The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Moving in the right direction Open record policy makes campus more equitable

see Ops p. 5

“

Although the following is common sense, I will repeat it: Do not under any circumstances run from RUPD. - SA President

volume 100, issue no. 3

Face-off with the longhorns

Room of Requirement Senior Studio, an eclectic space for final VADA projects

see Ops p. 5

see A&E p. 6

student-run

Football team faces difficult second game versus Texas

.org

Want more news?

Visit our website at ricethresher.org

see Sports p. 10

since 1916

wednesday, september 9, 2015

O-Week sees increase in voter registration Charlie Paul

For The Thresher

Seahawks Lose Again

sean chu/thresher

The Rice Owls launched their 2015 season with an emphatic 56-16 victory over New York City’s Wagner College Seahawks, marking their first win to open a season in seven years. The Owls hope to improve on last year’s 7-5 team, whose efforts culminated in a Hawai’i Bowl victory over Fresno State.

Recent Texas law requires RUPD to make police records public Sydney Garrett For the Thresher

Rice University Police Department is required to make all records related to law enforcement activities available to the public upon request according to Texas Senate Bill 308, as of Sept. 1, 2015. The Texas Public Information Act, which holds public institutions to these same requirements, has been in effect since Sept.

1, 1993 according to General Counsel Vice President Richard Zansitis.

“Private universities in Texas are permitted by state law to have police departments with officers commissioned under state law,” Zansitis said. “However, in the past, the attorney general of Texas ruled that since the private universities themselves were not governmental bodies, their police departments were not subject to the PIA.” Texas Senator Rodney Ellis coau-

thored S.B. 308 to make the standard of openness the same for public and private institutions, Ellis said.

“I signed on as a coauthor to Senator Whitmire’s bill because transparency and accountability are important factors for any entity with policing powers,” Ellis said. “If an entity has the ability to detain and use force on the public, they should have to be transparent about how they are using their police powers.”

Now, individuals can apply to see police records related to a case, regardless of whether or not they have direct involvement in the incident, according to RUPD Chief Johnny Whitehead.

“Once we get a request, we have to look at the request and make a determination of whether or not it’s subject to open records,” Whitehead said. “Each time these come in, we’ll have to do a certain amount of research. We may have to rely on con-

sultation from the general counsel and in some cases ask the attorney general’s office for a ruling.”

Because of these new procedures and rules, RUPD will have to do more work to do its job correctly, RUPD Captain Clemente Rodriguez said.

“There’s going to be a little bit of a learning curve, [since] we’ve never been subject to open records before,” Rodriguez said. “So when the request comes in, we’re going to probably have to pay a little more attention to make sure we’re complying with the law.”

The bill has positive effects too, according to Rodriguez.

“It means that people will continue to have confidence with us,” Rodriguez said. “We’re going to comply with everything that’s required.

We’re doing what’s in the best interest of the community.”

Whitehead said RUPD has pre-

pared extensively for the law.

“We’ve worked very diligently to be ready for when the law went into effect, in establishing the website, designating the [Public Information Officer], training everybody [and] making members of the campus community aware of the new law,” Whitehead said. “We’re ready.”

The public can request RUPD records except in cases of... ã &KLOG DEXVH ã 0HQWDO KHDOWK LVVXHV ã -XYHQLOH UHFRUGV ã 6H[XDO DEXVH DQG RU DVVDXOW ã $WWHPSWHG VXLFLGHV ã 6HQVLWLYH WDFWLFDO LQIRUPDWLRQ

Voter Registration at Rice

Code of Conduct limits college Backpages Anita Alem News Editor

Student Judicial Programs released an updated version of the Code of Student Conduct to its website on Aug. 20. The majority of the changes to the Code, which was last updated in late January, removed redundancies and clarified language. According to Lovett College President Griffin Thomas, one major update to the definition of public disclosure of private infor-

mation has led to some confusion over the legality of the Lovett Backpage, a publication with college government minutes and anonymous gossip regarding members of the college.

The added section on public disclosure of private information explicitly prohibits official and quasi-official publications from publishing private information without a legitimate university interest. However, the Code does not specify what constitutes private in-

formation.

“Examples of forums in which this type of violation can occur are: college government’s minutes, college social media sites, and publications of colleges, universityaffiliated organizations, teams and clubs,” the Code reads. “Responsibility for any alleged violation may apply to the individual, the college, the organization, team or club, and/or the officers.”

Thomas, a junior, said SJP Director Lisa Zollner and Associate

The 2015 Rice Vote Coalition garnered over twice as many registered student voters as last year.

Between first-year students and returning advisors, 362 new voters were registered during Orientation Week.

According to University Relations and Welcome Center Assistant Director Mary Lowery, the change is quite visible in the student body.

“I’m actually there on site when we’re doing voter registration,” Lowery said. “We generally have some time to chat with people as they’re coming through, and it was my impression that we had a lot more questions about the differences between voting here on campus and voting in their home state.”

Outside of the new students, Lowery also noticed new enthusiasm in the voter liaisons and advisors aiding in registration.

“I noticed that the liaisons this year were really excited about the process, and I think that really translates to more incoming students registering,” Lowery said.

Martel College junior Neethi Nayak was one of her college’s voter liaisons during O-Week. Nayak said she wanted to take a typically dry topic and present it in an upbeat way to help new students gain political awareness.

“We knew that in order to get new students at our college more excited about the importance of voter registration, we had to take a more creative approach,” Nayak said. “Turns out rapping about civic engagement in the middle of the commons was a great way to do just that!”

The trend of voter enthusiasm has continued outside of registration, as the RVC has been contacted to organize an event with the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business.

Chairman of the College Republicans Sam Herrera attributes expanding voter interest to the upcoming presidential election.

“The political arena is defi0see VOTERS, page 2

Dean of Undergraduates Don Ostdiek contacted Lovett College in March to collect all copies of the Backpage that were on file for an investigation led by the general counsel’s office.

“Past Lovett secretaries four or five years ago chose to highlight hookups on the Backpage, whereas the current secretaries choose to use the Backpage to share funny and often drunken shenanigans from the prior weekend,” Thomas 0see CONDUCT, page 4

400

362

350 300 250 200

171 150 0

146 2013

2014

2015

2

NEWS

the Rice Thresher

wednesday, September 9, 2015

Rice Indo-American Business Club to connect alumni, business owners, students across Houston Anita Alem News Editor

The Rice Indo-American Business Club launched at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business on Sept. 2. According to RIABC Vice President Nishanth Babu, the club serves as a platform for Houston Indo-Americans and Rice alumni to meet, learn from each other and network.

“This organization really does the two things we’ve been trying to put a lot of emphasis on,” President David Leebron, the opening speaker, said. “One is connect to the local Indo-American business community, and ... create opportunities internationally to connect to India. Ultimately, that will provide more opportunities for students.”

According to Babu, about 140 Indo-Americans from across Houston met for the inaugural event. Babu said the board of the RIABC did not envision the event to be as large as it ended up being, and they had initially planned for a small inaugural event with around 25 people.

“When we started reaching out to alumni, they were very passionate about it,” Babu said.

“It was that passion and we were impressed that if everyone else was thinking that [the event is] worth something, then let’s do it.”

The program featured speeches from Prashant Kale, associate professor of strategic management at the Jones School, and Parvathaneni Harish, consul general of India in Houston. Kale said he encouraged a view of India as a disruptive innovator, driven by the needs

of its people to create products that are improvements on those in American markets.

Martel College senior Komal Agarwal is currently the only undergraduate involved with the club. All other members are Rice MBA students.

“This club has a lot to offer for undergraduates involved with the club at the moment,” Agarwal said. “Ultimately, this club is about promoting ideas across a diverse community. The Rice community and the Greater Houston population are such a diverse population that learning how to communicate with people of various backgrounds is essential to everyone.”

Ashok Rao, an entrepreneur who will serve as a long-term associate of the club, is on the Council of Overseers of the Jones School. Rao was the first Indo-American to take a company public on NASDAQ and has founded, grown and traded several companies since founding Midcom Communications in 1990. Rao spoke about the Indian diaspora and how American immigration policies resulted in Indo-Americans consisting of mainly highly skilled workers. Rao said he believed students would get as much out of the club as they were willing to put in.

“It’s a terrific idea ... long overdue,” Rao said. “[RIABC] will connect students to the Indian community here, and into the business community, so it will help them with potential employment and assimilation into the milieu.”

Hanszen College junior Sai Chilakapati said his interest in combined M.D./MBA programs drove him to attend though he is pursuing medicine.

jake nyquist/thresher

Rice President David Leebron and Ashok Rao, member of the Council of Overseers of the Jones School of Business, converse at the launch of the new Indo-American Business Club.

“As an undergraduate, I think it’s a great opportunity to come to these networking events and get to know businesspeople in the community as well as more of the graduate population,” Chilakapati said.

Babu said he hopes to have more input from undergraduates as the club grows and even hopes to see them on the board of the organization. RIABC President Himanshu Upadhyaya voiced simi-

Former MD Anderson president discusses clinical cancer research Hannah Todd Thresher Staff

John Mendelsohn, M.D., a distinguished cancer researcher, spoke at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy’s Center for Health and Biosciences on Sept. 2 about his professional journey and the future of cancer treatment.

Mendelsohn is an L.E. and Virginia Simmons Fellow in Health and Technology Policy at the Baker Institute. After previously serving as president of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Mendelsohn currently sits as the director of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy at MD Anderson.

