The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, September 21, 2016

VOLUME 101, ISSUE NO. 5 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

‘MAY HAVE GONE TOO FAR’

MOB SPURS SEXUAL ASSAULT DISCUSSION Biden, at Rice, urges anticancer effort Yves Ye

Amber Tong News Editor

Band members, students and administration reacted to the Rice Marching Owl Band after its halftime performance at last Friday’s football game drew attention to the opposing Baylor University’s recent coverup of sexual assault and attracted national coverage. Clarifying the administration’s position, Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson said the MOB sparked an important dialogue about sexual violence.

“The MOB, far from making light on the subject, was shining light on the subject and in doing so, doing a real service,” Hutchinson said. “I think they actually accomplished their purpose; I think they brought attention back to a serious issue that might have otherwise been unnoticed.”

0see MOB, page 4

You’re going to see such enormous changes that will blow your mind.

For the Thresher

Vice President of the United States Joe Biden announced several federal policy changes in a forceful call for accelerating cancer research at Rice University last Friday. These changes include expanding access to cancer clinical trials and a mandate to report all results of such trials.

Thousands of Rice students, faculty and alumni filled Tudor Fieldhouse to hear Biden’s address, which was hosted jointly by the Baker Institute for Public Policy and MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Biden heads the National Cancer Moonshot, an initiative President Barack Obama launched in his last State of the Union address. His wife, Jill Biden, and former Secretary of State James Baker III, the namesake of the Institute, introduced the vice president.

“Our venue here, just a stone’s throw away from Texas Medical Center, could not be more apt,” Baker said. “It was here President Kennedy inspired a nation with his call to go to the moon.”

Biden made several references to Kennedy’s famous address at Rice Stadium, the 54th anniversary of which occurred last Monday, comparing the effort to “end cancer as we know it” to the endeavor to reach the moon 50 years ago.

“There’s still one bipartisan consensus in Washington, and I mean it’s the only one,” Biden said.

“It’s Moonshot.”

Biden said the Cancer Moonshot has four basic missions: to accelerate understanding of cancer, to improve patient access to care, to identify barriers existing at the federal level and to provide greater access to cancer research and data.

To that end, Biden announced what he said were potentially controversial changes to the research process. All relevant clinical trial results will now have to be reported on clinicaltrials. gov, whether or not the products investigated are approved by the Food and Drug Administration and on the market. Biden also called for expanded access to clinical trials and simpler online reporting of their availability and results via the new website trials.cancer.gov.

“This initiative, with the direct power of President Obama’s office, is one of the most comprehensive,

This is America.

There’s nothing we can’t do.

- Vice President Joe Biden

anson tong/thresher

inclusive, broad-reaching new focuses on the cancer movement since the Kennedy era,” Karen Jackson, founder of Sisters Network, said. Sisters Network is a national African-American breast cancer survivor organization.

Jackson, who attended the speech, said she believes the announced changes will help patients and increase access to cancer resources by expanding clinical trial eligibility.

Biden also emphasized the United States’ leading position in the global fight against cancer. He said many heads of state have approached him about helping with the initiative.

“You’re going to see such enormous changes [in your lifetimes] that will blow your mind,” Biden said, addressing students. “This is America.

There’s nothing we can’t do.”

Student Association President Griffin Thomas said he hoped Biden’s speech sent Rice students the message that no challenge is impossible.

“I think that especially as the senior class decides what they’re going to be

There’s a sense of urgency around the world. This is about tomorrow.

Joe Biden Vice President of the United States

doing next and goes out into the job market and into the world, that we should really be aiming to meet and

exceed that ambition,” Thomas, a Lovett College senior, said.

The Bidens have a personal stake in the proposed changes: Biden’s son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015.

“This is personal,” Jill Biden said in her introduction. “This is about the fighters and the survivors, the caretakers and the researchers.”

Though he has been affected by cancer, Joe Biden said the fight against the disease extends far beyond his family.

“Part of the Moonshot is honoring the way Beau lived his life with courage, without giving up hope,” Joe Biden said. “But this is not just about Beau.”

Lovett President Rahul Kothari said he was excited Biden chose to deliver his speech at Rice.

“To have Rice be a huge part of [the Cancer Moonshot] is incredible, especially with the medical center, MD Anderson, and with all of the amazing research that we’re doing here,”

Kothari, a senior, said. “ It’s really cool to have this university be a part of that.”

Hanszen College sophomore Navya Kumar, a pre-medical student, said she was pleased by the amount of detail in Biden’s speech.

“He’s right: Everyone has been touched either directly or indirectly by cancer,” Kumar said. “We are all connected by this one thing that causes a lot of emotional distress and pain, and also binds us together through those emotions.”

Biden said he believed the nation’s universities, along with immigration, are the “secret weapon” to moving forward on national issues. He said Rice plays a part in solving pressing problems like cancer.

“Rice University is truly one of the greatest universities in the entire world,” he said to a cheering crowd.

This is a condensed and modified version of an article by the news editorial staff that appeared on ricethresher.org.

2

NEWS

the Rice Thresher

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Panel addresses misconceptions of Islamic faith

anthea lyu/thresher

A panel took questions on Islam from the audience at an event hosted by the Religion and Public Life Program. The panel, which included a moderator and three guests, addressed current events and touched on a diversity of perspectives and ideas regarding the religion.

Zac Odermatt

For the Thresher

The Religion and Public Life Program held a panel in an effort to address common misconceptions about the Islamic faith on Thursday. The panel consisted of three guests: Imam Wazir Ali, the imam of two mosques in Houston; Craig Considine, lecturer of sociology at Rice University and M. Hasna Maznavi,

founder and president of the Women’s Mosque of America.

Pamela Prickett, a postdoctoral fellow in the sociology department and the event moderator, said the aim of the panel was to provide a platform to discuss the plurality of Islam.

“We thought it was important to have a different set of perspectives from what we conventionally hear in the media,” Prickett said. “[The panel is] geared toward everybody.

We want to bring people in from all over the community.”

About 200 students and community members attended the event. The panel covered issues ranging from the intersectionality of race and Islam, to the diversity of ideas present within the religion. Wazir Ali described the Islamic faith through more personal eyes.

“We accentuate the things in religion that address our immediate challenges,” Wazir Ali said. “Much of the Islamic tradition I come from drew very heavily on Islam’s tradition of social justice.”

Maznavi said she feels the idea of the Women’s Mosque, which she founded in 2015, does not go against mainstream ideas of Islam.

Maznavi described the Women’s Mosque as an avenue through which women can engage in leadership roles in the Islamic faith.

“That’s what the Women’s Mosque is,” Maznavi said. “It’s a stepping stone, it’s a bridge, it’s a place to experiment and try out things that women haven’t had the chance to do just because it is more daunting when it’s a coed space.”

Maznavi also tackled the more difficult questions that arose regarding extremist attacks that have captured the media’s attention of late.

“ISIS and Al-Qaeda are to Muslims and Islam as the [Ku Klux Klan] are to white people,” Maznavi said. “You’re asking Muslims to respond for crazy people. I would never go

up to a white person and say, ‘What’s going on with the KKK?’” Prickett said she was enthusiastic about the central theme of the panel, diversity across Islam, and how it came across.

“There are so many perspectives and experiences under this very broad category of Islam and Muslims,” Prickett said. “We all just need to be willing to start asking more questions in intelligent ways.’”

The panelists agreed more education was an important way to destruct some common misconceptions about Islam.

“Muslims were on this soil before the United States even existed,” Considine said. “It really starts in the educational system — I don’t see where else it can start.”

Makenzie Drukker, a McMurtry senior, said she enjoyed the panel.

“I’ve discussed stereotypes against Muslims in several of my classes, but I liked hearing the perspectives of practicing Muslims and a professor who has done field work regarding stereotypes,” Drukker said.

Prickett said she was satisfied with the event turnout.

“It’s really great to see so many students in the audience today,” Prickett said. “It’s really great that Rice students want to do this on their Thursday evening.”

The Religion and Public Life Program’s next event, “Storming Zion: Government Raids on Religious Communities,” will take place Oct. 13.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

NEWS

the Rice Thresher

3

Rice sets goal of 40 percent recycling by 2020 Ana Paula Pinto-Diaz For the Thresher

Recycling eorts at Rice are in the spotlight once again as part of a growing conversation sparked by dedicated student and faculty involvement. Richard Johnson, director of the Administrative Center for Sustainability and Energy Management at Rice, announced that administration has set a new recycling goal, which aims to divert 40 percent of all waste to recycling by the year 2020.

