The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, October 25, 2017 by The Rice Thresher

VOLUME 102, ISSUE NO. 8 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

SPORTS

Soccer claims regular season C-USA title MICHAEL BYRNES THRESHER STAFF / MEB18@RICE.EDU

In the program’s 17-year history, Rice Soccer had never won the Conference USA regular season championship. But this year, it finally reached the top. This weekend marked a high point of the Owls’ seasonlong success. They entered last Thursday with an unbeaten conference record of 7-0-0, leading the conference with 21 points (three points are awarded for a win, one for a tie) to second-place University of North Texas’ 16 points. Senior forward Nia Stallings said she is extremely proud to win the championship.

We connect really well on the field: We play really well as a unit, and we do so with an intensity.

‘Our home is at stake’: Gore speaks at Rice CAMERON WALLACE ASST. NEWS EDITOR / CFW2@RICE.EDU

Former Vice President Al Gore spoke about the dangers of manmade climate change at the Rice University Tudor Fieldhouse on Monday evening. Gore organized his talk around three big questions: whether society must change climate practices, whether it has the ability and whether it has the will. Before the talk commenced, Gore found an opportunity to connect with his Houston audience through his role on the executive board of the Doerr Institute for New Leaders. “I guess I’m kind of a Rice Owl now,” Gore said. Gore began the speech with statistics arguing that the world is trending towards hotter temperatures and witnessing more violent storms from India to Texas. Gore said six Texas towns have recently set or tied all-time temperature records.

“The accumulation of manmade global warming pollution in the atmosphere now traps as much extra heat energy in the earth system as would be released by 400,000 Hiroshimaclass bombs exploding every 24 hours,” Gore said. “That is an enormous amount of energy and it is radically disrupting the ecological system that has given rise to the flourishing of humankind.” Gore also addressed the role that climate change may have played in intensifying the eﬀects of Hurricane Harvey, which he said included a number of factors such as warmer ocean waters. According to Gore, climate change has also caused Arctic ice cap melting resulting in distortions in the global jet stream, which

GORE CONT. ON PAGE 4

Annie Walker Junior Forward “It’s definitely very special to achieve something no Rice team has ever done before, especially my senior year,” Stallings said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see all our hard work pay off before the season has even ended because [we] still have a chance to accomplish even more.” Needing two wins and a UNT loss or tie to secure the conference championship this weekend, the Owls delivered. Rice came away with a convincing 7-2 victory over Old Dominion University on Thursday followed by Sunday’s 1-0 win over Charlotte. The Owls officially clinched the championship minutes later with North Texas’ 3-2 defeat at the hands of Old Dominion. The Owls are undefeated in conference play this year at 9-0-0 and have not lost since Sept. 8. Sunday’s win marked their 10th in a row overall, the longest winning streak in team history. With a season record of 12-2-1, they are now ranked No. 28 in the country under the NCAA’s RPI system and are up to No. 18 in the coaches’ poll. Thursday’s win over Old Dominion was highlighted by junior forward Annie Walker’s two goals and two assists, the latter vaulting her to the top of the C-USA assist leaderboard. Senior forward Nia Stallings and junior forward Marissa Topolski each tacked on both a goal and an assist to help the Owls notch their highest single-game goal total since 2006. In Sunday’s nail-biter, Rice eked out a victory on the back

C-USA CONT. ON PAGE 12

jiayi lyu / thresher

NEWS

Academic school sizes shift in last 5 years

ANNA TA & ELIZABETH MYONG NEWS EDITOR & THRESHER STAFF AXT1@RICE.EDU & EAM13@RICE.EDU

After 2015, no majors in the humanities school have ranked in the top 10 most popular majors for graduates at Rice University. A recent study by the Office of Institutional Research shows a shift toward engineering and away from humanities in majors students graduated with over the last three years, as well as differences in the academic schools students switch to and from. MAJOR POPULARITY In 2015, English was the only major in the humanities school to make the list of top 10 most popular majors among graduates, ranking at ninth place. The annual number of graduating humanities majors dropped by 30 percent from 2011 to 2016. Lora Wildenthal, interim dean of humanities, said the shift may be due in part to the cost and increasing occupational necessity of a college degree. “There is an intense focus on vocational preparation among students and their parents these days, and liberal arts subjects seem not to offer that,” Wildenthal said.