The institute focuses on preclinical research and clinical trials in order to employ personalized cancer therapy and optimize patient outcomes, according to the MD Anderson Cancer Center’s website.

Mendelsohn went to University of California, San Diego where he founded a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center.

There, Mendelsohn and Dr. Gordon Sato eventually succeeded in targeting and suppressing specific tumors through the production of a certain antibody.

Targeted cancer therapy is the focus at the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy.

“Precision, or personalized, cancer treatment involves taking advantage of all information available about the patient and his or her cancer in order to prescribe treatments most likely to succeed in achieving a cure or substantial prolongation of life,” Mendelsohn said.

The goals of the Institute emphasize improved prognoses for cancer patients and education for doctors and patients.

“We now know most of the genetic abnormalities that cause cancer and can detect bio-

markers in an individual’s cancer in a reasonable time frame for a reasonable cost, about the same amount as two MRI scans,” Mendelsohn explained. “Clinical trials using this approach have been successful, showing that for prolongation of life, targeted treatment is better than randomly assigned.”

[Pharmaceutical] companies are retooling and making sense of the fact that there won’t be a ‘blockbuster’ drug.

John Mendelsohn MD Anderson Personalized Cancer Therapy Director

This type of therapy affords a potential opportunity to cure the incurable, according to Mendelsohn.

“If standard therapy, surgery, radiation and chemo are not producing a cure, we wanted to be able to screen genes, develop clinical trials to bring therapy to these patients, and provide decision support to help physicians and patients,” Mendelsohn said.

Mendelsohn said it is clear from the data that this personalized therapy is working overall, but there is still much to learn.

“We need more trials with combinations of therapies,” Mendelsohn said. “We need to work with multiple drug companies, handle toxicities, understand sensitivity and resistance better. We need a vast knowledge network to create a research computational platform.”

According to Mendelsohn, the work of the Sheikh Khalifa Institute is changing the way cancer is treated, while showing pharmaceutical companies that the modern way to fight cancer is not necessarily what they expected.

“Once we have shown that something works, it goes into the standard of practice and any doctor and any patient can benefit from that,” Mendelsohn said. “The [pharmaceutical] companies dream of drugs that work against all types of one cancer, but there won’t be one. The companies are retooling and making sense of the fact that there won’t be a ‘blockbuster’ drug.”

Jones College sophomore Alina Mohanty decided to attend Mendelsohn’s talk, which was entitled “Precision Medicine: Past, Present, and Future,” after learning of all he had accomplished.

“I was drawn by Dr. Mendelsohn’s positions and achievements,” Mohanty said. “I figured if he had accomplished so much, he would definitely have something to say that I could learn from.”

Mohanty enjoyed the talk due to Mendelsohn’s incorporation of medicine, science and policy.

“Dr. Mendelsohn’s talk was exciting and informative,” Mohanty said. “While the lecture was very scientific, he explained step-by-step how he came about producing Erbitux. Not only did we learn about cancers and cancer treatment, but also we learned about the experiences of a successful physician and his views on policy that should be implemented in his field of medicine. It was altogether a very wellrounded talk.”

lar opinions, and both said they see the future of the club as largely flexible in nature.

“We encourage all undergraduates to join this club,” Upadhyaya said. “There’s plenty of opportunities for mentorship [and] networking. We plan on keeping our regular meetings so anyone can come participate and volunteer.”

For more information or to get involved in RIABC, contact Nivriti Chowdhry at nivi@rice.edu.

0VOTERS FROM PAGE 1 nitely heating up,” Herrera said. “We have a lot of new students that come from different states, and I suppose they’re excited to vote and participate in the election next year.”

According to Herrera, the College Republicans have noted an increase in interest this year.

“We have 62 members and at the Student Activity Fair last week we gauged around 70 people who expressed interest in joining,” Herrera said. “We have set a goal of going to over 100 and I think that’s totally feasible.”

One of the main roles of the RVC is to aid Harris County in setting up a polling location on campus which is important for increasing voter turnout, according to Herrera.

“I think it’s fantastic; it’s obviously very accessible,” Herrera said. “It’s a Tuesday, people are in class and they don’t have time to go somewhere significantly off campus.”

Madeleine Tibaldi, vice president of Rice Democrats, said new students’ interest in politics is evident in both club recruitment and voter registration.

“This year our organization received a lot of interest from new students wanting to get involved in politics on campus, and we are thrilled to see this trend mirrored in the spike in voter registration,” Tibaldi, a Jones College senior, said.

Tibaldi said the organization also hopes for students’ political participation on multiple levels, which is why they are planning a meetthe-candidates panel for the upcoming Houston mayoral elections.

“Perhaps the rhetoric and excitement surrounding the 2016 presidential election is increasing students’ desire to become politically active, but we also hope to see an increase [in] the number of students voting in state and local elections,” Tibaldi said.

Lowery said registering to vote on time is important for students to keep in mind.

“Registering keeps your options open,” Lowery said. “If something interesting happens in a race between when the deadline closes for registering and the actual race … there’s not a lot you can do.”

wednesday, September 9, 2015

NEWS

the Rice Thresher

3

Rice pilots Canvas as alternative to Owlspace Jieya Wen

Thresher Staff

Rice University is testing a new learning management system, Canvas, in 15 pilot courses involving 16 instructors and nearly 1,000 students, according to Director of Informational Technology and Access Services Diane Butler.

Canvas could potentially replace Owlspace as the primary platform for learning management.

“We are targeting faculty who use it in different ways,” Butler said. “Some use a lot of quizzes and tests. Some do more interactions and collaboration. We have [surveyed] across the board from large to small classes just to get a good idea.”

The university is moving away from the open source Owlspace system currently in use to a vendor-supplied learning management system. Rice staff currently run the server that hosts Owlspace and maintain the service, while an independent vendor manages services for Canvas.

“Owlspace is more than 10 years old,” Butler said. “Most of the [information technology] department is trying to move to cloud-based services. IT has posted a job, instructional designer ... to help faculty design courses [online] other than just putting a syllabus out there.”

Butler said the pilot courses this semester test the possibility of moving web-based courses such as Computational Thinking (COMP 140) to Canvas without losing their current features. According to Scott Rixner, profes-

sor of computer science and the instructor of COMP 140, Canvas is significantly better than Owlspace because it allows instructors to release online material in parts in a way similar to Coursera, an online service previously used to teach COMP 140.

“The biggest thing Canvas does is that it helps me to organize the material in a logical way and release it in stages,” Rixner said.

According to Rixner, Canvas better meets the needs of on-campus teaching than Coursera by incorporating grades by teaching assistants. “[Canvas] is not as automated and as handsoff as Coursera is,” Rixner said. “Coursera expects you to never have a human grade anything.

This causes problems for on-campus classes, when you do have TAs grading. So Canvas has facilities that have things that are automatically graded by machine and also allow you to grade things with TA. Canvas, in that sense, is better than Coursera.”

Three courses in the summer session were the first pilot courses for Canvas. A working group consisting of representatives from Fondren Library, the Office of Digital Education and the Office of Information Technology has surveyed the classes’ students on their experiences. They will conduct further assessments on Canvas in the coming school year, according to Butler.

“We did a pre-survey and we are going to do a post-survey,” Butler said. “In the middle, we are doing one-on-one assessments, some with students and with all the faculty who were teaching.

[The assessments will] identify and help us move on to the next step.”

Isabella Yang, a student in Biomedical Instrumentation Lab (BIOE 385), a pilot course for Canvas, said Canvas attempted to combine Owlspace and Piazza, an online course forum for discussion, but failed to integrate them efficiently.

“There are options for Discussions, Conferences and Chat,” Yang, a McMurtry College junior, said. “Aren’t they necessarily the same?”

Rixner said he agrees Canvas has redundant functions that might add to students’ confusion.

photo courtesy emma min

“There is a lot of redundancy, but the instructor has the ability to pick and choose which ones you want to use for your course,” Rixner said.

Steve An, a student in General Chemistry I (CHEM 121), another pilot course on Canvas, said Canvas is currently too rigid in the answers it accepts, which results in faulty grading.

“Our answers have to be extremely specific,” An, a Martel College freshman, said. “My friend got points off because she put ‘grams’ instead of ‘g.’ Although she can tell the TAs and get the points back, we should not [have to] go through this extra process.”

4

NEWS

0CONDUCT FROM PAGE 1 said. “After Sid [Richardson College] was sued for the grotesque nature of their Backpage in the early 2000s, Lovett has chosen to keep a tighter rein on its Backpage.”

According to Thomas, Lovett has had a few complaints about its Backpage in the past, but to his knowledge recent complaints have been resolved in a timely and ultimately satisfactory manner internal to the college. Thomas said the new Code won’t affect the Backpage because the current secretaries will not repeat mistakes from years prior. However, he said the secretaries and colleges in general are afraid to publish anything that may be seen as offensive because of the vague nature of the wording in the Code.

“When pushed for clarification on the rules, SJP and Dean [of Undergraduates John] Hutchinson responded that they are purposefully vague in order to allow students to develop ‘good judgment,’” Thomas said. “However, when the resulting punishment is also undefined and could be anywhere from a warning to the rustication of college officers, then this uncertainty causes panic … In a process that is becoming increasingly more common, the administration decided to proceed in a unilateral manner without seeking student input and then was surprised when students responded negatively.”