According to Johnson, who is also a professor of environmental studies and sociology, the initiative was driven by the eorts of two students, McMurtry College junior Ben Johnson and Jones College senior Ethan Hasiuk. The pair interned with Richard Johnson this past summer, and he said their comprehensive review led administration to reconsider Rice’s current approach to recycling. “One of their earliest questions was, ‘What is your goal?’â€? Richard Johnson said. “They pointed out that we didn’t have a target or a recycling goal that we were trying to achieve.â€?

Following research on diversion rates — which refers to waste diverted from landfills through recycling — Rice set the progressive goal of 40 percent diversion, Johnson said.

Consequently, endeavors to make Rice’s new objective a reality have brought up more issues, and renewed eorts to battle them.

Recent conversation on recycling involves the problem of contamination, which threatens to reduce how much recyclable material is actually recycled. According to Richard Johnson, however, most recyclable waste is actually successfully diverted. In fact, despite a slight decrease since 2014, diversion rates at Rice are generally increasing. Rates were last measured at around 28 percent of total waste in 2015 and are expected to be closer to 30 percent this year.

“But, that’s not to say there aren’t times where things that were in a recycling bin, for one reason or another, end up being thrown away,�

Johnson said. “We’re hoping that improved signage, along with improved communication, will reduce contamination.�

To combat these issues, Ben Johnson and Hasiuk have designed posters and labels they hope to deploy around campus to bring more attention to available recycling bins, and clear up ambiguities about what can and cannot be recycled. According to Richard Johnson, the recently increased infrastructure of Rice’s recycling program is contributing greatly to this recent growth in recycling rates. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve added over 500 recycling bins to campus, mostly indoors,� Richard Johnson said.

Higher availability of outdoor recycling bins throughout campus, which currently number between 25 or 30, shows the progress that has been made since 2013, when only two outdoor bins were available on campus. In light of Ben Johnson and Hasiuk’s eorts, Richard Johnson emphasized the importance of student involvement in recycling at Rice, identifying recent student-led projects that yielded significant improvements. “Students have been a real driver, actually, or, I should say, a partner,â€? Richard Johnson said. “It was student eort of going through buildings and identifying locations that needed bins that made the big increase possible, and it was a student project team willing to study outdoor recycling that made identifying those locations possible. Students have been an enormous help.â€?

Baker College Eco-Rep Travis Kwee contributed to some of these projects, and was part of the team that identified the need for more recycling bins after experimental implementation yielded measurable improvements.

“We ended up ordering over $3,000 worth of recycling bins, and then there were around five of us who distributed them across campus,� Kwee, a junior, said. “We measured the contamination rate by mass, before and after, and we did see a significant increase in recycling after recycling bins were added.�

The greenest energy is the energy you didn’t consume; the greenest product is the product you didn’t need to buy.

Richard Johnson Director, Administrative Center for Sustainability

Kwee stressed the importance of educating people about contamination, noting that confusion often causes recyclable material to be thrown in the trash. To address this concern, Kwee worked with Brown College freshman Tracy Tse and Duncan College sophomore Alice Liu to put together an informative presentation they are hoping to show at college cabinet meetings. “There are a bunch of little things that we really want to get ingrained into people’s minds,�

Kwee said. “We don’t want that myth that Rice

doesn’t recycle anything to become a reality.�

At Brown College, where Kwee is a part of the Social Concerns Committee, sustainability eorts are reaching out to students by getting personal in an attempt to make partying more sustainable.

According to Kwee, parties are responsible for producing large amounts of waste, and eorts to reduce their impact are focusing on replacing red solo cups — which are not recyclable and can cause contamination — with more sustainable options. Both Richard Johnson and Kwee are pushing for recyclable and reusable items to replace red solo cups. “We had a project in my class a few years ago that piloted the idea of a college buying a set of reusable wear that could be checked out for parties,â€? Johnson said. “Baker College has really run with that concept. Travis Kwee, as the Eco-Rep over there, has done a fabulous job ... and so a number of other colleges, at the end of last academic year, purchased their own set of reusables.â€?

Kwee said he hopes new administrative and student eorts will encourage students to be more conscious, step in and spread the word about proper recycling. “I think a lot of consumer choices are feeding the waste issue, as well as the contamination issue,â€? Kwee said. “So, if we can get consumers to change their choices, I guess that’s the best way to combat that ... It really just takes a couple of people to encourage all of their friends to make little changes to make their lives more sustainable.â€?

Richard Johnson also encouraged students to focus on waste minimization as a key factor of sustainability in everyday life. “Recycling is good, but even better is not generating the waste in the first place,� he said. “The greenest energy is the energy you didn’t consume; the greenest product is the product you didn’t need to buy.�

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4

NEWS

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

the Rice Thresher

Former math department chair passes away Hannah Todd Thresher Staff

courtesy rice democrats

‘Be engaged’

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker (Jones ’78) encouraged students to be involved in the political process at the Rice Democrats and Rice for Hillary’s first meeting of the year. Read more at ricethresher.org.

SA launches well-being week Meredith McCain For the Thresher

The Rice University Student Association held its first ever “SAy Yes to You Week” last week in an effort to promote mental health and wellbeing and sexual assault awareness on campus.

While the idea for the week stemmed from the results of the Survey on Unwanted Sexual Experiences released at Rice last year, SA Director of Marketing Jessica Lee said it became more all-encompassing of mental health and well-being among students.

“That was our original focus, to promote sexual assault awareness, but I found that it turned into something bigger,” Lee, a Hanszen College sophomore, said.

The week kicked off Monday night at the SA Senate meeting. On Tuesday, students enjoyed plenty of free food at the Housing and Dining “Study Break.” Wednesday and Thursday offered discussions on healthy relationships and a presentation from the Women’s Resource Center. The week culminated on Friday in an opportunity for students to sign the “It’s on Us” pledge to help prevent sexual assault.

SA Secretary Sonal Pai said she was pleased with participation in the week; nearly 100 students signed the “It’s on Us” pledge and over 100 came to the Housing and Dining study break.

“Since it’s our first year [holding this event], we weren’t expecting [the week] to be super grand, but the turnout was good,” Pai, a Hanszen College sophomore, said.

But strong turnout at these events wasn’t the only success of the week, Lee said.

According to Lee, “SAy Yes to You Week” allowed students to connect to on-campus resources dedicated to health and well-being like the Wellbeing Office and the Women’s Resource Center.

“It was really cool to get to meet, and have the students meet, the people who run these organizations, and know that these campus resources are available to them,” she said.

Baker College junior Sierra Cowan, who attended the H&D study break, said the event gave her some much-needed time away from her textbooks.

“It was really nice to take designated time out of my hell week to focus on my personal health and wellbeing,” Cowan said.

Students who missed out on this week may have the chance to attend in the future.

According to Pai, the SA executive team hopes to make it an annual event.

Lee underlined what she said is the true focus of this week: each individual’s personal health and wellbeing in the college environment.

“That’s why it’s ‘say yes to you,’ because it’s all about you — all about the Rice student,” Lee said.

yuantian liu/thresher

Representatives of the Rice Women’s Resource Center present their role on campus last Thursday as part of the Student Association’s ‘SAy Yes to You Week.’ The week featured events cetered around general well-being and mental health as well as sexual assault awareness.

William Veech, Edgar O. Lovett professor of mathematics, died unexpectedly on Aug. 30. He was 77 years old.

Veech joined the faculty of Rice University in 1969 and served as mathematics department chair from 1982 to 1986. He has held an endowed chair since 1988 — the Milton Brockett Porter chair from 1988 to 2003 and the Edgar Odell Lovett chair since 2003, according to the Statesboro Herald.

“Dr. William Veech was a long standing and valuable member of the Rice community,” Provost Marie Lynn Miranda said. “Professor Veech was a gifted mathematician whose work on dynamical systems shaped the discipline. We will miss him greatly.”

Veech was born in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in 1960 and earned his doctorate at Princeton University in 1963. His work blended dynamics, geometry and deep analytic technique,

0MOB FROM PAGE 1 In the halftime show, the MOB, which has a tradition of poking fun at opposing teams, formed a Roman numeral “IX” and a star formation in apparent allusions to Baylor’s sexual assault scandal, which was first reported in the spring, and the subsequent demotion of President Ken Starr. On Saturday, Rice’s Office of News and Media Relations released a statement expressing regret over any offense people took from the show.