“I don’t share that perception, but it is definitely out there.” According to Wildenthal, a history professor, the meaning of attending college has changed dramatically over the last century.

There are cultural moments for diﬀerent kinds of knowledge. Lora Wildenthal Interim Dean of Humanities “At the time of the Vietnam War, many young people believed the field of history held the answer to life’s big questions,” Wildenthal said. “Today, young people tend to believe that psychology as a discipline holds the most fascinating answers. There are cultural moments for diﬀerent kinds of knowledge.” Psychology, which was the most popular major for 2015 and 2016 graduates, fell to the ninth most popular in 2017 with 34 fewer graduates than the previous year. Philip Kortum, an associate professor of psychology, said

it is hard to explain why this decrease might have happened, but that it could simply be a normal year-to-year variance in graduation numbers. Another explanation is that this is a result of the increase of hour requirements from 35 to 47 for 2013 matriculants and later, according to Kortum. According to Dean of Social Sciences Antonio Merlo, there is no evidence in the Report to the President under “Count of Majors by Level” of an overall decline in the count of declared majors in the social science school. Additionally, data from the Oﬃce of Institutional Research shows that the number of students entering in as social science increased by 30 percent from 2010 to 2016. Simultaneously, majors in the engineering school have experienced the largest increase in popularity, taking the top three spots in 2017, while they remained fourth and below in 2015 and 2016. Overall, there was a 64 percent increase in annual engineering bachelor degrees awarded from 2011 to 2016. Given the rise of engineering majors as the social sciences remain relatively stable, Hannah Kaplan, a social policy analysis

major, said she felt opportunities for social science majors are not as abundant or well-advertised as they are for STEM students. “Social science students learn pretty quickly, from the lack of attention at the job fair to talk of gaming the distribution system, that they are not as emphasized on campus,” Kaplan, a Duncan College sophomore, said. Computer science, which was ranked sixth and fifth in 2015 and 2016 respectively, was the most popular major of graduates in 2017, with 18 more graduates than chemical engineering, the second most popular major. According to Luay Nakhleh, chair of the computer science department, the department revised the curriculum a few years ago to emphasize problem-solving in a variety of disciplines. “The new curriculum became much more appealing to students and led to more students deciding to major in CS,” Nakhleh said. “You often hear the story from Rice students along the lines of, ‘I came to Rice wanting to major in something other than CS, and took COMP 140 out of curiosity. I liked the course and decided to continue with CS.’”