Lovett College Secretary Rahul Kothari, who works with junior Darcy Curtis, said the Backpage has changed since its inception years ago. “[Curtis] and I made it our goal this year to make the Backpage into something that brings the Lovett community together over comedy and satire, instead of tearing it apart by publishing people’s personal and private information,” Kothari, a junior, said. “I don’t think we’ll run into any problems with SJP’s new Student Code of Conduct.”

The new version of the Code also clarifies college masters’ authority to rusticate their students, both socially and from the college.

The masters may also ban members of another college from the location and activities of the master’s college. SJP may add further prohibi-

wednesday, September 9, 2015

the Rice Thresher tions or prescriptions to the student’s rustication parameters.

“A Master’s Rustication does not prohibit investigation, charges or sanctions by SJP even if the investigation arises from the same behavior that gave rise to the Master’s Rustication,” the Code states. “In that case, if SJP finds the student ‘in violation’ of the Code, SJP may take the rustication or ban into consideration when determining appropriate sanctions.”

The administration decided to proceed in a unilateral manner without seeking student input and then was surprised when students responded negatively.

Griffin Thomas Lovett College President

Language in the document clarifies that SJP sanctions similar to those of rustication are not, semantically, rustications, as only masters may rusticate students. SJP sanctions similar to rustication are described as a disciplinary loss of privileges.

Other changes include a new section regarding student rights within SJP proceedings intending to increase transparency, although all the rights listed were already valid and provided to students in the discipline process. The language under the Records section has been corrected to state that violations are not noted on transcripts, but are held on record for 10 years after graduation, not 10 years after the resolution of the incident.

Alum recounts experience at Rice and NASA Hugh Grier

For the Thresher

Rice alumnus and NASA engineer Jerry Woodfill (Wiess ’65) discussed his time at Rice University and his experience as the Warning Systems Engineer during the Apollo 13 mission at a presentation on Sept. 3.

The presentation was the first of this year’s Houston Spaceport Frontier Lectures series hosted at Rice.

Woodfill attended Rice on a basketball scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He said that although he struggled significantly in college, he firmly believes that his failures are a key piece of his later success at NASA. “I had a dismal career at Rice,” Woodfill said. “Not only was I a failure at athletics, academically I was not doing any better … I had the lowest grade ever made in MATH 300 at Rice. I was ready to quit, believe me. I was doing just desperately badly.”

During his junior year, Woodfill said he was inspired by President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 “We choose to go to the Moon” speech made at the Rice stadium.

“It was so life changing for me,” Woodfill said. “It was that catalyst in my life that turned things around.”

Woodfill graduated after his fifth year at Rice and began working at NASA. He was among the hundreds of staff at the NASA Mission Control Center during the Apollo 13 mission that began on April 11, 1970, according to the NASA Mission Summary.

“We have Nobel Prize winners and famous athletes … but look what happened,” Woodfill said at the lecture. “It took 50 years! 50 years! I am now a notable alumni!

Don’t give up! You can’t have been struggling with anything for a half-century like I did.”

Woodfill was among those who shared the Presidential Medal of Freedom for the Apollo 13 Mission Team and continued to work at NASA for over 45 years afterwards.

On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 13 mission, Universe Today released his book “13 Things that Saved Apollo 13.”

Woodfill said he travels frequently for scholastic talks focused on his time at NASA

and his book. The lectures aim to provide an engaging educational experience for both students and the general public on a range of issues pertaining to exploration and development of space, according to the Space Frontiers website.

David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute and professor of physics and astronomy, is the organizer of the event.

“I’ve helped put these lectures together,” Alexander said. “We’ve got a good season going. We have a couple different kinds of lectures that are not just Spaceport lectures this fall. I’m lining up the program for the spring.”

Alexander said he is trying to allow broader access to the programs. The lecture on Thursday was live streamed online from Rice to the University of Hawaii.

“Streaming is free,” Alexander said. “I’d like to get these lectures well received in Houston and to get broader access to them … It would be great to get them around the country.”

Future lectures in the series will be on Oct. 22, Nov. 19 and Jan. 14. Details can be found at the Houston Spaceport Frontiers website, spacefrontiers.rice.edu.

Jerry Woodfill photo courtesy nasa

5

Please heed the new open records policy Open record laws can give valuable information, create safer campus Due to a new Texas state law, Rice University Police Department will now be subject to open records requests (see p. 1) for information on their policing activity, which includes correspondences, activity logs and other documents.

This requirement marks a continuation toward increased transparency in RUPD, following the introduction of body cameras to its officers in April (see “RUPD implements body cameras” in the Sept. 2 issue of the Thresher).

The passage of this law is an important development for all Houston media, particularly Rice student media. We will now be able to more thoroughly investigate RUPD’s policing when complex situations requiring civilian oversight of police arise. For instance, open records requests would have been useful when we were reporting on the controversial RUPD bike theft incident that occurred in August 2013, in which officers hit a man over 30 times with a baton in an attempt to subdue him for arrest. According to a March 17 article in the Houston Chronicle (“Bill would make private university reports public”), requests made by the media organization KPRC for information on the incident were not honored. Following the passage of this bill, Rice must be subject to the same requirements of transparency as all other officers of the state.

Considering RUPD polices areas just outside campus and often arrests individuals who are not affiliated with Rice, as in the case of the bike theft, this ruling affects not only the “Rice bubble” but also the local Houston community.

This should not be seen as an occasion for fear or panic among the student body regarding the effects of disclosing police records on future educational or career endeavors. Although one’s slate may now only be hidden as opposed to wiped clean, there is little reason for future employers to seek out one’s record through the Open Records Act. Public institutions of higher education have been subject to this law for decades and this has not been a pressing issue for their students. Additionally, no information that violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act will be made public. Information on particularly sensitive topics such as sexual assault, suicide and mental health, as well as juvenile records, will continue to be kept private.

From the exemptions of these topics, it is clear that this change is not intended to compromise students’ right to privacy and confidentiality but to create a more safe and equitable campus.

Just as with RUPD’s implementation of body cameras, this situation presents an opportunity for Rice students to become more aware of their policing rights, and moreover, to engage within their community. We are uniquely privileged to have access to a full-fledged police force that serves only a few thousand people, providing focused and expedited policing. We have a responsibility to educate ourselves on how to proceed with placing an open records request, both in order to be engaged within our community and to be better equipped in addressing situations involving student judicial proceedings.

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

The choices we make here at Rice will have a direct effect on life after we graduate. Usually this is a positive and beneficial truth. The relationships built at Rice will outlast the four years we spend as an undergraduate. Our academic and extracurricular achievements will push us forward in our careers. Now, for some of us, even our mistakes will impact life after graduation. As of Sept. 1, police records of private institutions were made open to the public. In light of this, it’s time to have a more serious conversation about personal responsibility.

Here at Rice, we are trusted to make our own decisions. We are given the freedom to choose what type of person we want to be.

Sometimes we make mistakes, but as a community we know these mistakes do not define us. In the past it could be argued that once you leave Rice, you get a clean slate. However, in the future, if you have a police record and an employer or some other source sees it, they may not react with the same understanding.

In the grand scheme of things, students don’t antagonize officers or intentionally create situations where a police report will be made. However, some situations have escalated, usually due to intoxication. Although the following is common sense, I will repeat it: Do not under any circumstances run

from RUPD. If anything, this new policy is an even better reason to cooperate with campus police.

I cannot stress enough how much students need to understand all the details and implications of this policy.

I cannot stress enough how much students need to understand all details and implications of this new policy, especially in the case of sexual assault. The complainant’s name will not be released in cases of sexual assault. This policy should not deter women or men from reporting cases of sexual assault.

Reporting sexual assault is always a very difficult decision to make, but this policy is not a reason to choose not to.

Finally, I want students to know that I am not writing this op-ed to be patronizing.

No student on this campus is the parent of

another. Everyone has the freedom to make his or her own mistakes, and I have never been the righteous beacon of virtue. My job is to care for and advocate for students, but students also need to advocate and care for themselves.

I am fully aware of Rice’s social culture because I have been an undergraduate for four years. I don’t believe that students are expected to suddenly avoid every single situation in which there is the slightest possibility of breaking a rule. When talking about college campuses, it is almost impossible to do so. But be reminded that when we make adult decisions, we must be prepared to deal with adult consequences.

Jazz Silva

is a Sid Richardson College senior and the Student Association president

Rice must improve its urban integration According to the latest Houston Area Survey by Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, the push for urbanism continues to grow in Houston; half of Harris County residents desire mixed-use development and 54 percent wish they could ride a bike more often. As Houston’s staggering growth turns in on itself and revitalizes the center of the city, open-minded residents are recognizing the benefits of truly cohesive, human-scaled neighborhoods — places that require no car to traverse and have the sort of dense urban environment Houston often lacks.

Rice sits at the forefront of this sea change, bordered by the Texas Medical Center and Rice Village, some of the city’s most walkable areas, and grazed by the city’s first light-rail line. Still, despite its central position in Houston’s urban framework, our university actively retains a number of design choices rendering it as insulated as a suburban gated community — choices that, for the good of the school and city, we must push to change.

While the core of Rice’s campus is one of the most pedestrian-friendly environments in Houston, its edges are poorly integrated with neighboring districts. The campus’ periphery secludes the school from the heavily trafficked areas bordering it. Still clinging to a rural aesthetic from the campus of the early 20th century, a scrappy line of hedges obscures visual and pedestrian access to campus from the outside. Tall brick walls and iron gates imply exclusivity, ultimately providing the outsider — the average Houstonian — few clear or welcoming entrances to one of the city’s most revered assets.