Executive Producer of the MOB Andrew Graham said the team specifically selected references focusing on the Baylor administration.

According to Graham, a Sid Richardson College senior, all students involved felt comfortable with the script, though several alumni thought the criticism was not explicit enough.

“During the entire script writing process, I made sure that the MOB did not victimize those directly affected by Title IX and only commented on the administration of Baylor,” Graham said.

Director of University Bands Chuck Throckmorton, who supervised the student team in writing the script, said he was pleased students felt empowered enough to take on the issue.

“That’s what we’ve been doing in campus conversations for a while now,” Throckmorton said. “It’s trying to talk about these difficult issues but get people not to be paralyzed by emotions and to feel empowered to do something.”

Many expressed support for the MOB online, with several sharing an op-ed in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram entitled “Baylor deserved what it got in Rice band’s halftime show.”

Some, however, interpreted the show differently. Kinda Sketchy member Kaitlyn Zoeller said while she believes comedy can push boundaries and create conversations, the MOB did it in a way that invited misinterpretation.

“They didn’t strike the right tone in their performance,” Zoeller, a Will Rice College sophomore, said. “There is a way for comedians to talk about serious issues and have an impact [but] we have to remember the victims of assault and take into consideration how they will feel.”

Zoeller said the performance would have been more effective if it featured stronger commentary.

“If you’re going to rightly criticize a school for defending and concealing rapists, you need to be clear that that’s what you’re doing,” Zoeller said. “If they had explicitly called them out then it probably would have been more inflammatory, but it would have at least been clear that what happened at Baylor is unacceptable.”

Lovett College senior Belle Harris said she felt the performance trivialized the lived experiences of the survivors of the referenced sexual assaults.

“I realize their intention was to stand up for [survivors], but when you also yell ‘SAT scores’ and ‘safety school’ to heckle this team at the same game, you put those jabs on the same level as the Title IX performance,” Harris said. “It sends the message that this isn’t something we take seriously, instead we are using it as ammunition to tease the other team.”

Harris said the reference to sexual assault in another university hints at complacency with Rice’s current response to sexual assault.

“Further, doing that show implies that we at Rice are above that sort of thing, which simply

according to the Statesboro Herald. He is most well-known for the construction of “Veech surfaces,” a concept within dynamical systems associated with his work.

Veech is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kathryn L. “Kay” Veech, and his two daughters, Kathryn Muriel Veech and Maude Elizabeth Veech.

courtesy institute for advanced study

isn’t true,” Harris said. “Title IX violations and sexual assaults happen here too, and they aren’t always handled particularly well.”

Rice’s statement addressed the concern that some people have interpreted the performance as making light of the serious issue of sexual assault.

“The MOB sought to highlight the events at Baylor by satirizing the actions or inactions of the Baylor administration, but it is apparent from the comments of many spectators and Baylor fans that the MOB’s effort may have gone too far,” the statement reads.

Many students were upset with the language of Rice’s statement. Thresher Editor in Chief Yasna Haghdoost said Rice’s response was “disappointing” in an op-ed which was widely shared on social media.

[Public relations’] job is damage control.

Orlando Cervantes MOB Member

Lovett President Rahul Kothari initially voiced frustration at the lack of support for MOB, but said his views changed after speaking with the administration.

“Most of the media headlines make our Rice’s statement to be an apology and to many students — including myself — it seemed like Rice’s statement on first glance was distancing itself from the MOB,” Kothari said. “It’s important to go back to the statement and realize that the university isn’t apologizing for the MOB’s actions, rather the statement claims we just ‘regret any offense’ Baylor fans may have had.”

According to Hutchinson, the statement was a conciliatory gesture.

“It’s an acknowledgement that some people interpreted that they went too far,” Hutchinson said. “In the spirit of expressing regret, I think you can say, I understand where you are coming from, that you think that they went too far. I get that, and I regret that. I don’t actually think they went too far; I think they did just fine.”

Because the administration stands by the MOB’s show, the statement should not be characterized as an apology, Hutchinson said.

“We even discussed, ‘should this contain an apology,’ and the answer was no, it should not,” Hutchinson said. “It wasn’t just that we omitted it, we affirmatively decided it did not belong.”

At Monday’s Student Association Senate meeting, MOB member Orlando Cervantes said the school’s statement does not detract from the positive impact that the band accomplished.

“I didn’t feel offended by the apology letter because it’s public affairs,” Cervantes, a Will Rice freshman, said. “Their job is damage control.

It doesn’t change what happened and the conversation [it] sparked.”

News Editor Drew Keller and Sports Editor Andrew Grottkau contributed to this report.

5 MOB performance not an excuse for complacency The Thresher applauds the Marching Owl Band’s performance during the halftime show of the Rice University vs. Baylor University football game (see p.1). The MOB forced a nationwide community to acknowledge our society’s rape culture that allows for a survivor’s trauma to be brushed aside in the name of athletics.

As a public relations defense mechanism, Rice’s statement in response to the performance was unwarranted and poorly written. Immediately following the halftime show, students and community members were not particularly in favor of the performance; reactions ranged from a knee-jerk exasperation of “what has the MOB done this time” to an ambivalent, uncomfortable uncertainty. The cowardice of Rice’s statement, accompanied by nationally published opinion pieces defending the MOB and criticizing Rice’s half-hearted “non-apology,” seemed to turn the tide in favor of the MOB. The hasty edits to the piece following its release are clear evidence that the statement was not well thought out. While the initial release of the statement said the MOB’s effort “went too far,” this was discreetly replaced with a “may have gone too far,” making a statement already tiptoeing around feelings all the more wishywashy.

Although Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson said the statement was not an apology, the intent was unclear and, given the national attention on the story, frankly irrelevant.

Lovett College President Rahul Kothari said he felt the statement was an apology at first glance, but changed his mind after speaking with the administration. If a statement requires clarification from its writers to prove its purpose, then what is the point of releasing a statement at all? When thousands of people have already interpreted the statement as an apology, it is clear that the statement, at the very least, lacks a cohesive and apparent purpose. In this case, although the Rice administration did not denounce the MOB, they should have defended it and supported the message against sexual assault, instead of exhibiting poor judgment in a public relations scramble.

The MOB’s performance has demonstrated that the Rice community must answer pressing questions on what constitutes an appropriate space for addressing sexual assault, and who decides on which spaces meet the criteria. After the release of the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Experiences exactly one year ago, the Rice community agreed that conversations about sexual assault should take place around the dinner table — but now we balk at the idea of discussing sexual assault around the football field.

Above all, in our efforts to shed light on sexual assault at other universities, we must not turn a blind eye to our own campus. A cover-up of sexual assault can be as simple as when peers or friends discourage a survivor from “ruining” a perpetrator’s life by reporting. And Rice is certainly not immune to this kind of cover-up.

If we plan to point out the rape culture at other universities, we better be prepared to dismantle the rape culture at Rice.

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

STAFF Yasna Haghdoost* Editor in Chief Anita Alem* Managing Editor Juan Saldana Business Manager news Drew Keller* Editor Amber Tong* Editor Emily Abdow Asst. Editor

Letters to the Editor: Send the MOB No need for Rice to save face To the Editor: I am writing to state my viewpoint of the Marching Owl Band show on Friday, Sept. 16. I feel that the MOB did absolutely nothing wrong, and the administration should not have issued the statement that it did.

The MOB did nothing to be ashamed of. The MOB did nothing that needed an apology.

The MOB did not make a “rape joke.” The MOB did not mock the victims of sexual assault at Baylor University. The MOB did not mock sexual assault at all. What the MOB did was satirize the individual Baylor officials who were aware of the sexual assaults, did nothing to stop the assaults and showed no respect to or empathy for the young women who were the true victims. This is an important distinction that has been missed by many people and members of the media.

Former Baylor head coach Art Briles was in the stands watching the game Friday night. I know Rice has minimal control over who obtains tickets for the game, but this shows extremely poor judgment on the part of Mr. Briles. Even worse, I understand that Baylor fans applauded Mr. Briles.

The statement issued by Rice University ends by stating, “It is apparent from the comments

Timothy Howell Hanszen College ’92, ’94

Dear President Leebron, I am writing to let you know that I am very disappointed that the university felt the need to apologize for the Marching Owl Band halftime show on Sept. 16. The show contained no jokes or satirizing of sexual assault or rape victims. The target was the Baylor University Administration (and, indirectly, many of Baylor’s fans … especially after their appalling ovation for the former coach). We of the Rice community should neither regret nor apologize for any role we might have had in causing or increasing their discomfort about these issues. They should be uncomfortable about them.

