VOLUME 101, ISSUE NO. 19 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017
OFF TO THE RACES
CAMPAIGNS BEGIN
Take a look at this year’s candidates for Student Association positions inside and online. see SA Election Guide p. 2
SA positions vacant in first election round Emily Abdow & Drew Keller News Editors
While five candidates will be contesting the Student Association presidency and external vice presidency, no undergraduates submitted a petition to run for SA internal vice president or treasurer in next week’s first round general election. The positions will be open in a second round election which will take place after Spring Break. Current deputy treasurer Ameesh Shah said he will run for treasurer in the second round; no candidates have yet come forward for internal vice president.
Basketball having best conference season of decade Andrew Grottkau Sports Editor
Rice’s men’s basketball team is currently in the midst of one of its strongest seasons. If the Owls can win one of their final four regular season games, they will have their most conference
wins since joining Conference USA in 2005. Despite the success, the team still has work to do in the final weeks of the season. If Rice can finish in the top four of the regular season standings, it will earn a bye to the quarterfinals in the conference tournament. This past weekend, Rice split its two home contests, defeating the University
of Texas, San Antonio and falling to the University of Texas, El Paso. Rice entered its game on Thursday against the University of Texas, San Antonio with a record of 7-5 in C-USA. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Owls had a chance to move into 0see BASKETBALL, page 9
Internal vice president According to SA President Griffin Thomas, a candidate had submitted a petition for IVP but withdrew to run for a position at the college level. This is not the first time the position has not had any candidates. According to Thomas, there was no IVP candidate in the 2014 SA election. Thomas said the position could be unappealing due to its many responsibilities, including supervising 60 executive branch members and coordinating internal SA communications. He said these demands leave less time for the IVP to pursue other projects while in office. “To be frank, the position is incredibly demanding and relatively thankless,” Thomas, a Lovett College senior, said. “The position is important and requires a very particular person who is capable of leading and managing large numbers of people, so not everyone has the requisite skill-set to be effective.” Thomas also said students may perceive IVP to be a more competitive position and instead run for positions including senator or secretary they believe are safer. Komal Luthra, the current IVP, said she did not have an explanation for the lack of an IVP candidate. 0see VACANCY, page 4
sean chu/thresher
Princeton Review race/class ranking at odds with mobility metrics Alice Liu
Thresher Staff
Following Rice University’s No. 1 ranking for race and class interaction by the Princeton Review in August 2016, a recent study reported by the New York Times of 2,137 universities revealed that Rice is approximately average in terms of class financial composition and mobility when compared to other elite institutions. The study, conducted by the Equality of Opportunity Project, used administrative data for college students from 1999 to 2013 to create mobility report cards that compared students’ earnings to their parents’ incomes. The study compared Rice compared with other colleges classified as “elite schools.” According to the article, 9.8 percent of Rice students come from the top 1 percent of median family income, which is $630,000 or above per year, and 35 percent come from the top 5 percent, earning $110,000 or more per year. Rice has
a relatively high percentage of students from the bottom fifth of income, coming in 11th among other elite colleges at 4.9 percent of the student body. Compared to peer institutions such as Vanderbilt University and Duke University, Rice has a lower percentage of the student body from the top 1 and top 5 percents of median family income. 23 percent of Vanderbilt students came from the top 1 percent and 47 percent came from the top five percent. 19 percent of Duke students are from the top 1 percent and 44 percent from the top 5 percent. Overall, Rice ranks 45th of the 65 “elite colleges,” as defined by the Equality of Opportunity project, for both share of students in the top 1 percent and top 5 percent. Rice ranked 40th out of 64 elite colleges for percentage of students moving from the bottom to the top income quintile, with 1.6 percent making this move. The study showed 14 percent of Rice students move up two more more quintiles 0see CLASS, page 4
Family wealth: How Rice compares to its peers RICE
STANFORD
VANDERBILT
EMORY
UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Median family income
Average income percentile 79th
80th
84th
$160,800
$160,500
$204,500
$139,000
$58,000
Percent students from top 1% $204,500
75th 55th
9.8%
20.5%
26.8%
16.7% $58,000
<1%
infographic by Christina Tan with statistics taken from the New York Times
2
NEWS
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
the Rice Thresher
SA ELECTION GUIDE
THREE CANDIDATES VIE FOR SA PRESIDENCY, TWO FOR EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENCY IN NEXT WEEK’S GENERAL ELECTION
SA PRESIDENT MAURICE FREDIERE
JUSTIN ONWENU
Year: Junior Major: International health and policy (self-created) College: Sid Richardson Past experience: SA senator Platform focus: å Reduce expenses not covered by financial aid å Lower distribution credit hour requirements å Lead dialogue on sexual assault, CTIS and mental health å Reform SA structure å Support ideas through blanket tax
UNCONTESTED POSITIONS SA secretary: Deepu Karri
Year: Sophomore Major: Political science, economics College: Duncan Past experience: SA treasurer Platform focus: å Increase training for poorly reviewed professors å Combat sexual assault, vandalism and other crimes å Provide resources for students to take the initiative on issues
REVATHI RAVELLA
JAKE NYQUIST
Year: Junior Major: Computer science College: Will Rice Past experience: SA senator Platform focus: å Reduce disciplinary fines and allow ombudspeople in SJP proceedings å Prioritize improving facilities å Increase campus accessibility for low-income students å Emphasize teaching excellence in tenure promotions å Improve SA president visibility
RUSHI BHALANI
SA treasurer SA IVP KTRU station manager RSVP president
Rally Club president: Sergio Santamaria U-Court chair: Bailey Tulloch RPC president: Stephanie Zhao Thresher editors-in-chief: Drew Keller and Juan Saldana
NO CANDIDATES IN FIRST ROUND
Year: Sophomore Major: Biochemistry College: Wiess Past experience: SA senator, New Student Representative Platform focus:
Year: Sophomore Major: Computer science College: Sid Richardson Past experience: SA senator, New Student Representative Platform focus:
å Foster dialogue on student well-being å Help senators launch campuswide initiatives å Promote experiental learning
å Push for data on mental health å Expand tetra services å Implement initiatves for undergraduate teaching
SA EXTERNAL VICE PRESIDENT
For full campaign statements, fun facts and information on other positions, go to ricethresher.org. infographic by sydney garrett
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
NEWS
the Rice Thresher
At Kinder speech, O’Malley promotes urban data Meredith McCain Thresher Staff
Martin O’Malley, former governor of Maryland and former Democratic presidential candidate, shared his thoughts on modern urban leadership last Wednesday at a Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research event. O’Malley, who also served two terms as mayor of Baltimore, is currently the chair of the MetroLab Network, which brings cities and research universities together to use data to solve citywide issues. Last Thursday, the MetroLab Network unveiled its Houston Solutions Lab, a partnership between Rice University and the city of Houston. O’Malley explained in his presentation that the MetroLab network strives to help cities like Houston use big data to solve big problems. “The idea behind this network is that universities can be powerful engines of research and development,” O’Malley said. “And if they’re paired with their cities, those cities can act as tremendous test beds of deployment, of scaling, of iterations that can really go to a national level.” As mayor of Baltimore, O’Malley helped pioneer the use of citywide data collection with the implementation of the CityStat system, and as governor of Maryland, implemented StateStat. Both of these programs use quantitative analysis to measure a variety of factors from levels of violent crime to air pollution to help create targeted solutions. According to O’Malley, he faced formidable challenges when he became mayor of Baltimore, but the use of data collection was able to significantly help this situation. “In 1999, I ran for Mayor of Baltimore and by 1999 our city had become the most violent, abandoned and addicted city in America,” O’Malley said. “The three cities that achieved in the period 2000-2009 the biggest reductions in violent crime were Los Angeles, New York and Baltimore.” The rapid dissemination of information in today’s society demands leaders who can keep pace, O’Malley said.