The lack of integration with the TMC is particularly insulting; a chain-link fence and a golf cart parking lot occupy the southeast corner of campus, suggesting a complete

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

lack of collaboration between Rice and the TMC despite their extensive integration. Ultimately, the entire Main Street corridor needs a dramatic revitalization.

Rice can and should play a major role on its side of Main by replacing its thick vegetative border, parking and walls with wide, paved sidewalks and bike lanes, as well as improving pedestrian entrances to campus.

Further cooperation with the city and the TMC could provide better pedestrian connections across Main Street, encourage retail development facing campus, attract bike rental (B-Cycle) racks and lead to the construction of a commemorative public plaza at University Boulevard and Main Street.

Few land use choices are as unhealthy as the enormous West and Greenbriar parking lots, which consume over 30 acres of prime inner-city land across the western third of campus and relegate it to one of the least productive and ugliest uses. At over 60 years old, the lots are relics of a time when Rice sat at Houston’s suburban periphery. Nowadays, the administration recognizes the value of densification in neighboring urban districts, having bought real estate in the TMC and Rice Village, but its refusal to parallel this urbanization by consolidating campus parking into garages befuddles me. The western lots damage Rice’s integration with the city, as they separate the school from its namesake commercial district. Students seeking a trip westward must traverse an enormous swath of asphalt completely repulsive to pedestrians. Not one dedicated paved footpath connects Rice’s core to the Village, or even Rice Stadium.

As prominent urban planners continue to argue against the toxic barrenness of surface parking, it’s time we consider reusing the lots more productively while meeting the

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.

aesthetic caliber of the rest of campus. Plazas and new buildings, like the upcoming opera house, would increase pedestrian activity on the western frontier, drawing students and Houstonians to athletic events at the stadium and the seemingly distant Village.

Reformatting the edges of Rice for a 21stcentury Houston is a long-term process that will require comprehensive planning and a unified vision. Access is the primary challenge — how can Rice integrate itself with the rest of Houston? It would be wise to look to our peers at the University of Texas, Austin, where students enjoy Complete Streets that attract pedestrians and bicyclists with highquality sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes.

These developments induce a vibrant street life that spills into adjacent neighborhoods.

By providing these same amenities along its borders with Rice Village, Hermann Park and the TMC, Rice can help establish the framework for a cohesive urban environment in the heart of Houston. Removing expansive parking lots, hedges and fences opens the university to the city. After all, the college experience prizes collaboration and diversity — it’s about time our physical campus embraced that.

Justin Raine

is a Will Rice College sophomore

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

arts

ENTERTAINMENT

6

The deafening noise of college entertainment Kaylen Strench A&E Editor

jessica kelly/thresher

courtesy claire o’malley

Students from Natasha Bowdoin’s Senior Studio class, a mandatory requirement for all visual arts majors, use 25 objects to curate their assigned spaces in Sewall Hall. Pictured above are works by Duncan College senior Phillip Haddad (left) and Baker College senior Claire O’Malley (right).

Senior studio cultivates innovation Kaylen Strench & Lenna Mendoza A&E Editor & Thresher Staff

There is no classroom on campus quite like Senior Studio. The room is divided into a maze of white walls, together forming each of the students’ studio spaces. The spaces are occupied with eclectic objects and media: photographs, couches, projections, a bicycle. Voices echo throughout the room as the senior art students and their professors discuss each project.

In Senior Studio, a required class for all art majors, seniors work together, capping four years spent apart in specialized classes. Students get more freedom and more opportunities for collaboration, and their own spaces to curate as they please.

Natasha Bowdoin, the professor for the course, said the course has two primary goals: first, to provide students with research practice that ultimately leads into their senior thesis exhibition, and second, to expose students to art through critical viewing and discussion.

“Viewing exhibitions and listening to other artists speak about their work is a means to stimulate what happens inside the students’ own studios as well,” Bowdoin said. “[Senior Studio] is an important class because it gets closest to what it’s like to be an artist in the world making work.”

Bowdoin said the class is also important because it encourages students to develop a more

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

nuanced view of both art and life in general.

“Another goal of mine ... is to help give these students, whatever their future careers, a lens through which to understand the world,” Bowdoin said. “An artistic perspective can sometimes be considered deliberately weird ... but in my opinion it can actually contribute to a clearer, deeper perception of the things and people around us.”

Baker College senior Ashlyn Herd, a student currently taking the class, said Senior Studio requires students to take on a range of new responsibilities in showcasing their work.”

“What is different is having so much control over our own spaces and ultimately having a show that we do all by ourselves,” Herd said.

Another student in the class, Baker College senior Claire O’Malley, said her favorite part of the class is its emphasis on collaboration and the lack of highly specific requirements.

“I’m going to learn a lot just by hearing people talking over their work,” O’Malley said. “It’s [also] new to have this amount of freedom.”

Bowdoin said she tries to include projects throughout the course that allow students the freedom to experiment, but also provide enough guidance to generate growth.

“Senior Studio in part is really about giving each student the time, space and encouragement to fully realize their own individual body of work,” Bowdoin said. “This requires time and space for a lot of student-driven activity,

but I think also needs to be balanced with some prompts to help them along the way.”

The class’s first assignment required the students to curate a studio space using found objects. Students interpreted the task in a variety of ways. Herd, for example, located pillows and cushions she felt a strong personal attachment toward and arranged them into a giant, threedimensional quilt that she displayed on the wall.

She said her focus is exploring new concepts, in terms of both medium and subject.

“I want to develop myself in ways that I am less comfortable with,” Herd said. “The piece I did today plays with the idea of 2-D and 3-D and something that is familiar. The couch cushions are personal to me and unfamiliar to anyone else who looked at them.”

O’Malley took a different route: She took pictures of spaces like the freezer and the medicine cabinet of the house she moved into this year, and blew them up into giant prints that she assembled on the walls of her space. The pictures show the spaces as they were when O’Malley first moved in, full of miscellaneous items the former tenants left behind, with the addition of small army men O’Malley arranged around them. She said she intended to explore the ways people live their lives within their constrained spaces.

These senior students will continue to work throughout the year in preparation for their end of the year show in the spring, which will be open to all students and faculty.

FINE ART FAIR

OWL PROWL

From Thursday, Sept. 10 to Saturday, Sept. 12, the NRG Center will host the critically acclaimed Houston Fine Art Fair. Contemporary artists around the world will come to show their wares and mingle with guests. There will also be panels, on-site installations and interactive projects, which means even art novices are sure to have a good time.

As a Rice student, you have a duty to know about owls. Fortunately, you can fulfill this requirement easily this Friday, Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. at the Nature Discovery Center during “Owl Prowl.”

For only $5, park rangers will teach you all about these adorable birds and will even lead you on guided exploration through the park to find a few.

NRG Center One NRG Park houstonfineartfair.com

Nature Discovery Center 7112 Newcastle St. naturediscoverycenter.org

This year I made the decision to live in a one-bedroom apartment — a choice that was significant not only because it meant I would be living off campus for the first time, but also because it meant I would be living alone. Don’t feel bad for me — I made this choice willingly and happily. I have plenty of close friends, enough funds to afford Rice housing and no mental or emotional problems. I just wanted there to be a single place in my life that was quiet, private and a meaningful distance away from the neuroticism of the “Rice bubble.”

The summer before my senior year, everything went as I expected. Busy days teaching middle schoolers and hanging out with coworkers were punctuated with peaceful, quiet nights curled up on the couch by the television. Yet, when the school year started, things shifted radically. I would run myself ragged during the day between classes and club planning, and then, at night, I would feel a gnawing pressure to socialize. On the second or third night of class, I forced myself to go home before midnight to rest, but as soon as I came in the door, the silence was deafening and I felt myself start to panic. I couldn’t relax, I couldn’t watch television.

I desperately needed to be with others, to the point where I texted my sleeping boyfriend nine times to try to get him to talk to me — something that embarasses me even now as I write it down.

What changed between the summer and the school year? The answer is both simple and complex. There are hidden “rules” for how we entertain ourselves in college, shaped through culture, discourse and the constraints and opportunities presented by campus life. The more restraining rules can be broken; “you must drink to be cool” is one that is often felt but vehemently denied and which many break with no social consequence. Another, “the only people you may do social activities with are other Rice students” exerts a harder pressure, but understandably so due to the proximity of Rice students to each other.

The rule that has the most influence on our free time and our choices for entertainment, however, is the following: “You must interact with your peers whenever you possibly can.”

Let’s break this down. What this cultural rule essentially means is that as a Rice student, if you are faced with free time to do something non-academic or engage in an activity that is purely for entertainment, you are more likely than not to feel like you should be doing this activity with other students. You text your friends, “What’s going on tonight?” You go to the private or public party. You go see a movie with friends even if you aren’t interested in the plotline. There’s a similar pressure on people who are not at comparable universities, but I would argue that it’s far milder. In the “real world,” this pressure comes when you are feeling lonely or have not seen your friends in a while. At Rice, you feel it whenever you are not already committed to do something else — and sometimes, even if you are.

0see NOISE, page 8

UNTAPPED Bands and beer? More than 70 breweries and eight bands will come together this weekend for Houston’s Untapped Festival. Showcasing the best of music and craft beer, Cold War Kids, Deer Tick, Fat Tony and others will perform from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. with Houston’s top breweries supplying the beer. Tickets start at $32.

