VOLUME 101, ISSUE NO. 1 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Welcome, Rice class of Test scores: middle 50% range of admitted students
43% Etiquette, Shmettiquette Leebron takes on sensitive topics like religion, politics
see Ops p. 7
SAT reading From Texas
SAT writing SAT math
57% from out of state / international
ACT composite
790
710 740
800
700
790
33
35
Quench your thirst Frank Oceaní s album debuts after much anticipation
see A&E p. 9 Gotta Catch ë Em All Womení s ultimate, national champs, seek glory again
981 new students Admit rate:
see Sports p. 15
Drug threat fails to materialize
15%
Unknown
3%
50% 50% male
female
Multiracial
3%
Editor in Chief
0see DIS≠ O, page 4
African American
7%
(first time in 10 years)
Yasna Haghdoost Prior to this yearí s Orientation Week, the university administra≠ tion received information that some returning students were planning to distribute illicit drugs during Dis≠ Orientation with the intent of target≠ ing new students, according to Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson. With the rst weekend of the school year nished, Hutchinson said the administration has not heard reports of the alleged plan being carried out, but has received useful information regarding the culprits and is continu≠ ing to investigate. ì To our knowledge it wasní t ex≠ ecuted,î Hutchinson said. ì Weí re actually hopeful that by spreading information widely on campus that people were alert. As a consequence, anybody who was intending to do something dangerous and harmful decided to not do so.î The administration characterized the information they had received as a ì speci c, credible threatî that includes prescription narcotics, hal≠ lucinogens and other controlled sub≠ stances, Hutchinson said, though the scale of the distribution plans remains unclear. The university ad≠ ministration informed O≠ Week and residential college leaders of these developments so as to involve more students in preventing any poten≠ tially dangerous situations. Hutchinson said he discussed the issue with O≠ Week leaders to en≠ sure that more members of the Rice community were ready to intervene. ì I doní t want a student to say, ë Well, thatí s happening but thatí s not my businessí or ë If I say something about it someone might get in trou≠ ble and so Ií ll keep quiet,í î Hutchin≠ son said. ì Ití s actually a responsi≠ bility all of us have. The reason for raising this particular concern was to empower students to become agents in keeping the campus safe.î Hutchinson warned students who intend to distribute illegal sub≠ stances of severe sanctions, but em≠ phasized Riceí s policy of medical amnesty for students who have con≠ sumed drugs.
(lowest in Rice history)
Asian American
Caucasian
25%
36%
Hispanic
Intí l
16%
11% infographic by samantha ding/thresher
Sexuality course pilot stalled until spring Amber Tong News Editor
The Dean of Undergraduatesí of≠ ce and the Student Association are working to offer pilot programs for a Critical Thinking in Sexuality course in spring 2017 rather than this fall as some expected, according to Dean John Hutchinson. The course was proposed last Oc≠ tober by former SA president Jazz Silva (Sid Rich ë 16) in response to the results of the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Ex≠ periences, which found that 24 per≠ cent of responding undergraduate women and 7 percent of responding undergraduate men had been victims of sexual misconduct. The course was
initially intended to be mandatory this semester for all new students, with a goal of reducing the prevalence of sex≠ ual assault. ì The idea is still completely alive as far as I am concerned,î Hutchinson said. ì The goal is to completely involve our student organizations in brain≠ storming and preparing a curriculum and a plan for us to try and pilot. Our goal here is to do this thoughtfully, so that we have a good idea of what it is weí re going to try to do.î SA President Griffin Thomas said the aim for the pilot is to create optional classes of up to 35 new students as a UNIV or LPAP course. ì The current plan is to offer a couple of pilot programs in the spring semes≠
ter as a way to judge the efficacy of the course and to better understand what it would actually look like in practice,î Thomas, a Lovett College senior, said. A Critical Thinking in Sexuality task force, chaired by Silva, was formed last fall to promote the course among dif≠ ferent stakeholders and discuss cur≠ riculum possibilities. According to task force member James Carter, who is now serving as the SAí s Associate Vice Presi≠ dent, the group met with critical enti≠ ties on campus, including the faculty senate, the Wellbeing Office and the Deaní s office. It also released a video series of student interviews in Febru≠ ary to highlight the ways in which the course would enrich and be of service to Rice students.
Oct. 28, 2015 SA president Jazz Silva introduces SB#4, a bill to create a task force to develop CTIS class
April - May 2015 Working group releases recommendations: increased training, development Sept. 23, 2015 of student STRIVE liason program and Women's Resource all-student Survey of Unwanted Sexual Center holds forum Experiences on survey results
August 2014 Admin creates working group to address sexual assault at Rice, partially in response to new federal requirements released months earlier
Sept. 21, 2015 Results of Unwanted Sexual Experiences survey released by President's Office
Silva said she felt that the program had student support, but administra≠ tion was not fully supportive. ì Last year, the CTIS task force did not feel as if we had the support from a majority of faculty members,î Silva said. ì We need to have advocates and champions outside of the student body. Students come and go, like myself, but if we want to make an institutional change we need institutional support.î Hutchinson said the reason for postponing the roll≠ out is to allow more time for in≠ depth planning. ì Thereí s a difference between knowing the topics you want to cover [and] really working out the details,î Hutchinson said. ì Even the format 0see CTIS, page 3
Feb. 1, 2016 CTIS task force creates website, Facebook page and video series
Nov. 11, 2015 SB#4 passes SA Senate by 19-7 vote
Oct. 28 - Nov. 11, 2015 Polls conducted at all residential colleges except Lovett regarding the proposed class; roughly 50-50 split on average
Oct. 7, 2015 SA holds "It's Up to Us" forum on survey results
Spring 2016 First STRIVE student liasons chosen
August 2016 No CTIS class is offered for fall semester
May 2016 Silva announces course will be offered as optional LPAP in fall
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NEWS
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
SA tables credit limit censure Drew Keller News Editor
The Student Association Senate unani≠ mously voted to table a resolution that would have censured the Faculty Senate for approv≠ ing new limits on the number of credit hours undergraduates can take. The changes, which reduce the maximum number of credit hours from 20 to 18 for students beginning with this yearí s freshmen, were approved by Faculty Senate in April at a meeting attended by over 100 student protesters. Resolution #1 contains language to cen≠ sure Faculty Senate both for the vote to ap≠ prove the credit limits and for what the resolu≠ tion stated was a rushed timeline and failure to consider student concerns. The resolution, introduced by several SA members at the end of the spring semester, also called for a full faculty vote and for President David Leebron and Provost Marie Lynn Miranda to reject the new limits. The SA Senate did not meet again to vote on the resolution last semester, and when it came up at Mondayí s Senate meeting SA Pres≠ ident Griffin Thomas called for it to be tabled. ì My strong recommendation to the Sen≠ ate is to table this bill inde nitely,î Thomas, a Lovett College senior, said. ì I doní t think ití s going to create us a lot of goodwill with the administration or faculty if we start off the year by condemning them ó people doní t re≠ act well to that.î Thomas said further discussions would take place this semester between student leaders and administration regarding the credit limit and overload petition procedures. ì If we doní t like how the new negotiations are going this semester, we can always bring it back up for a vote immediately at one of our Senate meetings,î Thomas said. Thomas said the resolution could be brought up and approved by simple major≠ ity vote at a future meeting if the Senate de≠ cided to do so. He said the administration was aware that the resolution had been proposed.
Several Senate members verbally agreed with Thomas before the vote, including SA Treasurer Maurice Frediere. ì Weí ve kind of sent the message, even if not formally: There were 200 students outside the [Faculty Senate] room [during the vote],î Frediere, a Duncan College sophomore, said. Thomas said the overload petition process should be roughly drafted by the end of the semester. He said Miranda and Dean of Un≠ dergraduates John Hutchinson have listened to student concerns that the new credit limit cap makes it difficult for engineers to gradu≠ ate on time. ì When we left last semester, Provost Mi≠ randa and Dean Hutchinson were very com≠ mitted to make the requirements of engineer≠ ing majors slightly more reasonable, in line with peer institutions,î Thomas said. Hutchinson, who held a ì reside chatî regarding the new limits during Orientation Week advisor training, said the debate over the credit limit had helped the administra≠ tion better understand studentsí stress level and opened a conversation about revising engineering requirements. He noted that the 18≠ credit hour limit allows all students to graduate in four years if they follow the sug≠ gested course plans for their major starting freshman year. ì The number of 18 was not randomly picked,î Hutchinson said. ì For no engineer≠ ing major, even for students who have no AP credit, does anyone ever have to take more than 18 credits per semester. Thatí s where it came from.î Hutchinson said that since the new credit limit will be phased in year≠ by≠ year starting with this semesterí s freshmen, he expects it will take several years for course load norms to shift. ì The goal is to take the entire distribution [of course loads] and shift it lower,î Hutchin≠ son said. ì Relative to the maximum, people will feel smaller loads are more reasonable, as they should have felt all along. A 14 to 16 credit load ought to be the norm rather than on the low end of the distribution.
NEWS IN BRIEF Committee recommends full transition from Owlspace to Canvas Amber Tong, News Editor A faculty committee tasked with in≠ vestigating the universityí s learning management systems has unanimously recommended that the Office of Infor≠ mation Technology transition from Owl≠ Space to Canvas for all courses starting this semester, according to the commit≠ teeí s recent report. The Academic Technologies Subcom≠ mittee of the University Information Technology Committee further recom≠ mended that OIT actively promote Can≠ vas, provide training and support for fac≠ ulty, establish a clear process for course migration, disallow creating new courses in OwlSpace and archive all Owlspace courses for research. The recommendations came after the
school piloted Canvas in more than 60 courses over three semesters. The sub≠ committee reviewed the feedback from faculty and students who took part in the pilot, held faculty discussions and ref≠ erenced other universitiesí experiences. They concluded that Canvasí functions were mainly satisfactory and most of its issues could be easily xed. ì The current trend appears to be that universities are moving toward the use of Canvas,î the report stated. ì Concretely, Canvas is the [learning management sys≠ tem] that offers the most and best features of the currently available top contenders.î The committee emphasized that OIT should continue to maintain OwlSpace while some faculty still use it.