“In the information age, people know as much as their leaders,” O’Malley said. “And they usually know before their leaders. The effective leader [must] put her or himself in the center of that emerging truth.” According to O’Malley, cities will take precedence and determine the country’s path forward. “All of this technology is rapidly ushering in a new way of leadership,” O’Malley said. “And this new way of leadership is happening most predominantly in America’s cities. Well-run administrations will have
all of these characteristics: entrepreneurial, collaborative, performance-measured, interactive. It is the new way of governing and leadership that is emerging in America’s cities.” O’Malley explained that this data-driven form of governance may even have the power to overcome significant ideological divisions within the U.S. “There is far more that elates us than divides us,” O’Malley said. “The innovation that’s emerging in cities is going to lead us into that new day.”
drew keller/thresher
Former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley discussed student political involvement with the Thresher prior to his speaking appearance. Watch the full video online at ricethresher.org.
SA IN BRIEF Senate passes new constitution Drew Keller, News Editor The Student Association Senate passed a new SA constitution and revisions to the Honor Council constitution at its Monday meeting, while also creating a student housing working group and debating legislation to support the BRIDGE Act. The act is a federal bill extending legal protections to undocumented immigrants who are eligible for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status. The Senate voted unanimously to approve the new SA constitution, as well as approving the ballot of candidates for SA and blanket tax positions. The student body will vote on whether to approve the document in next week’s election; to be enacted, a two-thirds majority is required with at least twenty percent of undergraduates voting. The new constitution splits many of the detailed rules regulating the SA and its subsidiary organizations into a separate bylaws document and reduces some of the rules’ complexities, shortening it significantly. The Senate’s unanimous vote to approve changes to the Honor Council constitution will also send it to the general election ballot. The changes call for an increase in Honor Council membership and allow the body to determine that it can set aside cases if the accusation is untimely. The Senate also unanimously approved Bill #6, which would create a student housing working group to facilitate transparency with H&D in the wake of recent facilities issues at several colleges. Finally, the Senate discussed Resolution #4, which would declare SA support for current DACA students and for passage of the BRIDGE Act. Several senators and college presidents debated whether the Senate should take political stances and whether it could speak on behalf of students on the issue. SA President Griffin Thomas called on Senate members to seek feedback at their residential colleges before a vote on the resolution next week.
3
4
NEWS
0VACANCY FROM PAGE 1 “Being IVP has been one of the best things that has happened to me at Rice University,” Luthra, a Hanszen College junior, said. Thomas said a second round election will be held within three weeks of the initial election, which closes on March 6, to fill the vacant position. Thomas also said an interim IVP can be appointed until the election of the new IVP. According to Luthra, the SA’s Marketing and Communications Committee promoted awareness of the positions through flyers, posters and social media posts. Luthra also said the SA hosted events for students to learn about SA involvement, including “SA Palooza” and office hours. Thomas said presidents and senators discussed the election at their colleges and SA executive members encouraged individuals to run. Treasurer The SA constitution requires candidates for treasurer to meet with the SA advisor and incumbent treasurer to show they have sufficient accounting knowledge for the role. Frediere said he was contacted by Shah and another prospective candidates about the position, but both were concerned at the amount of work required. In addition to being a member of the SA executive committee, the treasurer chairs the Blanket Tax Committee and manages the SA’s weekly budget reports. Frediere said these tasks add up to a large time commitment. “The position has grown in recent years,”
the Rice Thresher Frediere said. “[It] is both time-consuming and carries significant responsibility which can be dissuading.” Frediere, who is running for SA president, said he offered to temporarily stay on as treasurer if he doesn’t win the presidential election. Shah, a Jones College sophomore who the SA Senate appointed to the new deputy treasurer position in October, said he had met with Frediere about running for treasurer. Shah said he was initially unsure whether he could commit enough time to serve in the role and missed the deadline to submit a first round petition, but decided to run for treasurer in the second round after further thought. “By the time I straightened up my schedule for the upcoming year and realized that I could dedicate the time to the position, the deadline for petitions had passed,” Shah said. “Luckily, after reaching out to Maurice and the Elections Committee, I learned that a campaign for SA treasurer was still a possibility in the second round.” Shah also was one of three candidates for Jones chief justice in a college election last week, a position which he could not hold concurrently with SA treasurer. He did not win that election, but said he preferred the SA treasurer position and would have run for that initially if he had known he had the time. Thomas said such last minute decisions are not uncommon. “Each spring, Rice fills more than 500 student government positions between the SA and the colleges,” Thomas said. “The opportunities to get involved can often times be so overwhelming that it takes some people a little extra time to decide that they want to run or what to run for.”
0CLASS FROM PAGE 1 in income and ranked Rice 22nd out of the 64 elite colleges in this category. According to the study, at age 34, the median income of male and female alumni at Rice is $88,800 and $67,900, respectively. 17 percent of Rice students end up in the top 1 percent, 50 percent end up in the top 10 percent and 7.1 percent end up in the bottom 20 percent. After graduating, the average income percentile of a rich student is the 78th and the average income percentile of a poor student is the 71st. Amina Williams, a diversity facilitator at McMurtry College, said the number of high-income students at Rice is noticeable. “It’s very obvious that the majority of people at Rice come from well-off backgrounds,” Williams, a sophomore, said. “That’s something I noticed right away at [Orientation Week], even with the way people speak.” Williams said it would be helpful if Rice offered assistance for fees associated with textbooks, Saturday night dinners and social events such as Esperanza. “I’ve definitely felt that I can’t fully experience what [other students are] experiencing because of where I come from,” Williams said. Last semester, the Student Association’s Student Access and Success Report revealed that almost 60 percent of students with a household income of $50,000 or lower are unable to participate in Rice events, such as Beer Bike and Alternative Spring Break. The report prompted the SA to implement changes such as on campus Saturday night dinners. SA President Griffin Thomas said the report prompted the SA to work with offices ranging from the Center for Career Development to the academic schools. According to Thomas, there are no longer costs for cocurricular activities within the School of Social Sciences. “We have also been working closely with the the Provost’s Office on a project that would more dramatically and holistically support low-income students,” Thomas, a Lovett College senior, said. According to Thomas, in response to the SA’s findings, Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson launched an initiative to provide $500 of funding to each residential colleges, to be used to lower costs of participating in voluntary college events. Discussions on how to defray such costs are ongoing at several colleges. In the Princeton Review’s 2017 edition of “The Best 381 Colleges,” Rice ranked first for the second year for “lots of race and class interaction.” Williams said many of her friends were surprised when the Princeton Review rankings came out, expressing confusion about which students were interviewed. She noted that it might be easier for low-income students to detect the divide. Unlike Williams, diveresity facilitator Josiah Yarbrough said he was not surprised by Rice’s Princeton Review Ranking. “My experience at Rice has shown me that students here are often more than accepting,” Yarbrough, a Will Rice College junior, said. “However, I think Rice is made great in this area not only because of how it currently treats students, but also because we as a student body recognize that more needs to be done.” Yarbrough said he he has seen students taking steps to improve the Rice experience this year. “I love how recent conversations have led to action in making more accessible to low-income students,” Yarbrough said. “It’s encouraging to know that campus leaders are willing to listen to the concerns of disadvantaged groups.” The Princeton Review ranking is based on how strongly students agree or disagree with the statement, “Different types of students (black/ white, rich/poor) interact frequently and easily.” Associate Dean of Undergraduates Catherine Clack, who directs the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said she believes the residential colleges are the most influential factor in establishing an attitude of inclusion. The residential college system, created in 1957, replaces the role of fraternities and sororities as centers of social interaction, preventing the grouping together of “like” students, Clack said. Duncan College O-Week 2016 coordinator Bradley Hamilton said diversity is a priority for
Wednesday, February 22, 2017 O-Week during advisor selection, event planning and group and roommate pairing. Despite this emphasis, Clack feels Rice’s high ranking in the Princeton Review study does not necessarily accurately reflect deeper connections between students of different backgrounds. “Are close friendships really that diverse?” Clack said. “Do they have a greater knowledge and appreciation for cultural and class difference? That would be a more insightful measure.” Hamilton, a senior, said diversity should not be mistaken for inclusivity. “We have fallen into this mindset where we assume everyone falls into the ‘Rice mentality’ or ‘Rice personality,’” Hamilton said. “That is completely untrue, and by believing in such a falsehood, we have left too many students on the outskirts of the social culture of our university.” Hamilton stressed the importance of fighting passivity and reluctance to speak up in public settings by engaging in conversations that can be uncomfortable at times. The Office of Multicultural Affairs sponsors the O-Week diversity facilitators, a select group of students who lead these difficult conversations during O-Week and beyond.