Discovery Green 1500 McKinney St. untapped-festival.com/hou

STEVE JOBS “Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine” will be screening through Sept. 10 at the Sundance Cinema.

The documentary takes a darker look at Job’s triumphant professional life and embattled personal life, leaving viewers with an intricate picture of the tech visionary’s legacy. Tickets start at $9.

Sundance Theatre 510 Texas Ave. sundancecinemas.com

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

WHAT’S HIP RIGHT NOW APP:

Bar Roulette

A&E

the Rice Thresher

TV:

“The Muppets”

7

by kaylen strench

ART:

“MicroCosmos”

TECH:

Apple TV 2.0

courtesy apple courtesy abc

In a phrase: They are like cockroaches — they never die.

Where to find it: Premieres Sept. 22 on ABC. courtesy bar roulette

In a phrase: Chatroulette, but for bars.

Where to find it: iTunes store, or wherever you purchase your apps.

Rice students are control freaks. We schedule our workouts on Google calendar, we analyze all the servery meals before lunch and dinner, heck, we even use an app to check how long we have to wait for the inner loop bus. I get the need for order, but this weekend I think it’s time to let our inhibitions down and allow a little spontaneity to enter our lives. And seriously, what better way to lose control then to abandon your say in which sketchy or weird or stupidly upscale Midtown bar you will frequent?

If that’s your idea of a good time, you need to whip out your cell and download Bar Roulette ASAP. This funky little app will call you an Uber headed for a totally random bar in your area, and unless your driver’s extra nice, you won’t know which one until you get there. You could be headed to the skeezy but usually jumpin’ Red Door, the pretentious and taxidermy-infested Mongoose Versus Cobra or even LGBT-friendly and aptly named Slick Willy’s. No matter what, you’re in for a crazy night full of excitement.

To be honest, I’ve always hated the Muppets.

Perhaps this comes from a certain rigidity in my personality or even a speciesism — I think what has always bothered me most is how they don’t make sense: There are animal muppets (Kermit), human muppets (Statler and Waldorf), combinations of both (Miss Piggy) and even just weird, uncategorizable muppets. (What is Grover, anyway?) That said, they have managed to win enough hearts over the years to constantly come back, no matter how dead and stale they may seem to be.

The latest iteration is “The Muppets,” a halfhour twist on the franchise that will play after “Jimmy Kimmel Live” weekday nights on ABC. The show takes a mockumentary format, much like NBC’s “The Office.” The plot is centered around the production of a new late-night show, “Up Late with Miss Piggy.” Creators say the format is meant to satirize the genre while feeding into older audience’s’ collective nostalgia. All the classic characters will be back in various television production roles (writers, guest stars, etc.), and the dialogue will take a much more mature tone than other variations. If you, unlike me, feel a warmth in your heart everytime you think of these mutated creatures, then you’ll probably want to check it out.

courtesy the menil collection

In a phrase: Super trippy caveman art Where to find it: The Menil; will run until Feb. 21.

As a cultured Rice student, you’ve surely seen a ton of art from all time periods, all around the world. A few of you may have even grown a bit bored of the expansive yet well-known permanent collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Even if you fall into the latter category, you are going to have your world rocked by the strange fringe collection that just opened at the Menil.

“MicroCosmos” has been lauded as the world’s greatest and most comprehensive collection of “material culture” from the Paleo-Eskimo people who lived in coastal Alaska and Siberia between 250 BCE and 1000 CE. These people used walrus ivory to carve hundreds of miniscule sculptures depicting human and animal crosscombinations, mythical beasts and other spiritual forms. The exhibition also features beautiful dance masks originally worn by these ancient people in traditional dances. The most notable aspect of the exhibition, however, is the range of individual pieces the collector, the late Edmund Carpenter, chose. His particular and creative assembly reflects a brilliant man’s process of discovery and exploration into a culture and an art form.

In a phrase: Watch out Xbox (maybe?)

Where to find it: Not much is known yet, but should be released in next year.

Apple’s just good at everything. When it wants to develop something, anything, it not only succeeds but tends to obliterate all competitors in its path. Apple did music (iPods), laptops (MacBooks), cell phones (iPhones) and it’s even made a killing off gaming (AppStore). The one area that the corporate giant hasn’t been able to get its fingers on just yet, however, is the console video game market. For those of you who don’t game, that means Xbox, Playstation, Wii and other comparable platforms.

But based on the company’s recent announcement, that may change. The newest version of Apple TV will include features focused on promoting a high-quality gaming experience, including better graphics, a revamped app store and a remote that can double as a controller. It’s not immediately clear that the company could steal away loyal fans of other platforms, but it could certainly appeal to casual gamers who are either too intimidated or too cheap to blow money on more expensive, better established devices.

On one hand, any kind of innovation is pretty exciting, especially when it comes from a company that’s proven it can create amazing products. On the other hand, it seems that Apple’s one step closer to taking over the universe, which may cause some, including myself, to shake in their boots a tad.

8

A&E

the Rice Thresher

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

NOISE Hearsay Lounge balances uneven food with creative drinks 0 from page 6 Walden Pemantle A&E Editor

Hearsay Gastro Lounge Address: 218 Travis St, 77002 Phone number: (713) 225-8079 Price range: $$ Website: hearsayhouston.com

Recommended Dishes Sweet corn crab chowder, $4 Lump crab, white pepper and sweet corn.

The Byrd, $16 Angus burger with cheddar, mozzarella, bacon, jalapenos and a fried egg.

There’s something strange about Hearsay Gastro Lounge. Dim decorative light bulbs and a chandelier are the only lighting aside from candles, making for a particularly dark dining experience. By the stairs to the second floor, articles on the building’s historical importance line the walls as if they’re part of the mystique to promote the historic walls of a room you can barely see. The clientele sends a bit of a mixed message as well. There’s no age limit or cover like one might find at a pub, but the customers are almost exclusively affluent 20-somethings hitting the bar, which stays open until 2 a.m.

The cocktails do steal the show, but Hearsay maintains a satisfying, if uneven, menu on all fronts. With good food, great drinks and fairly modest pricing, it’s certainly a place to try for students looking for a night out downtown.

The eclectic menu offers food from burgers to ceviche but works best when offering simpler American fare to complement the more involved drinks. Tempura lobster tail and Saint Arnold’s battered asparagus both make an excellent case for more upscale deep-frying. The batters are light and neither dish is too oily, letting the earthy asparagus and buttery lobster’s character shine through the crunchy and salty coating. The sweet corn crab chowder is another particularly good appetizer, rounding out the hearty lumps of crabmeat and sweet body of pureed corn with just enough white pepper for a layered and decadent flavor. However, the more exotic selections tend to fall flat. The Peruvian ceviche has a heavy dose of orange juice in its briny marinade that masks the more subtle shredded mint and carrot chips, making for a disappointingly onedimensional dish.

The large plates follow the same pattern.

The burgers, quesadillas and sandwiches are all consistently good while more involved plates like the chicken marsala are inconsistent, and at times, plain bad. Though the panfried chicken looks impressive served atop a heap of wilted spinach and mashed potatoes, the namesake sauce has a bitter burnt flavor

that ruins the juicy chicken and buttery vegetables. Nevertheless, sandwiches like the Byrd, a gargantuan burger stacked with bacon, cheddar, mozzarella, jalapenos, avocado, onions and a fried egg, more than redeem the other entrees’ misfires. The sides of crispy rosemary parmesan fries and four-cheese mac n’ cheese add an extra incentive to play it safe and opt for a sandwich over the more expensive entrees.

The cocktails, while a bit pricier, are the soul of the menu. Specials rotate nightly but creative standbys like the applewood bacon Manhattan and Flaming Leah are always available. Showmanship plays a big role in the serving of the drinks as everything from grapefruit peel to rosemary and cinnamon are lightly burned and served as garnishes to add intense aromas to the drinks. The Whiskey and Cigarettes, a scotch drink with a touch of mescal and Benedictine, makes especially good use of a flaming grapefruit garnish to add a breezy citrus aroma to the peaty drink. Though not as dazzling as the mixed drinks, the beer and wine lists are also impressive. The beer list not only offers standouts from St. Arnold’s and Karbach on draft but also has a few foreign selections worth trying like the excellent Trappist Chimay Triple. For wine, a number of interesting by-the-glass options like the fruity South African Chenin Blanc and rich Zuccardi Malbec are uncommonly good alternatives to the usual domestic wines.

The small dessert menu looks like a bit of an afterthought in comparison to the food and drink menus. With standard offerings like New York cheesecake and bread pudding, the dishes are generally unremarkable. However, the domino cake, a chocolate cake with alternating layers of vanilla and chocolate mousse, is an exceptionally satisfying way to end a meal.

Even if Hearsay’s clubby atmosphere and uneven cooking can be off-putting, the dishes they do best and the cocktails that they’ve made their name on have enough flavor and flair to mostly redeem them. It may not be for everybody, but the laid-back food and creative cocktails make Hearsay Lounge well worth a try for a Saturday night trip downtown.

Some pressure to engage in social forms of entertainment is healthy — strong relationships make life more enjoyable, and being with others can help us get outside of our own heads. Furthermore, some forms of entertainment (social drinking, going out to dinner, etc.) are just way more fun to do with other people. This is obvious. The problem is when the pressure is so intense that you become like me, heading back to your apartment exhausted and overstimulated, yet unable to enjoy anything without other people by your side.