MAJORS CONT. ON PAGE 2

NEWS

2 MAJOR SHIFTS: 2015 to 2017

TOP TEN MAJORS IN 2015

HUMA

CHANGE IN POSITION OF TOP MAJORS FROM 2015 TO 2017 -8 -2 -1 -1

SMGT

PSYC

MTEC

CSCI

ECON

KINE

MECH

BIOC

CENG

ENGI

BIOC

PSYC

COMP

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

ARCHI

KINE

46%

51%

SOCIAL SCIENCES

MUSI

NSCI

SSCI

COMP

POLI

MECH

COMP

ECON

CENG

KINE

BIOC

MECH

NSCI

CENG

MTEC

MUSIC

SOCIAL SCIENCES

MTEC

NATURAL SCIENCES

HUMA

HUMANITIES

ECON

MUSIC

ENGINEERING

ENGL

ARCHITECTURE

STUDENTS WHO DID NOT COMPLETE MAJOR IN SCHOOL OF MATRICULATION 4% 20% 25% ARCHITECTURE

KEY 67

PSYC

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

TOP TEN MAJORS IN 2017 infographic by sydney garrett

MAJORS FROM PAGE 1 Scott Cutler, a computer science professor and major advisor, said he believes the major has become popular because of the increasingly digitalized world and the thriving job market for computer science. “Virtually every Rice student carries a computer with them in the form of a smart phone with more computing power and connectivity than the most powerful computers not so long ago,” Cutler said. “It is a hot topic across all of academia and it is not surprising that computer science has become the most popular major.” Cutler said he advises against pursuing the major just because it seems like an exciting field. “It is tempting to want to join the hottest field or to be attracted to one that promises great jobs after college,” Cutler said. “But students need to find out if they have a natural ability to be at one with the computer. Some students excel and get great joy when a complex project starts working. For others, understanding is more diﬃcult.” SWITCHING MAJORS While it may be no surprise that 96 percent of architecture students and music majors completed at least one major in their original school, 46 percent of students who entered as natural science majors did not complete a major in the school. Hanszen College junior Leya Mohsin said the process of switching from chemistry to mathematical economic analysis and policy studies after realizing her interests had changed was a diﬃcult one. “I took Honors Chemistry my first semester, and quickly realized I actually hated chemistry and couldn’t imagine myself doing it for four years, nor could I imagine myself in any of the career options of a chemistry degree,” Mohsin said. “I panicked, not knowing what to do with this new information. When I thought about all the classes I had ever taken, and what I actually liked, I realized I was way more interested in the social sciences.” Reflecting Mohsin’s experience, the data shows that 211 students entered as a natural science student but graduated with a social science major in the last three years, making it the most popular type of switch. In fact,

the social science school continues to have the highest number of students switch into it with 417 students over the last three years. Mohsin said she believes that her experience reflects a larger trend at Rice. “The idea that what you were good at in high school is absolutely what you should major in is an idea held by many incoming students,” Mohsin said. “While not everyone makes as dramatic a switch as I did, very few people I know have stuck with the major they came in with.” Kayla Cherry, a Lovett College sophomore, said she spent her freshman year taking classes in the natural sciences and considered a major in the social sciences before switching to English. “As I was having my first public cry in the middle of commons at 1 a.m. doing my bio lab report, I realized that people who actually were destined to be doctors were not this miserable,” Cherry said. “I’ve always been good at English and horrible at science, so I took a leap of faith and decided to major in English because it was something I genuinely enjoyed.” While 80 percent of engineering students and 75 percent of social science students graduated with a degree in the school they entered with, only 49 percent of students who entered as humanities graduated with a humanities degree. Baker College freshman Daphne Campos said she felt pressured to quickly choose a major at Rice. “It’s diﬃcult for us to be able to know exactly what we want to study the second we walk through the Sallyport,” Campos said. “I’m currently set to study cognitive science, but when I came into Rice, my perspective changed. It’s an interdisciplinary major, which is a factor that intrigued me initially, but my preference may be shifting to a more specific area of study.” Ultimately, Cherry said her experience taught her to pursue her passions rather than concern herself with appearances. “The only solid advice I can give is cliché, but it still took me a year to understand: Pursue your passions regardless of stigma, because when you’re truly passionate about something your motivation to succeed will come naturally,” Cherry said.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

THE RICE THRESHER

NEWS

Students pitch ideas at 3 Day Startup challenge RISHAB RAMAPRIYAN & VI BURGESS THRESHER STAFF & FOR THE THRESHER RR41@RICE.EDU & AB94@RICE.EDU

More than 40 Rice undergraduate and graduate startup hopefuls teamed up to develop a company for the 72-hour 3 Day Startup program this past weekend. According to Ben Herndon-Miller, the lead student organizer of 3DS, students were required to apply and interview earlier this year for the program which began on Friday in the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship with an ideation workshop where participants pitched their individual ideas. Top ideas were chosen and seven teams were voluntarily assembled. Participants spent the rest of the weekend engaging in a variety of workshops, receiving guidance from prominent figures in the Houston startup scene and conducting customer interviews and product research outside of Lilie, Herndon-Miller said. The program concluded with short pitches by each team before a panel of five experts, including faculty members from the Jones School of Business and Rice alumni that founded successful startups, who asked questions and offered advice. “Some of the teams that you see here today will actually go on to continue as actual companies and that would be fantastic,” 3DS program facilitator Hesam Panahi said in his remarks before the final pitches.