While I am unable to be in Houston for any of this year’s games, I will continue to support the MOB “from afar” and will be there in person in the future whenever possible. I hope that you will reconsider your position and support the MOB fully in the future.

Sally Allen Chew Jones College ’79 MOBster 1975-79, MOB President 1978-79

Job well done I just wanted to express my pride in and admiration for the Marching Owl Band after attending Friday’s game. Job well done.

Evan Mintz Hanszen College ’08

Thomas the SA Engine: We need action after one year standstill of sexual assault discourse Sept. 21 marks the one-year anniversary of the release of the Survey of Unwanted Sexual Experiences results that revealed 1 in 4 undergraduate women and 1 in 14 undergraduate men were victims of sexual misconduct while at Rice. In the wake of these results, the University released a statement vowing “to strengthen efforts to prevent sexual misconduct” in which President David Leebron and Provost Marie Lynn Miranda called on the

entire Rice community to join in these efforts.

Over the past year, many groups have enthusiastically come together to sponsor conversations and events to improve our campus climate around sexual violence. The Women’s Resource Center, Students Transforming Rice Into a Violence-Free Environment coalition, the Wellbeing Center, the colleges, the Rice Health Advisors program and the Student Association have invested and continue to invest significant

resources and time to further these discussions.

After a year of these efforts, it’s time to start evaluating and holding ourselves accountable for the progress we have made. The Marching Owl Band’s recent performance courageously calling attention the devastating dangers of failing to hold institutions accountable for their actions serves as a timely reminder of the importance of these conversations.

0see SA Engine, page 6

From the Editor’s Desk: Rice’s response to MOB performance deeply disappointing Two years ago, I wrote an opinion piece in the Thresher to shed light on what I saw as systemic issues within the Rice community that enabled acts of sexual assault and violence to occur. Since then, the Thresher has reported on the administration’s numerous efforts to curb sexual assault and to increase dialogue on campus. However, the statement released by Rice after the Marching Owl Band’s halftime performance at the Baylor game is a

opinions Mitch Mackowiak* Editor sports Andrew Grottkau Editor arts & entertainment Lenna Mendoza Editor Walden Pemantle Editor design Justin Park Director Samantha Ding News Designer Katrina Cherk Sports Designer Christina Tan A&E Designer Jennifer Fu Illustrator photo Sirui Zhou Editor

of many spectators and Baylor fans that the MOB’s effort may have gone too far.” The Rice administration has based its response on the reaction of Baylor fans. These are the same fans showing support for Mr. Briles, despite his heinous actions — or lack of action. In essence, Rice University is also showing support for Mr. Briles and making him out as a victim. This is totally incorrect. The young women who were assaulted at Baylor are the victims — Mr. Briles and Mr. Starr deserve no respect or compassion at all.

Rice University prides itself on teaching young people to be creative and open-minded, not to follow the path of least resistance. By making the statement that it did, the Rice administration has not upheld these principles. Rather, the administration has responded to knee-jerk reactions by media and Baylor fans with its own knee-jerk reaction.

There was no need for Rice to try to “save face.” The MOB did nothing to be ashamed of.

The MOB did nothing that needed an apology.

The MOB used satire to bring more attention to an awful situation that has unfortunately fallen from the public eye. The Rice administration could have shown support for the sexual assault victims and for the MOB. The administration could have done nothing. Instead, the Rice University administration chose the worst course of action by issuing an unnecessary apology.

I plan to be at all the home football games this year. I will continue to fully support the MOB. I hope the Rice University administration can find a way to do the same.

Disappointed

copy Jasmine Lin Editor Julianne Wey Editor backpage Riley Robertson Editor business operations Shannon Klein Ads Manager Sydney Garrett Advertising Production Manager Sean Kelley Distribution Manager online Charlie Paul Editor Alex Kim Editor *Editorial Board member

disappointing reminder of our university’s failure to elevate the discourse surrounding sexual assault.

Shattering the culture of silence and dismantling the institutions that perpetuate sexual violence require acts of boldness that speak truth to power. Rice’s halfhearted equivocating excuse of an apology to any potentially offended Baylor fans only perpetuates the notion that discussions

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.

surrounding sexual assault have to be limited to a gentle discourse to ensure those in power do not feel threatened.

Curiously, Rice’s statement originally concluded that “the MOB’s efforts went too far”; this language was then revised to state that the MOB’s performance “may have gone too far.”

Either way, one of my many takeaways from 0see EIC, page 6

Editorial and business offices are located on the second floor of the Ley Student Center: 6100 Main St., MS-524 Houston, TX 77005-1892 Phone (713) 348-4801 Email: thresher@rice.edu Website: www.ricethresher.org The Thresher is a member of the ACP, TIPA and CMBAM © Copyright 2016

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Letter to the Editor: I will not vote for Trump In a past article on the Rice University College Republican’s choice not to endorse Donald Trump, I stated that Trump’s picks for the Supreme Court are reason to support him. Though true that such potential justices as Don Willett of Texas would interpret laws in a way that I believe benefits conservative causes, I will not vote for Trump.

This primary season, I worked for the Jeb Bush campaign, and intend to write Jeb onto my ballot. While I believe Trump’s supreme court picks would help steer this country in the right direction, his inexperience and inability to work with others outweigh the value of his nominations.

I said what I did to show that one can support Trump for reasons having nothing to do with hate or ignorance. Too often conversations over dinner at the servery become a sanctimonious dogpile of who can hate on Trump the most, and I think it is important to hear both sides.

American politics are nuanced. We have two candidates trying to appeal to many different interests. There are infinite reasons, good and bad, to support either candidate. We must make a conscious meticulous effort to engage civilly with our peers and make dinnertime conversations great again.

Jed Greenberg Jones College ’19

0SA Engine FROM PAGE 5

While all parts of the university have admirably come together over the past year to address these critically important issues of campus safety, more can and should be done. Shockingly, Rice’s statement about the MOB’s performance was the first time that the University had discussed sexual assault in an official statement since the release of the SUSE results exactly one year ago. Despite the president and provost’s call to substantially strengthen university efforts on sexual misconduct, very little has changed. In fact, the only major new initiative to be publicly announced, the Student Association’s “Critical Thinking in Sexuality” program, has been greeted with relative indifference by some students, faculty and administrators.

Shockingly, Rice’s statement about the MOB’s performance was the first time that the University had discussed sexual assault in an official statement since the release of the SUSE results.

As our community continues discussing the MOB’s performance, it is critical that we not lose sight of the broader picture. Both students and administrators must be held accountable not only for the way we approach Friday’s incident, but how we approach sexual violence prevention as a whole. Our community can do better in both regards, and, after another year of more-of-the-same, we all must demand more.

Griffin Thomas is the Student Association president and a Lovett College senior

OP-ED

the Rice Thresher

Class giving campaign felt artificial at first glance I don’t like being persuaded to take part in a scam. OK, “scam” is a bit harsh, but for awhile I couldn’t shake the feeling that the university’s efforts to encourage student giving last spring seemed contrived. However, after speaking with a director at the Rice Annual Fund, I’ve come around and downgraded my cynicism about the whole thing.

For those of you who don’t know or

I think that student giving campaigns offer an excellent opportunity for each of us to think about our own Rice experiences.

don’t remember the program, here’s how I remember it: Someone at cabinet announced that everyone in our college should make an online monetary contribution to Rice because the highest-participating college would win some contest or prize. The size of the contribution was irrelevant. “OK,” I thought, “I can do that. No skin off my nose.” So I donated $0.01, making sure to check the box for my residential college. I have since learned that the campaign was actually geared to stimulate giving by class, not by college. So if a college had the most participation for a class, that college would get a stipend for its budget the following year.

Hanszen didn’t win for any of the classes, and I quickly forgot about the whole thing until I saw my name (full name, with “Mr.” and everything), along with the names of the other students who gave, on a full page advertisement in the first Thresher of this school year. This heightened my skepticism and ultimately motivated me to reach out to someone from the Rice Annual Fund to learn more.

I originally had two main problems with encouraging donations from current students: I don’t think it an effective strategy to encourage future giving, and I fear that a

0EIC FROM PAGE 5 the statement was, “It’s important to speak up about sexual assault … but don’t step on any toes while you’re at it!”