Board of Trustees gains four new members over summer Drew Keller, News Editor The Rice University Board of Trustees added four new members starting July 1, three of whom are Rice alumni, accord≠ ing to a Rice News press release. The alumni are Khan Academy chairperson Ann Doerr (Jones ë 75), Stellus Capital Management managing partner Robert Ladd (Wiess ë 78) and Covariance Capital Management president Scott Wise (Will Rice ë 71); the fourth member, Riverstone Holdings partner James Hackett, former≠ ly served as a trustee from 2010 to 2013. Doerr graduated from Rice with bach≠ elorí s and masterí s degrees in electrical engineering before a career in engineer≠ ing, management, and charitable posi≠ tions, according to the press release. She and her husband John Doerr donated $50 million to Rice, the largest single gift ever, to establish the Doerr Institute for
New Leaders. Both Ladd and Wise earned a bach≠ elorí s degree in economics from Rice, with Ladd double majoring in manage≠ rial studies. Wise was co≠ captain of the Rice baseball team, according to the press release. Both Ladd and Wise have worked in investing and finance; Wise served as Riceí s chief investment officer and then the founding president of Rice Management Company. Hackettí s career is in the energy in≠ dustry, according to the press release. He is currently a trustee of Baylor College of Medicine and was formerly an adjunct professor of management at the Jones Graduate School of Business. Doerr, Ladd, Wise and Hackett will serve four≠ year terms on the 25≠ member Board.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
NEWS
the Rice Thresher
Student concerns spur MECH changes Amber Tong News Editor
The mechanical engineering department has taken steps this summer to address understa≠ing and underfunding issues, following student complaints at a town hall organized by under≠graduates in the spring. In addition to hiring four new faculty members, the department will also restructure some lab courses and work with a newly founded undergraduate advisory council to improve the student experience. In April, students expressed concerns about the lack of full≠time faculty, which limits student≠teacher interaction as well as research opportuni≠ties, and the under≠resourcing of the laboratories. At the time, mechanical engineering, the second largest major by enrollment in the engineering division with about 190 students, had only nine tenured/tenure≠track and one full≠time non≠ten≠ure≠track faculty. The total number has since changed to 13, as one professor left at the end of last school year. The four new faculty consist of non≠tenure≠track lecturer Eleazar Marquez, tenured professor Fred Higgs and tenure≠track assistant professors Mat≠thew Brake and Pedram Hassanzadeh. They will assume their duties in the fall, conducting re≠search and supervising graduate students, but only Marquez will be teaching. Higgs is also the new faculty director of the Rice Center for Engi≠neering Leadership. Department chair Laura Schaefer said while the department has not solved every problem, she believes it is moving in the right direction. Ï We are making great progress, especially if the department faculty continues to grow, and the student enrollment doesnà t increase too dramati≠cally in the next four to ve years,Î Schaefer said. Marquez, a recent doctoral graduate from the mechanical engineering department and an ex≠perienced teaching assistant, said he is excited to build on the relationship he has with students to mentor them and expand research opportunities Ï One of the reasons I got hired was to help students,Î Marquez said. Ï And not only that, but [to] mentor students. It takes somebody to tell you,
ĂŤ You can do it,Ă or ĂŤ How about you take this route,Ă or ĂŤ Are you interested in research, I think you have the potential to do it.Ă ĂŽ According to Schaefer, the department had trouble recruiting full time teachers in previous years because funding from the administration often came late and with conditions. ĂŹ In past years, that money has come at the last minute and the deanĂ s oďŹƒce has been [saying] you have to spend it exactly on this,ĂŽ Schaefer said. ĂŹ This year the money came early and the deanĂ s oďŹƒce said, ĂŤ Hey, you do what you need to do to have a more eective teaching strategy.Ă ĂŽ
The state of the MECH department has im≠proved, but itàs still a long way away from Rice standards. Drew Petty ASME Chapter President
According to Provost Marie Lynn Miranda, the provostĂ s oďŹƒce receives a school≠level request for instructional funding based on what deans have learned from their departments regarding teach≠ing needs. It then allocates resources for addition≠al sections, labs or courses with high enrollments . ĂŹ We always try to be exible in responding to the changing landscape in all of our schools and departments,ĂŽ Miranda said. The department did not receive any additional funding after the town hall. Drew Petty, the president of RiceĂ s American
Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter who or≠ganized the town hall in spring, said hiring Mar≠quez demonstrates the town hallĂ s success and addresses the departmentĂ s immediate, but not long≠term, needs. ĂŹ The state of the MECH department has im≠proved, but itĂ s still a long way away from to Rice standards,ĂŽ Petty, a Duncan College senior, said. ĂŹ This batch of hiring needs to be the rst of many steps toward improvement.ĂŽ In response to the concern that lab groups are too large and ineďŹƒcient, Schaefer said depart≠ment sta will also test out ways to reduce the number of students assigned to each lab group for conducting experiments. This eort involves two dierent methods: Fixing old equipment to increase the types of experiments students can conduct and dividing students into groups that ro≠tate between experiments to ensure more students actually gain hands≠on experience. Nonetheless, factors such as classroom facili≠ties, storage space and equipment still strain the departmentĂ s ability to fully catch up with the growth in student population, Schaefer said. She addressed the issue of size in some of the depart≠mental information sessions during Orientation Week, attended by around 90 to 100 students. ĂŹ Obviously I love this major, so I am still going to give the pep talk about mechanical engineer≠ing, but we also need to let them know that this is what they are getting into,ĂŽ Schaefer said. ĂŹ You are not going to get six≠people seminars.ĂŽ Moving forward, Schaefer expects to work with the advisory board to keep up with concerns. ĂŹ Students making their voices known is a real≠ly useful thing,ĂŽ she said. ĂŹ ItĂ s not that any of [the schoolĂ s] actions are malicious, itĂ s just not neces≠sarily understanding what the challenges are.ĂŽ The student advisory boardĂ s rst goal is to push to administration to continue the trend of hiring and keep an open dialogue with the depart≠ment according to member Preston Hill. ĂŹ The current batch of hires represents the ad≠ministration and department preparing for the retirement of several professors,ĂŽ Hill, a Duncan College senior, said. ĂŹ We need the trend to con≠tinue in order to see more permanent results.ĂŽ
0CTIS FROM PAGE 1 hasnà t really been thought through. So I think we are just taking our time.Î Thomas pointed out that new literature has emerged from the CDC about sexual assault prevention programs after the task force was phased out in May, which he believes will in≠form the new curriculum and course design. Thomas said the two main concerns that the SA needs to address are resources and commu≠nication with upper level administration. Ï Thereàs been some hesitancy in that, rstly, the idea of oering a new comprehensive course for all freshmen takes a lot of resources,Î Thom≠as said. Ï Secondly, the SA is doing a really great job of outreach to students and Faculty Senate members, but we havenà t had many conversa≠tions with upper level administration.Î Hutchinson said he is committed to the idea that sexual education should be ongoing and comprehensive; he said the idea of it being mandatory raises complicated logistical issues. Ï We bring in approximately 1,000 new stu≠dents every year,Î Hutchinson said. Ï Whatàs the right format to oer something to someone, par≠ticularly if youà re going to require it, that will be comprehensive enough to cover 1,000 people? Itàs not a trivial question.Î Hutchinson said the school will look into other educational eorts while carrying out fur≠ther planning for CTIS. For example, it will re≠quire all students to complete an online course educating them on sexual harassment, their rights under Title IX and the resources available to them if they are subjected to harassment. According to Hutchinson, the school plans to repeat the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Expe≠rience in the future but will not do so this year. Ï [The survey] will probably be periodic but not annual,Î Hutchinson said. Ï Our goal is to keep track of how we are either progressing or regressing over time. But we donà t actually ex≠pect that the time frame over which those varia≠tions are going to happen is a year.Î Silva said she sees hope for the course. Ï I really, truly hope that something comes of the class, and in the meantime, Rice needs to at least continue the conversation,Î Silva said.
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NEWS
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
Students pursue political passions, blue or red Emily Abdow
Assistant News Editor
shicong zhou/thresher
Riceí s campus bookstore and convenience store underwent a change in management and combined over the summer, and intend to be more affordable for students. Read more at www.ricethresher.org.
0DIS≠ O FROM PAGE 1
Justin Bernard, an advisor at Jones College, said he and his fellow Jones advisors received a text from their college president about the distri≠ bution plan after Hutchinson spoke during advi≠ sor training. Bernard, a Jones junior, expressed concern over the possibility of individuals distrib≠ uting drugs on campus. ì Ití s shocking to me that someone within the culture of Rice really feels like [distributing drugs] is OK,î Bernard said. ì Ití s nothing against the per≠ son, but the fact that they have disregard for the health of all the other people around them just kind of disturbs me.î An advisor who wished to remain anonymous felt this incident did not re ect the general culture at Rice, and that the number of students who con≠ sume hard drugs is ì very small.î ì With that being said, there is a network of people who do partake in drugs,î the advisor
said. ì They usually keep it to themselves; they arení t dealing. From the people I know, they actu≠ ally are very hesitant to deal it to people or provide information about who their drug dealers are.î According to this advisor, they and other ad≠ visors were ì pretty astonishedî upon hearing about the possibility of drugs being distributed within the next few days. ì I think [the advisors] are all shocked,î the advisor said. ì I felt like it was a good response in that they were really worried about the new stu≠ dentsí safety and well≠ being.î According to the 2015 Annual Security Report published by Rice, there were 11 referrals and four arrests for on≠ campus drug law violations in 2012; nine referrals and six arrests in 2013; and one referral and no arrests in 2014. In April 2015, a senior was expelled two weeks before gradua≠ tion over allegations that he had provided the painkiller fentanyl to a student who nearly died from overdose. This is an updated version of an article that originally appeared online. Read the full story at www.ricethresher.org.
On Beer Bike morning, while the rest of Rice was preparing to ingest liquid at high speeds, Duncan College sophomore Maurice Frediere was at the convention for Senate District 13 to elect delegates for each precinct within the district. There, Frediere ran unopposed to be the delegate for Precinct 361, the polling location in the Rice Memorial Center, at the Texas State Convention, setting himself on a path to attend the Democratic National Convention. But Frediere is far from the only Rice student to become an active participant in politics. In 2016, students engaged from the grassroots level up to the national level and on either side of party lines to make young peopleí s voices heard. Maurice Frediere Next on the campaign trail for Frediere was the Texas State Convention in San Antonio from June 16 to June 18, where Frediere hoped to be elected by fellow District 13 delegates to represent the district at the DNC. Before the two≠ hour caucus to elect delegates, Frediere sent emails and handed out iers to in≠ form fellow delegates on what he could contrib≠ ute to the party. Frediere stood out because he was both the only college student and the only person under 30 running so he could engage young voters. Frediereí s campaign proved successful: From July 25 to July 28, he attended the DNC in Phila≠ delphia supported by the Party Affairs Director of the Texas Democratic Party. His favorite moment arrived when President Barack Obama took the podium. ì Obama has been my president as long as Ií ve cared about politics,î Frediere said. ì Heí s an in≠ credible orator, he had a strong message and at the end of the speech Hillary came out and they embraced and held arms at the center of the stage and everyone went crazy.î Frediereí s delegacy at the DNC was far from his rst foray into politics. Last fall, Frediere in≠ terned for Turnerí s mayoral campaign, and this summer, he worked under Rice alumni Juliet Sti≠ peche, the newly appointed Director of Education under the mayorí s administration. Frediere is also the co≠ president of Rice Democrats. Frediere believes his involvement in politics in politics is inspired by his competitive nature, but it also has a personal note. ì When I was really young I had a series of real≠ ly important surgeries because I was born with a birth defect,î Frediere said. ì For a lot of kids, the Childrení s Health Program saves lives, and that was an initiative that [Clinton] passed and seven million kids were insured.î Frediere said he chose to support Clinton be≠ cause he believes competency and capability are the most important qualities in a candidate. ì Ideologically I fall somewhere between Clin≠ ton and Bernie on a lot of issues,î Frediere said. ì But I think more important than someone being ideologically perfect is that they be a good presi≠ dent. I doní t view the presidency as an ideological position. I view Congress as a place where ideol≠ ogy is important.î This year, Frediere will continue his political involvement by working on Jason Kanderí s cam≠ paign for one of Missourií s seats in the United States Senate and registering 500 new voters by Election Day. ì I believe in the power of politics as a means to effect change and improve peopleí s lives,î Frediere said. Gary Dreyer When Gary Dreyer applied online to intern for John Culberson, the Republican Congressman representing the 7th District of Texas, he thought both his lack of connections and rising sopho≠ more status would work against him. But then, he received an interview followed by an offer to spend June on Capitol Hill. According to Dreyer, a Hanszen College soph≠ omore, a day in the life of an intern depended on whether Congress was in session. On an in≠ ses≠ sion day, Dreyer said, Congress was a madhouse and phones rang off the hook. Dreyer would re≠ ceive the most phone calls the day House Demo≠ crats staged a sit≠ in over gun control. ì I remember the frenzy of that day very well,î Dreyer said. ì I think I had 45 calls from constitu≠ ents in one afternoon, so it was just nonstop.î Dreyer also attended brie ngs, conducted research on political positions and wrote recog≠ nitions of achievements for the congressional record known as congressional commendations. Because Rice was under Congressman Culber≠ soní s representation before the 2011 congressio≠ nal redistricting, Dreyer wrote the congressional commendation to celebrate the 20th anniversary
of the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to two Rice professors, along with a professor from the University of Sussex. The professors received the prize for the discovery of buckminsterfuller≠ enes, also known as Buckyballs, which are mol≠ ecules composed of carbon atoms bound in the shape of a ball. Dreyer attributes his Republican beliefs to reading books spanning from biographies on Margaret Thatcher to novels by Ayn Rand as well as his familyí s experiences. He supported Marco Rubio in the primary election and now sees Gary Johnson, the libertarian nominee, as the candi≠ date who comes closest to mainstream Republi≠ can values. ì My politics come down to what policies cre≠ ate the freest people and the freest markets,î he said. ì I doní t see either of the two major party nominees being able to achieve that whatsoever.î Free speech is also of the utmost importance to Dreyer and he feels that, although Rice is a lib≠ eral campus, it is more open to libertarian conser≠ vative views than many peer institutions. ì As long as we have that respect and that ability to have that discourse and we learn from one another,î Dreyer said, ì I think that is a beautiful thing.î Anita Kapyur Anita Kapyur combined her pre≠ medical in≠ tentions and passion for politics during her sum≠ mer on Capitol Hill. Kapyur, a Duncan College senior, interned in the office of Congressman Ami Bera, the Democratic Congressman representing Californiaí s 7th Congressional District. Bera is one of only 19 physicians in Congress and the only currently serving Indian American congressman. ì I think promoting diversity on the Hill is su≠ per important,î Kapyur said. ì Because one Indi≠ an out of 435 [congressmen] is pretty sad.î Kapyurí s most memorable moment occurred in the aftermath of Paul Ryan posting a sel e with Republican House Interns which was criticized for its lack of diversity and sparked the hashtag ì Interns so white.î In response, Democratic House interns congregated at the Capitol building for their own sel e.