We as a student body recognize that more needs to be done. Josiah Yarbrough Diversity Facilitator Williams said her role is important, but the experience has been slightly disappointing. “As a [diversity facilitator], I can only reach the people if they want to learn,” Williams said. “Usually the people who really need to hear certain things aren’t very open to it, and I can’t really do anything about that.” Williams said she envisions the role of the diversity facilitator as a resource and role model. “We can’t be everywhere, but if there’s someone out there who learned from us, they can feel empowered enough to do what we’re doing, on a smaller scale,” Williams said. Associate Provost and founder of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion Roland Smith said the Princeton Review ranking is indicative of a noteworthy long-term shift towards diversity. “I always look at those titles with a grain of salt, but I think symbolically, they express something that’s here,” Smith said. “We are much more diverse now than when I came here 20 years ago. I’ve actually seen, or felt, the climate change.” Smith said he believes there is still a lack of faculty and graduate student diversity at Rice, which he attributes to the lack of exposure to academia as a possible career choice. “We need to do more in the way of producing and encouraging students in going into academic and research fields,” Smith said. “We don’t tout it enough to underrepresented communities.” Since its foundation in 1988, the OMA has worked towards increasing the depth of interaction by providing financial and logistical support for multicultural student organizations. One of the student groups that the OMA works with, the Hispanic Association for Cultural Education at Rice, seeks to promote Hispanic culture within the Rice community through social and cultural events. As co-president of HACER, Juan Valenzuela said his goal is to keep providing opportunities for students to become exposed to Hispanic and Latin-American cultures. “I’ve found that certain topics of discussion make some people immediately disengage from conversation,” Valenzuela, a Lovett junior, said. “I believe that by providing these opportunities to students, we can get around the usual reticence that surrounds topics of multiculturalism and diversity.” Though the admissions office has implemented policies to increase recruitment of students from various backgrounds, Hutchinson emphasized that having an accepting community is more important than just demographics. “A diverse community only works if the community embraces that diversity,” he said.
5
Revised constitution better serves student interests SA should investigate disinterest in IVP position Though uncontested elections are nothing new to the Student Association, it seems this year no one will be featured on the first round of ballots for the positions of internal vice president and treasurer (see p. 1). Though current Deputy Treasurer Ameesh Shah indicated he will be running for the latter position in the second round, the IVP position still remains vacant, and it is currently unclear if anyone will be submitting a petition for the second round of votes. We’re rather puzzled as to how no one from within student government, let alone the at-large members of the SA, have decided to run for the IVP position. This year, the SA has made a concerted effort to appeal to the student body through its social media outreach, and we applaud them for the effort and the changes they have made in this regard. However, why hasn’t a single senator or New Student Representative decided to run for any of the currently vacant or uncontested positions? Why is it that, similar to last year, none of the positions other than SA president and external vice president are contested? Perhaps the student body maintains a lack of understanding of the expectations of the roles (for instance, the difference in duties between EVP and IVP), thereby discouraging any potential runs. Perhaps roles within residential college government are seen as more attractive. Perhaps for those within the Senate, the fact that the IVP position is “incredibly demanding and relatively thankless” (in SA President Griffin Thomas’ own words), is a deterrent. We aren’t sure what factors have contributed to this lack of engagement, and we certainly do not fault the SA on this point. However, this may necessitate a rethinking of how the SA’s positions are structured internally; perhaps the SA should conduct an internal focus group asking senators, who are the most familiar with the SA, as to what deterred them from running. This may help determine whether the lack of engagement is an external issue relating to outreach or education, or whether it merits a restructuring of these positions to decrease their load and/ or render them more rewarding.
A year and a half ago, I assumed my role as parliamentarian of the Student Association, charged with ensuring the SA justly represents the student body through the constitution. From senators to committee chairs to college presidents, I try to keep every representative transparent and accountable to the 3,910 undergraduates on campus. Three years ago when the current constitution was ratified by the student body, the SA entered into a pact with the student body. The SA leadership is empowered to represent and advocate for the student body only when it meets these predetermined rules established in the constitution. These rules cover the allocation of blanket tax funds, the approval process for student clubs, the purpose of the SA standing committees, the representatives on Faculty Senate working groups and more, all designed to promote student body opinion. Because of the SA’s complexity, you may expect the constitution would also be complex. The constitution along with bylaws provide ground rules for the SA to follow, ensuring that student opinions are at the
top of the agenda in every decision made. Over my time as parliamentarian, the constitution has inhibited the SA’s ability to represent the student body, despite the best intentions with which it was drafted. While we like to think transparency and accountability are synonymous with being constitutional, they have fallen second to the constitution’s strict directions. Outdated processes and unnecessary constitutional requirements sidetrack the SA from focusing on listening to student opinions. With this in mind, Senate convened the Committee on Constitutional Revisions and charged the committee with a general review of the constitution. As a committee, we hoped to create a long-term, readable document as constitutions are not meant to be revised every three years or utilized by only the parliamentarian. It should serve as a steering document for the SA while still flexible as new terms begin and end. Our work culminated in what I believe is a strong document that will be able to serve the student body by holding their representatives
accountable and enable the SA to fulfill that same role long-term. In light of the upcoming election, I encourage everyone to read the new constitution and determine for yourselves whether this new document will lead to your representatives being held accountable to your interests. At the end of the day, the constitution is meant to serve you. Help the SA serve you more effectively, and vote yes for the new SA constitution.
Annabelle McIntire-Gavlick is the SA
parliamentairan, chair of the Comittee on Constitutional Revisions and a Lovett college senior
Political advocacy at Rice is more than a vote This op-ed is based on our opinion as individuals, not as college presidents. We are committed to advocating for our college and will vote based on our colleges’ beliefs, not our own. On Feb. 13 the Student Association introduced Resolution #4, proposed “To Support the Passage of the BRIDGE Act” in an effort to “stand in support of current protections put in place by the DACA initiative.” The BRIDGE Act is bipartisan legislation created to better support undocumented immigrants who fear deportation. The SA will vote on Resolution #4 on Feb. 27. While the BRIDGE Act may not be controversial amongst Rice students, Resolution #4 sets a precedent on how the SA will act regarding political topics, a conversation we have largely neglected. The SA has the right to take a stance on political discussions that involve Rice University, but condensing nuanced discussion into a yes, no or abstaining vote as Resolution #4 does is detrimental to discussion. Administering a campuswide survey similar to the campus carry survey which aided Rice’s decision to opt out of new campus carry legislation provides for more organic discussion, allows for all voices to be heard and
should be used in place of Resolution #4 and for future political discussions. As college presidents and voting members of the SA, we worry that the method of advocacy through Resolution #4 compromises the power of voices within the Rice undergraduate body in two ways. First, voting at the residential college level may disengage those who disagree with the majority. Always striving for greater inclusion and diversity of thought, residential colleges risk losing the involvement of students who believe their college does not advocate for their views, limiting discussion and silencing opposing beliefs. Second, decentralized data gathering and decision making allows for inconsistent representation. The discrepancies between how colleges and other voting members of the SA like the external vice president, internal vice president, secretary and treasurer vote creates the opportunity for an imbalance of power in a situation in which all voices should be heard. For these reasons and others, the SA should table Resolution #4, release a campuswide survey, administer a stance based on the results, and use this method of representation in future issues of political advocacy. Voting members like college presidents and senators should
initiate and encourage political conversation at their college within the same time frame to aid the campus wide discussion. A resolution backed by data demonstrating considerable effort to hear all student opinion is much more representative and, in the spirit of advocacy and intellectual engagement, more effective. In this new climate, we must consider what methods best capture the diversity of opinion present in these discussions and fully represent the student body. We encourage all students to attend the SA meeting on Feb. 27 or to reach out to their college’s president and senator to add their voice.
