddy Adams Editor Evan Neustater Editor Sarah Nyquist Designer art Carrie Jiang Director Jake Nyquist Photo Editor Jessica Kelly Asst. Photo Editor arts & entertainment Kaylen Strench Editor Walden Pemantle Editor Samantha Ding Designer

copy Jasmine Lin Editor Julianne Wey Editor backpage Joey McGlone Editor Riley Robertson Editor * indicates member of the Editorial Board

our campus is known for. The reputation of Rice University will continually be formed, for good or ill, over controversies such as this. In an effort to repair some degree of the damage done by the decision to remove the Taiwan banners, those responsible for making this decision should be held accountable for making a formal public apology, as well as an assurance that such behavior will

The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper at Rice University since 1916, is published each Wednesday during the school year, except during examination periods and holidays, by the students of Rice University.

Letters to the Editor must be received by 5 p.m. the Friday prior to publication and must be signed, including college and year if the writer is a Rice student. The Thresher reserves the rights to edit letters for content and length and to place letters on its website.

not reoccur. I strongly encourage everyone to voice their ideas and do their best to ensure that this concern not fade from public discussion until a satisfactory resolution has occurred.

Andrew Bole McMurtry College Class of 2017

Editorial and business offices are located on the second floor of the Ley Student Center: 6100 Main St., MS-524 Houston, TX 77005-1892 Phone (713) 348-4801 Email: thresher@rice.edu Website: www.ricethresher.org Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the piece’s author.

The Thresher is a member of the ACP, TIPA and CNBAM © Copyright 2015

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

the Rice Thresher

OP-ED

5

arts

ENTERTAINMENT

6

Thresher presents: The five freshest releases of summer 2015 Lydia Dick

For the Thresher

So you’ve been blasting the Weeknd and Drake all summer and now you’re looking for something that will get “Cheerleader” out of your head. Here are five solid summer releases to carry you into the fall.

1) FKA Twigs — M3LL155X Formerly a highly sought-after background dancer, FKA Twigs has been making waves in the music industry since her high profile debut with LP1 last year. Captivating listeners with her provocative lyrics, lavish production and avant-garde music videos, the 27-year-old quickly earned comparisons to Bjork and other progressive artists. On M3LL155X, pronounced “Melissa,” Twigs seamlessly balances her mesmerizing vocals with otherworldly instrumentals, for a record that simply can’t be given justice from a 100-word recommendation. Be sure to watch the captivating 16-minute video accompanying the tracks that includes the clip for “Glass & Patron,” featured during the YouTube Music Awards.

Best tracks: “In Time,” “I’m Your Doll”

Art and science connect at Brockman Hall Kaylen Strench A&E Editor

As of this year, physics and chemistry are not the only fields of study dominating the Brockman Hall for Physics. While the walls were once blank, new and returning students are now greeted by a scattered array of eye-catching ink medallions. The colorful orbs, which feature primarily STEM-related images, reflect a novel and striking intersection of art and science.

The catalyst for the piece, completed this year by Houston-based artist Debra Barrera and master screen printer Carlos Hernandez, was a policy enacted by Rice University President David Leebron in 2008. Caroline Walker of Rice Public Art explained that Leebron passed a mandate stating that all buildings constructed on campus had to reserve a section of their budget for art. While the mandate was praised by the Houston community, the university struggled to apply the policy to the first eligible building, Brockman Hall.

Walker said Brockman’s large central staircase precluded any three-dimensional installations, and the building’s scientific theme demanded an artist with a very specific focus.

“It took a long time to find an artist that would be appropriate thematically,” Walker said. “And due to the fire code of the stairwell, we weren’t allowed to have anything expansive. … It had to be part of the wall and have no materiality.”

Walker said Rice Public Art encountered Barrera in 2014 when she was part of a show at the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston, and de-

THE WEEKLY SCENE The editors’ picks for this week’s best events. Time to explore the wonderful world of Houston.

cided soon after that she would be a perfect fit for the project.

“She’s really an up-and-coming artist,” Walker said. “Also, we knew that her work would thematically tie in because she had this interest in connecting the past and the present and the history of science.”

Rice Public Art also learned that Barrera is acquainted with Hernandez, a master screen printer famous for his eclectic work found everywhere from Austin City Limits posters to Pink’s pizza boxes. Barrera contacted Hernandez, and he agreed to make prints of her designs that could be permanently inked onto Brockman’s walls.

“We thought it was just great,” Walker said.

“There would be no fire risk, but [the project] would also be archival and [thus] stable and safe.”

Barrera began the project by asking Rice faculty and staff to send in images related to their research and the history of their field of study. Once she collected them, she manipulated the pictures to reflect the various fields of exploration in simplified forms.

“It was essentially an open call,” Walker said.

“And she took those images and refined them, crossed them and manipulated them to create the final medallions.”

The resulting images each represent a specific discipline within physics and astronomy, and are color-coded by field of study. Walker said that their circular structure means they are self-contained and thus could be scattered across the wall.

“They kind of have this free association thing going on on the wall,” Walker said. “This allows you to roam from one to the next with your eyes as they travel up the stairwell.”

DANCIN’ IN THE STREET

Walker said the final product represents the intrinsic connection between art and science, and demonstrates how that connection can be directly observed.

“Artists are always looking to not only reflect the world, but redefine it or reinvestigate what it means to be in it,” Walker said. “And scientists are interested in the same thing, looking very closely and trying to name the mysteries of the world.”

Walker said Rice University is an ideal space for celebrating the art-science connection through public art due to its researchoriented environment and emphasis on discovery.