When you get to this point, which many people I know have, you have lost your freedom to create your life experience. You are now barred from choosing the entertainment you consume and enjoy; you are restricted to that which your peers choose and influenced by their opinions about it (whether you realize it or not). At some point, a component of your identity is morphed and lost — the part that is developed through active and private selection of what you are exposed to and how you feel about it. It’s the part of your identity that enjoys French films and has novel opinions about them; that has favorite quotes in books no one you know has read; that likes Garth Brooks even though none of your college friends can stand country. Losing this piece — the piece of you that consumes entertainment alone and forms opinions about entertainment and art in isolation, is beautiful and unique and a tragedy to lose.

So, what can be done? Recognize that enjoying things alone is not less valuable than enjoying them with friends. Each has its place, and neither should be dismissed de facto. Furthermore, let anxiety in the face of isolation be a warning signal that rather than finding people, you need to be alone more; you need to remind yourself how to be entertained by your own choices and intellect. When the noise of college life is deafening, close the door, turn on your bedside lamp and read or watch or listen, for you.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

the Rice Thresher

A&E

9

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

10

Soccer extends unbeaten streak to five games Michael Kidd Thresher Staff

Rice vs. SMU

1-1

Rice vs. Arkansas

2-1

sean chu/thresher

Redshirt junior running back Darik Dillard evades a defender in Rice’s 56-16 season-opening victory against Wagner College. Dillard recorded 93 yards and two touchdowns during the game. Rice is now 1-0 on the season and will next play the University of Texas, Austin on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Football soars in opener Aniket Tolpadi Thresher Staff

Rice vs. Wagner

56-16

Led by senior quarterback Driphus Jackson and junior running back Darik Dillard, the Rice University football team defeated Wagner University 56-16 to give them their first opening game victory since 2008.

Despite losing junior starting running back Jowan Davis to injury on the opening drive of the game, the Owls were able to gain 401 yards rushing and gave up only 86.

Rice also outgained Wagner on the day, 543 yards to 285, while also picking up 28 first downs to Wagner’s 13. The Owls took a 35-3 lead into halftime, after which several starters were pulled.

Senior safety Zach Espinosa, who had Rice’s only interception in the game, said he was pleased with his team’s effort.

“It was a great all-around team game,” Espinosa said. “The offense played well and we won the special teams battle. We were able to rotate a lot of young guys in, get the starters some rest, which we’ll need.”

According to Bailiff, it was a performance that had coaches and players very satisfied.

“It was a great way to start the season,” Bailiff said. “I thought [Jackson] really led our way through the football game. I was pleased with how our tight ends blocked,

I thought [redshirt junior] Zach Wright was very physical with his blocking. [Redshirt junior] Alex Lyons was all over the field, he was our leading tackler. I was really pleased with our freshman [kicker] Jack Fox.” One of the more interesting aspects of the game was Rice’s use of senior Luke Turner in a sub package at quarterback. Turner, who was a high school quarterback, is capable of playing quarterback, tight end, receiver, halfback and special teams. Against Wagner, he had six carries for 21 yards and two touchdowns, while also completing an eight-yard pass.

Bailiff said Turner is a critical component of the team’s offense. “[Turner] is the best pure athlete on this team,” Bailiff said. “He very rarely makes mental mistakes and we count on him to do a lot of things.”

Turner fully embraces all of the roles in which the coaching staff puts him, including his quarterback package.

“It’s fun to catch a snap and be the QB when you’re not always the QB,” Turner said. “We said it was a pretty good formation to run out of.”

As Rice’s lead grew, fans were able to get a glimpse of the depth that this team possesses, and some of the players that make for a very exciting future such as redshirt freshman Austin Walter. In his first collegiate game, Walter entered the game as a reserve, yet still eclipsed 100 yards rushing, picking up 107 yards on 12 carries. Among those carries was a 32-yard touchdown scamper, which Bailiff said was “electric.”

“Those Walter twins are going to be exciting for Rice fans for the next four years,”

Bailiff said. “Our future with [redshirt freshman Samuel] Stewart and the Walter twins, we’re going to have some dynamic people back there. We haven’t had a lot of guys like those.”

Jackson previously described this year’s schedule as being “a better layout” for the team, given the caliber of the opening opponent. According to Bailiff, the Wagner game provided the Owls with much to learn heading into the week two matchup against the University of Texas, Austin.

“We learned a lot from Wagner,” Bailiff said. “We learned about the running backs, who can play on third and long. We’ve got to figure out our protections, figure out the passing game. We just worry about trying to go 1-0 every week and get ready for Conference USA. That’s all these games are for.”

Heading into what many consider to be the biggest game of the year against the University of Texas, Austin, two things are certain: The Owls will be ready, and they will be tested. Bailiff tends to recruit more students from the state of Texas than elsewhere and as such, many Owls have personal ties to the University of Texas. Texas will be very motivated by their 38-3 opening game loss to Notre Dame and are led by Head Coach Charlie Strong, a coach that Bailiff said he deeply respects.

“Charlie [Strong] will have them ready, we all know what he did at Louisville,” Bailiff said. “We don’t really have to worry about them, we have to worry about being the best team we can be this week.”

The Owls will look to push their record to 2-0 on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at Darrell K. RoyalTexas Memorial Stadium in Austin.

After starting the 2015 season off with a loss in the home opener, the Rice soccer team has not experienced a loss since.

On Thursday night, Rice battled against Southern Methodist University to end with a 1-1 tie in double overtime. The Owls played again Sunday night and were victorious over Southeastern Conference opponent University of Arkansas by a score of 2-1. With a 1-0-1 weekend, Rice now has an overall record of 4-1-1 in the season.

With a cast of newcomers to the 2015 squad, the first-year Owls and the veteran players have seemingly had no problems linking up. In Thursday afternoon’s game against SMU, six new players contributed valuable minutes against the Mustangs for the entirely of the 110-minute match. In the 21st minute, SMU forward Lauren Guerra redirected a bouncing ball out of a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net for a 1-0 advantage.

Rice remained scoreless for the first half, but after the intermission, came out vying for the tying goal in the 54th minute.

Junior defender Jenny Fichera took a corner from the right side of the field and drove a bending ball into the box. Freshman midfielder Gabby Martinez rose up and connected with a shot on goal to tie the game at 1-1. That was the 10th assist of Fichera’s career and the first collegiate goal for Martinez. Despite outnumbering SMU in shots 25-11 and in corner kicks, 7-2, the game’s final score was a 1-1 draw.

On Sunday night, the Owls hosted the Arkansas Razorbacks for the first time in the last 28 years. Arkansas, known for being a physical team, had some opportunities in the first half but the combination of the Owls’ defense and sophomore goalkeeper Zoe Pochobradsky squandered their attempts. With a long run starting just shy of midfield, senior forward Lauren Hughes managed to get enough space to fire a shot from outside the penalty area and connect with the bottom corner of the net to put Rice ahead 1-0.

Following the first half, Arkansas continued to come out firing but Rice held strong. Riding the momentum of squandering the Razorback opportunities, Hughes and freshman forward Annie Walker completed a sequence that led to a second goal.

After a lead pass out to a streaking Hughes by the near sideline, Walker continued her run into the box to anticipate a cross.

Hughes drove a ball low into the box while Walker scored off a header. Hughes, with 36 career goals, was credited with the assist on Walker’s first career goal. With over 35 minutes to play remaining, Arkansas continued to fight and got one goal back in the 78th minute of the match following a corner set piece. As play got more physical in the final 12 minutes of the match resulting in yellow cards given to players from each side, Rice managed to hold on and secure the 2-1 victory.

According to Head Coach Nicky Adams, the team needs to finish on their opportunities.

“We are creating so many chances but we are not putting them away,” Adams said. “For us to get to the next level we’ve got to put them away.”

Adams said the team succeeded against 0see Soccer, page 12

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

EY

CAS

80

AN

H LA

37

ey s Caosn c o s e m a r J

han alla a r s

Cov in x a gto ns n Te

us

ton

isti an

Ho

Chr

B

C l e v t Solo man elan d Brow

ns

Van c nF eM

Sa

OWLS

ran

cis

in the NFL

Covington as a sixth-round draft pick.

Throughout the preseason, Covington has received tremendous praise from coaches and players about his attitude and skill. In four preseason games, Covington recorded 10 tackles, and has now secured one of five defensive line spots for the Texans.

According to Texans Head Coach Bill O’Brien, Covington is a versatile player who can make an impact on the Texans’ defense.

“I see him in different roles,” O’Brien said. “He’s very active. He gets off blocks and makes plays.”

James Casey, the longest tenured Rice Owl in the NFL, is entering his seventh season in the league. Casey is listed as the starting fullback for the Denver Broncos and finished the preseason with three catches for 30 yards. For his career, Casey has 72 receptions for 842 yards and six touchdowns.

Besides Callahan, the Owls have two

89

DO

Scot

other defensive backs are on NFL rosters: Phillip Gaines of the Kansas City Chiefs and Andrew Sendejo of the Minnesota Vikings.

Entering his second year, Gaines earned a starting spot this season after a strong second half of his rookie year. Last season, Gaines recorded 20 tackles and defended four passes while starting five games. In a strong preseason, Sendejo recorded 15 tackles with one pass defended. Sendejo is currently listed as a backup to start the season.

Rice’s last defensive player on a NFL roster is Rice career sack leader Scott Solomon.

Solomon, an outside linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, is looking to earn a starting spot this season. During the preseason, Scott started three games and recorded five tackles.