One student team, “RiceCycle,” pitched a campus bike-sharing initiative that utilizes bikes that can be parked anywhere and mobile app technology. “I don’t know how far I’ll take [the idea] from here, but I do know that the things that I learned here about how entrepreneurship works I’ll definitely apply later on,” RiceCycle team member Manuel Pacheco, a Jones College sophomore, said. Another team, “Smooth,” pitched the idea of a on-campus fresh smoothie provider to offer a healthy option for students any time of the day. “I feel this is very relevant to student life so we’re actually going to go on with this and incorporate it, maybe in the [Rice Memorial Center],” Smooth team member Daniel Tang, a Duncan College freshman, said. Most teams had ideas that extended beyond Rice, including “Looee,” a semipermanent toilet insert that measured glucose levels for both pre-diabetic and diabetic individuals and sends the data in real-time to an app or a physician’s office. Other ideas pitched included “Concierge,” a customizable travel itinerary planning app and “Quickshot,” a personalized mobile dispenser that inserts all desired condiments into coffee without mess. Panahi said participants in the program learn entrepreneurship by putting it into practice. “If you think about it, chemistry

students have labs, art students have studios, and engineering students have machine shops,” Panahi said. “There’s not really an applied environment for entrepreneurs at most universities and that’s what we’re trying to solve with 3DS.” Herndon-Miller said that participants can continue their entrepreneurship experience beyond 3DS through Lilie and Rice Entrepreneurship Club’s respective lecture and conversation series and

OwlSpark, a 12-week accelerator program, in the spring. “Essentially, [3DS] was the epitome of what this space is — team building and experiential learning,” Program Manager Caitlin Bolanos said. “We just wanted to have a reception that not only showcases the work that students are doing and will continue to do in this space. [It’s] something that really embodies the spirit of Lilie.”

Students pitched startup ideas to a panel of five judges on the final day of the 3 Day Startup program. The pitch session occured during the launch party for the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

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Mental health club launches well-being initiatives ELLA FELDMAN

FOR THE THRESHER / EMF6@RICE.EDU

The quokka, an Australian marsupial about the size of a house cat, is serving as a model for many Rice University students. Often described as the world’s happiest animal, this species is the inspiration for the Quokka Challenge, an eight-week program aimed to increase student happiness which the Rice Alliance for Mental Health Awareness launched at Rice last week alongside Body Positivity Week. QUOKKA CHALLENGE The developer of the Quokka Challenge, Stanford University graduate student Cindy

Shih, reached out to the Rice Alliance for Mental Health Awareness and asked them to oversee the program’s implementation at Rice, according to RAMHA Co-President Helen Wei. Simi Rahman, co-president of RAMHA and Wiess College sophomore, said the Quokka Challenge could help create a campuswide movement. “I think the Quokka Challenge can be the beginning of a cultural shift to prioritizing your happiness and making time for yourself in the midst of all the responsibilities and things that we have to do as Rice students,” Rahman said. To participate in the challenge, students create accounts at quokkachallenge.com,

During the first week of the Quokka Challenge, students participated in NOD Bod in the Quad where they ate healthy food provided by Local Foods and celebrated body positivity.