“It’s such a dynamic and exploratory environment,” Walker said. “It naturally begs for art on campus that’s not just a statement, but also a question.”

Walker said that eventually, Rice Public Art hopes to create an interactive component to the piece, or didactic, that allows students to engage with the work on a variety of levels.

She said this will probably take the form of a website that allows viewers to learn more about each individual medallion.

“Our hope is that … students that don’t normally traffic through that building can investigate the collection online,” Walker said. “We want them to realize that art is not a refined subject that’s supposed to be separated from all other fields, but art is interested in other disciplines, too.”

“Asymmetric Seekers” is on display on campus at the Brockman Hall for Physics. More information can be found at publicart.rice.edu.

2) Jamie xx — In Colour This highly anticipated album from Jamie Smith, member of the popular Londonbased outfit the xx, did not disappoint listeners upon its May 29 release. Featuring atmospheric and catchy dance-house music and guest appearances from vocalists from the xx and American hip-hop artist Young Thug, this album is a great go-to for music that will please a crowd.

Best tracks: “Loud Places,” “I Know There’s Gunna Be (Good Times)” 3) Tame Impala — Currents You may recognize Tame Impala from their 2012 psychedelic-pop hit “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards.” On their latest record, Tame Impala introduces synths and more modern instrumentation that showcase lead singer Kevin Parker’s talents as a producer, songwriter and vocalist. Here you’ll find some very catchy tracks with a retro flare.

Best tracks: “Let it Happen,” “The Less I Know the Better” 4) Injury Reserve — Live from the Dentist Office On their latest release, Arizona-based hip-hop trio Injury Reserve abandoned the boom-bap style found on their first release Cooler Colors to embrace a more alternative hip-hop feel. This album spans a variety of moods and styles, from the grimy banger beats on “Everybody Knows” to the more jazzy and somber tones on tracks like “Whatever Dude.” Co-emcees Steppa and Ritchie with a T seamlessly work together, delivering clever, funny and reflective lyrics.

Best tracks: “Yo,” “Whatever Dude” 5) Thundercat — The Beyond/Where the Giants Roam 0see RELEASES, page 8

COMIC CON

ARTS MARKET

PASSION PIT

Celebrate the long weekend by getting down in Hermann Park. Sept. 3 to 5, the Miller Outdoor Theatre will feature rowdy nights of live Motowninspired performances. The shows start at 8 p.m., and tickets are free. Don’t miss this perfect chance to show some soul.

If there’s anything more hip than the Heights, it’s the First Saturday Arts Markets. On Sept. 5, all kinds of local artists will gather on 19th Street to peddle their wares from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. If that’s not enough, food trucks will also be nearby, so come for the art, stay for the treats.

Looking for bubbly electro-pop on a weeknight? You may be in luck. Passion Pit is coming to the House of Blues Tuesday, Sept. 8, touring for their new album, Kindred. Doors open at 7 p.m. and there’s no opening act, so you may even make it to your 8 a.m. on Wednesday. Tickets start at $12.50.

This weekend, exhibitors and comic book artists will take up residence at the George R. Brown Convention Center for the Amazing Houston Comic Con. Autograph sessions, costume contests and a giant video game arena are just a few of the many attractions that fans can expect. Tickets start at $25.

Miller outdoor Theatre Hermann Park facebook.com/miller.outdoor

The Heights 548 W. 19th Street firstsaturdayartsmarket.com

House of Blues 1204 Caroline Street houseofblues.com

George R. Brown Convention Center 1001 Avienda de las Americas amazinghoustoncomiccon.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

WHAT’S HIP RIGHT NOW TV:

“Show Me a Hero”

A&E

the Rice Thresher

TECH:

Tesla Model S P90D

7

by kaylen strench

HEALTH:

Virtual Workouts

BOOKS:

God Help the Child

courtesy peloton

In a phrase: No more excuses to skip spinning.

Where to find it: pelotoncycle.com

courtesy hbo

In a phrase: “The Wire” for Yonkers.

Where to find it: Mooch off your friends’ HBO GO Message-centered dramas have been steadily rising in popularity ever since HBO’s hidden gem, “The Wire,” was discovered by the masses at the end of its run. Somehow, many of these shows get away with touting their hard-line social and political stances without being shut down for “preachiness.” (See “Orange is the New Black,” “The Fosters,” “Mr. Robot,” etc.) HBO’s newest miniseries, “Show Me a Hero,” seems to have the potential to continue this trend — in fact, it’s already a critical hit among token high-culture institutions like The New Yorker and NPR. The story, set in the 1980s and 1990s, covers the aftermath of a real controversial federal court decision to insert public housing into a white, middle-class community in Yonkers. In particular, the show focuses on the Yonkers political world during this time period and uses the cast of lawyers, politicians and cops as vehicles for commenting on racism and class. Though the show is not “light” viewing by any means, it should be promising for those among us who enjoy quality drama and raising socially liberal consciousness.

courtesy teslamotors.com

In a phrase: The best car ever.

Where to find it: teslamotors.com If you like speed, class and the environment, then get ready to geek out. Electric car manufacturer Tesla just broke Consumer Reports with the release of their newest model, the S P90D. It got a perfect score on every section of the rating agency’s car evaluation. In fact, they actually had to adjust entire sections of the evaluation to reflect the car’s incredible quality. The electricity-powered sedan is sleek, compact and rockets to 60 mph in as little as three seconds. Its battery can last for up to 300 miles — three times longer than any of its competitors.

It may be the best car ever made. The only catch is, of course, the price — a fittedout S P90D will run you about $142,000. I know, but just think of it as even more motivation to study for that MCAT or LSAT.