As long as we have that respect and we learn from one another, I think that is a beautiful thing. Gary Dreyer GOP Congressional Intern
ì There was a lot more diversity in the pic≠ ture,î Kapyur said. ì And so that went viral. It was picked up by CNN, Politico, the Hill, Washington Post. And just to be a part of that picture that was so highly discussed ó there was a tweet that I was in that had 3,000 retweets ó it was so cool.î Kapyur said she also wrote talking points for Congressman Bera on policy issues which he pre≠ sented while Congress was in session. ì It was an experience to mimic someoneí s voice and policy platform and have so much pow≠ er,î Kapyur said. In the upcoming election, Kapyur will sup≠ port Hillary Clinton because she feels Clintoní s policies including health care policy are the most economically feasible. Kapyur said current health care policies are failing due to the lack of people educated in both health care and policy. Kapyur plans to graduate a semester early and return to D.C. in spring 2017 to work in the Office of Science and Technology Policy. This year she will also apply to medical school. ì My science background is something I can capitalize on,î Kapyur, a kinesiology and policy studies double major, said. ì Almost everyone is a political science major. There is a huge need for people who do both.î Alex Amari When Alex Amari, a Jones College junior, de≠ cided he wanted to become involved in the Bernie Sanders campaign he searched the Internet, sign≠ ing up on College Students for Bernie Sanders to connect with students interested in organizing a Rice chapter. A few days later, Amari discovered 0see POLITICAL, page 6
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
NEWS
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NEWS
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
0POLITICAL FROM PAGE 4 he was the only Rice student to sign up and be≠ came the president of the Rice Chapter of College Students for Bernie Sanders. As president, Amari represented Bernie Sanders at the Johnson≠ Ray≠ burn≠ Richards Dinner, the Harris County Demo≠ cratic Partyí s main fundraising event, and orga≠ nized events for students on campus. Amari said he supported the Sanders cam≠ paign due to the focus placed on issues such as student debt and wealth inequality. ì When I think about my own life I feel like these domestic issues are more ubiquitous and pressing in the grand scheme of things than these headline threats,î Amari said. Amari is now a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton and published an article in the Hill urg≠ ing fellow Sanderí s supporters to back Clinton.
He said the winner of the upcoming election is important because he or she will decide on issues such as who will ll the empty Supreme Court seat on the split court, issues that could impact the United States for decades. ì For a young progressive to not vote in No≠ vember or vote for Trump is the ultimate affront to everything Bernie stood for,î Amari said. Amari cited the story of Cincinnatus, where a man became dictator of Rome for two weeks and returns to his farm after defeating rival tribes, as the epitome of political leadership. ì A true leader doesní t feel the need to place their name everywhere in huge letters,î he said. But the main foundation of Amarií s politics is nding the policies that give the greatest opportu≠ nities to the most people. ì I believe in the beauty of the United States Constitution,î Amari said. ì ë We the people,í not ë I the person.í î This story has been condensed for print. Visit www.ricethresher.org to read the full pro les.
LOOK NO LONGER - SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!! POST 530 Shaping of Health Policy – Mondays 1 – 4 pm, BRC 282 An interdisciplinary approach on how health-care policy decisions are being made: • Involving government, law, ethics, economics, and history. • Case discussions with faculty experts and guest speakers NSCI 502 Space Seminar- Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:40 pm, GRB 211 W Aerospace industry experts discuss space related topics: • Mission planning and design / Astrodynamics/orbital mechanics • Spacecraft navigation / Payload definition • Space environment and human factors / Propulsion and maneuvering EBIO 580 Sustainable Development and Reporting – T/TR 5:30 – 7 pm ABL 123 • Environmental sustainability • Principles for Environmental Health & Safety compliance • Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRs). Plus: Compliance guidelines, use of risk management techniques and understanding assessment considerations
RUPD delays camera rollout Emily Abdow
Assistant News Editor
The Rice University Police Departmentí s plans to install security cameras on the outer pe≠ rimeter of residential colleges has been delayed due to the need for feedback from students, ac≠ cording to Chief of Police Johnny Whitehead. When the plans were announced in April, Whitehead said the security cameras are need≠ ed at the entrances of residential common spac≠ es because crime statistics show the majority of crime, including thefts, trespassing and sexual assault, occurs in and around residential col≠ leges. Cameras are currently in place around administration and academic buildings. Later in April, Student Association President Griffin Thomas, Jones College President Chris Sabbagh and Hanszen College President Kenny Grozman met with Whitehead, Vice President for Administration Kevin Kirby, Associate Vice President of Housing and Dining Mark Ditman, and Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson to express concerns regarding the camera im≠ plementation. ì In that meeting it became clear that not only more student stakeholder engagement needed to be done, but also more stakeholder engagement with the faculty needed to be done as well,î Thomas, a Lovett College senior, said. But for one college, implementation of secu≠ rity cameras will be expedited. At the Student Association meeting on Monday, Lovett Presi≠ dent Rahul Kothari said the construction fence by where the new parking garage is being built has had the effect of funneling people from the community to Lovett. In response, Kothari and the two Lovett SA senators did a walkthrough of Lovett with Chief Whitehead to determine the placement of the cameras. ì If we do choose to move forward with [the implementation]. Weí ll pilot the security cam≠ eras and how it works,î Kothari, a senior said. On Monday, Thomas sent an email to the SA listserv with the draft security camera policy along with a Google form for student feedback. According to Thomas, feedback will be collected
through next Wednesday. Then, a group of sena≠ tors and presidents will write and introduce a resolution based on the student feedback to the SA Senate. If passed, the resolution will be sent to the administration and serve as the official SA response. The current draft policy classi es all infor≠ mation acquired from security camera use as con dential, limits camera ranges and capabili≠ ties including ì zoomingî and requires record≠ ings to be stored for 30 to 60 days. In addition, the policy mandates that operators of cameras will be trained in cultural/diversity awareness and prohibits secondary recording of video feeds. The cameras will not be monitored live, but recordings will be accessed as necessary de≠ pending on any crimes that may occur on cam≠ pus that could have been captured by the video. Groszman addressed student concerns at the SA meeting by emphasizing where the cameras would and would not be placed. ì Thereí s not going to be any cameras in the hallways to your dorm, thereí s not going to be any in your room,î Groszman, a senior, said. ì Ití s really just the boundaries of commons spaces and those heavily traveled areas where if there was a crime they would be able to look at that particular door and the people coming in and out.î Sabbagh said he feels security cameras would prove valuable in allowing RUPD to iden≠ tify suspicious individuals who try to come on campus, but also noted concerns about student privacy. ì I think this is a very nuanced issue,î Sab≠ bagh, a senior, said. ì I would like to hear more from students before nalizing my stance.î Thomas also emphasized the importance of receiving student feedback. ì While the beginning of the semester is al≠ ways a bit tumultuous for students, ití s really important that we get some good feedback on this because this will be the policy on the books for years to come,î Thomas said. ì We want to make sure that ití s something that students and administrators are comfortable with and that it adequately re ects all of our concerns.î
7 From the Editorí s Desk: Lackluster response to CTIS discouraging When the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Ex≠ periences proved that, much like other college campuses, sexual misconduct and assault are prevalent at Rice, many in the student body rallied around the cause and proposed change in the form of a mandatory Critical Thinking in Sexuality Class for new students. However, the administrationí s response and support for this course has been lagging ó and this delay could have dire consequences for the incoming class. Though the class was controversial, the fact that so many students felt compelled to respond is in itself impressive. It also indicates that a large portion of the student body is aware that sexual misconduct is a pressing issue and are actively working to create a safer Rice community. Given the buzz around CTIS, it is concerning that the administration has not updated the en≠ tire student body regarding the courseí s status. It was not until returning this fall that students even learned the course will not be offered this semester as planned last spring. The student body proposed and approved the creation of the CTIS course with a huge sense of urgency, to reduce the amount of harm to future Owls as much as possible, yet the course in its envi≠ sioned mandatory state has been delayed to at least fall 2018 without much warning. Other aspects of the treatment of sexual mis≠ conduct remain lacking. For instance, sexual assault prevention training during Orientation Week needs to include more focus about the speci c environment in which sexual miscon≠ duct occurs at Rice. This year at Project SAFE, there was no mention of the SUSE. While O≠ Week is a balancing act between providing new students with information they need to remain safe while also not offending sensibilities, it is irresponsible to gloss over sex≠ ual misconduct statistics that indicate the scale and context behind this important issue. Even EMS includes in their O≠ Week presentation the number of students bitten by squirrels each year, if only to ensure awareness of the prob≠ lem. The SUSE should become an annual occur≠ rence, instead of once every two or three years as Dean Hutchinson plans. His concern that an annual survey might cause ì survey fatigueî is not unfounded. Nonetheless, if the administra≠ tion wants students to be surveyed annually about Fondren Libraryí s resources, then surely making it a priority to annually ask students if theyí ve experienced sexual misconduct is not unreasonable. Furthermore, the questions should be more detailed in order to capture the wide range of experiences students may have. Our university still has much room for im≠ provement when it comes to sexual assault awareness and prevention. O≠ Week and the SUSE are intuitive places to start, but the future of CTIS remains critical. We understand that creating a course takes time and a great deal of logistical planning, but for every semester or year we delay the implementation of any sort of sexuality education or other tangible steps in addressing sexual misconduct, we are faced with the prospect of one more class of Rice stu≠ dents just as vulnerable as the class that walked through the Sallyport in the years before. Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the pieceí s author.