jasmine zhou/thresher

where they find weekly themed challenges. For last week’s healthy eating challenge, students posted pictures of healthy meals to the Rice University Quokka Challenge Facebook page. “Seeing the Facebook event flood with healthy, colorful plates of food and seeing that engagement from students was very exciting for me,” Rahman said. Currently, 420 Rice students are signed up for the Quokka Challenge, Wei said. BODY POSITIVITY WEEK The first week of the Quokka Challenge coincided with Body Positivity Week, an annual event aimed at spreading body positivity in light of Wiess’ Night of Decadence public party. “We saw the need for this week because so many of our students will overhear conversations about how they will need to go to the [gym] more in the weeks leading up to NOD so that they can get ready for their underwear costume,” Wei said. “We saw that as problematic. Yes, you should try and be physically fit, but it shouldn’t be because you want to look a certain way for this specific party.” Body positivity week included a smoothie study break, free outdoor yoga and NOD Bod in the Quad, an event sponsored by Local Foods. RAMHA also covered campus with post-it notes that displayed positive aﬃrmations and smiley faces. “My favorite part of the week was having people come up to me and say, ‘Hey, was that you and RAMHA? That really brightened my day,’” Wei said. Initially, RAMHA was also going to screen

“To the Bone,” a Netflix Original drama centered on eating disorders. However, many students expressed concern over potentially triggering content. Wiess senior Alex Bergin-Newman was one of the students who expressed concern over the screening. “NOD can already be a high stress time for people with [eating disorders] and I thought publicly showing a movie that would only exacerbate that was pretty careless,” she said. In light of these criticisms, RAMHA changed the screening to “Overshadowed,” a BBC miniseries. “We were aware that [‘To the Bone’] was controversial, which is why we planned to have a disclaimer before screening it and follow it with a critical discussion, but we were not aware of the magnitude of those criticisms and just how triggering it could be for people with eating disorders,” Rahman said. However, Ben Johnson, a McMurtry College senior, called “To the Bone” engaging and thought-provoking. He said he credits the film for helping him confront his own eating disorder, and that he hopes members of the Rice community will watch the film on their own time. “It meant a lot to me, so maybe it could also impact someone else for the better,” Johnson said. Johanna Palomo, a Wiess sophomore and treasurer of RAMHA, said she hopes these events will be the start of a campus-wide body positive movement. “Body positivity is a work in progress and not something anyone should feel they need to have mastered, and I hope people got that from the events we put on,” Palomo said.

THE RICE THRESHER

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

Students turn towards environment friendly alternatives WILL LEDIG FOR THE THRESHER / WPL1@RICE.EDU

Students are striving to make campus more eco-friendly through reusable dishware and recycling initiatives. College EcoReps are currently expanding Greenware, a service where students can borrow reusable dishware for parties and other events, according to Travis Kwee, this year’s head EcoRep. Greenware, which began five years ago at Baker College and was implemented at Wiess College in 2015, will now also be available at Will Rice, Hanszen and Sid Richardson Colleges starting this week, according to Jessica Alanis, a Will Rice sophomore and the college’s EcoRep. “At a standard event, people usually buy dozens and dozens of disposable plastic or paper products and we just didn’t think that was necessary,” Kwee said. “So we ordered reusable plates and bowls from a company called Preserve Products that can go through the industrial servery dishwashers.” Event organizers can contact their college’s EcoRep to request to borrow the reusable plates and bowls as a substitute for their disposable variants. The event organizer brings these dishes to the event and returns them afterward, at which point they are handed over to the servery to be washed, Kwee said. The EcoReps also plan to expand this program to Brown and Martel, the next colleges with adequate funding and approval from operations managers and servery staﬀ, according to Kwee. Greenware will also be added to the magister’s houses for Baker, Duncan and McMurtry Colleges. “Duncan and McMurtry are really large colleges so educating the entire