‘Speak Up’ debuts at Houston festival Cannon Lewis Thresher Staff

A month from now, four theaters in Houston’s historic East End will be taken over by one of the more eclectic collections of music, theater and dance in Texas, otherwise known as the Houston Fringe Festival. Running Sept. 24 to 27, the Houston Fringe Festival will feature a “neo-burlesque troupe,” several multimedia dance projects and a play about Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald, among many other projects. Right in the middle of the artistic fray is The Speak Up Project, a play written, performed and directed by Rice students that explores the reality of sexual assault through a variety of perspectives.

The actors help carry the student writers’ burden.

Vicky Comesanas Dir., The Speak Up Project

The Speak Up Project, which includes ten monologues written anonymously by Rice students who have experienced sexual assault or harassment, is intended to spread awareness about sexual assault on college campuses and to give sexual assault victims a platform for sharing their experiences. Vicky Comesanas, the director and producer of The Speak Up Project, said the project largely came from a feeling that sexual assault on campus was not yet adequately addressed.

“My friend and I kept hearing stories in the news about sexual harassment and sexual assault, which made us want to do something to help,” Comesanas said. “We are both really into theater, so naturally we decided that a play was the best way to spread our message.”

Comesanas said she was also motivated by what she felt was very minimal media coverage of sexual assault, which she said produces apathy about the issue on college campuses.

“The news coverage of sexual assault is usually so general and sparse,” Comesanas said.

“Because of that, a lot of students at Rice have the attitude that it couldn’t happen here, or that the general trend doesn’t affect us. The reality is that it happens all the time, but various social mechanisms prevent people from reporting.”

Comesanas said that despite recent increases in reports of sexual assault, she still believes many college students still feel afraid to share their experiences. She said she hopes the play makes it easier for victims to tell their stories and helps start a conversation about the local culture around sexual assault.

“That’s why the play is called The Speak Up Project: We want to give victims of sexual assault a way to make their voice heard anonymously,” Comesanas said.

The Speak Up Project not only affected the audience and the writers, but also the actors.

Comesanas said many of the people involved in the play are now personally invested in preventing sexual harassment at Rice because of their engagement with the monologues they are performing.

“In a very real way, the actors help carry the student writers’ burden,” said Comesanas.

“When an actor is performing such an intense, personal monologue, it becomes difficult to separate the actor’s own feelings from the writer’s.”

McMurtry College sophomore Lenna Mendoza, one of the actresses in the play, said she feels the format of the project conveys a unique reality about sexual assault that could not be expressed in most other mediums.

“The Speak Up Project provides a crucial alternative dialogue about issues of sexual violence and discrimination that doesn’t rely on euphemism and statistics,” Mendoza said.

“Instead, [it] allows us to hear the voices of survivors.”

The initial showing of the play in spring 2015 was well-received and many audience members claimed it sparked a conversation about non-reporting at Rice. Hanszen College junior Rachel Buissereth, who attended the play when it was performed in Willy’s Pub in March, said the play was a significant piece of art and very empowering.

“The Speak Up Project was a huge healing step for sexual assault in the Rice community, serving as an educational as well as an emotional piece,” Buissereth said. “I walked away from The Speak Up Project feeling vulnerable, yet ready to fight for those who had been victims of sexual assault.”

0see SPEAK UP, page 8

Working out is complicated. You know that if you try to do it alone, you won’t be motivated.

You need a real person to yell, “Pedal faster, you lazy buffoon!” and not just that increasingly weak little voice in your head. Yet, going to an actual class is a hassle. What if you have to go somewhere afterward and you’re all sweaty? You could pack your shampoo, but then you have to put it all up in the morning, and that’s just really complicated. Basically, you just can’t win … until now.

Peloton, a fitness company in New York City, now offers indoor cycling classes that you can attend in person or have live streamed at your house. All you have to do is buy one of their bikes, which comes equipped with a waterproof tablet that can measure your vitals, pace and other data, and connect you straight to your instructor. Though in some ways it seems a little unnecessary, it’s easy to see why the especially busy or picky might be interested. Also, there’s something slightly less embarrassing about spinning while virtually connected to a real spinning studio as opposed to just spinning by in your basement … in a sweat-stained high school Tshirt … alone.

courtesy toni morrison

In a phrase: Yikes Where to find it: amazon.com Toni Morrison’s been a standout in literary circles for decades; you know this if, like most people, you had to read Beloved in high school. She’s best known for her dreamy, surreal plotlines rooted in very real pain and sadness, and her latest release, God Help the Child, is no exception.

A critical hit, the book explores child abuse through the eyes of the main character, Bride.

Bride’s obviously ironically-named mother, Sweetness, tortures her out of hatred for her extremely dark skin. When Bride grows up, the effects of this abuse stay with her, impacting all of her relationships with others and herself. Though the subject matter doesn’t scream “beach read,” Morrison’s masterful grasp on magical realism and her insanely beautiful prose make reading this book a worthwhile endeavor for the literaryminded.

Revival Market serves dinner with style Walden Pemantle A&E Editor

When Revival Market began clearing space earlier this year for a full-service dining room, there were plenty of questions to be answered. The market has long been popular for its sandwiches and baked goods, but many worried that a full-service dinner menu would detract attention and quality from the cheaper, more casual lunch counter.

Moreover, owners Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber had opened Coltivare, a brand new restaurant, not five months ago; it seemed that adding yet another dining room to their charge could be a classic sign of overexpansion. Fortunately, Revival Market’s new dinner menu fits quite well into Pera and Weber’s existing enterprises. The food neither overshadows the market’s lunch specials nor simply duplicates the garden-to-table formula of Coltivare. Instead, it relies on Pera and Weber’s knack for creative butchery to expand the kitchen’s offerings into a full-fledged menu of modern American dishes.