Editorial Staff
Hold us accountable to journalistic ideals Dear Readers, My name is Yasna Haghdoost, and I am the Thresher Editor in Chief for the 2016≠ 17 academic year. I began my career at the Thresher as a lowly arts and entertainment writer my freshman year, where I recall my very rst theater review being brutally eviscerated by our copy editor before it went to print. Since then, Ií ve held various editorial positions over the years before beginning my stint as Editor in Chief this summer. Because the Thresher is a blanket tax organization, the student body voted me in last semester, and Ií m pleased to say that I won out over such illustrious write≠ in candidates as ì Someone who isní t super biased,î ì SJPî and, of course, ì that older Asian man whoí s always in Fondy.î Given the tense political environment we now nd ourselves in, Ií ve been re ecting on my role as editor, and more broadly about the responsibilities of the press within the communities they seek to inform. As an immigrant and a woman of Middle Eastern descent, I personally feel the brunt of the violent rhetoric slung at certain marginalized communities, rhetoric perpetuated with saddening frequency by media outlets more
coverage and investigative pieces, and we plan to continue starting conversations about the many pressing issues our community faces. We remain committed to serving as a forum for intelligent discussion, so we encourage our readers to submit opinion pieces or letters to the editor about the major issues du jour in order to spark dialogue within our community. I invite you to hold me accountable to the journalistic integrity towards which we strive: If you have any questions or concerns about Thresherí s coverage, send me an email at thresher@rice.edu. Alternatively, come say hi to me in person. On a good day, I doní t bite. Happy reading,
Yasna Haghdoost is the Thresher Editor in Chief and a Will Rice College senior
cartoon by cindy nguyen
Freshmen react to matriculation reworks
Find and delve deep into your passion I spent a lot of time this August thinking about which of many priorities I wanted to emphasize in this brief message to all of my students. And then, today (Sunday), I attended the memorial service for Lach Hristov, a 2015 chemistry graduate from Duncan College. Very sadly, we lost Lach 10 days ago in a tragic accident. He was about to start his graduate school career at Harvard University, having just completed a year as a Fulbright Fellow. The memorial was beautiful and deeply moving, a tribute to a young man called by his friend ì a beautiful soul.î A family friend from his home reminded us that his full rst name Lachezar means ì radiant light.î His parents could not have known when they named him how appropriate his name was, as he was de nitely a brilliant light to the Rice community and the Duncan family and the chemistry faculty. Here was a young man who fully embraced and lived the Rice experience. He found his passions in organic chemistry and international travel, and he pursued both with depth and rigor and dedication. It was said of Lach that he viewed
*Editorial Board member
Yasna Haghdoost* Editor in Chief
opinions Mitch Mackowiak* Editor
Anita Alem* Managing Editor
sports Andrew Grottkau Editor
Juan Saldana Business Manager
art Justin Park Director Sirui Zhou Photo Editor
news Drew Keller* Editor Amber Tong* Editor Emily Abdow Asst. Editor Samantha Ding Designer
concerned with ratings than integrity. We are living in an increasingly polarized world. To that end, most of us (including myself) tend to consume media that reaffirms our worldviews. Whether ití s Huffington Post or Breitbart, MSNBC or Fox News, our newsfeeds and conversations are inundated with messages we want to hear, that assure us our opinions are correct and make it all too easy for us to bask in our own perceived moral superiority while ridiculing those with whom we disagree. To top it all off, the rise of ì clickbaitî has made it difficult for credible news sources to survive in an environment where readers are more likely to consume stories about Donald Trumpí s gaffes or Kim Kardashianí s derriere over in≠ depth investigations about corporate tax loopholes or the criminal justice system. I doní t have answers to these nationwide issues, but I do believe the Thresher can strive toward journalistic ideals that seek to inform and illuminate readers, with the help of a Rice readership willing to rise above harmful rhetoric and the inclination toward self≠ affirmation instead of critical thinking. Over the past few years, the Thresher has expanded its in≠ depth
arts & entertainment Sophie Newman Editor Walden Pemantle Editor Samantha Ding Designer
copy Jasmine Lin Editor Julianne Wey Editor backpage Riley Robertson Editor Joey McGlone Editor advertising Shannon Klein Manager online Charlie Paul Editor Alex Kim Editor
each experience not as a memory in the past but as a lesson on which to build. As I listened to the wonderful stories of his life at Rice, I wished that each of you could have heard these stories or to have known his radiant light, so that you might be inspired to follow his example. So I come to my advice and my wish for each of you for the next year and for all of your years at Rice. Give yourself the time to nd your passion and then give yourself the time to deeply engage with that passion. To nd your passions and to understand yourself, you need to give yourself time for quiet, undistracted personal re ection. To deeply engage that passion, you need time in close and meaningful conversation with your classmates and with your mentors on the faculty and staff. Do not rush these moments, because these are the moments you will cherish from your life at Rice. These are the moments when you will discover the person you want to be and then when you will become that person. Savor them, and savor the excitement of deeply understanding what you had not understood.
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.
The following words were spoken by one of Lachí s eulogists and were handed out at his memorial, and it is clear that they had meaning to him as they should have meaning for us. So I want to leave you with them, quoting from ì Thief of Timeî : ì Blink your eyes, and the world you see next did not exist when you closed them. Therefore Ö the only appropriate state of the mind is surprise. The only appropriate state of the heart is joy. The sky you see now, you have never seen before. The perfect moment is now. Be glad of it.î
John Hutchinson is the Dean of Undergraduates of Rice University
Editorial and business offices are located on the second oor 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 pieceí s author. The Thresher is a member of the ACP, TIPA and CMBAM © Copyright #worst rst
8
OP≠ ED
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
Discuss religion and politics with respect ASK THE STAFF 83≠ year≠ old mother describes as the strangest in her lifetime. And events over the summer ó including unarmed black men shot by police, the killing of five police officers in Dallas, and the attack in Orlando apparently targeted at LGBTQ individuals ó have further undermined the sense of safety and well≠ being of many in our community. The
Weather Underground may be telling me that it feels like 108 degrees outside, but for me this is one of the coolest times to be at Rice as we welcome our new students and welcome back our returning students, both graduate and undergraduate. Our students are truly spectacular in terms of their ability, but also inspiring in terms of their spirit and commitment, not only to Rice, but to the betterment of our world more broadly. We are also welcoming a significant number of new faculty, who will also play an important role in the renewal and success of Rice. All of this, coupled with watching Olympians from around the world compete in Rio, gives me a sense of joy and optimism at a time when our country and our world seem deeply troubled. Our students and the athletes in Rio ó who included two of our alumni! ó are largely from the same age cohort, and what the two groups have in common is an extraordinary diversity. In our undergraduate population, there is no ethnic or racial majority, and whether we speak in terms of race, religion, national origin, talents, aspirations, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status or political affiliation, they represent every component of American society. We see here in our student body and in our athletes in Rio the strength that diversity brings as we recognize increasingly that talent, high aspirations and achievement can be found in every group of people, here at home and abroad. In our house we do cheer first and foremost the Americans, and my children have been at their patriotic best. And the American athletes have indeed been an inspiring sight as we have watched barriers fall in sports like gymnastics and swimming, and witnessed the successful competition of an American Muslim woman attired in her hijab. But we have also cheered athletes from other countries, including spectacular divers from China and runners from Jamaica and Kenya. And we have cheered for teams winning the first medals for their country or territory, including Fiji, Kosovo and Puerto Rico. And we cheered with the Brazilian hosts as they celebrated their home teamí s golden victory in their marquee sport of soccer. But as our campus returns to full activity, we are in the midst of an odd yet crucially important political season, one which my
I hope these conversa≠ tions will begin, proceed and end with a manifest respect for each other. If we caní t do that here, what can we expect of our society today and in the years to come?
upcoming election suggests we are a deeply divided nation. In this environment, the old etiquette rule of ì Never discuss religion or politics in polite companyî may seem like especially good advice. This may indeed be good advice for the workplace, or even for your social interactions after college or graduate school. But even on our campus, we have an understandable reluctance to bring these topics into our relationships, as strong disagreements might be seen to threaten the sense of community, caring and shared purpose that we cherish at Rice. It often seems difficult if not impossible to put in practice Thomas Jeffersoní s view that he ì never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.î While we might in fact trust a good friend to engage candidly in such discussions without harsh judgments, we are understandably more wary of those we know less well. But such discussions can form an incredibly important part of an education,
and enable us to truly benefit from all the forms of diversity in our community. We caní t, however, engage in them unless we bring to these conversations the spirit of community ó of respect, tolerance and thoughtfulness ó that we expect from each other. Higher education administrators and teachers often claim that we are in the business of educating citizens and leaders. In the course of a political season, nothing can really substitute for the kinds of conversations one can have with oneí s peers, especially those with whom you disagree. So I encourage you to put aside the rule of etiquette, and seek out those with whom you disagree ó and also those with whom you agree ó to learn from different perspectives about the issues facing our country and the world. Well handled, with respect and civility, such conversations can only make you smarter and indeed a more effective advocate for your beliefs. And while in my official role it would not be proper for me to advocate particular political or religious points of view, I too would benefit from such conversations. So I plan to schedule a series of ì impoliticî dinners and lunches at our residential colleges this fall and turn the old etiquette advice on its head: The only topics of conversation will be politics and religion. I hope these conversations will begin, proceed and end with a manifest respect for each other. If we caní t do that here, what can we expect of our society today and in the years to come? Oh, and for those of you who are eligible, be sure to register and to vote. Welcome to what I hope will be a wonderful year for you at Rice.
public policy which affect your life. Our student organization, the Baker Institute Student Forum, holds programs, debates and meetings with the goal of promoting policy awareness and offers unique opportunities to engage with our fellows and guests. The Baker Institute has a strong presence in Rice classrooms: Last year, scholars affiliated with the Baker Institute taught more than 100 courses across a variety of disciplines. Each spring, we provide access to Baker Institute experts on a range of contemporary policy issues, from energy to healthcare to the Middle East. We are also home to two new graduate programs: the Master of Global Affairs, in partnership with the School of Social Sciences, and the Master of Energy Economics, in partnership with the department of economics. In addition to academic courses and events, the Baker Institute sponsors student internship initiatives to help students gain hands≠ on experience with public policy and to explore future career paths. Throughout the year, we hire Rice students to work part≠ time with our fellows in support of our research activities and with our administrative staff to organize events and other programs. In the summer, we sponsor Rice student internships at government agencies, think tanks or nongovernmental organizations in Washington, D.C. We have also established internship programs that provide opportunities to engage with public policy issues abroad. Since 2009, we have partnered with the French Institute of International Relations to send a group of students to study policy in Paris and Brussels.
ì The rst time I swallowed 4Lokos.î ñ Yasna Haghdoost, Editor in Chief
ì First and last time snorting sesame seeds.î ñ Walden Pemantle, A&E Editor
ì First email was elguapo2468@ gmail.com. Still my active spam account.î ñ Joey McGlone, Backpage Editor
ì Visiting Times Square not as a tourist was really gross and terrifying.î ñ Sam Ding, News Designer
ì I answered my first ë Ask the Staffí completely seriously.î ñ Andrew Grottkau, Sports Editor
ì The rst time I raced in a regatta I ipped the boat completely upside down and had to watch everyone else pass me as I waited for the race organizers to rescue me. It was exciting and embarrassing.î ñ Emily Abdow, Asst. News Editor
David Leebron is the President of Rice
University
ì I almost got arrested at my rst NOD.î ñ Juan Saldana, Business Manager
ì I took my rst sip of kombucha this summer in Colorado and it tasted like diluted ketchup.î ñ Anita Alem, Managing Editor
Students should utilize Baker Institute As you return to campus, I wish to share with you the many opportunities Rice Universityís Baker Institute offers to become involved in the world of public policy, which directly affects your life in important ways, both now and when you leave Rice to pursue your career. Adding an understanding of public policy to your education at Rice is important for achieving personal and professional growth inside and outside of the classroom. Since the Baker Instituteís founding in 1993, we have built research programs studying energy, health, Mexico, the Middle East, entrepreneurship, science and technology, religion and politics, space policy, drug policy, China and more ó all making valuable contributions to policy formulation at home and abroad. The institute seeks to engage students in our nationís public policy dialogue and to promote leadership. We aim to connect the world of ideas on campus to the world of action on a national and global scale. Over the past two decades, student options for engaging with the Baker Institute have grown signi cantly. The institute has established itself as a major forum for the discussion and debate of key public policy issues, allowing students extraordinary opportunities to engage with notable statesmen, scholars and business leaders. These have included Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as national and international leaders such as Nelson Mandela. Each year, we host more than 50 events open to students, offering unique opportunities to learn about areas of
#WorstFirst?