Ankush Agrawal is the Will Rice College president and a senior and
Chris Sabbagh is the Jones College president and a senior
Corrections In the article “Opera house design unveiled,” the name of the project manager from Fisher Dachs Associates should have read Matt Brogan. In the news in brief article “Queer Resource Center to relocate,” Seth Berggren should have been identified as the office space manager. In the article “SA addresses election ethics concerns,” Maurice Frediere should have been referred to as a sophomore. In the article “Students remember late physics professor Marjorie Corcoran,” Osmond Wen should have been referred to as a junior. On the front page graphic, “Potential federal funding cuts threaten Rice research projects,” a printing error misprinted some of the funding values. The correct values appear on the graphic’s online version at ricethresher.org.
STAFF Yasna Haghdoost* Editor in Chief Anita Alem* Managing Editor Juan Saldana Business Manager news Drew Keller* Editor Emily Abdow* Editor Anna Ta Asst. Editor Elizabeth Rasich Asst. Editor
Buyer beware
opinions Mitch Mackowiak* Editor
copy Jasmine Lin Editor
sports Andrew Grottkau Editor
backpage Riley Robertson Editor Joey McGlone Editor
arts & entertainment Lenna Mendoza Editor design Christina Tan Director Sydney Garrett News Designer Katrina Cherk Sports Designer Ellie Mix A&E Designer Jennifer Fu Illustrator photo Sirui Zhou Editor Charlene Pan Asst. Editor
business operations Shannon Klein Ads Manager Sarah Evans Distribution Manager Jennifer Lee Ad Design Manager Sara Lopez Marketing Manager online Charlie Paul Editor *Editorial Board member
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.
cartoon by jennifer fu
Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of the Thresher editorial staff. All other opinion pieces represent solely the opinion of the piece’s author. Editorial 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
6
Coming to terms with Lupe Fiasco’s ‘Drogas Light’ Alex Young
For The Thresher
Rapper Lupe Fiasco always has tricks up his sleeve. Whether it’s lyrics and wordplay that take on multiple meanings or cryptic album concepts, you are often rewarded for digging beneath the surface. There’s always something we’re missing, and an army of treasure-hunting Rap Genius fanatics looking to figure it out.
Although ‘Pick up the Phone’ may be one of the most eloquent descriptions of texting you’ll hear, at the end of the day it’s still a song about texting a girl and not getting a response.
courtesy houston press
Austin’s Ramen Tatsu-Ya joins Houston: Can it rival Jinya? Franklin Shen Thresher Staff
Along with a good chunk of Rice students, I have always regarded Jinya Ramen Bar as the daddy of ramen joints. Consistently delicious, their broth can be counted upon to warm the cockles of your soul and wash over your taste buds like a wave of savory goodness. Their noodles also provide the perfect amount of bite and chew while every topping adds another level of flavor and texture to compose a successful symphony of deliciousness. Of course, Jinya has had ample opportunity to perfect its methodology and recipes — they’ve been in the United States since 2010 and have since opened 27 locations in the U.S. and Canada. I therefore believe that I am justified in saying that Jinya is perhaps the appropriate standard by which to measure all other ramen bars. Enter Ramen Tatsu-Ya. A household name in Austin, Ramen Tatsu-Ya is extremely proficient at marketing toward yuppies and college students, and no doubt, they expect the same kind of success in Houston. So should you forsake your Jinya ways for the new kid on the block? Well, if we’re talking about convenience, there is no need to revoke your allegiance to Jinya. Ramen Tatsu-Ya is located at 1722 California St., smack dab in the middle of Montrose. While that may not seem too far, if you’re one of the many Owls without a
THE WEEKLY SCENE The editor’s picks for this week’s best events. Time to explore the wonderful world of Houston.
car, plan to walk for 44 minutes or spend 51 minutes waiting for and taking one of Houston’s not-so-on-time buses. On the other hand, Jinya is a relatively brisk 20-minute metro ride away.
A household name in Austin, Ramen Tatsu-Ya is extremely proficient at marketing toward yuppies and college students, and no doubt, they expect the same kind of success in Houston. In terms of ambiance and comfort, Ramen Tatsu-Ya is the epitome of love it or hate it. The walls are boldly adorned with black, white and red murals with definite Japanese influence. The seating arrangement consists of a few booths, a few intimate two- or fourperson tables, and two long dining tables in the center of the dining area. While this is fairly similar to Jinya’s setup, the vaulted
ceilings at Ramen Tatsu-Ya make the space feel much more airy and light, as opposed to Jinya’s darker, more dimly lit interior. It is worth pointing out, however, that I did feel a draft sitting at the longer tables, probably due to a poorly placed ventilation duct, so I would advise wearing another layer if you decide to go. The bathrooms, however, are a must-see. The best way I could possibly describe them is if a Japanese version of Banksy painted the Sistine Chapel. In my opinion, Ramen TatsuYa takes the fish cake for interior design. Now how good is the ramen? Well, there was certainly nothing offensive about it. I decided to order the Tonkatsu Sho-Yu, which I figured being priced at $9.75, would be a popular option. The broth was smooth and flavorful, the noodles were filling while all the toppings were well prepared and yummy. My personal favorite aspect of the dish was the marinated bamboo, or menma. I should qualify the next half of this sentence by saying that bamboo is one of my favorite foods and I was craving it the week before going, but this bamboo was just ... wow. Perfectly marinated, each bite was an umami bomb. Not only that, but the bamboo was tender and not stringy, an indication of its young age and overall quality. However, while the ramen was good, there were some things that could be improved upon. Although the broth was flavorful, it was more watery than I would have liked. The 0see RAMEN, page 8
However, lyrical mind games don’t sell records or make for compelling concerts. In fact, they run contrary to almost everything that the lucrative pop mainstream sells. This is the conundrum that characterized the well-chronicled beef between Lupe and his former label, Atlantic Records. Drowned in delays and red tape, Lupe had to compromise with Atlantic in order to get his last couple of albums, “Lasers” and “Food and Liquor II,” out. It was only after the hacktivist group Anonymous threatened to hack Atlantic Records that Lupe’s “Tetsuo and Youth” saw the light of day. “Tetsuo” marked the end of Lupe’s contract with Atlantic, bringing (uncompromised) music to his fans’ ears. We missed the old Lupe, and he was finally back. Or so we thought. Despite being his own boss, Lupe is once again attempting to branch out into trendy worlds of pop and trap in “Drogas Light.” “Made in the USA” has Lupe uncharacteristically (although somewhat successfully) belting one-liners over high hats and “bang bang bangs.” In a similar vein, “Promise” is a (possibly intentional) copy of Drake’s one-liner, hashtag flow on “R.I.C.O.” It’s too bad, considering Lupe himself is more interesting than a lot of the music he tries to imitate. Yet, this is direction he has chosen to take. Whereas “Tetsuo and Youth” helped Lupe escape the Atlantic, “Drogas Light” has him diving back into the mainstream. As a card-carrying member of the Lupe Fiasco cult, it’s frustrating to listen to Lupe go down this road again. Though lyrically sound, songs like “Pick up the Phone,” “It’s Not Design” and “Wild Child” feature bouncy, upbeat production and outsourced pop hooks that are clearly made for radio, 0see DROGAS, page 8
EXPERIMENTAL ACTION
RON MUECK
BLACK UNDERGROUND
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the Houston performance art festival Experimental Action will visit the venues Notsuoh, The Secret Group and Walter’s Downtown. The festival is international, with artists hailing from Canada, Serbia and China. Tickets are $12 for one night and $30 for the weekend.