The duo describes the market’s food as “preservation” cooking. While it is a little unclear what exactly that means, there are plenty of ways the kitchen touts certain kinds of preservation. Preserves themselves figure heavily into the menu, popping up in the form of pickled sweet peppers in the peanut-jalapeño hummus, lemon preserves on the Texas watermelon and housemade kimchi on the enormous slow-cooked short rib. But beyond that, there is a preservation of flavors and ingredients that elsewhere seem to be going out of style.

Pork rinds, fried and sprinkled with za’atar alongside a cream cheese dip with pickled cabbage and chives are a particular standout among the appetizers. Lardo, an Italian delicacy of cured pork fat and herbs, is featured in three separate dishes, served with white bean toasts, whipped into a spread and blended with cherries on warm biscuits respectively. Each dish showcases the silky texture and decadent flavor of an ingredient

that, for decades, has been relegated to an alternative for Crisco in American kitchens.

The entrees, at their best, offer an entirely new level of sophistication from Revival.

They reveal both the wide range of influences chef Pera cooks with and his talent for condensing them into creative, eclectic plates.

The by-catch manages to juggle flavors from North Africa, the Middle East, El Salvador and the deep South with marvelous results.

The fish is rubbed with harissa and served on a bed of braised savoy cabbage with curtido, a pickled cabbage salad and yogurt to the 0see REVIVAL, page 8

Revival Market Address: 550 Heights Blvd, 77007 Price range: $$ Phone Number: (713) 880-8463 Website: revivalmarket.com

Recommended Dishes Gulf by-catch, $19 By-catch with harissa savoy cabbage and yogurt Lemon vanilla panna cotta, $8 Panna cotta with lemon peel, espresso and cocoa nibs

side.

cara-

8

A&E

0 RELEASES from page 6 OK, so you’re not going to find your summer pump-up jam on Thundercat’s latest EP, but if you are looking for some songs to help you chill out while cranking out problem sets, this record is for you. Part of Flying Lo-

the Rice Thresher tus’s Brainfeeder collective, fans of Kendrick Lamar and Kamasi Washington may recognize the name as he was featured on both of their most recent critically acclaimed releases. Check this out if you’re looking for some groovy baselines, head nodding syncopation and reflective lyrics.

Best tracks: “Them Changes,” “Lone Wolf and Cub”

0 REVIVAL from page 7 melized lemon also comes with the plate, and though there’s no obvious answer to how one is supposed to eat it, it goes very well squeezed over the fish or even eaten by itself. The red meat generally gets a more rustic treatment. The hot lamb sausage is served over cheddar grits with sweet peppers and a tomato broth while the pork collar is glazed and served with pole beans, peas and corn fritters. The most notable beef selection is the 44 farms sirloin, which in a similarly straightforward preparation, is served with hand-cut noodles, mushrooms, sour cream and chives. With a healthy touch of cracked pepper, the sour cream becomes a wonderful compliment to the beef and mushrooms, letting the meat’s flavors shine and lending a creamy mouth-feel to the noodles’ comforting chewiness. The small dessert menu is a

0 SPEAK UP from page 7 Comesanas said she sees the Houston Fringe Festival as a great opportunity to raise awareness in a wider setting.

“I am a big believer in the whole ‘art as activism’ movement, and that was the biggest motivation for taking The Speak Up Project to the Houston Fringe Festival,” said Comesanas. “I’m hoping to get people interested in the project and to find investors who can help us take the play to other college campuses.”

Wednesday, September 2, 2015 welcome end to the meal. For the most part, Pera embellishes familiar desserts with exotic garnishes to mixed results. The luxardo gastrique on the peaches and cream buttermilk pie fits perfectly, but the hibiscus bits on the flourless chocolate cake are muted by the cake’s density and, consequently, hard to taste. The lemon panna cotta is among Revival Market’s most memorable dishes, pairing a perfectly textured panna cotta with aromatic lemon, bitter espresso and crunchy cacao nibs, each balancing the other impeccably.

Given how much the management has expanded this year, it’s a bit miraculous how consistent Revival Market’s dinner service is. What’s more, the lunch counter with its excellent pastrami and corned beef is still around too, it’s just the warm-up act to an even more impressive main event. In fact, it seems Pera and Weber have found a way to make their “preservation” kitchen work on every level, preserving their old tricks and recombining them to make something new.

In addition to bringing the play to other college campuses in Houston, Comesanas said she is considering creating another version with new Rice students.

Those interested in anonymously writing a monologue about their personal experiences or acting in this new version of The Speak Up Project can contact Comesanas at vicky.comesanas@rice.edu.

The current version of The Speak Up Project will be performed Sept. 24 at 9 p.m. and Sept. 27 at 4:30 p.m. at the Super Happy Fun Land theater. Tickets can be purchased at the door or at houstonfringefestival.org.

Sports is on Twitter. Get the scoop at twitter.com/ThresherSports

9

Wagner presents unique challenge Evan Neustater Sports Editor

courtesy rice sports information

Senior forward Holly Hargreaves goes for the header during a victory against San Jose State University on Aug. 28. The Owls won two games during the past week against Texas A&M, Corpus Christi and Sam Houston State University. Rice has won three straight games and is now 3-1.

Soccer wins three straight matches Michael Kidd Thresher Staff

With a mix of senior leadership and talented newcomers, the Rice Owls soccer club defeated two in-state foes this past weekend, winning a total of three consecutive matches. On Friday, Aug. 28, the team defeated Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi 2-0. Rice followed up this performance with a 2-0 victory over Sam Houston State University at the neutral site of BBVA Compass Stadium.