Well, you can sure as hell bet that calling out abuses of power and the institutions that prop up said abuses is going to offend some sensibilities. So. Damn. What. Some detractors of the MOB performance have argued that this was not the appropriate venue to bring up the sensitive topic of sexual assault. But when, pray tell, will there be an “appropriate time” to discuss the violent abuse of human dignity?

The truth is, there never will be a suitable or convenient time to discuss sexual violence; these issues will always be deeply disturbing and saddening, but we must not recoil from addressing them.

It’s not as if Baylor’s cover-up of rape “may have gone too far.” It’s not as if Baylor fans shaking hands or taking selfies with the excoach involved in said cover-up “may have gone too far.” The MOB didn’t trivialize Title IX. Baylor University trivialized Title IX when it decided to prioritize its athletic reputation over the dignity and deserved justice of sexual assault survivors.

What did you expect, Rice? Did you expect that bringing light to the issue of sexual violence was going to be a polite, charming affair? Did you expect that hosting Project SAFE talks during Orientation Week and frowning on racy party themes and strippers was going to absolve you from your responsibility in addressing an institutionalized system of abuse? Your efforts to address assault on campus are admirable if sometimes flawed, but your failure to acknowledge the broader nationwide context of silence and cover-ups is abhorrent.

When I was six years old, I was forcibly kissed on the mouth by a man who claimed to be a family friend. Other adults were present; no one said a thing. While it is true that this incident occurred in Iran, where some physical contact is customary in greetings, what this

desire to inflate Rice’s rankings in U.S. News motivates the program.

As I’ve said, my cynicism got the best of me when I first considered the Undergraduate Class Giving Campaign. I thought that we were being encouraged to give so that we could be groomed into loyal donors for the rest of our time after Rice. In reality, though, there is more going on with the University’s student giving campaigns. Asking students to think about giving to Rice allows them to reflect on all of the privileges that we enjoy here and that make this such a unique place that we are all fortunate to be a part of. Of course, if these reflections result in students feeling compelled to give in the future, then I see no problem with that.

I am usually quick to jump on any action that caters to college rankings, but that may be less of a factor with the undergraduate giving campaigns than I initially thought.

While it is true that giving participation is a factor considered in most rankings, there are other groups that look at participation too.

Many corporations and foundations that are thinking about supporting Rice, through grants for example, consider the giving participation rate when deciding whether or not to donate.

Though not ideal, I can’t say I blame Rice for doing their best to come up with a good number for that.

In conclusion, I think that student giving campaigns offer an excellent opportunity for each of us to think about our own Rice experiences. Ask yourself, “Is this a community that I would like to give back to? What shaped my experience the most, and what made that possible?” I think we should all mull over questions like these at least once before our time ends here, and hopefully giving campaigns can jumpstart these thoughts.

Riley Robertson

is a Hanszen College junior and the Thresher Backpage Editor

ASK THE STAFF What would you spend $50 million on instead of the Doerr Institute?

“A mosque in Greenbriar Lot.” – Yasna Haghdoost, Editor in Chief

“Hire Kanye to feature on ‘Sinergy,’ my mixtape about whitecollar crime.”

– Walden Pemantle, A&E Editor

“Two million short-sleeved buttondowns.”

–Drew Keller, News Editor

“Night-time outer loop securty so I could run at any time.”

–Sam Ding, News Designer

“Build and name the Institute after myself.”

– Andrew Grottkau, Sports Editor

“I’d reunite One Direction. And bring about world peace!”

– Emily Abdow, Asst. News Editor

“Hire Beyonce to perform at the Will Rice public.”

– Juan Saldana, Business Manager

“I would give $50 million to Frank Ocean to release another album by the end of the year on time.”

– Anita Alem, Managing Editor

“Listen. $50 million gets us more than 65,000 bouncy castles — that’s more than 10 bouncy castles per Rice undergrad. I think the conclusion here is obvious ...”

– Charlie Paul, Web Editor

man did was beyond socially unacceptable.

My parents were horrified when I told them about it a full 10 years later.

The ordeal that the women at Baylor underwent is far more horrific than what I experienced, but it is the common thread of silence within communities that leads to an implicit acceptance and enabling of sexual violence in its many forms. It is far too easy for each of us to be complicit in acts of violence

It is far too easy for each of us to be complicit in acts of violence through our well-meaning efforts to remain neutral or conciliatory.

“Make Rice campus handicap accessible, starting with Hanszen and Sid.” – Julianne Wey, Copy Editor

“Rice should pay for black and native students to come here for free.”

– Jasmine Lin, Copy Editor

“Fix all Houston roads and if there’s money left, develop another set of Chinese fonts.”

– Amber Tong, News Editor

“Bolster Houston’s agricultural infrastructure so, among other things, the serveries can buy higher quality ingredients from sustainable sources to produce amazing dishes every meal.”

– Mitch Mackowiak, Opinions Editor

through our well-meaning efforts to remain neutral or conciliatory.

In the spirit of a broken clock being right twice a day, I’ll conclude with a quote from Rice’s statement: “All of us have an obligation to address the matter [of sexual assault] with all the tools at our disposal.”

The Marching Owl Band fulfilled that obligation by using its platform to shed light on a serious miscarriage of justice. Perhaps Rice University can take a page out of its book.

Yasna Haghdoost is the Thresher Editor in Chief and a Will Rice College senior

“Lifetime supply of Chipotle. With guac.”

– Justin Park, Art Director

“Hot tubs for every residential college; remaining 49 million to aggressive MAcc advertising.”

– Riley Robertson, Backpage Editor

“Designer ball gowns for all the animals at the Houston Zoo.” – Lenna Mendoza, A&E Editor

“Free STD testing for everyone — and a giant ice sculpture of Leebron.”

– Shannon Klein, Ads Manager

6

arts

ENTERTAINMENT

7

ye lim oh/thresher

Guests explore the opening of the Houston Center for Photography exhibition ‘Sight Lines: Looking at Guns.’ The exhibition collects photos from six different artists who each represent guns, gun owners and victims of gun violence in diverse ways. The exhibit runs until Nov. 13.

‘SIGHT LINES: LOOKING AT GUNS’

examines firearms through photography Naomi Pringle For the Thresher

Standing in the middle of the Houston Center for Photography, one is struck by the seemingly discordant elements that surround.

On one end of the exhibit, victims of gun violence display their scars, the emotion of their trauma evident. On the other, female gun owners line the walls, staring defiantly, sometimes even seductively, at the camera.

While at first the different facets of the display seem conflicting, the exhibit emphasizes inclusivity and, after adjusting to the space, the very different intentions of the artists seem harmonious rather than opposing.

“Sight Lines: Looking at Guns,” a photography exhibition at the Houston Center for Photography, opened Sept. 16. The exhibit, composed of the work of six photographers, examines the cultural implications of guns and gun violence from several unique perspectives.

In an age in which the number of guns in the United States rivals the number of people, this subject has never been more relevant.

Despite the emotion and divisiveness that surrounds discussion of gun laws, the exhibit refrains from making an obvious statement about gun control. Instead, the collection stays true to its aim of providing multiple perspectives

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

in the discourse guns. The series that include human subjects are balanced between pictures of gun owners and gun violence victims. Pictures that depict gun aesthetics are ambiguous in their message, highlighting both the beauty and devastation of guns.

Each [series] captures guns in entirely unique ways, stripping the gun of its typical, solely violent symbolism.

Though I was surprised to see so many photo series that didn’t reference humans, they add to the exhibit significantly. These series present the viewer with a duality of beauty and horror. Each captures guns in entirely unique ways, stripping the gun of its typical, solely

violent symbolism. Artist Christopher Colville, for example, employs a medium that appears to be unique to him alone. By igniting gunpowder over a gelatin silver print, he creates images that are almost cosmological, pairing the assumed destructiveness of gunpowder with a sense of creation and wonder. Garrett Hansen’s series of prints, which stands beside Colville’s, is contrastingly minimalist but similarly emotional. Sabine Pearlman’s series features cross-sections of different kinds of ammunition on a stark white background, compelling the viewer to consider the destructive power that lies beneath the surface of a single bullet.

The collection takes care to emphasize the humanity and individuality of each subject.

Publicity surrounding the high incidence of gun violence has recently caused the public to triage their outrage. This exhibit responds by drawing attention back to the individuals involved.