Mueck’s long career in puppetry includes collaborating with Jim Henson on films like “Labyrinth.” This exhibit features Mueck’s later sculpture work — incredibly detailed and lifelike human figures. The exhibition will be on view from Feb. 26 to May 29. Tickets are $13 for students and $18 for adults.
Multiple Locations experimentalaction.com
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston 5601 Main St. mfah.org
Statements Dance Company presents its first full-length show this weekend, exploring the history of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. The dance show includes elements of text, theater and spoken word. The show starts at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 and 2 p.m. Feb. 26. Tickets are $20 for students and $25 otherwise.
The Pilot on Navigation 5102 Navigation Blvd.
MOODY CENTER OPENING This Friday, the Moody Center for the Arts will open its doors to the public for the first time. The opening will include installation viewing, live music by the Tontons, and food trucks. The event is free and the doors open at 7 p.m.
Moody Center moody.rice.edu
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
the Rice Thresher
A&E
7
‘Glossy and Flat Black Squares’ closes out Rice Gallery Naomi Pringle Thresher Staff
Last semester, Jonathan Schipper’s “Cubicle” filled the space of the Rice Gallery with the familiar setting of an office, easy to mistake for a functioning workspace until the viewer more closely inspected the exhibit. The current installation, Sol LeWitt’s “Glossy and Flat Black Squares,” is similarly understated, but in a very different way. This installation was exhibited for the first time in the Rice Gallery in 1997, under the instruction of Sol LeWitt himself, who has since passed away. The artwork is painted directly onto the walls of the exhibit, leaving the space itself entirely open. Five black squares span nearly the entirety of the walls, stretching from floor to ceiling, expanding the sense of space seemingly past the capacity of the room.
It is the conception and the ineffable emotional reaction rather than intricate aesthetics that are the exhibit’s draw. The resulting atmosphere is much more contemplative than you would normally find in the Rice Gallery. With nothing much to scrutinize closely in the art itself, the installation lends itself to a meditative and introspective atmosphere not dissimilar to Houston’s Rothko chapel. The Rice Gallery will be closing at the end of this year after 20 years, and “Glossy and Flat Black Squares” is certainly an untraditional choice for a final installation. There have been plenty of exhibits in the past that would have constituted a more conventional finale.
hope zhou/thresher
In contrast with Soo Sunny Park’s “Unwoven Light,” or the more recent Thorsten Brinkmann exhibit “The Great Cape Rinderhorn,” both of which provided elaborate, eccentric sensory overload, “Glossy and Flat Black Squares” seems exceptionally minimalist. One of the earliest pieces on display in the Rice Gallery, LeWitt’s exhibit provides a reflective and symmetric conclusion to the gallery’s occupation of this space. Like many contemporary minimalist pieces, the exhibit is sure to be polarizing. The installation is comprised of five black squares, two glossy, two matte, and one half glossy and half matte. It may perhaps elicit the “I could have done that” response that contemporary art sometimes faces. However, like many contemporary minimalist pieces, it
is the conception and the ineffable emotional reaction rather than intricate aesthetics that are the exhibit’s draw. “Glossy and Flat Black Squares” is part of a long series of two-dimensional wall drawings that LeWitt conceived over his career. Curiously, LeWitt’s contribution is entirely conceptual. Rather than creating a piece himself, LeWitt’s art is comprised of instructions for installation that are carried out by other artists. The instructional nature of his art allows for recreation wherever, by whomever wishes to participate. Many pieces, such as “Wall Drawing #122,” whose instructions are simply, “All combinations of two lines crossing, placed at random, using arcs from corners and sides, straight, not straight and broken lines,” ensure that each manifestation will be entirely unique.
“Glossy and Flat Black Squares,” with its monotone color palette and rigid, elementary geometry, is less freeform, but there’s something compelling about the safe, cool space it outlines. LeWitt pioneered conceptual art, believing the idea behind the art is the most important aspect. The fact that the installation not only lives on, but can actually be brought into being for the first time a decade after his death imbues the space with a hallowed dignity. Rather than detracting from the feeling of connection to the artist, the exhibit’s physical creation at the hands of other artists evokes a sense of the art’s eternality, incapable of being destroyed even as its current manifestation is erased. “Glossy and Flat Black Squares” will be on display in the Rice Gallery until May 14.
8
A&E
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
the Rice Thresher
0DROGAS FROM PAGE 6 not Lupe’s core fans. They’re decent pop songs, but are dominated more by their singsongy choruses and “Call Me Maybe”-esque production than by Lupe’s verses. The only thing that feels out of place is Lupe himself. Likewise, these particular songs strongly emphasize the “Light” in “Drogas Light.” Although “Pick up the Phone” may be one of the most eloquent descriptions of texting you’ll hear, at the end of the day it’s still a song about texting a girl and not getting a response. Although that situation may perfectly describe my life, Lupe has bigger fish to fry. Doesn’t he know that the album is called “Drugs”? Who knows, perhaps I’m wrong and we’ll have a lyrical epiphany a year from now. Songs like “Dopamine Lit (Intro),” “NGL,”
“Tranquilo” and “High (Interlude)” at least show that flashes of the old Lupe are still somewhere to be found. Yet, with most of the track list comprising of attempts at pop and trap, it’s hard to imagine any deep, conceptual plot twist materializing. Maybe it’s my PTSD from the “Battle Scars” of years past talking, but “Drogas Light” is a step back for all of the Lupe Fiasco truthers out there. However, the only opinion that may ultimately matter is Lupe’s. In a very unorthodox move, Lupe took to Twitter to print his own review of the album. In it, he explains that “Drogas Light” is a collection of fun pop songs meant to cater toward his mainstream fans: “Anything that felt too jazzy or too lyrical or conceptually dense was not used so as to preserve the quality and tone of the next album ‘DROGAS’ which is coming in a few months.” For once, Lupe Fiasco is straightforward about the meaning of his music. Just don’t think that he is out of tricks.
courtesy comingsoon
‘Santa Clarita Diet’ remixes genre tropes Michael VerMeulen Thresher Staff
courtesy pop matters and genius
Lupe Fiasco’s sixth studio album ‘Drogas Light’ was released on Feb. 9 Album art on right.
THE QUEER
Events
AGENDA
23
Focus Group for College Age LGBT Houstonians
25
Houston LGBT Volunteer Roundup
04
Wikipedia edit-a-thon
07
I’m not hungry: black queerness, American NEOliberalism, and the capitalist family
FEB
6pm - 8pm
The Montrose Center, Room 326
11am - 2pm
FEB
The Montrose Center
10am - 3pm
MAR
Email kmw8@rice.edu with any questions
MAR
Humanities 328
03-7 PRIDE WEEK! APR
APR
Stay tuned for more!