Since 2011, the Baker Institute Space Policy Program has sponsored engineering and science students from Rice and other universities on a two≠ week trip to Russia to promote international collaboration for a new generation of space scientists. The institute is partnered with the department of political science to sponsor the Urban Lab, allowing students to study the dynamics of urban political, economic and social development through on≠ campus study and eldwork in Istanbul and Dubai. And our Center for the Middle East annually sponsors student eld research, this year in Egypt, Qatar, Lebanon and Australia. We hope Rice students will take advantage of the many opportunities for involvement at the Baker Institute. Information about our events and programs can be found on Twitter @BakerInstitute and on our website: bakerinstitute.org. As you begin a new school year, please join us to learn about the issues which affect your life and to lend your own voice to the ongoing public policy discussion.
ì During my rst water polo game the opposing team kicked me hard and tried to pull my swim trunks off.î ñ Sirui Zhou, Photo Editor
ì Boogie boarding in a Hawaiian storm. Almost died.î ñ Julianne Wey, Copy Editor
ì Driving in Houston. Couldní t see the lanes. Almost died.î ñ Jasmine Lin, Copy Editor
ì My answer to this question.î ñ Amber Tong, News Editor
ì Couldní t read the rst book I picked up.î ñ Mitch Mackowiak, Opinions Editor
ì I fell asleep and crashed my car on the road that leads to my school, so everyone saw me as they passed.î ñ Justin Park, Art Director
Ambassador Edward P. Djerejian is a founding director of the Baker Institute for Public Policy
ì Rocky rst trip to the roller rink. Was all over the place. Went down a couple times.î ñ Riley Robertson, Backpage Editor
ì Frying bacon naked. Doní t do it.î ñ Sophie Newman, A&E Editor
HAVE OPINIONS? OF COURSE YOU DO. Submit op≠ eds and letters to the editor at thresher@rice.edu. Columnists welcome! Inquire at mxm1@rice.edu.
arts
ENTERTAINMENT
9
PREVIEWING A MUSICAL MONTH With the opening of White Oak Music Hall, Houston is hosting an unprecedented number of concerts this fall. From rap to folk, and R&B to EDM, the rst month of classes is also packed with a range of talented artists. Weív e put together a calendar featuring a number of local venues, so even if you caní t nd your rst class, youíl l be able to nd your way to a great show.
AUG
Lil Yachty
Sinbad
The Kills
Crystal Castles
SEPT Broods
Tegan and Sara
Dillon Frands
Floating Points
Dinosaur Jr.
Marian Hill
Andrew Bird
YG
Cass McCombs
Okkervil River
Troyboi
After extended hype and missed release dates, Frank Ocean debuts complex new album ë Blondeí WALDEN PEMANTLE A&E EDITOR
At long last, we had a new Frank Ocean album. Or did we? On the opening track, ì Nikes,î Oceaní s voice croons through heavy distortion until the third minute, when Ocean drops a melodic rap over looped acoustic guitar and woodwinds. Three min≠ utes might not be long to wait, but after the
THE WEEKLY SCENE The editorsí picks for this weekí s best events. Time to explore the wonderful world of Houston.
near≠ hysteria surrounding a number of ru≠ mored but unrealized release dates, it was enough to make me doubt, if only for a mo≠ ment, whether ì Blondeî was really the an≠ ticipated album I thought it was. Further lis≠ tens show ì Blondeî to be similarly deceptive all the way through. Nothing is as immedi≠ ate as ì Thinkin Bout You,î let alone earlier Ocean songs like ì Swim Good,î but beneath the lolling tracks, Ocean delivers the same complex, personal lyrics that made ì Chan≠
FRINGE FEST For all your weird and funky en≠ tertainment needs, look no further than the Houston Fringe Fest. From circus performers to narrative dance, the Fringe Festival offers art that is in fact too indie for the mainstream cre≠ ative outlets. Catch it before it ends on Aug. 28.
The Pilot on Navigation 5102 Navigation blvd houstonfringefestival.org
nel Orangeî such a success. ì Nikesî opens the album on a slow, hyp≠ notic note. The vocals are catchy, but the song seems to meander. If anything, it sounds like the vocals to ì Thinkin Bout Youî being dropped into the final minutes of ì Pyra≠ mids.î As ì Nikesí î sputtering beat fades out, distorted guitars bring a touch of surf rock to the following song, ì Ivy,î and drive home to the listener that ì Blondeî is going to be a fairly experimental album. Still, after more
OUTDOOR MOVIE Ití s not summer unless you spend a night outside enjoying this won≠ derful Houston heat. Catch the Coen brothers classic, ì O Brother, Where Art Thou?î this Thursday, Aug. 25. The event will be accompanied by Main Street Theater performers and food vendors. Admission is free.
Houston Public Library 500 McKinney St. Houstonlibrary.org
crooning and even more distorted vocals, the album delivers perhaps its most accessible song, ì Pink + White.î ì Pink + Whiteî livens up the album with a jaunty piano and bass groove as Frank sings casually, referencing Hurricane Katrina and the perseverance of a number of black public figures in the wake of catastrophes. Toward the end thereí s even the slightest Beyonce cameo, as she backs up Oceaní s hook. 0see BLONDE, page 13
SUFFRAGETTE
THE ODYSSEY
With Womení s Equality Day coming up on Friday, the Rice Cinema is celebrat≠ ing early. Come by at 5:30 p.m. on Thurs≠ day for a screening of ì Suffragette,î star≠ ing Meryl Streep and Helena Bonham Carter. The lm will be followed by a discussion of Houstoní s own suffrage movement and guests are encouraged to wear period≠ speci c costumes.
This woní t be the Odyssey you learned about in Latin class. In≠ stead, on Aug. 27 the Miller Theater is hosting Oscar≠ nominated, Emmy≠ award≠ winning composer Va≠ Anh Vo, in a performance of her adapta≠ tion of Vietnamese lullabies meant to convey the journeys of Vietnam≠ ese ì boat peopleî as they emigrate.
Rice Cinema Rice University films.rice.edu/events
Miller outdoor Theatere Hermann Park milleroutdoortheatre.com
10 A&E
the Rice Thresher
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
WHATí S !"# RIGHT NOW TECH:
Word Replacement Web Extensions
APP:
Robinhood
courtesy makeuseof.com
In a phrase: Browser plug≠ ins that change text on web pages Where to find it: Google Chrome As the Digital Age enters its pubescent years, a growing amount of new software is aiming for humor and avoiding productivity entirely. A strong subset of this trend consists of plug≠ ins that alter text on web pages, rst popularized with Cloud To Butt for Google Chrome, an app that automatically replaces the phrase ì the cloudî with ì my butt,î creating phrases like ì Amazon and Google race to store DNA in my butt.î Other web extensions like Word Replacer II and In My Words have also popped up, offering increased control and ease of use. A recent plug≠ in from Chrome even replaces ì millennialsî with ì snake people.î
A&E
the Rice Thresher
11
by stephen hannan
LIFESTYLE: Socialism
FOOD:
Edible Poop
courtesy abc news courtesy android headlines
In a phrase: Investment app aimed at snake people Where to find it: The App Store Robinhood seeks to corner a market of emerging investors. Fully licensed and FEC registered, Robinhood is the first stock brokerage built around its electronic service, with no physical storefronts or manual account management. Offering a sleek, dichromatic interface and basic non≠ invasive tools like price history, many tech≠ savvy adults have been flocking to this new app. Perhaps even more appealing to new traders than its looks is Robinhoodí s $0 commission fee.
THRESHER OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, August 31 @ 8PM Thresher Office
(2nd oor of RMC, above Office of Academic Advising)
This is your chance to talk to editors from different sections! Snacks and refreshments will be provided.
courtesy ifitshipitshere.com
In a phrase: Public ownership of the means of production Where to find it: Storming the Bastille, probably at Burning Man
In a phrase: A Toronto restaurant setting out to ì make poop cuteî Where to find it: Toronto
If capitalist apps like Robinhood arení t your thing, why not try socialism? The tremendous popularity of now≠ Independent socialist politician Bernie Sanders and frequent articles about wealth inequality have caused many U.S. citizens to bolster a socialist agenda. The vestiges of McCarthyism are dying off and socialism is far from the ì dirty wordî it used to be. Hop on the trend now and next election cycle youí ll be able to tell your friends that you advocated a commonly owned means of production before it was cool.
Love using the poop emoji on your phone? Want to spend even more time around poop≠ themed objects? Inspired by a toilet≠ themed restaurant she encountered in Thailand, restaurateur Lien Nguyen set out to open Torontoí s first ì Poop CafÈ Dessert Bar.î Detractors have already taken to Twitter to call the project disgusting and over the top, and we partially agree with them, but for poop enthusiasts in metropolitan Canada this will certainly be an exciting new attraction.
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0BLONDE FROM PAGE 9 For the most part, the album repeats that pattern: A few murky, slow≠ paced experi≠ ments give way to a standout track, then the album recedes back into its relaxed pace, let≠ ting its listeners recover from the emotional highlights. The solipsistic jam ì Soloî fades into the lower≠ key ì Skyline Toî before the guitar≠ laden slow burner, ì Self Controlî sees Ocean melting into a heart≠ rending and un≠ likely duet with Swedení s Yung Lean. ì Good Guyî functions as an interlude to segway the listener into ì Nights,î a restless five≠ minute track that seems to condense the shifting moods and rhythms of the whole album. The song is catchy and melodic yet also tense and jittery throughout. For the first half, Ocean sings about insomnia, moaning, ì This feel like a Quaalude.î In the second verse, the
lyrics are more straightforward, with Ocean speaking directly to his subject, remember≠ ing waiting outside their Houston apartment. While the lyrics get more direct, Oceaní s voice retreats again behind distortion. Just as the album begins to settle into a predict≠ able groove, a punchy, kinetic verse from An≠ dre 3000 on ì Solo (Reprise),î a short lacuna, and the dissonant strings that open ì Pretty Sweetî jolt it back toward the unexpected. By the time one hits the mellow guitar of ì White Ferrariî and the aural groove of ì Seigfried,î it feels as if the album enters a sort of chilled out anti≠ climax. The instrumentals calm down while Oceaní s vocals get more urgent and emotional, ending in ì Futura Free,î a fi≠ nal paean to struggling and winning out in the music business. Though the album remains laid≠ back more or less throughout, it isní t monochromatic. The biggest complaint most are likely to have is that Ocean underutilizes his collaborators.
For the most part, the album repeats that pattern: A few murky, slow≠ paced experiments give way to a standout track, then the al≠ bum recedes back into its relaxed pace.