Subjects are portrayed in a way that is highly individualistic, and each is photographed in an environment specific to them. Photographers Kathy Shorr, Shelley Calton and An-Sofie Kesteleyn all featured human subjects of very different backgrounds, each in a corresponding environment. Gun owners are pictured in their homes or places they feel unsafe, while victims are photographed at the location of their attack. Though the subjects in each series

EVERYDAY OGRES

100 THOUSAND ARTISTS

French artist Tania Mouraud is coming to Rice Cinema to present selections from her new film exhibition, “Everyday Ogres.” The centerpiece video Fata Morgana features nighttime footage from a Pasadena oil refinery, capturing the eerie atmosphere of industrial Texas at night. The free screening is Saturday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m.

What happens when 100 Thousand Poets for Change and 100 Thousand Musicians for Change band together to celebrate? You get a blended concert and poetry reading featuring Houston’s top poets and jazz musicians. The event kicks off Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. and is free to the public.

Rice Cinema 1605 Rice Blvd. film.rice.edu/events

AJL Bar & Lounge 711 Franklin St. 100tpc.org

differ, including victims of gun violence and gun owners, they are all displayed intimately and individualistically. The result is a uniquely intimate perspective that allows the viewer to stop seeing gun violence as an abstraction or simple statistic, but instead as a reality.

Notably, despite the supposed function of the exhibit as a holistic view of gun culture in the United States, there is no reference to police brutality or gun violence against blacks. In fact, there is only one black subject, a gun owner, in the entire collection. This is surprising, given the attention the issue has been given in recent years. Even the photographers who emphasized the diversity of the subjects in their series neglected to include a black American in her display. The only mention of the issue that was made was by a gallery attendee, who respectfully asked if black victims of police brutality were included in the photographer’s series during a Q&A with one of the artists. The question caused the mood of the room to shift palpably toward discomfort, implying perhaps the scope of this collection isn’t as complete as it is purported to be.

“Sight Lines: Looking at Guns” will be displayed Sundays to Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. until Nov. 13, with admission free of charge.

SPACE JUNK The future is now. The Pilot on Navigation opens “the world’s first drone play” this weekend. Combining drones, voice acting, video and some more traditional theater techniques, Space Junk reimagines puppetry and theater by incorporating modern technologies into performance. The two-weekend play runs Friday and Saturday 7-9 p.m. and Sunday from 2-4 p.m. Tickets are $12 pre-sale and $15 at the door.

The Pilot on Navigation 5102 Navigation Blvd.

AN AMERICAN EAST INDIAN IN ALIEF Filmmaker Sharad Kant Patel’s childhood comics compose his new book, launching this week with the opening of his exhibition at Rice’s EMERGEncy Room Gallery.

The comics recreate sci-fi movies that Patel was forbidden to see as a child. The opening is Thursday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

EMERGEncy Room Rice University arts.rice.edu/cats

8

A&E

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

the Rice Thresher

WHAT’S HIP RIGHT NOW MUSIC:

The Middle Finger 12”

TECH:

Processing

by elisabeth kalomeris

MUSICAL: In the Heights

TRAVEL:

Uber Flat Fare

courtesy miguel nóbrega

In a phrase: Computer programming language designed for art Where to find it: processing.org

courtesy rappcats

In a phrase: Long-lost music from J Dilla Where to find it: Virtually nowhere since there are only 1,000 copies J Dilla’s posthumous record, which has already sold out since its release on Thursday, has an epic backstory. If you haven’t heard about J Dilla, the foundational music producer who passed in 2006, there’s a good chance that your favorite music artists have. In fact, the renowned hip-hop instrumentalist may be one of the only people that Kanye respects besides himself. In many ways, “The Middle Finger” is a miracle. The two songs on the record were the only salvageable music off of a scratched up CD, found by chance. Even if you can’t get your hands on the actual 12-inch vinyl, it’s a testament to J Dilla’s long-standing impact on the music scene, and anything with his fingerprints is worth a listen.

Fifteen years ago, computer scientists Casey Reas and Benjamin Fry set out to create a new programming language curated for visual artists to help make coding and computers more accessible. The project since ballooned into an electronic art movement welcoming all into its fold. Processing is based on Java and its container application can run on Windows, Mac and Linux systems.

It contains an integrated development environment, which offers programmers a way to organize different codes (categorized as “sketches”) and see what their coding is doing in real time with a visual window.

Entirely open-source and free to download, the application is accompanied by a myriad of tutorials, example project snippets and forums to help you create what you’re envisioning in your head. The program is extremely flexible and easy to integrate with other artistic projects, such as creating reactive visuals to accompany your next progressive psytrance set in the Lovett College basement. It’s a great tool for those interested in learning basic computer science or for experienced coders with a knack for aesthetics.

OBGYN Medical Center Associates Welcomes Dr. Talia Crawford Now Accepting New Patients Birth Control Counseling Comprehensive Gynecologic Care Schedule an appointment online at www.obgynmedicalcenter.com or call 713-512-7500. Same day appointments available.

Conveniently located in the Texas Medical Center on the campus of The Woman’s Hospital of Texas near Rice University

7900 Fannin St., Suite 4000, Houston, TX 77054

courtesy philly

In a phrase: Musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda Where to find it: 800 Bagby Street; not the Heights neighborhood “Hamilton: An American Musical” swept the United States with head-bobbing historical pride and has given an older generation an appreciation for hip-hop. Its success is unavoidable — it seems you can’t go anywhere without hearing someone softly singing “My Shot” or “Satisfied.” If you enjoy Hamilton or having a sense of superiority over your peers, Miranda’s first musical is for you. “In The Heights” is a hipster’s wet dream, the Broadway equivalent of saying “the new album’s OK, but I’m really into their older stuff.” Originally written while Miranda was still studying theater at Wesleyan University, “In The Heights” focuses on a LatinAmerican neighborhood of New York City and features an ensemble cast. The show has been nominated for 13 Tonys, a Grammy and a Pulitzer — not too shabby for a first musical. The production is put on by the Houston Theatre Under The Stars, named for the venue’s open roof. Tickets ain’t cheap, starting at $40 for the gallery section, but the quality is well worth it.

Performances run every day through Sept. 25.

courtesy uberargentina

In a phrase: $7.13 fare inside Houston’s inner loop Where to find it: Inside the inner loop Now you actually can Uber everywhere within the Houston inner loop for $7.13 or less. The flat fare means that you have access to every cool event recommended on “What’s Hip.” But, be warned, your midnight Amy’s craving may not be satisfied, as the flat fare is from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays. If you’re concerned about your Uber driver getting shortchanged, don’t worry — the company will cover the difference between the actual fare and the flat rate drivers receive. The only question is, will you explore far enough out of your comfort zone that the flat fare is worth it? Whether you’re going to the Menil, the Galleria or Campesino Coffee Shop, the inner loop is your oyster.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

A&E

the Rice Thresher

9

West African cuisine shines at

Afrikiko Lauren Heller For the Thresher

Afrikiko Restaurant Address: 9625 Bissonnet St Phone number: (713) 773-1400 Price range: $$

Recommended Dishes Peanut Butter Soup with Beef Brisket, $7 Peanut butter stew with chunks of beef brisket, pictured below. Price includes a side of fufu.

Fufu, $11 Flavored with plantain, yam, cassava, wheat, and cocoyam. Price reflects a shareable portion.

Other Information Parking: Private lot Noise Level: Average Alcohol: Beer and WIne only Group-Friendly

If you’re looking to go off the beaten path, or even off the continent, for a Saturday dinner, consider trying Afrikiko Restaurant.

Located in the middle of an eclectic strip mall, this place may defy your expectations of a restaurant; there are only about five tables and a counter with some stools. That said, what Afrikiko lacks in accommodations, it makes up for in flavor and customer service.

Afrikiko serves West African, primarily Ghanaian, specialties. To be clear, this

means that the food is not like other African dishes that you may have tried, such as Ethiopian injera bread or meat with berbere spices. Being a newbie to this type of African cuisine, I followed the lead of my companion who had spent two years in Africa. We decided to order the peanut butter soup with beef brisket and fufu. Fufu, a staple in West Africa, comes in a variety of flavors including plantain, cassava, yam, wheat and cocoyam. In our case, it was dough made from boiled and ground plantains and yams. Of course, there were plenty of other options on the menu to try as well, primarily centered around a starch and stew with different combinations of embellishments.

First-time guests will be asked if they would like to eat with their hands or utensils.