population is a little more of a challenge,” Kwee said. “They weren’t ready to roll it out for the entire college so they’ll instead just have it at certain events that the Magisters throw.” In 2015, Kwee said Baker saved at least $500 and diverted roughly 2,000 items from landfills because of Greenware. Despite Greenware’s succcesses, many of the reusable dishes are accidentally stolen or thrown away, according to Kwee. “At the beginning, a lot of people aren’t used to the Greenware, so they take it up to their room or I have to dig things out of the recycling or trash after an event.” Kwee said. “But luckily our loss rates at Baker are pretty low at this point because we’ve had it for a good five years.” Once students become accustomed to Greenware, Alanis also said it would be useful to add cups to the current collection of plates and bowls. The Rice Environmental Club is also focusing on creating a more eco-friendly campus through a variety of recycling initiatives. One initiative involves educating students on Rice’s recycling practices by placing informative stickers on recycling bins across campus, Noor Osmani, president of the Environmental Club, said. “Since everybody’s coming from a diﬀerent area with diﬀerent recycling protocol, no one really knows what’s recyclable at Rice and I think that Rice kind of does a poor job [of] telling people,” Osmani, a Hanszen College sophomore, said. Education on recycling is vital, because if one third of recycled material cannot actually be recycled, it all is sent to the trash, according to Osmani. The Environmental Club is also establishing programs to allow students to recycle commonly used items that can’t

be recycled through Rice’s normal bins, according to Osmani. Last semester, the Environmental Club set up a program where red Solo cups are taken from students and recycled through TerraCycle, a company that oﬀers free recycling of hard-to-recycle waste. According to Osmani, the Environmental Club has also been attempting to expand the number of recycling bins on campus since last semester. “Willy’s Pub used to serve No. 6 plastic cups, but they recently changed to No. 1, so we’ve tried to increase the number of recycling bins in Pub so people can recycle those,” Osmani said. “We have also been working with the [Student Association]

EcoReps launched Greenware at three new residential colleges this week. Greenware is a service where students can rent reusable dishware for events or personal usage.

sirui zhou/thresher

GORE FROM PAGE 1 aﬀects storm movement. This played a role in why Hurricane Harvey remained over Houston for so long, Gore said. Gore said changes in ocean temperatures will result in drastic global rainfall changes, including increased flooding and droughts, while changes in overall temperature will result in more forest fires. All of these natural disasters, according to Gore, will contribute to an increase in political instability, resulting in a higher likelihood of global conflict.

Our home is at stake and if anyone tells you that we don’t have the will to change, let them remember that political will is itself a renewable resource.

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.) Application Deadline is Monday, October 30, 2017 @ 11:59 p.m.

on greening athletics. During football practice for example, they use a ton of plastic bottles and they all go to the trash because the athletic facilities don’t have very conveniently located recycling bins.” The administration is willing to expand campus recycling, according to Director of Custodial and Grounds Services Eusebio Franco, who manages all recycling on campus. “We purchase extra recycling bins as needed,” Franco said. “We are always open for feedback from our students.” Osmani said the biggest impact can be made through increasing the supply of reusable items, which the EcoReps hope to address through Greenware.

Al Gore Former U.S. Vice President “We talk about the physical consequences of the climate crisis, and we don’t often talk about the disruption of the ability of people to govern themselves and the disruption of political stability,” Gore said. “The worst drought ever measured in 900 years [in Syria] destroyed 60 percent of all the farms in Syria and killed 80 percent of all their livestock years before civil war broke out.” In an aside, Gore said he believed the United States should welcome refugees. “Common sense and history tell us that if we can act to prevent a massive increase in refugee flows on the part of people who wouldn’t want to leave their homes if they didn’t have to,” he said. “If the flows of refugees reach a certain level, some political systems are vulnerable to nativism and toxic nationalism.” Ultimately, Gore said he was optimistic. He said renewable energy