Paid for by the Rice Queer Resource Center If you want to be featured in the Queer Agenda, please submit your information to brooke.e.english@rice.edu. For more information about the Queer Resource Center, please visit queer.rice.edu or visit us on Twitter @RiceQueerOwls
From “The Walking Dead” to “World War Z,” zombies have infested the cultural landscape in a big bad way in the last decade. While it’s an interesting premise in a vacuum, its overexposure often makes new zombie fiction unintriguing or dull. With the first season of its new show “Santa Clarita Diet,” Netflix has sidestepped this dilemma without a hitch. Putting new twists on both traditional zombie stories and family sitcoms, the show crafts a story of immensely likeable characters in remarkably absurd situations, all to entertaining effect.
‘Santa Clarita Diet’ meshes the family sitcom and the gruesome zombie genres to create something refreshing and entertaining. “Santa Clarita Diet” follows married couple Joel and Sheila Hammond (Timothy Olyphant and Drew Barrymore), along with their daughter Abby (Liv Hewson), as they learn to cope with Sheila’s transformation into an uninhibited, undead woman who must feed on human flesh. Unlike the traditional zombie, Sheila is exactly the same in both mental and physical capabilities as she was when alive. It is her candor that alters greatly, a more character-based take on the zombie transformation than audiences are accustomed to seeing. Arguably the series’ strongest quality is its cast, which boasts all-around excellence. Olyphant shines as Joel, comically portraying the character’s conflicting feelings of constant exuberance and anxiety. Barrymore
0RAMEN FROM PAGE 6 kick of flavor that I usually get from slurping a spoonful of Jinya’s broth was absent. I could still perceive some subtle notes of the savory pork bone they used to make the broth, but it was, for the most part, buried. The main issue I had with my meal is that the proportion of all the components was off. While I thoroughly enjoyed my bamboo, I would gladly have traded it for a larger portion of pork belly (chashu), or two halves of a soft-boiled egg instead of one. The pork belly was extremely tender and had the perfect ratio of fat to protein but I doubt anyone, no matter how small the mouth, would be able to get more than two bites out of it. Proportion was also an issue with the negi rice bowl that I ordered as a side. While scallions are a central part of the dish, they
is well cast as Sheila: Her somewhat stilted, wild cadence actually fits flawlessly due to her role’s untamed nature. However, the standouts of the show are probably Hewson as Abby and Skyler Gisondo as her nerdy neighbor and friend Eric. The two actors have top-notch chemistry to match their characters, as Abby’s increasingly reckless behavior and Eric’s general awkwardness around both Abby and her family’s otherworldly new problem combine beautifully. The show’s aesthetic also aids in establishing the darkly comic feel. On the surface, the California settings, beautiful actors and unoriginal cinematography all seem to belong more on a network soap opera a la “Desperate Housewives” as opposed to a Netflix zombie show. However, this seemingly cheap style makes the incredibly bloody moments of the series all the more impactful and satisfying. By placing cartoonish violence into familiar environments at opportune times, the show gets big reactions and thereby big laughs. The series’ storyline does not stand out as much as its talented cast and unique twist on common TV and zombie tropes, but it functions well enough. While the show does somewhat succeed in its attempts to establish its own mythology, it most excels when focusing on the characters and their relationships rather than the basic zombie storylines. How would being a zombie affect your mood? Your appetite? Your sex life? It is when addressing smaller, more personal questions such as these that the show truly stands out among the glut of supernatural series that are produced today. “Santa Clarita Diet” meshes the family sitcom and the gruesome zombie genres to create something refreshing and entertaining. Its game cast of characters makes even trite plot lines watchable and its distinctive look at the life of the undead is undoubtedly interesting. It is fun, and makes for a good time when you’re in the mood for something to watch. If you’re looking for laughs and have a strong stomach, then I recommend watching “Santa Clarita Diet.”
overwhelmed the fried onion and rendered pork. Finally, my last qualm is with the staff. While they are passionate about what they serve, a few of them seemed overzealous in educating us on what exactly ramen was and the proper way to eat our dishes. Our plates were also cleared away without asking if we were finished, which, frankly, is a rookie serving mistake. So, is Jinya still the daddy? Yes, but Ramen Tatsu-Ya does provide some serious competition. Also, if I’m being completely honest, most of the issues I found with my experience could be attributed to the fact that my friends and I dined during their cold opening, meaning that there were more people to serve than usual, and the quality might have suffered as a result. In the end, Jinya is still where my loyalty lies, but I am sure that others will be switching their allegiances soon, and for good reason too.
9
Sophomore infielder Robbie Lammons dives back into second base during Rice’s 7-1 victory over the University of Texas, Austin on Sunday afternoon. Lammons picked up a hit and an RBI in the victory. courtesy david hamilton
Baseball splits opening series on the road at UT Austin Ben Rieden
For the Thresher
The Rice baseball team kicked off the 2017 season with a four-game road series against the University of Texas, Austin. After a hard-fought series, the two teams came away with two wins apiece and started the season 2-2. The first game took place on Friday and featured Owls junior right-handed pitcher Dane Myers starting at pitcher and batting fourth in the lineup. Rice scored its first two runs of the season in the sixth inning on a two-RBI double from sophomore catcher Dominic DiCaprio. After the Longhorns tied the game in the bottom of the inning, the score was 2-2. The score remained level until the ninth inning when senior infielder Darryn Sheppard hit a soft ground ball that scored Myers from third base. This proved to be the difference in the game, as sophomore pitchers Evan Kravetz and Zach Esquivel closed out the bottom of the ninth without letting a runner reach base. Overall, Myers pitched six innings and gave up
0BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 1
a tie for third in the conference with a victory. After pulling away late in the second half, Rice did just that, coming away with a 80-68 win over the Roadrunners to move into position to earn a tournament bye. Sophomore guard Marcus Evans led the team with 26 points and six assists and junior forward Egor Koulechov added eight rebounds. Head coach Mike Rhoades said he was impressed with Rice’s ability to turn the game around after a mediocre first half. “I’m really proud of our guys,” Rhoades said. “We didn’t shoot well in the first half, so we were fighting it. We changed up our defense in the second half and that helped us.” Saturday night, the Owls faced a test against the University of Texas, El Paso. The Miners came into Tudor Fieldhouse with an 8-5 record in C-USA to match Rice in a tie for third place in the conference. The winning team would have the
two earned runs, while Kravetz picked up the win after coming on in relief. According to Myers, getting the first win against a tough Texas team made the experience even better. “The first win of the season is always a huge one but to get it at UT in their home field, Disch Falk Field, that just made it extra sweet,” Myers said. “The atmosphere over there was great and they had 6,000-plus there that first night and [were] packed out stadium all weekend.” The series continued on Saturday with a doubleheader consisting of a seven-inning game followed by a nine-inning game. The day did not go well for Rice. In the first game, Texas took a 5-1 lead going into the last inning. Rice fought back, scoring three runs in the top of the seventh to bring it to a one run ball game. With two outs, however, senior outfielder Dayne Wunderlich was thrown out at home plate to end the game. That was the final out in a 5-4 loss for the Owls. The loss was reminiscent of Rice’s conference championship loss to the University of Southern Mississippi last season, when the
Owls lost the title game on a tag at home plate. The Longhorns carried the momentum from this victory into the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Rice loaded the bases in the top of the first but was only able to produce one run in the inning. Texas then scored six unanswered runs, capped off by a home run in the seventh inning which contributed to a 6-1 defeat for Rice. Freshman pitcher Matt Canterino took the loss in his first college action, going three innings and allowing four runs. The last game of the series took place at noon on Sunday, as Rice looked to even the series to two games a piece. The game was tied at 1-1 when the Owls’ lineup exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth. DiCaprio and freshman Brad Gneiting batted in two runs each with a pair of doubles and Sophomoe Robbie Lammons followed with an RBI single. In the ninth inning, Gneiting added another RBI to his day with a single that put the finishing touches on a 7-1 victory for Rice. Starting pitcher Esquivel picked up the win for the Owls, throwing six innings and only giving up one
earned run while striking out five batters. Gneiting, who was getting the start at second base over injured junior Tristan Gray, said preparation during the offseason was key to his productive weekend. “It comes from just playing a ton of intrasquad games in the fall and spring,” Gneiting said. “Getting to see that high end D1 baseball pitching helped me focus in and realize [that] I had done it before and realized that I could be calm and collected at the plate.” After getting a four-game series under their belt, DiCaprio said the team was confident heading into the next matchup. “I think it’s important to get our team out there and compete like we did at UT and play error-free baseball,” DiCaprio said. “If we can do that and execute I think we can beat anybody in the country.” Rice’s next game will take place on Friday night when the Owls host Southeastern Louisiana University, a team they beat twice in last year’s NCAA tournament, to begin a threegame weekend series.