If you choose to eat with your hands, know that there is a proper technique. The server (chances are this is the owner) will bring out a small pail of water for you to dip your fingers into periodically when your hands get messy. You then tear off a piece of fufu, roll it into a ball, and dip it into the soup to soak up the liquid or use it to grab a piece of meat. The soup came out piping hot and had an alluring peanut butter aftertaste. Fufu’s high starch content and doughy texture make it a great complement to the bolder flavors of the soup. While the portion size may seem average, the combination makes for a hearty meal that I had a hard time finishing.

The customer service made for a very pleasant experience. When we arrived, the owner sat down with us to explain the menu and provide recommendations. Throughout the meal, he and his wife would check in on us to make sure we were enjoying the food.

Even the other guests stopped by our table to ask us what we ordered and what we thought of the food.

Overall, if you’re looking for a dining experience that is completely different from the usual Saturday night choices, look no further than Afrikiko. The owners and guests create a warm atmosphere that is matched by unique and tasty food for a reasonable price.

vidya giri/thresher

#ITGETSBITTER

Alok Vaid-Menon, one-half of the performance poetry duo DarkMatter, performs in McMurtry College commons. Vaid-Menon’s poetry explores issues of identity and the political climate faced by transgender and nonbinary people of color. The performance took place Saturday evening and was hosted by the Rice Queer Resource Center.

FUND YOUR INITIATIVE. Do you have an innovative and creative project that will improve undergraduate life at Rice? Fund that idea with the Dr. Bill Wilson Student Initiative Grant.

Grant application and information can be found at: (Application includes a proposal describing the project and a detailed budget showing other sources of income) lauren heller/thresher

Peanut butter stew with beef brisket is one of Afrikiko’s star dishes. The restaurant, which serves Ghanaian cuisine and West African cuisine more broadly, is a hidden gem in an unassuming strip mall about 20 minutes from Rice.

Application Deadline is Friday, October 28, 2016 @ 11:59 p.m.

10

Rice-Baylor sets student attendance record Caleb Smith

For the Thresher

The road east of the stadium was blocked off by tailgaters. Groups of students buzzed from tent to tent, playing yard games, gorging on OMG BBQ and relaxing at the close of the week. Bodies painted entirely navy and white carried signs exalting Harambe the fallen Cincinnati gorilla. In total, 1,830 students attended the game, a 10-year high for student attendance at a football game.

The excitement around Friday night’s game may have come as a surprise to some college football fans. It was the home opener for Rice against Baylor University. Last season, the Bears defeated the Owls 70-17. But the apparent mismatch with the Big 12 power did not hamper turnout. According to Rice Rally Club President Jeremy Reiskind, the Owls drew a record crowd.

“We had more [fans] than the Conference USA championship game [in 2013] and more than the largest turnout in the last 10 years, which was a game against [Southern Methodist University] in 2008,” Reiskind said.

Taking on Baylor, a nationally ranked power and in-state rival, appealed to many Rice fans.

In all, 27,047 fans packed into Rice Stadium, eclipsing last year’s most attended game by nearly 3,000 fans and overtaking the average attendance from last year by almost 9,000.

A portion of the student support was likely due to efforts by Rally Club, which aims to increase awareness awareness, support and enthusiasm for Rice Athletics. The Rally Club hosted a tailgate party to encourage more students to come to the game and promoted the event via social media. Other clubs such as the Rugby Team hosted tailgates of their own as students flocked to the stadium. Reiskind said that the timing of the game helped to improve turnout.

We had more [fans] than the Conference USA championship game [in 2013] and more than the largest turnout in the last 10 years, which was a game against SMU in 2008.

Jeremy Reiskind Rally Club President

“I think the biggest factor was the game being on a Friday night,” Reiskind said. “I know many colleges were able to have a Friday in the Quad pregame tailgate before heading out to the stadium for the Rally Club tailgate.

Many students also use Friday night as a time to unwind after a long week, so the football game gave them a great opportunity to do that with friends.”

Throughout the game, Rice students stood and chanted, both cheering on the Owls and harassing Baylor. In particular, students chanted the name of Baylor junior kicker Chris Callahan to distract him as he practiced.

Callahan then missed his first two field goal attempts of the game and shoved his teammate in clear frustration as fans chanted “MVP” at him.

In the end, however, Rice fans went home unhappy. The Owls lost 38-10 and fell to 0-3 on the season. The Owls are hoping for an equally impressive turnout on Saturday when they play their first home Conference USA game against the University of North Texas at 5 p.m.

sean chu/thresher

Senior running back Darik Dillard tries to turn the corner against the Baylor defense during Rice’s 38-10 loss ot No. 21 Baylor on Friday night. The game, televised on ESPN, featured a halftime performance by the Marching Owl Band that addressed Baylor football’s recent sexual assault scandal.

After hot start on defense, Owls fall 38-10 in national spotlight Aniket Tolpadi Thresher Staff

In a game that made national headlines for the Rice Marching Owl Band’s performance at halftime rather than the performance of the actual teams themselves, the Rice Owls fell to the Baylor University Bears by a score of 38-10, dropping the team to a record of 0-3 (0-1) on the season.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with both teams trading punts throughout the first quarter. Senior cornerback J.T. Blasingame intercepted senior Baylor quarterback Seth Russell to end a Bears drive, the only first quarter drive not to end in a punt. After the scoreless first quarter, the Owls opened the scoring in the second courtesy of a 24-yard field goal from sophomore kicker

Hayden Tobola. Soon, however, Baylor got its up-tempo offense back on track. The Bears scored a pair of touchdowns to go up 14-3 — the second of which was aided by a headscratching decision to send redshirt junior backup quarterback and receiver Nate German to punt. His punt traveled just five yards.

This was a game that, unfortunately, was marred by numerous poor decisions from the Rice coaching staff, the least of which was to send a backup quarterback to punt. At a point when Baylor led 7-3 and the game was more than within reach, this decision and its result — a 5-yard punt — undoubtedly reversed much of the positive momentum the Owls had built up, giving an explosive Baylor offense a short field, thereby helping to turn the tide of the game.

The teams would trade additional

touchdowns to bring the score to 21-10, which brought about the turning point of the game: Senior Owls running back Darik Dillard broke free for a 59-yard run but fumbled deep into Baylor territory, throwing away the chance to at least bring the game to within a possession before the half. The Owls would never put together a serious scoring drive from that point forwards.

The team’s offensive strategy was quite similar to the approach that failed them against Western Kentucky University and United States Military Academy. The Owls appear insistent on attempting to succeed with a horizontal passing game rather than a vertical one: Many of the team’s passes were on screens and “swing” passes that were behind the line of scrimmage. While these types of 0see FOOTBALL, page 11

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

0FOOTBALL from page 10 plays can be effective, the Owls have been unable to turn this approach into a strong passing attack, and it was very evident that Baylor’s defense was too quick and athletic to stretch the field horizontally.

Although the Bears are a respectable opponent, for the Owls to have 31 passing yards over the entire game (1.15 yards per attempt) is indicative of a poor offensive strategy. The end result was lots of thirdand-long situations, for which the Bears often brought all-out blitzes that gave the team little chance of sustaining drives.

Some other coaching decisions were questionable as well. Rice played one-onone coverage with junior Baylor receiver K.D. Cannon — a receiver who has been placed on the Biletnikoff Watch List for two consecutive years — when Baylor was deep into its own territory and just 15 seconds remained in the first half. Considering the team’s inability to qualify for a bowl game last season, its coaching failures this year and its 0-3 start, one wonders just how quickly time may be ticking on the team’s current coaching staff.

The Owls, however, did their best to take positives away from their loss, rather than to lament missing the opportunity at winning what could have easily been a much closer game. According to Bailiff, the team has improved as the season has progressed.

“We started this game tonight well, we’re young, and we’re getting better with every rep,” Bailiff said. “To shut Baylor out in the first quarter is impressive, and we can build on this momentum.”

We started the game tonight well, we’re young and we’re getting better with every rep. To shut Baylor out in the first quarter is impressive, and we can build on this momentum.

David Bailiff Football Head Coach

Dillard also displayed some optimism with pieces of his team’s performance as they prepare for the Conference USA slate to open full-time next week. He said the defense in particular has taken strides.

“It’s disappointing to start the year 0-3, but if you really look at it I see a lot of improvement, especially in our defense,” Dillard said. “Being able to hold a Big 12 opponent to no points in the first quarter is impressive. In our offensive line, I continue to see improvement, and that’s a testament to how we practice and their ability to step up to the challenge.”

As the Owls move on with the season, they will need to quickly right the ship.