sources are beginning to compete with fossil fuels in the market, pointing out that Houston is a leading innovator in wind energy despite its status as an oil and gas center. “Subsidies for fossil fuels are 26 times larger than the subsidies for renewables, globally 35 times larger,” Gore said. “One of the things we could do is stop making the taxpayers of this country stop shelling out money to subsidize [oil and gas]. I’m so glad you applauded because I can barely believe I’m saying that here in Houston, Texas.” Gore did not spend much of the speech time addressing politics, or those who do not believe in man-made climate change. “Everything I have mentioned so far is extremely well established, there is really no reason to speak up,” Gore said. “You’ll always find some denier out there, but there’s really no reason — I’m sorry if that sounded dismissive, I just don’t know what to say anymore.” Joseph Duﬀey, a Duncan College sophomore, said that he appreciated the substance of the talk, but thought it might not persuade skeptics of climate change. “He did a very general overview, but he didn’t really get into specific things that climate change deniers say and argue against them,” Duffey said. “He addressed general statements from them, but he didn’t really address anything specific.” Anna Figueroa, a Will Rice College senior, said that she appreciated the structure of the talk and its pragmatism. “I went in expecting it to be a big downer, but I think he did a really good job emphasizing optimistic things,” Figueroa said. Gore concluded the speech by framing action on climate change as a matter of right versus wrong. “That’s where we are: a tipping point on the climate movement,” he said. “Our home is at stake and if anyone tells you that we don’t have the will to change, let them remember that political will is itself a renewable resource.”

OPINION

STAFF EDITORIAL

LPAP expansion not a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ question

This Monday, Student Association President Justin Onwenu announced that the Lifetime Physical Activity Program expansion proposal would be included in the Survey for All Students. The proposal would allow students to fulfill the LPAP requirement through classes outside of physical fitness including financial literacy, civic engagement and leadership. Onwenu’s announcement was met with concern from some SA members that there had not been enough exploration of other proposals. Putting the LPAP expansion on the Survey of All Students reduces students’ feedback on the proposal to a simple “yes” or “no” vote. Though the traditional SA process of forming a working group to gather ideas and then formulate a proposal is not necessarily the most eﬃcient, it is a tried and true way to explore a wider range of opportunities than Onwenu’s current decision to choose one idea and allow the

student body to vote either yes or no. If the proposal truly aims to serve greater student interests, limiting student feedback is not the way to achieve that. Rather, the SA should continue to invite ideas from the rest of the student body by gathering feedback from college governments and then present a proposal for voting — if one at all. While we applaud the SA’s initiative in looking to create and expand classes that focus on students’ lifetime enrichment, these classes do not necessarily have to come in the context of changing the LPAP requirement. The SA should continue to pursue the creation of these classes and treat changing the LPAP requirement as a separate project, which will require massive student buy-in. Moving forward, the SA needs to focus on collecting both qualitative and quantitative feedback on the LPAP requirement rather than pushing a singular proposal by attempting to fabricate a student mandate for change.

illustration by areli navarro magallón

OP-ED

EDITOR’S COLUMN: MY WEY OR THE HIGHWAY

Counting sheep: An expose on ignorance Richard Dawkins, a world renowned scientist, wrote, “When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal force, the truth does not necessarily lie midway between them.” In a world riddled with unprecedented animosity, obscene amounts of inequality, human rights emergencies and a planet near collapse, there is no time to be lulled by the tempting placidity of chosen ignorance. The culture we live in is dominated by dogmatic beliefs that feed on a lukewarm stew of apathy and systematic brainwashing. Too frequently, we unflinchingly accept as truth the ideologies we are force-fed from birth — “My god is greater, my god is stronger, my god is higher than any other,” sung by choirs of cattle, branded without hesitation, slaves masquerading behind the frail guise of free will. How do you really know your god is greater? How do you really know your god is higher than any other? How do you really know that you know anything at all? We are dwelling in a time of social decay, allowing the pious bourgeoisie to flog us with their laws and doctrine. How can we blatantly allow an incompetent, orange-haired ignoramus to call the shots for this country when he has proved unable to serve as president? The asinine supporters of this buﬀoon are so quick to turn a blind eye and justify their grotesque nationalism by parading American exceptionalism and clinging to the sovereign myth of “freedom.” This country was founded on the promise of freedom and equality. But as you climb the ladder of consciousness, you will obtain a bird’s eye view of our society. We are not free. We are not equal. We are slaves. Slavery is furtively hidden within the constructs of our society guised as drug laws, socio-economic status, housing stipulations, physical appearance, misogyny and other warning symbols that sound an alarm when the “consensus of truth” is breached. As we do not have the privilege of a future guaranteed, to blindly accept a culture that prioritizes networking and elevator pitches is