inside track to a tournament bye. Unfortunately for Rice, the Owls put up their worst shooting performance of the season, shooting just 34.5 percent and falling 79-71 to UTEP. The loss dropped Rice to 8-6 in C-USA, good for fifth place and just one spot outside the cutoff for a bye. Freshman guard Chad Lott was a bright spot in the loss. He put up a career-high 13 points and added seven rebounds and four assists. Head coach Mike Rhoades said he was more disappointed in the Owls’ defense than their shooting. “This was the first time in awhile that we were inconsistent on the defensive end,” Rhoades said. “A lot of our missed shots in the first half affected our defense. In the second half, we didn’t do a good job of getting stops.” Moving forward, the Owls will have to work hard to move up in the standings. Six teams, including Rice, have records between 9-5 and 7-7 in the conference, and only two of those teams can finish in the top four. Rice is currently in fifth, one game behind Old Dominion University and UTEP. Those schools each have 9-5 records and hold the third and fourth spots in the conference.
Additionally, both Old Dominion and UTEP hold the tiebreaker over Rice because each beat the Owls head to head.
first game is at home against the University of Southern Mississippi, which ranks 12th in the conference. After that game, however, the Owls face the second ranked team in the conference, Louisiana Tech University, at home and the sixth and eighth ranked conference teams, Marshall University and Western Kentucky University, on the road. Once the regular season is over, Rice will move on to the Conference USA tournament in Birmingham, Alabama. The winner of the conference tournament will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, the massive field of 68 to determine a national champion. Right now, conference leader Middle Tennessee State University is the favorite, with just one loss in C-USA play. Given the difficult schedule down the stretch, Rice has a lot of work to do to earn a conference tournament bye. If they can, however, the Owls will be just three wins away from advancing to the NCAA tournament. The next step toward that goal will take place Thursday night at Tudor Fieldhouse when Rice hosts Southern Miss at 7 p.m.
I’m really proud of our guys. We changed up our defense in the second half and that helped us. Mike Rhoades Basketball Head Coach Rice’s schedule for the rest of the regular season is also difficult. The Owls play four more games, two at home and two on the road. The
10 SPORTS
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
the Rice Thresher
SPORTS IN BRIEF Andrew Grottkau, Sports Editor
Women’s basketball sweeps weekend games Rice’s women’s basketball team keeps on rolling. After losing their first four conference games, the Owls have gone 7-3 in their past 10 to even their C-USA record at 7-7. This past weekend, Rice went on the road to defeat the University of Texas, San Antonio and the University of Texas, El Paso to push their winning streak to four games. On Thursday, Rice rallied from a 14-point hole in the third quarter to defeat UTSA 66-61. Junior forward Shani Rainey scored a season-high 22 points and added nine rebounds. She also gave Rice its first lead of the game with 47 seconds remaining on a three-point play. Head coach Tina Langley said she was thrilled with the team’s win. “What a great road win, so many people stepped up in key moments,” Langley said. “That’s what this team is all about. Whatever is asked of them, they are ready to do. This is a special team. I couldn’t be prouder of them.” Saturday, Rice picked up another big win in El Paso. The Owls defeated the Miners 80-76 to clinch a spot in the conference tournament. Senior guard Maya Hawkins scored 13 of her teamleading 25 points in the last seven minutes of the game to help the Owls earn their 16th win of the season, their most since 2012. Sophomore Nicole Iademarco put up a season-high 23 points in the win and earned the C-USA player of the week award from College Sports Madness. According to
Langley, the win was another sign of the team’s toughness. “That was another relentless team win,” Langley said. “Again we had to overcome a lot of adversity, but time and time again we had different players step up.” The Owls’ next play is on Thursday at the University of Southern Mississippi. They will be looking to get over the .500 mark in C-USA for the first time this season. Junior Guard Wendy Knight
Rice men’s tennis took home a road victory over the weekend when it defeated Louisiana State University 4-0 in its first win in Baton Rouge since 2004. The victory avenged a loss in the NCAA tournament last season when the Tigers knocked out the Owls in the first round. Rice took an early lead by winning the doubles point with wins on courts two and three by scores of 6-3. Then, in singles, four of the six Owls players won the opening set. Sophomores Jake Hansen and Emanuel Llamas earned straight set wins to put Rice ahead 3-0, and senior David Warren clinched the victory with a win in a second set tiebreak. The last time the teams met, Rice won the doubles point and raced to an early lead in singles as well. For those matches, the Owls could not finish off the victory. This time, however, Rice would not be denied. Head coach Efe Ustundag said he was nervous until the final point was won despite the large margin of victory. “The way our matches with LSU have gone, if [Warren] had not gotten it done right there, you never know what would have happened,” Ustundag said. “It was big for [Warren] to be able to end it right there.”
Rice is now 6-4 on the season in dual matches. Its next competition will take place at the Blue and Gray National Tennis Classic in Montgomery, Alabama on Friday and Saturday Feb. 24 and 25.
Junior Jamie Malik
yvonne carrillo/thresher
Swimming prepares for Conference USA championships vidya giri/thresher
Women’s indoor track finishes second at Conference USA championships After putting up its most points at the indoor championships in eight years, Rice’s women’s indoor track team finished second in the conference championships to the University of Texas, El Paso. The meet came right down to the wire. The Owls entered the final event, the 4x400-meter relay, tied with the Miners at 105 points, but UTEP finished second and Rice finished fourth. Standout performers for Rice included junior Katie Jensen and senior Daisy Ding. Jensen finished first in both the mile and the 3000-meter events and set a C-USA meet record in the mile with a time of 4:39.61. Ding added Rice’s other individual title, finishing first in the triple jump for the fourth time in her Rice career with a distance of 12.65 meters.
Men’s tennis earns landmark victory over LSU
For about an hour, the results of the meet were unofficial because Rice put the finish in the pole vault under protest. Freshman Kylie Swiekatowski and junior Ayane Rossano finished second and third respectively in the event, just behind junior Morgan McIntyre of Western Kentucky University. Had the protest been successful, Rice would have won the meet because its pole vaulters would have earned more team points. However, the results stood and the Owls finished second. Head coach Jim Bevan said he was satisfied with his team’s performance despite the near miss. “We competed throughout and it really came down to the 3K, pole vault, triple jump and 4x400,” Bevan said. “We came on very strong at the end. I’m very proud of our ladies.”