Though they are 0-1 within Conference USA and still in the mix to compete within the conference, their 0-3 record puts them in a very deep hole as they seek to return to a bowl game. Rice will need to go at least 6-3 the rest of the season to qualify for the postseason. Players like Dillard, however, are still finding a way to remain optimistic.

According to Dillard, Rice still has a chance to put together a successful season.

“As we continue to improve and enter into our conference, we have to put together our passing game, our running game, continue to have our defense playing lights out and we’ll be successful in Conference play,” Dillard said.

Up next for the Owls is a matchup with the University of North Texas Mean Green, who have started the year 1-2 under firstyear coach Seth Littrell. There is no doubt that the clash will be an intense one, with Rice fighting to avoid a 0-4 start and to keep its slimming hopes at a bowl game alive.

Bailiff, like his players, said he understands how big of a game this will be.

“All of our goals are still intact,” Bailiff said. “They really start next week.”

The Owls will face off with the North Texas Mean Green at home on Saturday, Sept. 24 at Rice Stadium as they look for their first win of the season.

SPORTS

the Rice Thresher

11

Kidd’s Korner

Rivalries and sportsmanship: UNT’s style of play doesn’t belong in women’s soccer Over the past four years at Rice, I’ve had the privilege of covering sports for the Thresher, meeting many incredible athletes and coaches along the way. It’s been a lot of fun for me, and on the same token, I become very invested in the teams I cover, particularly the women’s soccer team every fall and the men’s baseball team every spring.

On Sunday, the women’s soccer team faced the University of North Texas in its first Conference USA game. The Mean Green pride themselves on being physically reckless, racking up yellow cards in many of the games they play. I’ll be the first to say that UNT’s style of play is infuriating and has no place in NCAA soccer.

Not all games are created equal. I say this because of rivalries: the games that mean even more than the others, the matchups that are circled on the schedule before the year begins.

At these games, the pregame speeches are more passionate and the benches are far more vocal. The adrenaline is flowing on the field, the fans are restless in the stands, the tension in the stadium is palpable and the emotion lingers long after the game is over, regardless of the outcome.

The Sunday night soccer match between Rice and the University of North Texas was played between two bitter rivals. Each team has had much success as of late. On a talent level, the teams are similar, but the teams fall on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to aggressiveness and style of play.

North Texas forces opponents, such as Rice, to either compete at its level of borderline dirty play or succumb to the numerous fouls on the field. In a match earlier this season between Oregon State University and North Texas, players received six yellow cards. UNT junior Rachel Holden earned two cards and was ejected from that particular match. Rather than playing hard with the talent they possess, the Mean Green pushed the envelope in Sunday’s match with the referees and with the Owls.

Frequently, their shoves in the back, flailing elbows, and late challenges were played off as “incidental” contact. Rice junior midfielder Samantha Chaiken, freshman goalkeeper Samantha Colley and freshman midfielder Lianne Mananquil all went down due to unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of UNT. That’s only half of the story, though. UNT players could also be seen “diving” on the ground following challenges from Rice players attempting to draw a call from the referee. In general, the team was slow to take corners and free kicks, ruining the tempo of the game.

The Mean Green consistently disputed calls with the refs and multiple players smirked and chastised Rice when whistled for blatant fouls. This team generally enjoys the dirty, chippy style of play it practices. You could expect to see this in a professional match where the pressure to excel is so high that players will look to any advantage they can.

However, this type of play has no place in an NCAA regulated women’s soccer match. In

sean chu/thresher

Junior defender Aliza Wolfe battles for the ball during Sunday night’s loss to defending conference champion North Texas. In 477 minutes, Wolfe has put up three goals on the season. this recent match against Rice, there were five yellow cards handed out, four of which were on UNT. The referees did not do a good enough job of protecting the Rice players and maintaining order, and it is disappointing to know that North Texas can get away with this on a weekly basis.

All of these tactics were understandably frustrating to the Rice fans, many of whom are friends and family of the athletes. Many players were visibly frustrated and nobody was in the mood for postgame interviews. But looking past the fans, the Rice players and coaching staff were clearly irritated following the game as well. Rice junior midfielder Aliza Wolfe had no comment on the way UNT played. Head coach Nicky Adams simply said that North Texas was a quality opponent. Those were the extent of the comments on UNT’s style of play, and it is understandable. A loss is a loss, and North Texas did play tactically sound defensively, but I presume this one stings more than most. The team needs to focus on moving past this game and preparing for Louisiana Tech University on Thursday night, but others such as myself can dwell on the difficult loss.

Holden of North Texas is an extremely talented player. She scored both goals against Rice, but her edge and style of play

are ridiculous. But scoring two goals? So what? I would like to believe upholding your reputation and character should mean more than that. North Texas head coach John Hedlund said he was happy with the way his team played.

“We have so much respect for Rice [but] I’m really proud of my team,” Hedlund said.

“They played like warriors.”

First off, I would tell him that he can keep his “respect” for Rice. Secondly, I’d recommend that if his team continues to play like “warriors” in his eyes, it should pick up the sport of rugby and get off a soccer pitch.

Kidd’s Korner is a column written by Michael Kidd. The opinions expressed in the column are solely his own.

Michael Kidd

is a Lovett College senior and a Thresher staff writer

12

BACKPAGE

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

the Rice Thresher

BAKING WITH BAKERITES This week, the Backpage had the chance to meet with some of our friends at Baker, and we thought that there’s no better way to catch up than, you guessed it, baking! Take a look at what these classy cats had to say as we whipped up some scones, muffins, and more.

BACKPAGE: What up, Baker. We’re so glad you could join us!

BAKERITES: Thanks for having us! Full disclosure, this isn’t what we had in mind when you approached us and asked if we were “tryna bake,” but we’re happy to be here.

BP: Excellent. Let’s get started. So, I hear Baker Christmas is coming up soon! Tell us about that.

B: That’s right! BC is a big deal for us. It’s kind of the only thing we do well, besides Baker 13 and breakfast of course. But we’re actually trying something new with Christmas this year.

BP: Ooooh … give us the scoop!

B: Well, we’re kind of sick of randos coming around, drinking all of our beer, breaking our sinks and leaving. So we’re going to make the event Baker-only this year. [drops pan of scones] BP: What? How … what do you … how could you!?

B: Hey, hey, calm down. It’s really not that big of a deal, we swear. We just … wanted to try something different. Please, don’t cry. Those tarts will be way too salty with your tears in them.

BP: I’m fine. And we don’t need your baking advice, just like we don’t need your stupid Christmas party. I never even liked Baker Christmas. Oh, we should tell you that the other nine colleges have decided to throw Not-Baker Hanukkah, Not-Baker Kwanzaa and Not-Baker Diwali parties this year. And we’ve decided to keep it Not-Baker only, ’cause we’re tired of your stupid dumb faces.

B: OK. We hope you have fun. I think it’s time for us to go.

BP: What about your bran muffins? They’ll be ready in a pinch!

B: Please. You don’t even know muffins. Have you ever even had our breakfast?

As it turns out, Bakerites suck at baking. Their souffles looked like mediocre quiches, at best, and their scones were simply a disgrace. We recommend that no one associate with them for a while, and we implore you all to avoid baking with them at all costs.

That’s all we’ve got for you this week. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back in next week when we go Dunkin’ with Duncan!

MOB halftime show gets national attention, Thresher to cover Texas Skate Jam Staying true to their style of confusing and offensive, the MOB put on a controversial halftime show at the Rice-Baylor game last Friday. The show was apparently important enough to be covered by the Washington Post. Much more importantly though, the Washington Post referred to Rice’s student newspaper first as the Thresher and then again as the Thrasher. As you know, Thrasher magazine is the biggest skateboarding magazine in the country. We assume that this means the Thresh ... excuse me ... the Thrasher will now be strictly covering local skateboarding news as it pertains to Rice. We at the Backpage are thrilled about the upcoming change in content. I think we can speak for everyone when we say we’d rather read about skating legends Dan Lou and Elijah Berle throwing down nasty Nightmare Flips and Plasma Spins than whatever boring Rice stuff the Thrasher used to cover (can’t say for sure, never read it).

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

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WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED SWING?

American Entertainment Group Presents: Ned Battista and his 16 piece orchestra in an evening of American Jazz and Swing Music from Early Developments to 1945 :

NED BATTISTA

JIM BERNHARD

Stude Concert Hall, Rice University October 8, 2016 8:00 PM

STEVE HALE

TIANNA HALL