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James Blakeí s cinematic brand of melancholy adds noticeable depth to ì White Ferrari,î and Andre 3000í s verse on ì Solo (Reprise)î is a standout. But elsewhere, Beyonceí s back≠ ing vocals come and go with little notice, and Kendrick Lamarí s backing vocals on ì Skyline Toî are barely perceptible. Yung Leaní s cam≠ eo on ì Self Controlî is arguably the most rep≠ resentative of the guest appearances. Singing the hook over guitar, his verse may not be the best use of the oddball rapper, but ití s a re≠ minder that Lean is playing in Oceaní s world, and not the other way around. It was impossible that the album was go≠ ing to meet all of Oceaní s fansí expectations, but to those willing to be patient with its slow, moving layers, the albumí s deep lyrics and willingness to experiment prove reward≠ ing. As Ocean reasserts his talents as a song≠ writer, he becomes more subtle in his writ≠ ing, moving behind more layers of sound and more complex emotions.
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Blonde
Frank Oceaní s new album, stylized as ì Blond,î has caused multiple rounds of frenzy among his fans. As numerous purported release dates came and went, many wondered if Oceaní s album would release at all during 2016.
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Wednesday, August 24, 2016
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Rice students participate in Project Row Sophie Newman A&E EDITOR
huidi xiang
Project Row
This summer, two Rice students, Amiri Boykin (Jones í 16) and Huidi Xiang (Duncan junior), participated in the Summer Studios portion of Project Row Houses. Project Row is a Houston≠ based non≠ pro t that seeks to transform the Third Ward through community≠ based art. Xiangí s project, ì Nice to Meet You,î features found objects from the Houston area.
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In Houstoní s Third Ward, a predominantly African≠ American neighborhood, shotgun hous≠ es dominate the architecture scene. Shotgun houses are so called for their open oor plan, in which a bullet could travel unencumbered from one end to the other. While they serve primarily as residential buildings, a select few have been transformed into art studios by Project Row Houses. Founded in 1993, Project Row Houses, a Houston≠ based arts and culture organization, seeks to transform Third≠ Ward houses into com≠ munity≠ oriented art projects that enrich the so≠ cial environment. In founding the Project, Rick Lowe took inspiration from artist John Biggers, who stresses ve main elements of row≠ house communities like that of the Third Ward: art and creativity, social safety nets, education, architec≠ ture and sustainability. During the summer, six students from local universities were invited to participate in the Project Row Houses Summer Studios Residency and Exhibition, which allows emerging artists to display their work while helping to revitalize the Third≠ Ward community. This year, two students from Rice, Amiri Boykin (Jones í 16) and Huidi Xiang, a Duncan College junior, were nominated to participate in this six≠ week summer session. Their nished work, which debuted last Saturday, is now on display at Project Row in the Third Ward. Xiang, who is a dual architecture and art stu≠ dent, created her project, ì Nice to Meet You,î as a re ection of both her own personal experience and the Third≠ Ward environment. ì My work is very connected to personal ex≠ perience and subjective feelings,î Xiang said. ì I wanted to discuss the individual within the con≠ text of the community.î The name comes from Xiangí s newfound connection to Houston and its inhabitants, which she said she didní t have growing up in China. ì Where I grew up, everyone hid behind doors,î Xiang said. ì I didní t even know my neighborsí names. This chance was for me, as a person, was a ë nice to meet youí moment.î Her project, which is comprised of carefully arranged found objects, is intended to inspire a sense of playfulness despite its more serious ar≠ chitectural aspect. ì During the openings, some of the people would look at the objects and smile,î Xiang said. ì For me, the sense of humor is really important. Ití s a risky situation, sometimes, but I tried to use the sense of humor in a thoughtful, careful way.î While each student worked with the same physical space, the results varied based on the proclivities of the individual artists. Boykiní s project incorporates video and print elements, but the main attraction is a spray≠ painted, casted mold of baby back ribs, which acts as a centerpiece. ì The sculpture is ë the meatí of the installa≠ tion,î Boykin said. ì You can get a lot of different color effects from [the ribs], but ultimately they look disgusting.î According to Boykin, his project was a pro≠ cess≠ based expansion of earlier work. ì Ultimately, what I wanted to do was an ex≠ tension of what I did last year for the Pitman,î Boykin said. ì It was an exploration of the re≠ lationship between nutrition and low≠ income neighborhoods.î Boykin said that the project is part of an ef≠ fort to get the third ward community, and other similar communities like those of his hometown, Birmingham, Alabama, to become more aware of the economic, cultural and health≠ related as≠ pects of food through the use of humor. ì There is a joke Ií m making, but the joke is not the heart of the piece,î Boykin said. My pro≠ posal was about how beef has a religious fanati≠ cism behind it. My whole thing was to get people to be aware of this and recognize that there is this worshipping towards meat that is related to the car culture.î By calling attention to meat consumption, Boykin also hopes to make citizens more aware of the corporate interests that affect the Third Ward community. ì As the Third Ward faces more economic challenges, ití s up to the Third Ward to curtail those interests but also embrace those that will bene t it,î Boykin said. ì It has to cham≠ pion something thatí s new but thatí s also go≠ ing to be helpful.î
15
Rice makes its case to join Big 12 Conference Andrew Grottkau Sports Editor
20 years after a breakup with its Southwest Conference compatriots, Rice is pleading with them to get back together. According to a report from the Houston Chronicle, Rice has made a presentation to the Big 12 Conference in an effort to join the league. The Big 12 is considered one of the top college athletic leagues in the country. Its members include athletic powerhouses such as the University of Texas, Austin and the University of Oklahoma. The conference is currently locked into a 13≠ year television deal worth $2.6 billion, equivalent to $200 million per year. As a comparison, Riceí s conference, Conference USA, is receiving $2.8 million for its television rights this year ó just 1.4 percent of what the Big 12 is earning. In recent months, the Big 12 has publicly declared its desire to add two or four schools to its 10≠ team conference. When asked what the conference is seeking in potential members, board chair David Boren listed ve categories: athletic prowess, fan base, media market, integrity and academic standards. When asked to address conference realignment, Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard said Rice offers a combination of three of the ve categories the Big 12 values. ì I have no comment on Big 12 expansion,î Karlgaard said. ì Our academic and athletic success and reputation of integrity should
courtesy rice athletic department
Senior mid elder Jasmine Isokpunwu goes up for a header during Riceí s rst game of the season Sunday evening, a 4≠ 1 loss to No. 8 Texas A&M. The Owls opened the scoring in the 21st minute as junior mid elder Aliza Wolfe scored her rst career goal, but the Aggies scored three times in the second half to win.
Early lead slips away in soccerí s season≠ opening loss to Texas A&M Michael Kidd Thresher Staff
The 2016 season is officially underway for the Rice Owls womení s soccer team. Rice is returning seven of 11 starters from the 2015 squad and is welcoming six freshmen. Although the Owls lost key members of the squad, including midfielder Danielle Spriggs (Wiess í 16), goalkeeper Zoe Pochobradsky (Brown í 16) and forwards Holly Hargreaves (Wiess í 16) and Lauren Hughes (Will Rice í 16), the Conference USA media picked them to finish second in the conference this season. Entering her sixth season, head coach Nicky Adams has a 57≠ 37≠ 19 overall record and has led the Owls to two conference championships. In addition, the Owls have a newly renovated stadium to call home. The $2.2 million project funded an entirely new grandstand capable of seating 1,100 people. The project also made renovations to the press box and made way for an accompanying soccer complex fully equipped with new locker rooms, a weight and training facility and larger restrooms. Last Friday, the Owls were scheduled to
face Southern Methodist University on the road in their season opener. Severe rain storms, however, caused the game to be
We had a lot of heart behind this game. At the start we were dictating the play, we had most of the possession. Aliza Wolfe
junior mid elder
canceled. With this game scratched, Rice looked ahead to the new season opener played on Sunday at Texas A&M University.
The Aggies, ranked No. 8 in the nation, were coming off a narrow 1≠ 0 defeat to the No. 1 team in college soccer, Florida State University. Rice managed to get on the scoreboard first. In the 21st minute of play, junior midfielder Aliza Wolfe brought down a cross from the far left side of the field served up by fellow junior midfielder Nia Stallings. With little time to react, Wolfe fired a shot toward goal with just enough finesse to hit the upper left corner of the net and give Rice a 1≠ 0 advantage. The Aggies, however, tied the game just before halftime on a free kick to even the game at one. In the second half, the Aggies added a second goal via a penalty kick in the 55th minute of the match. Late in the match, Rice had another golden opportunity in front of the A&M goal. Senior defender Jenny Fichera danced around on the right side of the field and freed herself of the defender. Fichera served a bending ball right into the six≠ yard box for an awaiting Walker who fired it at goal but it took two deflections and narrowly sailed over the right side of the 0see SOCCER, page 19
I have no comment on Big 12 expansion. Our academic and athletic success and reputation of integrity should be an attractive combination in the ever≠ changing world of college athletics. Joe Karlgaard
Rice Athletic Director
be an attractive combination in the ever≠ changing world of college athletics.î Since the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1996, Rice has changed conferences twice. It joined the Western Athletic Conference in 1997, then moved to Conference USA in 2005. Between 2010 and 2013, there were rumors that Rice was a candidate to switch conferences again as the Big 12 lost members and schools scrambled to nd new leagues. Despite the rumblings, Rice has remained in Conference USA for the past 11 years. So far, counting Rice, 20 schools have expressed interest in joining the Big 12. Those schools include the University of Houston, the University of Connecticut, Brigham Young University and the University of Cincinnati, among others. Each of those schools will make its own presentation to the conference, and the Big 12 will choose to add two or four of the applicants. Any school choosing to leave its conference would have to pay an exit fee to its former league. That fee would likely be between $5 and $15 million, but it would be more expensive if the school chose to leave immediately after this school year. Because of this extra cost, it is likely that realignment 0see BIG12, page 19
16 SPORTS
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
sirui zhou/thresher
Rice baseball, which calls Reckling Park its home, will travel to Cuba to play exhibition games from Nov. 23 ñ 27 this year. Here, sophomore catcher Dominic DiCaprio stares down a runner during a game against the University of Central Florida last season. The Owls made their 22nd consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament in 2016 and advanced to the Baton Rouge Regional nal before losing to No. 8 seed Louisiana State University. DiCaprio nished his freshman season with a .293 batting average in 174 at≠ bats while splitting time at both catcher and designated hitter.
Baseball prioritizing education in trip to Cuba Juan Saldana
Business Manager
At one of the many dinners for Luis Duno≠ Gottberg, Associate Professor of Caribbean and Film Studies at Rice, the conversation between him and his company turned to his years of experience taking students on trips to Cuba. From there, the idea to send the Rice baseball team to Cuba was born. Now, thanks in large part to Duno≠ Gottberg, the Owls will travel to Cuba from Nov. 23 to Dec. 4 to play exhibition games and learn about Cuban culture. According to Duno≠ Gottberg, he never imagined that the trip would become reality. ì I didní t think much, it was a conversation that seemed unexciting,î Duno≠ Gottberg said. ì But the athletics department immediately started working and that took about a year. They discussed the possibilities, the bene ts, and they eventually contacted me. According to Deputy Athletic Director Rick Mello, planning the trip was a long process for the athletic department. Mello, head coach Wayne Graham and the rest of the stakeholders at Rice and in Cuba looked into the possibility in depth. They knew that the Penn State University baseball team had made a similar trip to Cuba in 2015, so they looked into and acquired the necessary approval from the NCAA. Mello said the planning for this trip began even before the United States normalized diplomatic relations with Cuba in July 2015. In a press release, university president David
Leebron said this trip could be the rst step in a working relationship between Rice and Cuba. ì Our student≠ athletes are in many ways ambassadors of the university, and I am pleased that Rice will begin its direct relationship with Cuba in this way now that diplomatic relations have been restored,î Leebron said. After the United States and Cuba restored diplomatic relations, the Tampa Bay Rays played a game against the Cuban National team. With President Barack Obama in attendance, the Rays defeated Cuba 4≠ 1. Not all of the reaction to the reopening of relations, the game and Obamaí s visit was positive. Some people, particularly the Cuban exile community, objected strongly to what they claimed was a show of support for a government with a long history of human rights violations and oppression. According to Duno≠ Gottberg, the pain of the exile community is understandable. However, he said the Rice baseball teamí s trip should be seen as an opportunity to learn about the complicated political situation. ì One can understand why [many Cuban≠ Americans] are very opposed to any contact with the island,î Duno≠ Gottberg said. ì The things that they went through are difficult. But again, this younger generation [of Cuban≠ Americans] may understand that conversing with someone you doní t agree with doesní t entail approving but entails sitting at the table to bring about change.î Evan Kravetz, a sophomore pitcher from Miami, is one of the players who has heard backlash against Americans visiting Cuba.