After falling to the No. 5 nationally ranked Texas A&M University squad in the opening match of the 2015 season last week, the Owls have remained unbeaten and are currently 3-1 in the season.

The senior duo of forward Lauren Hughes and midfielder Danielle Spriggs led the Owls to the 2-0 victory over Texas A&M, Corpus Christi. The scoring began in the 30th minute when Hughes launched a free kick from the left side of the 18yard penalty area that connected with the top corner of the net to give Rice the 1-0 advantage.

The Owls continued to push in the second half to attempt to increase their lead. The second goal finally came in the 76th minute of the match.

Hughes found Spriggs on the outside of the goal, who then fired a strike past the keeper to give Rice an insurance goal and a 2-0 lead. On the same day opposing goalkeeper Megan Delaney registered 12 saves, the Owls defense limited the Islanders attack to just seven shots and three corner kicks en route to their first shutout of the season.

Sunday afternoon, the Owls competed in the first-ever women’s collegiate soccer match held at

BBVA Compass Stadium, the home of the Houston Dynamo and Houston Dash professional soccer clubs. The Owls were victorious in similar fashion to Friday’s matchup with a final score of 2-0 led by one goal and one assist by Hughes. With 17 firsthalf shots taken against Sam Houston State, the high-pressure and constant Owl attack paid off in the 41st minute when freshman forward Annie Walker sent a ball into the attacking middle and found Hughes, who tapped it into the near post for her third goal of the season and 35th goal of her Rice career.

Riding the momentum from opening up the scoring, the Owls scored again just 62 seconds later when Hughes drove a ball to freshman forward Nia Stallings running alongside her for the tap-in that gave the Owls a 2-0 advantage. A significant play occurred 73 minutes into the match when Sam Houston was awarded a penalty kick following a Rice foul in the box. Junior goalkeeper Zoe Pochobradsky blocked the kick, halting Sam Houston State’s momentum.

Head Coach Nicky Adams said she was pleased with the toughness her defense and midfield showed in recording back to back shutouts.

“I thought this was a good weekend for us after coming off A&M and San Jose, where we had goals scored on us,” Adams said. “This was a weekend where we really wanted … to get tougher back there [and] overall I think our back line and our midfield did a much better job.

Adams said certain key bench players stepped up and contributed to the overall performance of the team.

“I thought we had some key players step up for us off the bench in a big way,” Adams said. “Madeleine Lundberg in the midfield, Nia Stallings [and] Annie Walker all gave us that spark and attacking presence.”

Spriggs said she felt the team played their best game of the season on Friday by coming out the gate ready to go.

“I think Friday was our best overall [and complete] game so far that we have played,” Spriggs said. “Every single position was on point and … we didn’t take any time to get adjusted to the game; we just came out strong at every position.”

Pochobradsky said her penalty kick save combined skill and a bit of luck.

“I never guess on a penalty kick, [but] my coach always says to trust your instincts,” Pochobradsky said. “You get up to the line and you kind of hope for the best and I guess I got lucky today.”

Pochobradsky said the team must remain focused in the face of a tough out-of-conference schedule ahead.

“We’ve got to start recovering from this weekend and stay mentally checked in,” Pochobradsky said. “We’re going to work on organization and keeping the ball, because when we keep the ball we are absolutely unstoppable.”

The Owls return home to Holloway Field this upcoming Thursday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. to face Southern Methodist University. The Owls will then play on Sunday, Sept. 6 against the University of Arkansas, a team the Owls played to a 1-1 draw last season. Kickoff for the match is scheduled for 7 p.m.

When Rice University takes the field for the first time this season, it will be against a very unfamiliar opponent.

Wagner College, a liberal arts school in Staten Island, New York, will make a trip to Houston on Sept. 5. With an undergraduate population of under 2,000, Wagner is the seventh-smallest school at the Division 1-AA level, the secondhighest division of collegiate football and a tier below Rice’s Division 1-A status.

Wagner College first began competing in football in 1927, where today they compete in the Northeast Conference. The Seahawks’ home field is Hameline Field at Wagner College Stadium, named in honor of Walt Hameline, the current athletic director who just resigned as head football coach after the 2014 season. Hameline, the 49th-winningest head coach in college football history, compiled 223 wins in 34 seasons as head coach, including winning the 1987 NCAA Division III National Football Championship. Wagner made the move to Division I in 1992.

Wagner will now begin its first season since 1981 without Hameline leading the team. Firstyear Head Coach Jason Houghtaling will take the helm of the program where he previously served as offensive coordinator. Houghtaling has spent seven seasons at Wagner, serving as offensive coordinator during Wagner’s 2012 and 2014 Northeast Conference title runs.

During the 2014 season, the Seahawks posted a 7-4 season record including 4-1 in conference play, which placed them in a tie for first, but did not earn a trip to the FCS playoffs.

Among their four losses was a 34-3 road defeat at the hands of Conference USA first-year member Florida International University. Rice defeated FIU last season 31-17.

Offensively, Wagner returns seven starters from a squad that averaged 20.7 points per game in 2014. Senior quarterback Chris Andrews will lead the offense after throwing for 657 yards and three touchdowns on 42 percent completion percentage. Andrews also possesses dual-threat ability, adding 468 yards and four touchdowns through the ground. Additionally, leading rusher Otis Wright returns after rushing for 598 yards and six touchdowns last season.

Wagner was more effective rushing the ball than passing last season, as the rushing attack outgained the passing game 1,767 yards to 1,484. Conversely, Rice rushed for 2,181 yards and passed for 3,009 last season.