Rounding out the Owls in the NFL are tight ends Vance McDonald and Luke Will-

NA

LD

cD

co

on ald

49

ers

N

95

M in ne so ta Vi ki ng s

MC

SO

September 5 marks the deadline for all National Football League teams to complete their 53-man rosters. Nine Owls were drafted, two of which, Bryce Callahan and Christian Covington, made an NFL roster for the first time.

The Chicago Bears signed Callahan as an undrafted free agent. During the preseason, Callahan saw time at cornerback and on special teams. He recorded six tackles during the preseason, with his best game coming in the final preseason game against the Cleveland Browns in which he got the start, had three tackles and a recorded a pass defended. The Bears will use him mostly on special teams with a few occasional snaps on defense.

The Houston Texans drafted Christian

jo

Se

for the Thresher

Andrew Sende

on ills w k s e W eaha Luka t t l e S

Jeremy Reiskind

54

MON

89

CO VI N GT ON

Ch

ver

K an sa s C it y

SOLO

LL WI

C e ce c a g o B y r B i

Den

34

23

es Phillip Gain C hi ef s

11

SENDEJO

GAINES

L CA

SPORTS

the Rice Thresher

son, both are entering their third seasons.

McDonald, a member of the San Francisco 49ers, has been overshadowed by all-pro tight end Vernon Davis throughout his first two years in the league. With Davis entering the final year of his current contract, McDonald is now looking to make a statement to become the starting tight end next season. Willson, a member of the Seattle Seahawks, also has an all-pro tight end ahead of him on the depth chart with the offseason acquisition of Jimmy Graham. In his career, Willson has caught 42 passes for 634 and four touchdowns.

Three Owls who played in preseason games did not make NFL rosters. Wide receiver Jordan Taylor was placed on the Broncos practice squad, while wide receiver Mario Hull was cut from the 49ers and kicker Chris Boswell was cut from the New York Giants.

Soccer star reflects on goals, career Juan Saldana Thresher Staff

Aside from her 5-foot-10-inch frame, senior soccer player Lauren Hughes’ most distinguishing feature on the soccer pitch is the number seven stamped across her jersey. Her number, typically reserved for an attacking soccer player, fits her play style perfectly. She nervously laughs as she explains that her number decision was not a soccer decision, but rather one Hughes made at a young age in an effort to replicate her older brother’s teammate and her first crush.

“I have two older brothers who both played hockey and I would always go to their games,” Hughes said. “There was a guy on my oldest brother’s team, and he was my first crush and biggest crush ever. It came time to pick our soccer numbers and I decided to wear number seven because [he] was number seven.”

As soon as she started playing soccer, her coaches saw potential for a future career in the sport. Hughes said she quickly fell in love with the game and soon after made her first competitive team at age eight.

“When I was 10 years old, I had a coach who pulled me and my mom aside and said ‘Lauren can go as far as she wants with soccer,’” Hughes said. “That’s when I was realized I could go play soccer or go play pro.”

An interconnected chain of opportunity and coincidence took Hughes from Ottawa to Houston for her college soccer career. Her road to Rice began when her club team, the Ottawa Fury, competed in Florida during her sophomore year of high school. There, John Adams, an assistant coach at Houston Baptist University, saw Hughes play and contacted her. The following year, Adams became an assistant coach at Rice and led the way for Hughes to join the Owls’ soccer team. Hughes decided to come to Rice without ever stepping foot on campus, a move Hughes said was “a huge leap of faith.”

According to Hughes, the decision to come to Rice was not very informed.

“At first I had never heard of Rice but my dad and I looked into it together,” Hughes

said. “I didn’t even have an unofficial visit, which is unheard of.”

Hughes said the academic reputation of Rice was a primary concern as she worried about the workload and difficulty of the university.

“Academically, I was really nervous,” Hughes said. “Obviously, athletes have a different standard to get into Rice. I found the transition academically to be fine. I am challenged but I am not in over my head.”

Hughes quickly impressed players and coaches around the conference and began her stockpile of awards. She was named to the All-Conference USA second team and shared the team’s Rookie of the Year Award with teammate Holly Hargreaves during her freshman year. She followed up with an impressive sophomore year performance in which she was named to the All-Conference USA first team. In her junior year, she led the conference with 14 goals en route to another All-Conference season and a Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year award.

According to Hughes, the Offensive Player of Year award is especially important to her due to the process through which rival coaches vote to select it.

“Last year, winning Offensive Player of the Year was really cool because it is an award that the coaches in your conference vote on,” Hughes said. “It is cool to know that I am respected as a player in this conference.”

Hughes has already left her mark on the Rice record books and is the current all-time leader in goals scored with a current total of 36 and almost a full season left to go.

She said holding school records is a significant personal achievement, but she hopes future players will strive to one day pass her.

“It’s just great to be able to make an impact on the program,” Hughes said. “And I hope people come in and break my records.”

Nicky Adams, the head coach since 2011, has coached Hughes throughout her college career at Rice. Assistant Coach Allison Martino has also been a large influence on Hughes’ soccer game, especially her current transition to occasionally occupying the mid0see Hughes, page 14

jake nyquist/thresher

Senior forward Lauren Hughes handles a ball during a 2-1 victory over the University of Arkasnas.

Hughes is Rice’s all-time leader in goals with 36 and has been All-Conference USA all three years.

12

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

the Rice Thresher

0from SOCCER page 10 one of the more physical opponents they will face this season.

“We knew with Arkansas coming in [that they are] one of the most physical, direct teams that we are going to face all year,” Adams said. “They never fail to prove how dangerous they are … so I’m really proud of this team for playing 90 minutes of just pure battling.”

Walker said her first career goal was one of the best moments of her athletic career.

“Basically I just sprinted as hard as I could to get into the box after I hit [Hughes] on the outside and when I looked up, it was there [so] I dove and it went in,” Walker said. “Under the lights, playing against a team like Arkansas [with an] awesome crowd here today … It was definitely one of the coolest goals of my life.”

Martinez, who scored the only goal in Thursday’s matchup, said playing under veteran leadership has helped her early in her career.

“Fichera served in an amazing ball and I was lucky enough to be able to get a head on it and it went in which felt amazing,” Martinez said. “Playing with [Hughes, Hargreaves and Fichera] helps me so much. They have so much experience … and I’m grateful and blessed to be able to play under them.”

Rice will play their next four matches on the road. Beginning this weekend, the Owls face off against the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio on Sept. 11 followed by Miami of Ohio University on Sept. 13.

Upcoming Games vs. University of Dayton Sept. 11, 6:30 p.m.

Dayton, Ohio

vs. Miami of Ohio University Sept. 13, 11:00 a.m.

Oxford, Ohio

jake nyquist/thresher

Freshman forward Annie Walker races for control of the ball during a 2-1 victory over the University of Arkansas. Walker scored her first career goal in the match, a header that put the Owls up 2-0. The Owls are now 4-1-1 on the season and have been undefeated since the opener against Texas A&M University.

make Dean's List

DELIVERY OR CARRY OUT “ABSOLUTE BEST PIZZA MONEY CAN BUY” DOWNLOAD MENU

Order Online: PIZZALVINO.COM

AUTHENTIC NEW YORK & CHICAGO PIZZA You gotta problem with that?

OR CALL US

832-380-3100

$5.01 OFF YOUR PURCHASE OF $20 OR MORE

ORDERING ONLINE? USE THIS CODE: WEBRICE 1 PER CHECK. NO CASH VALUE. MUST MENTION WHEN ORDERING. MUST GIVE COUPON TO DRIVER OR CASHIER. OFFERS CANNOT BE COMBINED.

2524 RICE BOULEVARD, HOUSTON, TX 77005

832.380.3100

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

SPORTS

the Rice Thresher

13

Football ready for matchup with Texas Andrew Grottkau

(0-1). Despite the daunting challenge, senior running back Luke Turner said Rice is relishing the opportunity to go up against the Longhorns.

“It’s really exciting,” Turner said. “Not every game we get to play in is against a big opponent like Texas.”

Texas plays in the Big 12 Conference, one of the “Power Five” conferences. Texas’ football stadium holds over 100,000 fans, and its student body with 38,463 enrolled undergraduates dwarfs Rice’s student body with only 3,965 undergraduates. The Longhorns have won four national championships, most recently in 2005.

for the Thresher

During his “We choose to go the Moon” speech on Sept. 12, 1962, former United States President John F. Kennedy asked the crowd “Why does Rice play Texas?” and explained, “Because it’s hard.”

According to Head Coach David Bailiff, Kennedy was right.

“I think [Kennedy] summed it up,” Bailiff said. “It’s because it’s hard.”

On Saturday, Rice (1-0) will travel to Darrell K. Royal — Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin to take on the University of Texas, Austin

The last time Rice faced off against Texas was in 2011 when the Owls fell to the Longhorns 34-9. Though it has been four seasons since their last matchup, Rice and Texas have a long-standing rivalry. From 1914 to 1996, both schools belonged to the Southwest Athletic Conference. After playing against each other for the first time in 1914, Texas and Rice have faced off 93 times. Texas leads the all-time series 71-21-1. The last time Rice beat Texas was in 1994, and the Owls have fallen in all 12 games since then.

According to Bailiff, Rice needs to focus on itself rather than the stature of their opponent.

“We don’t really have to worry so much

about them,” Bailiff said. “We’ve got to worry about us, just play our game and be the best team that we can be this week.”