Kravetz said he is very excited for the trip and looks forward to the experience; however, he understands the negative sentiments.
I caní t speak for those against the trip. I have not shared the hardships and devastation that many Cuban≠ American families ... have faced. Evan Kravetz
Pitcher, Baseball
ì So many people view this as a rare opportunity to explore a culture totally different from ours here in the United States,î Kravetz said. ì I caní t speak for those against the trip. I have not shared the hardships and devastation that many Cuban American families in the last century have faced. I see this as an amazing opportunity to connect with people that live in a culture different from ours.î
Throughout the semester, the baseball team will talk about these topics more as they will take two three≠ credit hour classes led by Duno≠ Gottberg. The rst class, titled ì Trends in Cuban Culture,î will focus on the politics and history of Cuba. The second class, ì Cuban Baseball,î will focus on the history of baseball in Cuba and its role in the social and political history of the country. While in Cuba, the team will continue attending class sessions with Duno≠ Gottberg and will play games against teams from the Cuban Baseball Federation. According to Duno≠ Gottberg, each student≠ athlete will be keeping a diary and will participate in activities that will further teach them about Cuba through personal interactions. ì They will have activities in the island in which they will interact with the players and they will conduct short interviews and try to understand how the players see the game,î Duno≠ Gottberg said. ì They will also do baseball clinics with children. So it has the historical element and also an ethnographic element in which students will interact and use the knowledge theyí ve acquired in both classes to interact with the people of Cuba.î Because student≠ athletes often do not have the opportunity to study abroad due to their commitments, this trip provides a chance for the baseball team to experience a foreign culture. Other Rice teams have made international trips; most recently, the mení s basketball team did a tour of Canada in the summer of 2013. Kravetz said this experience will be a worthwhile one for the team both academically and athletically.
Torque, Riceí s womení s ultimate team, thrives under the radar Craig Broadman For the Thresher
In 2016, a Rice sports team came within inches of winning its third straight national championship. It wasní t the baseball team, the soccer team or the football team; in fact, this team isní t even recognized by the NCAA. Torque, the womení s ultimate frisbee club team, is largely unknown despite being one of Riceí s most successful sports teams. After years of championship≠ caliber play, Torque has become one of the most respected ultimate teams in the nation. The team, which competes in college fris≠ beeí s Division III, plays a new and rising sport. In this seven≠ on≠ seven competition, a team tries to move the frisbee into its end zone by passing and cutting. Running with the disc is not allowed. There are no referees, so teams make their own foul calls. ì [Ultimate] is a lot like soccer, a little like football and a little
bit like basketball,î former captain Kelsey Nanneman, a Sid Richardson College senior, said. Torque began competing as a Division I team. In 2014, it moved to Division III in or≠ der to compete with schools more comparable to Rice in size. In its rst year in the division, Torque won the national title. The next year, the team defended its title by winning the national championship yet again. After that, however, the teamí s senior leaders graduated. According to Nanneman, after losing those se≠ niors, this past season was the teamí s rst real test. ì We said we wanted to get back to nationals and win nationals but there was this underly≠ ing skepticism,î Nanneman said. ì We lost so much talent.î Despite the doubts, Torque again advanced to nationals. The team made it all the way to the championship game before falling to Car≠ leton College. Nanneman said the season was
a success despite the loss. ì I think that the fact that we came so close actually revived into the captains the sense that we can get [to the championship],î Nanneman said. ì It showed that ití s not de≠ pendent on a couple of players; as a team we can make it there.î The championship game appearance was not the teamí s only accomplishment at the national competition. Torque earned the Spirit Award for the teamí s sportsmanship throughout the tournament. According to cap≠ tain Emma Wine, a Martel College senior, the teamí s attitude is equally important. ì We are really wanting to instill the team with even more of a sense of positivity this year,î Wine said. ì [We want to] keep the team super invested in each other and be really in≠ tense about not just winning, but having fun while doing it.î Speaking on behalf of her co≠ captain Julie Doar, Wine said she strongly encourages stu≠
dents to give ultimate a try, insisting that previ≠ ous experience is not a prerequisite for nding success at this unique sport. As a freshman, Wine did not participate in any sports and had no experience with frisbee; however, after nding her niche as a sophomore, she said she is thrilled to be a member of Torque. ì I would not be half as happy as I wouldí ve been if I havení t found frisbee,î Wine said, ì Ií ve made so many friends [and] so many connections. Ií m in better shape than Ií ve been in my entire life, and beyond Rice, thereí s no doubt in my mind that Ií m going to keep playing.î As for this year, Wine said she is con dent in the teamí s ability to reclaim the national championship. ì Weí re going to win nationals,î Wine said. ì Thatí s whatí s going to happen and ití s going to be great.î If it can build upon last seasoní s success, Torque may be able to prove Wine right.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
the Rice Thresher
SPORTS
17
Football enters new home as season approaches Aniket Tolpadi Thresher Staff
As the Rice University football team prepares for the 2016 season, it is doing so in the $31.5 million Brian Patterson Sports Performance Complex, a new facility that opened this summer. Coming off a disappointing 2015 season in which they failed to qualify for a bowl game for the rst time since 2011, the team is looking to open its new facility with a winning season and a return to postseason play. The new facility is meant to house all football operations in the same building, a luxury the team did not have prior to this season. The facility features a locker room, team room, meeting room and weight room among various others. Coaches and players alike are very excited about the Patterson Complex. Head coach David Bailiff said the new building is a welcome improvement. ì Ití s a special year already at Rice,î Bailiff said. ì Youí re seeing this beautiful facility that weí ve moved into. Fantastic facility, from the locker room to the training room to the meeting room to this team room.î According to senior cornerback J.T. Blasingame, Riceí s facilities have changed drastically during his tenure. ì First walking in here during my freshman year, we didní t even have pads on the lockers,î Blasingame said. ì Just seeing the transformation and now weí re getting a whole new facility, ití s all really big≠ time.î The team is returning 17 of its 22 starters from a year ago, keeping a remarkable amount of continuity despite a changing of the guard at the gameí s most important position: quarterback. Given that last yearí s team was young and nished just 5≠ 7, the thought process is that a year of growth and development should yield better results on the eld. Above all, however, is the motivation that comes from having failed to reach postseason play a year ago. According to Bailiff, there is plenty of
reason for optimism for what is to come on the eld. ì Thereí s power in failure,î Bailiff said. ì It forced us to focus and forced us to analyze everything weí re doing in this program. It forced this football team to look in the mirror and rededicate themselves to the expectations of this program. Bowl season is not fun when youí re not in one.î During his time at Rice, Bailiff has repeatedly asserted that winning in Conference USA requires a strong senior class. He frequently looks to redshirt incoming freshman, as the extra year of development that comes with the redshirt year helps to develop a stronger senior class down the road. Bailiff said his faith in this yearí s senior class is on par with those of the past. ì The senior class we have is absolutely amazing,î Bailiff said. ì [Linebacker] Alex Lyons, with [linebacker] Tabari McGaskey, [defensive end] Derek Brown and [cornerback] J.T. Blasingame ó theyí ll be cornerstones defensively. You look at [running back] Jowan Davis, who had an incredible spring; [running back] Darik Dillard, one of the most solid and consistent performers weí ve had; and of course, thereí s [tight end] Connor Cella, who I think is probably the top tight end in this conference.î Unlike last season, during which the Owls opened up their schedule against a Division III opponent in Wagner, they will face a difficult test to open up this season in the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers are the reigning Conference USA champions, and defeated Rice 49≠ 10 at Rice Stadium when the teams met a year ago. Thus, Bailiff said the Owls will get a chance not only to come away with a big Conference USA victory to open the season, but also to assess where changes need to be made for their football team. ì Ií ll tell you why I like opening against Western Kentucky,î Bailiff said. ì You become a better team, because they may show you what you need to change from a personnel standpoint. Ií m excited about opening with a
yutian liu/thresher
Rice football has moved into the new $31.5 million Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center this preseason. Located inside Rice Stadium, the complex features a revamped locker room, offices for football personnel, meeting rooms, a training room and a weight room overlooking the football eld. Conference opponent, but Ií m more excited about opening with such a good football program.î The Owls will begin a season that they hope
ends in a Conference USA championship and bowl game appearance on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Houchens≠ Smith Stadium against Western Kentucky.
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Wednesday, August 24, 2016
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0SOCCER from page 9 goal for a corner kick. Late in the game, the Owls conceded two more goals that made the scoreline look more one≠ sided than the match actually was. A&M went on to win by a final score of 4≠ 1. There were multiple bright spots for the Owls in the game. Senior defenders Jasmine Isokpunwu and Jenny Fichera played all 90 minutes for Rice. In the midfield, the combination of Stallings and junior Samantha Chaiken was dangerous at times and aided by the play of two fellow midfield freshman, Lianne Mananquil and Erin Mikeska. Wolfe scored the gameí s only goal for Rice, and the third freshman in the starting lineup, goalkeeper Maya Hoyer, had an impressive college soccer debut with eight saves. According to Wolfe, Rice stepped up to the challenge and showed up ready to play against the Aggies. ì I think that, as a team, collectively, we just wanted to show up and play the best we can,î Wolfe said. ì We had a lot of heart behind this game. At the start we were dictating the play, we had most of the possession and unfortunately we let off a bit.î Adams said she was proud of the teamí s effort but disappointed in the defending of set pieces; however, she knows the team will continue to improve moving forward.
ì Ití s always hard to lose on set pieces,î Adams said. ì And the next two goals in the second half were set pieces and thatí s like a dagger in the heart. But the good news is ití s the first game of the season and we had the opportunity to start off the season against the No. 8 team in the nation and see how we match up. Weí re going to continue to get better.î
We had the opportunity to start off the season against the No. 8 team in the nation and see how we match up. Weí re going to continue to get better. Nicky Adams
Soccer Head Coach
The Owls are back in action on Friday, Aug. 26 against Houston Baptist University. Rice will play in only one match this weekend, which also serves as the 2016 home opener.
The Department of Spanish, Portuguese & Latin American Studies provides two comprehensive programs of study focused on the development of critical thinking through faculty-guided academic research, experiential learning opportunities (internships and study abroad), creative writing and translation, and the opportunity to choose from a variety of innovative academic courses.