Defensively, Wagner only returned five of 11 starters from last year’s team which sacrificed 18 points per game. Wagner gave up only 914 yards on the ground last season but allowed 2,180 yards passing. With a defensive unit returning only one defensive back, Rice redshirt senior quarterback Driphus Jackson and the offense may look to capitalize on Wagner’s rebuilding defense.

According to Head Coach David Bailiff, Rice cannot overlook Wagner despite their lowerdivision status.

“All we’ve talked about since January is Wagner,” Bailiff said. “We’ve been telling them that it’s the most important game on the schedule and that you can’t overlook them. ... But you listen to the seniors talk and the theme is 0see Football, page 10

Volleyball takes two of three in tournament Maddy Adams Sports Editor

Rice volleyball opened its 2015 season with a trip to Austin, Texas for the American Campus Classic this weekend. The Owls began the tournament with a 0-3 loss against the nationally ranked No. 3 University of Texas, Austin on Friday afternoon. On Saturday, Rice made a dramatic comeback against Louisiana State University following a 2-0 deficit and completed the tournament with a 3-1 win against University of California, Irvine.

Junior libero Kimberly Vaio said she attributes Friday’s loss to the team’s anxiety.

“First matches typically are not the cleanest;

we went into UT and the first set environment and the nerves got to us,” Vaio said. “We were missing serves, the passes weren’t crisp and we were making errors at the wrong times.”

Rice struggled on offense during their match against UT. The Owls trailed behind the Longhorns, hitting only .067 compared to UT’s .333. According to Head Coach Genny Volpe, Rice was unable to compete against Texas’ consistent offense.

“They had firepower coming from all directions and a great setter who ran a very balanced offense,” Volpe said. “We had trouble defending this and, more importantly, had a hard time getting our offense going due to their tough serving.”

Despite the loss, Vaio said the match against UT prepared the Owls to face LSU. “Though we lost, we knew we had things to work out and we knew that our best volleyball was yet to come,” Vaio said. “It made us that much more motivated for LSU.” Following Friday’s loss, Rice rallied back Saturday morning and beat LSU after overcoming a 2-0 deficit. According to Vaio, the Owls were frustrated after the first two games against LSU and every member of the team was committed to rallying back and winning the match.

“We all knew that we were the better team and we were tired of giving them the game, so we looked at each other and we made a commitment that we were going to win the next three

games,” Vaio said. “Each one of us knew that there was no other option than winning and we were ready to do everything it took to pull it off.”

The last time the Owls beat the Tigers was Nov. 27, 2009, and Rice’s all-time record against LSU is a mere 3-19. Volpe said she attributes the surprising victory to mental toughness.

“This team is certainly showing that they are resilient and that they are mentally tough,” Volpe said. “It takes that level of mental toughness to come back and win against a solid program, after losing five straight sets in a row.”

Rice completed the weekend with a 3-1 win against UC Irvine and finished second in their opening tournament. Vaio said she was proud of 0see Volleyball, page 10

10 SPORTS

the Rice Thresher

Defense looks to rebuild in 2015 season Aniket Tolpadi Thresher Staff

“Get the ball out! Get the ball out!” one can hear Defensive Coordinator Chris Thurmond yelling at his defense during practices. Since Thurmond took over as defensive coordinator in 2012, turnovers and energy have been the hallmark of a defensive mentality that has steadily been implemented in his four years at Rice, a strategy the team hopes will lead to success in 2015.

The team will run a multiple defense, meaning the defense will change its formation based on its opponent. According to Thurmond, the defensive strategy will allow the defense to read and adapt to different offenses.

“We have the ability to change up depending on whoever we play and what their tendencies are,” Thurmond said.

The 2015 defense is returning four of 11 starters from the 2014 team. The lack of experience on the defense may concern some, but according to redshirt junior linebacker Alex Lyons, the defense is determined to make a name for itself in 2015.

“We’re young, but we’re talented and we’re very hungry, and I think we’re going to put on a show,” Lyons said.

The Owls will have a young defense in 2015, particularly in the secondary. While the team lost considerable leadership and talent in the form of defensive tackle Christian Covington, defensive end Brian Nordstrom and cornerback Bryce Callahan this past season, several pillars remain.

Lyons, the team’s leading tackler in 2014 with 71, will be returning to lead the linebacking core.

On the defensive line, redshirt sophomore Graysen Schantz is joined by fellow redshirt sophomore Brian Womac and redshirt senior Stuart

0from VOLLEYBALL page 9 her team’s performance and improvements from past seasons.

“I am really proud of the team for our performance this weekend,” Vaio said. “It’s tough

Mouchantaf, both of whom are returning from injuries. In the secondary, senior Ryan Pollard, the team’s top cornerback heading into 2015, is also coming back for his final season. With the returning talent, Lyons said coaches and returning players are not concerned.

“We have a lot of great athletes on the back end who can play the ball, and up front we’re experienced and can beat people up,” Lyons said.

“So [we can] get the ball out, get a couple ducks and get a lot of turnovers this year.”

Head Coach David Bailiff is also confident in his 2015 team, despite the losses sustained. In particular, the coaching staff knew during the 2014 season they would lose seniors in the secondary. According to Bailiff, they were prepared for these losses and are confident in their ability to hold up against the pass.

“We spent a lot of time getting young guys some playing time last year, since we knew we’d be hit hard by graduation,” Bailiff said. “We’ve got guys like Ryan Pollard and [redshirt junior] J.T. Blasingame that have played well in practice, and [sophomore] V.J. Banks got some playing time last year. It’s a young secondary, and a young team, but we have a lot of depth.”