Going into Saturday’s game, Rice will try to maintain its momentum from a 56-16 win over Wagner College last weekend. The win was the first season-opening victory for the Owls since 2008.

The Longhorns, meanwhile, will try to rebound from a loss last week. Led by secondyear Head Coach Charlie Strong, Texas fell to No. 11 Notre Dame 38-3. The Longhorns managed only 163 yards of offense in the defeat, passing for 106 yards and rushing for 60. Ju0see Football, page 14

Rice and UT Austin UT Austin

by the numbers

Rice

Number of NFL Draft Picks 2010-2015

Undergraduate Student Population

3,955 39,976

6 5 Spending on Football in millions 2013-2014

4 3 2

Historical number of wins in Rice vs. UT games

1 0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Conferences

$11.5

Rice Conference USA UT Big 12

This Season

$38.4

Records Rice 1-0 UT 0-1

Last Season

21

Records Rice 8-5 UT 6-7

71

14 SPORTS

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

the Rice Thresher

0from FOOTBALL page 13 nior quarterback Tyrone Swoopes led the passing offense, going 10 of 19 for 93 yards passing, and senior running back Jonathan Gray was the Longhorns’ leading rusher with 40 yards rushing on eight carries.

Despite Texas’s loss, Bailiff said Rice is not approaching the game any differently.

“When a team struggles like that, they’re going to turn around the next week,” Bailiff said. “You know those are proud young men, that’s a proud program and I really feel like we’re gonna see a very different University of Texas team.”

Texas has undergone significant roster turnover since last season, losing six starters from last year’s defense that allowed 23.8 points per game, the 32nd best in the country last year. Returning starters on defense include senior cornerback Duke Thomas, senior

linebacker Peter Jinkens, junior nose tackle Hassan Ridgeway, junior safety Dylan Haines and sophomore safety Jason Hall.

Rice will be wearing special white helmets for the game in Austin. On the back, there is a circular black sticker emblazoned with the word “Froggy” in honor of legendary Rice player Froggy Williams. Williams, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and the “unofficial historian” of Rice Athletics according to Bailiff, passed away this summer.

While stressing that the purpose of this game is to prepare for Conference USA play, Bailiff said he knows playing Texas means a lot to him and his team.

“This [game] is one you go into dreaming big,” Bailiff said. “We’re dreaming big right now.”

Rice will try to make those dreams come true Saturday night in Austin. Rice will matchup against Texas at 7 p.m. on Sept. 12 and the game will be televised on the Longhorn Network.

0from HUGHES page 11 field role, where the Owls have not found a permanent starter after the departure of players such as Quinny Truong (Will Rice ’14). According to Hughes, she credits her coaches for her level of success at Rice.

“Ever since I got to Rice, Nicky and Allison have challenged me to be a big player and win awards and break records,” Hughes said. “Nicky is so passionate and it is awesome. I have never seen anyone love the game of soccer so much. Allison has also been helping me learn the role of midfielder more.”

When I was 10 years old, I had a coach who pulled me and my mom aside and said ‘Lauren can go as far as she wants with soccer.’

Lauren Hughes

Hughes, a Will Rice College senior, said the residential college system has complemented her student athlete experience at Rice.

“I love Will Rice,” Hughes said. “I think the college system is so awesome because there are so many people I wouldn’t have been able meet. Some of my best friends are people I matriculated with at Will Rice and I never would have met them if it weren’t for the college system. I just would have been in the athlete bubble.”

Hughes also said the college system, particularly at her college, supports athletes with a fan base and a culture of inclusivity.

“Athletes for the most part do a good job of being around and Will Rice does a good job of supporting its athletes,” Hughes said.

“There are always Will Ricers at our games and I love going to Will Rice for meals. This is my first year not living at Will Rice but Will Rice has made me want to come back and hang out.”

As she looks to graduate with a double major in sport management and sociology and a minor in poverty, justice and human capabilities, Hughes said she is looking to play professional soccer after graduation before pursuing a career in her academic field.

“I think I’m going to try to keep playing soccer,” Hughes said. “I am going to be only 21 when I graduate and I don’t want to get settled down and rooted into a career and regret not trying to pursue soccer.”

However, Hughes said she is still not certain in her long-term plans after a summer playing for a Christian soccer team in North Carolina, during which she began to strongly consider a life in sports or youth ministry.

“This year, I have definitely been questioning whether that is what I want to do,” Hughes said. “I am thinking that after soccer, I may want to get into ministry. I never would have thought I would have wanted to go into that before this summer, but it was super rewarding and something I could totally see myself doing.”

For now, she is working toward her plans of playing in a European women’s soccer league, as playing soccer in the U.S. would require her to leave Rice before graduating. According to Hughes, she would play in a semi-pro league until the European league’s signing period in August.

“I want to play in Europe and don’t have much of a desire to play women’s pro soccer in the U.S.,” Hughes said. “I’ve always wanted to travel so why not use soccer? I think that’s the plan, but who knows?”

Hughes and the rest of the Rice soccer team will look to continue their five-game unbeaten streak beginning Sept. 11 against the University of Dayton.

Community Bridges CAN DO Houston • Cane River Gardens, Inc. • Covenanat Community Capital • Executive Personnel Staffing Incorporated

Through the Community Bridges program, Rice students connect with organizations serving the 5th Ward, a low-income Houston community. At the same time, they will learn the skills they need to help address the challenge of urban disparity, which affects communities nationwide.

Apply Today

application deadline: September 28

visit www.kinder.rice.edu/Bridges Information sessions:

Wednesday, September 9 -- 7:00 pm -- Rayzor 205 Thursday, September 17 -- 7:00 pm -- Rayzor 304 Refreshments will be provided

Fifth Ward Community Redevelopment Center • Fifth Ward Enrichment Program • Pleasant Hill Leadership Institute School Literacy & Culture • YES Prep fifth ward Community Bridges is a program of

Questions? Contact program coordinator Amanda Macune - aem6@rice.edu

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

the Rice Thresher

SPORTS

15

16

BACKPAGE

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

the Rice Thresher

THE BACKPAGE’S GUIDE TO

Screw-Yer-Roommate HOW TO DRESS Just because you can’t choose your costume doesn’t mean you can’t put your own flair on it! Sexiness is key, and subtle hints voiced through your outfit can suggest where you hope the night might head. Some general rules to keep in mind:

1. When it comes to exposed skin, more is better. The same goes for glitter.

2. The smell of your discomfort can be smothered by a full can of Axe body spray.

3. Any ordinary pair of pants can become assless chaps with just a pair of scissors (see Fig. 01).

Another option is the “free agent” approach. Dress in an ambiguous, flexible costume that could be realistically paired with a large number of dates. Then, instead of trusting your roommate to set you up, you can pick a mate for yourself. Blind dates are so much more fun when you can choose your own partner!

temperature Papa John’s pizza, or commit to a life devoid of taste with a mouth-burning cup of Japanese ramen noodles.

Perhaps romance is your thing — how about an intimate candlelit wine (see Fig. 02) and cheese tasting? Fondren sixth’s beautiful view of the Houston skyline makes it an ideal picnic spot. And what better way to take in

the setting sun than with a bag of Sunset Blush™ and a can of Cheez Whiz (not to mention the foreplay that spray cheese welcomes).

Finally, if you’re really into eating out, certain restaurants can thrust the night in the right direction.

Penetrate through the boring small talk at places like SmashBurger, Prego, Pink’s Pizza or 69 Diner.

Fig. 01

WHERE TO EAT Houston’s the number one city for “foodies,” so you really can’t go wrong when it comes to dining out. For those ballin’ on a budget, the Hoot, now in one inconvenient location, has cuisine as ethnically diverse as Rice’s student body. Have a plate of traditional American with a lukewarm Chick-fil-A sandwich, taste some authentic Italian with a slice of room

Fig. 02

Now that you’re all set for your big night out, here are some last minute things to remember: Firstly, if you “forget” your wallet, chances are you’ll end up with a free meal. Second, if all else fails, you’ve got two tickets to an awesome 80s cover band. Lastly, and most importantly, if your date had actually wanted to go out with you, he or she probably would have asked you by now, so you’ve really got nothing to lose.

Happy screwin’!

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

CLASSIFIEDS @rice.edu 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.

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 lo-

cal 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

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.

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

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

LOOKING FOR TUTOR to help with homework 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 IN SEARCH OF a Part-Time afternoon nanny 3 days/week @15hrs in the Galleria area. Please contact Elizabeth@ranchhouseproductions.com IMMEDIATE HIRE! SEEKING professional tutors for multiple part-time positions for SAT PREP. Qualifications: Proven history of success on standardized testing; Knowledge of teaching techniques and learning styles; Tutoring experience (Formal or Informal); Excellent communi-

cation and teaching skills; Proven track record of dependability and professionalism; Ability to travel to homes and/or schools; Good interpersonal and rapport building skills, with students, teachers, and parents. If you have these types of skills and want to make a difference then we want you on our team! Tutor Doctor is a tutoring agency that provides personalized instruction in support of classroom instruction. Tutoring services are customized to parent and school preferences and student needs. We match tutors with students based on tutor qualifications, skills, and personality. This is a contract position. Hourly wage varies based on qualifications, experience, and location ($20-$45/hour). 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.

FEMALE STUDENT NEEDED for babysitting job located 3 miles away. Hours: 2-5 pm,3 weekdays per week (negotiable). Responsibilities: interact with children, be a safe driver, pick up from school (1 mile away), do light housework. $15/ hour. Email kpham12@yahoo.com.