Fall 2016 Course Listing LASR 158 / SPPO 158 INTRO to LATIN AMERICAN STUDIES *DISTRIBUTION COURSE: GROUP I Nicolas Shumway, TR 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM SPPO 330 HISPANIC WRITING SEMINAR Manuel Gutiérrez, TR 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM SPPO 340 INTRO to SPANISH LIGUISTICS *DISTRIBUTION COURSE: GROUP I M. Rafael Salaberry, TR 10:50 AM – 12:05 PM SPPO 348 MEDIEVAL & EARLY SPANISH LITERATURE & CULTURE *DISTRIBUTION COURSE: GROUP I Esther Fernández, TR 9:25 AM – 10:40 AM SPPO 368 LATIN AMERICAN SHORT FICTION Beatriz González-Stephan, MWF 1:00 PM – 1:50 PM SPPO 375 REVOLUTION FROM WITHIN: TRENDS IN CUBAN CULTURE *DISTRIBUTION COURSE: GROUP I Permission of instructor required for enrollment. Luis Duno-Gottberg, T 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
0BIG12 from page 9 will not occur until 2018 or later even if a change is agreed upon this year. Therefore, this season, Riceí s athletic teams
19
will compete in Conference USA regardless of the Big 12í s decision on realignment. It appears, however, that Riceí s athletic department may be willing to make a change. Whether the Big 12 decides that Rice is a good t in its conference remains to be seen.
LOOK NO LONGER - SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!! POST 530 Shaping of Health Policy – Mondays 1 – 4 pm, BRC 282 An interdisciplinary approach on how health-care policy decisions are being made: • Involving government, law, ethics, economics, and history. • Case discussions with faculty experts and guest speakers NSCI 502 Space Seminar- Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:40 pm, GRB 211 W Aerospace industry experts discuss space related topics: • Mission planning and design / Astrodynamics/orbital mechanics • Spacecraft navigation / Payload definition • Space environment and human factors / Propulsion and maneuvering EBIO 580 Sustainable Development and Reporting – T/TR 5:30 – 7 pm ABL 123 • Environmental sustainability • Principles for Environmental Health & Safety compliance • Corporate Sustainability Reporting (CSRs). Plus: Compliance guidelines, use of risk management techniques and understanding assessment considerations
WANTED: Creators, Hackers, Inventors
(and artists, thinkers, musicians, scientists, explorers, tinkerers, coders, builders, makers)
SPPO 382 THEATER & PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP Esther Fernández, T 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM SPPO 385 TRENDS in HISPANIC CINEMA *DISTRIBUTION COURSE: GROUP I Beatriz González-Stephan, W 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM SPPO 410 THE CITY in LATIN AMERICA *DISTRIBUTION COURSE: GROUP I Gisela Heffes, M 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM SPPO 450 20TH CENTURY MEXICAN NOVEL Manuel Gutiérrez, R 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM SPPO 477 SPECIAL TOPICS: CUBAN BASEBALL Permission of instructor required for enrollment. Luis Duno-Gottberg, R 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Among the various academic competencies developed by students majoring in Spanish & Portuguese, we highlight the following: 1) a broadly-contextualized perspective about the cultures, literatures , and languages of the Spanish and Portuguese speaking worlds; 2) the ability to communicate, engage and learn through interactions with Spanish and Portuguese speaking communities; 3) the necessary academic knowledge to pursue an advanced degree or employment opportunities in areas as varied as medical professions, literature, linguistics, politics, and business.
A creative, student-run hackerspace. INTRO TO 3D PRINTING Open to all majors and backgrounds. Come try your hand at tinkering, and take home your own 3-D creation!
August 26, 2016 6PM - 8PM Abercrombie A119 Dinner Provided
GET PLUGGED IN Sponsored by Electrical and Computer Engineering, the EtherNest is a student-run makerspace for students from all disciplines.
Abercrombie Laboratory A119 ethernest.rice.edu • facebook.com/RiceEtherNest
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" ! % " $ % ! $ We$ like to take a page reference Rs: % % Reduce,"Reuse, # $Hutch’s playbook, $ %!"# "#$ %!" %! and" # # Recycle. $ %"#$%B'&C)<2#$&D44/#5'&9%<'#(%=E %! out of"Dean # the three $ $ " # # $ " # # $ # ! # ! " # " ! % ! " # % % " lanyards?” %! are%wearing ! "#$ #$%! "#$ #$%! "#$ # %! “Why%!is it"that no # !" "#$ % !" "#$ $ % ! % $ $ $ # $ upperclassmen $ $ # $ lanyards %! that the%!new "# #$%! $%!" #$%! $%!" #$%! $%!" %!we upperclassmen "# are#all$jealous !" were%!distributed "year,#and#trust !" !"#O-Week "# #for$the%!first"time%this % us, ! $ ! % $ $ in%! $ we could #$ $%!" %!"# $%!" %!"# $%!" %!"# #$%! " #support students got them. all the time. We the" same fashion. #wish "# ! #$Wear$them !"tote our%!Zipcar ! " % " % ! " " % ! $ $ % ! $ % # $ $ % # "# # #$ $ "# # $ !" !"# !"#$#$%!" %!"#$#$%!" %!"# #$%!" $%!"# #$%!" $%!"#"#$%! $%!"#"#$%! #$%!" "#$% #$%!" #For comments $ %!"The Backpage " This # %!thirsty@rice.edu. "by Riley Robertson ! contributed. " please#email # and$Joey %! or questions, " #is$ %Schultz ! " # ! " satire written McGlone.! week, Isaac $ % ! % ! %!" " $ % " ! $ % " % % ! $ $ ! # $ $ % ! # $ % $ % " # $ # # " # # $ " !"# !"#$ $%!" %!"#$#$%!" %!"# #$%!" $%!"# #$%! $%!"# #$%! $%!" "#$%! $%!" "# "# "#$ %!" !"#$ $%!" %!"# $%!" %!"# $%!" %!"# #$%! ! ! % % $ # $ $ % # %! $ " # $ #$ !"# !"#$ $%!" %!"#$#$%!" %!"# #$%!" $%!"# #$%!" $%!"#"#$%! $%!"# !"# %!"#$ $%!" %!"#$#$%!" %!"# #$%!" $%!"# #$%! $%!"# % $ WANTED "# "#$ %!"# !"#$ $%!" %!"#$ $%!" %!"# #$%!" %!"# ! ! "#$ Dynamic $ after school availability to kvidulich@hotmail.com THIS IS " A PART-TIME#position a middle a high TEACH FOR TESTMASTERS! $ schooler $%and %!working "#andschool #in$ care "# with ! # # % ! " " % ! " " ! $ for a 7th grader. The hours will be from % schooler attending an international Energetic teachers wanted. Starting pay rate ! % % $ %! # $hour. Flexible %!schedules. $ p.m. Monday #$ $ # $ " # $ # " # " 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 Friday, ATTENTION SINGERS! Interested in a cappel≠ ! Houston each Monday≠ Thursday evening for is $20 to $32 per We # " # % ! " " #$ % each day,%!along %! and%!"about 1.5#hours ! ! are exible based on through % $ $ !"all training $ but they the availability with supple≠ provide all training, is paid, $ $ # " #of the Rice student. Since the child is 12 years la? Talk to the ve Rice a cappella groups at the " weekends, #when needed, " resume"to#jobs@ mental ! throughout % ! " !your " % % ! we pay for travel. Email $ ! % Fair this Friday afternoon, or come $ % ! $ % $around old, sitting involves picking up from school, Activities # the year. "# be mainly # #$Tutoring would ! testmasters.com. to the information session afterwards where % " !"# !"#$ $%!" %! " #$organization, and $%!study skills and supervising homework, some creative arts weí ll explain the audition process and time≠ # $ test %prep " # " # ! ! " " % !as helping troubleshoot any projects, and driving to after≠ school activities. line. Auditions are next week! $ as well SEEKING PART-TIME $ motherís helper/assis≠ %! "#habits, $%more $ # This middle schooler loves music (voice), the≠ # around difficult homework. Tu≠ ! tant. Responsibilities caring for 5 issues" % !"# include " ! $ ! % creative arts, fashion, science, math and APARTMENT FOR LEASE Montrose area ñ # tor must be highly capable to tutor all courses month old, light chores, and assisting " family #$including Math, Science, History, English, as ater, %! " reading so a companion with any of those in≠ ! $ with errands. $12 per# hour, 10≠ 20 hours per near Menil Museum & St Thomas University. % $ terests would be a plus. She is in honorí s class≠ # well as college level Spanish in both speaking week, exible schedule. send resumes !" Please Efficiency garage apartment for lease. 1634 " ! and writing. We would like someone relatable, es at school, and a Rice student would enjoy ½ Branard approximately 400 sq. ft. Partially to Amanda ≠ a.kreshover@gmail.com
The Backpage’s State of Confusion Address
CLASSIFIEDS
FOR RENT 3 bedroom + study cottage in South≠ gate, 7 blocks south of Rice, $2000/mo + utili≠ ties (713)≠ 628≠ 4923 EVER SEEN SNL and thought HELL YEA I WAN≠ NA DO THAT? Todayís your lucky day: Try out for Riceís premiere sketch comedy troupe Kin≠ da Sketchy! Youíl l get to write/act/be funny/ have people throw their panties in your gener≠ al direction. Auditions @ 1PM Aug. 27/28, Her≠ ring 100. Questions? Email parched@rice.edu LOOKING FOR TUTOR for 6th grader. For en≠ glish, math, science, history. Flexible hours. Flexible days. Compensation hourly rate to be discussed. We live in Bellaire. Please feel free to email or call my cell, Elizabeth (832)≠ 282≠ 2202. Email knafomd@gmail.com 2004 HONDA ACCORD 4≠ door Sedan. Cyl≠ inders: 4. Odometer: 75,700. Type: Sedan. Mileage: 75,700. Condition: Excellent. Price: $7,500. Call: 662≠ 466≠ 2618 MIDDLE AND UPPER SCHOOL tutor needed. Looking for someone who would be great
highly organized, and who can commit to the entire school year for this engagement through June 2nd. Competitive pay. If interested, please contact me for more information: kimberly@ cutchall.net
spending time with her socially and academ≠ ically. We live very close to Rice near the Mu≠ seum of Natural Science. Quali ed individual must have a car. Hourly rate is $20.00. Please email me at vrose@houstonmethodist.org
FUN HOMEWORK HELPER NEEDED Looking for fun, dependable Rice student to help 9 and 10 year≠ old boys with after≠ school reading, homework, and sports 2≠ 3/x week. Pay nego≠ tiable. Live in West U. No other child care re≠ sponsibilities. Please contact kristaolsonmd@ me.com
BUSY COUPLE (1 RICE ALUM) seek babysitter primarily in evenings for two boys (4 and 2) along with miscellaneous house duties; home has 2 dogs. Email quali cations, prior child experience, compensation requirements, and
$12/HR-WEEKDAY AFTERNOONS Rice Prof. seeks responsible student with own car to pick up kids from school & drive them to activities. Please contact heinken@rice.edu RICE ALUM HIRING TUTORS for Middle & High School Math, Natural & Social Science, Foreign Language, Humanities, and SAT/ACT prep. Reliable transportation required. Pay is based upon variety of factors. Contact 832≠ 428≠ 8330 and email resume to siyengar777@gmail. com
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furnished efficiency apartment (includes bed, chest of drawers, end tables, red comfortable chair, a couple of folding chairs, refrigerator & stove. Electric air conditioned & heating provided. $750/month. All utilities, Internet & basic cable are included. Single person only. No pets. No smoking. AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 1, 2016. One≠ year lease required with refer≠ ences. Deposit required. CONTACT BARBARA METYKO 713≠ 906≠ 5970
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Cash, check or credit card pay≠ ment must accompany your classi≠ fied advertisement, which must be received by 12 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication. Shannon Klein Advertising Manager thresher≠ ads@rice.edu P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77005≠ 1892 (713) 348≠ 4801