Rice swimming will compete for conference supremacy beginning this Wednesday at the C-USA championships in Atlanta. The Owls will be trying to earn their first conference title since 2014 and their fourth since 2011. Rice is coming off a strong performance in the Quad Meet at Louisiana State University. The Owls won two of three dual meets in the event, their most recent team competition leading up to the conference championships. More recently, junior Kiley Beall was named the Conference USA
Swimmer of the Week for the week of Feb. 7 to 13 for her performance in the University of Houston First Chance Meet. Beall joins junior Alicia Caldwell, sophomore MarieClaire Schillinger and junior Jaecey Parham as Rice swimmers to win the C-USA Swimmer of the Week award this season. Rice has finished second in the conference title meet each of the past two years. This year, the Owls hope to overcome two-time defending champion Florida International University. The meet will last four days and a champion will be crowned on Saturday.
sean chu/thresher
Do-gooder apparel as unique as you.
www.facebook.com/MakeDoGoods/
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
MEN’S BASKETBALL STANDINGS Standings
SPORTS
the Rice Thresher
Conference
C-USA
W-L
GB
MTSU
14-1
--
LA Tech
12-3
2
Old Dominion
9-5
4.5
UTEP
9-5
4.5
Rice
8-6
5.5
Marshall
8-6
5.5
UAB
8-7
6
WKU
7-7
6.5
UTSA
6-8
7.5
Charlotte
5-9
8.5
FAU
5-9
8.5
Southern Miss
5-10
9
FIU
2-12
11.5
North Texas
2-12
11.5
11
The Final Kauntdown
Baseball lineup and pitching staff display team’s depth in opening series Last week in the Thresher’s baseball insert, multiple Rice players said their goal this season is to qualify for the College World Series. After one series, the Owls’ record stands at 2-2. Despite the high expectations of the team heading into the season, the opening series was not a setback. Rather, the season-opening series revealed strong hitting from the bottom of the lineup and a deep pitching staff that can carry the Owls deep into the postseason. Last week, the Thresher heralded the Owls’ experienced lineup. Early on, however, that lineup was not producing. In the first three games against the Longhorns, Rice put up just eight runs. On Sunday, the offense broke out of its slump, putting up seven runs in the game on nine hits. The Owls battered the Texas pitching staff that had held them in check to that point as three different batters finished with multiple hits. The production was no accident. Head coach Wayne Graham had been tinkering with the lineup throughout the series, and on Sunday, he found a combination that worked. Sophomores Robbie Lammons and Dominic DiCaprio had both had stellar weekends leading up to Sunday’s game. On Sunday, for the first time in the series, Graham put both DiCaprio and Lammons in the starting lineup. The move worked. The duo combined to reach base six times, going 4 for 8 with four RBIs to pace the back half of the order. Additionally, freshman Brad Gneiting shined in the series, going 5 for 15 with three RBIs while filling in for junior infielder Tristan Gray. Given that Gray is likely to return soon, Gneiting could end up playing most of the season at designated hitter. With veterans like Gray, senior outfielder Charlie Warren, junior outfielder Ryan Chandler, sophomore shortstop Ford Proctor and junior infielder Dane Myers shoring up the top half of the order, this production from the back half of the lineup should be extremely valuable moving forward. The bottom of the lineup is normally the easy part of the order for pitchers to face, but if Rice can fill its lineup
with quality hitters, the offense could produce runs in bulk. Last year’s team lacked depth in the lineup, but this year’s team looks like it could reverse that trend. While the Thresher praised the offense in the season preview, we were more skeptical about the pitching. So far, the Owls’ staff has been stellar. The team has an ERA of 3.66, on par with last year’s mark. Junior Dane Myers and sophomore Zach Esquivel had outstanding starts, each throwing six or more innings and giving up two or fewer runs. Junior Ricardo Salinas gave up just two runs through five innings, but he ran into trouble in the sixth and came out of the game with two runners on base. Unfortunately, both of those runners came around to score, leaving him with 5.1 innings pitched and four earned runs. On paper, his stats make his performance look far worse than it was. While Salinas had some command issues, he managed to strike out five batters and left with his team down by just one.
With a deep pitching staff and a productive offense, Rice has the weapons it needs to have a very successful season.
no runs. He got the win on Friday night in the season opener. The standout relief performances suggest that Rice’s pitching could be far deeper than it was last season when Otto logged long innings night after night. This weekend did not feature Rice’s complete pitching arsenal, either. Otto was limited in his return, junior starting pitcher Willy Amador is still sidelined with a broken nose and sophomore pitcher Jackson Parthasarathy missed the series as well. Once those pitchers return to full strength, Rice will have the depth it needs to keep its pitchers rested throughout the year. With a deep pitching staff and a productive offense, Rice has the weapons it needs to have a very successful season. The Owls will have to work extremely hard to qualify for a 23rd consecutive NCAA tournament given their difficult nonconference schedule and talented conference opponents. Their upcoming games include a road date at No. 1 Texas Christian University and a four game home series against No. 20 Stanford University, and five Conference USA teams swept their weekend series last week. With the talent Rice flashed in its season-opening series, however, there is no reason to doubt this year’s team. The Owls once again look like they could be headed deep into the postseason. The Final Kountdown is a column written by Andrew Grottkau. The opinions expressed in the column are solely his own.
Andrew Grottkau A few relievers stood out as well. Junior pitcher Glenn Otto, tabbed as the Conference USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year, struck out two in a 1-2-3 inning in his return from injury. Freshman pitcher Roel Garcia pitched three innings and struck out four batters, giving up a single run on a solo home run. Finally, sophomore pitcher Evan Kravetz appeared in two games, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing
is Thresher Sports Editor and a McMurtry College sophomore
THE RICHARDS
COX. CONNECTED. A Year Of Investment. A Lifetime Of Returns.
TRG JOB # SBU-16-0 CLIENT: SMU TITLE: Master’s
PUB: Rice Thre
INSERTIO Novembe
TRIM: 4.98" x 8"
Earn A One-Year Master’s Degree.
COLOR: C
LINE SCRE
SNAP/85
Management
FOR QUES CALL: Kathleen 214.891.
Maximize your market value with a solid business foundation.
Business Analytics Launch your career in big data, marketing or consulting.
Finance
saturday, february 25 10 pm - 2 am
Attain success in corporate finance, investment management and consulting.
Accounting Enhance your skills, prep for the CPA exam and jump-start your career at a top global accounting firm.
Sport Management
MIDNIGHT AT THE MOODY Rice students are invited to a party at the new Moody Center for the Arts featuring art, music by DJ Mav, and food and drinks. moody.rice.edu
Join the only sport management master’s program in DFW, the #5 sports market.
Hone your professional skills. Access 40,000 alumni in 80 countries. Jump-start your career.
Learn more at coxmasters.com.
SMU does not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.
SBU160050 Mstrs_Rice_RT 4_9x8.indd 1
11/7/16 3:07 PM
12
BACKPAGE
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
the Rice Thresher
! D E T S U
JUST CONSPIRACY NUTS?? The backpage reveals five conspiracies that surfaced (or are sure to surface) THIS WEEK! ***************************************************
B
*************************************************************************************** The Backpage is edited by Joey McGlone and Riley Robertson. Lizzy Kalomeris also contributed this week (as well as Ike, as per usual). For comments or questions, please email thirsty@rice.edu.
CLASSIFIEDS WANTED TEACH FOR TESTMASTERS! Dynamic and Energetic teachers wanted. Starting pay rate is $20 to $32 per hour. Flexible schedules. We provide all training, all training is paid, and we pay for travel. Email your resume to jobs@testmasters. com.
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 a variety of factors. Contact 832-428-8330 and email resume to siyengar777@gmail.com
The Thresher reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. Additionally, the Thresher does not take responsibility for the factual content of any ad. Printing an advertisement does not constitute an endorsement by the Thresher.
First copy free, second copy $5. Cash, check or credit card payment must accompany your classified advertisement, which must be received by 12 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication.
Shannon Klein Advertising Manager thresher-ads@rice.edu P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77005-1892 (713) 348-4801