While they were happy with their performance in a 30-7 victory in the Hawai’i Bowl over Fresno State University that concluded the 2014 season, the team has been motivated this offseason by their performance in the game prior.

Heading into the season finale with a 7-4 overall record and a 5-2 record within Conference USA, Rice faced off against Louisiana Tech University with a berth in the C-USA title game on the line.

The Owls, however, were unable to pull it out.

They were outgained in total yardage 677-371 while also committing four turnovers, resulting in a 76-31 loss.

Bailiff said the loss pushed the players to redeem themselves in the bowl game, and has even provided continuing motivation going into this season.

“I think you saw in the bowl game how motivated our guys were, how prepared we were for that game and how well we played,” Bailiff said.

“That loss has definitely kept us energized heading into this season. Every year we want to win conference, we want to be a top 25 team. And we think we can do that this season.”

Lyons and the defense was similarly motivated by the loss.

“It’s extremely motivating during workouts when we’re out here in 100-degree weather,” Lyons said. “We had a power outage in our weight room and we were still working out. There’s nothing more motivating when you see that clip and the highlights of that clip. You never want that to happen.”

Given the Owls’ 2015 opponents, one thing is certain: The defense will be tested. They will face off against the University of Texas, Austin and Baylor University this season, two schools that have consistently sent top-tier talent to the National Football League in recent years.

Within C-USA, two opponents in particular stand out: Louisiana Tech, who will be quarterbacked by former Florida Gator Jeff Driskel, and Western Kentucky, a team led by 2014 C-USA MVP quarterback Brandon Doughty.

Though these prolific offenses are on the schedule, Lyons said the defense is up to the task.

“A lot of people are questioning the defense because we’re going to be pretty young,” Lyons said. “Anybody who has questions can come see for themselves, sit back and enjoy the show.”

The season commences Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. in a home matchup against the Wagner Seahawks.

to bounce back from a loss right away, but we proved that we have the mindset to do it. Also, for the past three years we have struggled winning fifth games and we proved right off the bat that even if we are down by two games, we have what it takes to finish.”

According to Volpe, the Owls need to improve on their consistency and execution on offense.

“We need to improve our consistency,” Volpe said. “We were up and down all weekend which made us less efficient. We will continue to work on this and keep pressing the envelope in what we can do offensively.”

The Owls will next play at Yale University on Sept. 4, where they will face off against University of California, Santa Barbara.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

0from FOOTBALL page 9 pretty consistent that we’re not going to overlook these guys.”

Bailiff also said he knows Wagner will give their best effort to try and upset a bigger-name program.

“This is the first time in 100 straight games that we’re playing a [Division 1-AA] team,” Bailiff said.

“That’s one where we know that we’re going to get their best. I used to coach at that level. We used to play the [Texas] A&M’s and I remember how motivated our guys were to make a point. We know that Wagner is going to be challenging for us.”

Rice is 7-3 all-time against Division 1-AA opponents. The Owls last played such an opponent in 2007, a 14-16 loss which came at the hands of Nicholls State University. Rice will open its season against Wagner on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at Rice Stadium.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

SPORTS

the Rice Thresher

11

New mobile app provides rewards for Rice sports fans Emily Rao

For the Thresher

thresher archives

Rice fans will now be able to accumulate points for prizes by attending athletic events and signing in through a mobile app. The app will use GPS to recognize when the user is at a game.

THRESHER SPORTS

Join the team. thresher@rice.edu

Rice University Athletics recently launched a student rewards app, allowing students to check in when they attend certain sporting events to gain virtual rewards.

Rice Athletics Director of Marketing Vaughan Moss led the initiative, which officially launched at the Orientation Week Rice Rally. According to Moss, the new system is designed to increase spirit in the student body.

“We are always looking for creative, new ways to engage students with athletics,” Moss said. “The app makes natural sense because everyone in the age group is always on their phones and always so connected.”

The app was created with the help of the Rice Rally Club, a group dedicated to the promotion of overall school spirit on campus, according to Moss. The club, which reformed last year after a period of inactivity, presented Moss with the idea of a rewards system.

“We thought the concept was a great one and I knew of a company, FanMaker, that made apps for this purpose,” Moss said.

“Companies approach us all the time trying to sell ideas like this but FanMaker ended up being the one that had the best user interface and fit our budget.”

Moss said the app boasts features such as the ability to send out mass messages to fans and a technology feature called Beacon, which detects fan location by connecting with their phones and Bluetooth devices.

Moss said the GPS technology can recognize when you are in a certain athletic venue on campus.

According to Moss, fans using the app will accrue points that then earn them points for prizes. Points can be earned by attending sporting events and by promoting Rice Athletics through social media. According to Moss, attending any sporting event on campus is 125 points. Connecting to social media, liking Rice’s football and basketball Facebook pages as well as retweeting Rice Athletics on Twitter will also earn points.

Rewards will range from merchandise from Rice’s official athletic sponsor Adidas to gift cards from local sponsors such as Buffalo Wild Wings, according to Moss.

Moss said he hopes the app will be especially effective in increasing attendance in sports that are working on building excitement and support.

“The [men’s] basketball team, for example, is currently undergoing rebuilding under Coach [Mike] Rhoades and would really benefit from the support of the student body,” Moss said. “Hopefully they have such a great time coming to a game that they come back again and again.”

We are always looking for creative, new ways to engage students with athletics.

Vaughan Moss

Rice Athletics Director of Marketing

Captain of the Rice Owls dance team May Zhong said the app could function as an equalizer of school spirit among different sports.

“The dance team performs at a lot of different sporting events and I definitely got the sense that not every game got the same level of support and school spirit,” Zhong, a Baker College sophomore, said.

Baker College freshman Matthew Ringheanu said he downloaded the app as soon as it was introduced at the O-Week Rally.

“I haven’t been here very long but from what I’ve gauged so far, I think Rice is a very spirited school and has a great sense of family,” Ringheanu said. “This app would definitely help increase that sense of family.”

The Rice Owls Rewards app is available on both the Apple Store and Google Play.

12

BACKPAGE

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

the Rice Thresher

How was your first week?

We at the Backpage wanted to get a look at how all the new students were adapting to college life. We were glad to see that those we talked to were already brainwashed fitting in great to their colleges.

Where the fuck is our flag?

How are we supposed to offer the Phoenix blood tribute to keep Will Rice the #1 college for most Number Ones? Grand Master Derek will not be pleased.

–Will Rice

I often find myself locked out of my room, and then I realize that I’ve been trying to get into a McMurtry room all along.

100’s a lot. I mean, Snoop’s always been a role model of mine. But I’m also trying to make it four years. 100’s a lot.

–Lovett

Baker’s convenient location, ample facilities and generally attractive student body make for a tremendously classy college. Also, my roommate just found a stunning new rustand-gold colored floor mat for our bathroom.

–Duncan

–Baker

Oh, Martel’s not a college?

Well then I guess nobody came to our sick sundeck rager on Friday. And I guess I didn’t look tasty in my booty jorts and cowboy boots. And I suppose I wasn’t a total badass for shotgunning three Bud Light Limes at the pregame. And I guess that babe whose butt I brushed against hasn’t stopped thinking about it, either.

–Martel

This sucks.

–Brown

The Backpage is satire and written by Joey McGlone and Riley Robertson. For comments or questions, please email thresher@rice.edu.

CLASSIFIEDS WANTED

Teach for Test Masters! Dynamic and Energetic teachers wanted. Starting pay rate is $20 to $32 per hour. Flexible schedules. We provide all training, all training is paid, and we pay for travel. Email your resume to ricejobs@testmasters.com.

West U family looking for Rice student to pick up kids (8 & 11 yr old) from after school activities & help with homework. Car is a must. Close to Rice campus – 5 min! Call Kelli – 713.819.2918 $12 hourly. Rice Prof looking for student to transport 12-year-old boy/girl twins from school to afternoon activities & home & help with homework. Must have dependable car.

Noon availability on Wednesdays preferable.

3 p.m. other weekdays. Contact: heinken@ rice.edu.

Book-keeping /Clerical service needed from 10 a.m- 2 p.m., Monday-Friday, $420.00 weekly. Detail oriented, possess good customer service skills, some cash & items. Apply at mtbawn@hotmail.com.

We need 1-2 female tutors 3-4 times a week.

We have three girls going into 7th grade. We will need help with languages, but mostly the focus will be on math and science. maungier2003@yahoo.com

Looking to hire a part time person to take care of my 6 and 7 year old children after school from 3-5pm M-Th, help with homework and take to swim lessons once per week. $15/hour. Mark Twain Elementary in Braeswood Place. 5 minutes from Rice. frankielouis@yahoo.com or 713-447-9572 West U family seeking a student to drive middle school children to soccer and tennis Monday - Thursday early evening. Able to study between drop off and pick up. DrLM@ BrainHealthConsultants.com Are you passionate about math and science? Want to change a child’s life forever by inspiring a life-long love of learning? iEducateUSA is seeking enthusiastic, hard-working undergraduate and graduate students for well-paid, part-time tutoring positions in local Houston public schools. Learn more and apply at iEducateUSA.org. Questions? Contact Alice Fisher at afisher@rice.edu.

Memorial family looking for a part-time nanny for after school pick-ups and occasional evenings. Teri Gordon, teriggordon@ yahoo.com, (480) 747-2980 *EGG DONORS WANTED* Give a family the chance at happiness. Receive $6,000 per cycle.

Qualify for FREE Egg Freezing & Storage. Apply at donate-eggs.com

at 832-588-8130 or at sandra.dorsthorst@gmail. com.

IMMEDIATE HIRE! Seeking professional tutors for multiple part-time positions for SAT PREP. Please send your resume asap and visit www.tutorsofhouston.com for more information about Tutor Doctor of Houston/The Woodlands or call us at 281-218-8867.

Looking for tutor to help with homework

HELP NEEDED: We are looking for someone who can pick up our daughter (9) and son (5) from school at least three days per week and look after them at home. Hours are from 3-6:00 PM, days are flexible. You will need a car to pick up the children, we live approx. 10 min. from campus. If you are interested, please contact Sandra

ADVERTISING We accept display and classified advertisements. The Thresher reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. Additionally, the Thresher does not take responsibility for the factual content of any ad. Printing an advertisement does not constitute an endorsement by the Thresher.

Display advertisements must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication.

First copy free, second copy $5.

for a 5th grader. Live close to Rice. Can start immediately Monday through Friday. Contact khuranas@bellsouth.net.

Rice alumni looking for an Owl with a car to pick up and assist with our two children, age 15 (girl) sophomore and age 12 (boy) 6th grader at St. John’s School. Would need pick up at SJS around 3:15 and take to house about 5 minutes from SJS, and assist for one or more hours, as needed (flexible). We live in River Oaks, 15 minutes from campus. If interested, please email Sten Gustafson at stengustafson@icloud.com

Cash, check or credit card payment must accompany your classified advertisement, which must be received by 12 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication.

Juan Saldana Business Manager thresher-biz@rice.edu P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77005-1892 Phone 713-348-3971