STAFF Drew Keller & Juan Saldaña* Editors in Chief Jasmine Lin* Managing Editor Shannon Klein Business Manager news Emily Abdow* Editor Anna Ta Editor Cameron Wallace Asst. Editor spotlight Elizabeth Rasich Editor

to put a stamp of approval on the perpetually snowballing conditions that got us here. After the election that landed an unapologetically racist, climate-change-denying, wealth-hoarding advocate of sexual assault in the White House, the Thresher ran articles that boasted opinions from all sides, providing a platform for “victimized” Trump supporters — the same cretins who had just handed our planet a death wish and ripped any illusion of equality from each individual not blessed with the birthright of “white male.” Today, the closest thing to controversy that the Thresher flaunts is a scathing review of the parking strife within the hedges. It is our job as humans to demand and fight for justice, love and truth. You may be gawking to your friends while studying for Gen Chem that these authors are biased, misguided and even crazy, but we are here to say that some beliefs are plain wrong! This era of madness requires the disposal of “politically correct” language because we will no longer stand for the delusional white sheep blissfully ravaging our world, never once turning back to view the carnage they created. It’s time we boldly stand against the systems and ideologies that promote, institutionalize and condone the inequality and avarice that rule our nation. There are guilty parties, and as an act of love for our fellow citizens of the universe, we must be willing to stand against them. The great Desmond Tutu said that “if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” The revolution we so desperately need is certainly not compatible with silence. CHAD WESSELKAMPER & MAGGIE COX

Jones College Sophomore Duncan College Sophomore chw6@rice.edu mdc10@rice.edu

Stop telling girls they ‘need’ to shave The other day as a couple friends were getting ready for a night out, one guy hurried them up, to which a girl responded, “Wait, I’m shaving my armpits!” He said, “Who cares?” And another girl said, “Excuse me, but if you saw an attractive girl and then she raised her arms and had hairy armpits, you know you would automatically be like, ‘Ew!’” This deeply irritated me. I know it seems like a silly thing to get riled up about — but let’s put it into perspective. When it comes to finding a suitable [female] partner, does anyone actually rank “shaving habits”? Isn’t it something along the generic lines of “good personality, honest, attractive, good communication, etc.” (in whatever order you choose)? How big of a deal should shaving really be? This weirdly imperative need to shave is deeply rooted in history. But can anyone in this day and age actually elucidate why shaving leg, armpit and pubic hair raises a female to the bare minimum of social acceptability? In terms of functionality, I suppose hair has a tendency to trap odors, and when it gets too long it’s apparently painful and itchy (I know even some guys trim their armpit hair for this precise reason). Beyond that, though, why is shaving still a process that necessitates hiding female body hair as if it’s a shameful secret? We’ve finally faced the fact that girls do, shockingly enough, poop; maybe it’s time to come to terms with the fact that girls grow body hair. Let’s be real: If you are an average human being, you have body hair — simple as that. In our current era, someone shouldn’t spot a girl with body hair and think, “That’s a freak of nature right there.” (Honestly, that should never have been the case.) Even if you genuinely love shaving,

arts & entertainment Lenna Mendoza* Editor Naomi Pringle Asst. Editor

copy Sarah Smati Editor Catherine Soltero Editor

backpage Joey McGlone Editor Isaac Schultz Editor

business operations Tom Wang Advertising Manager Sara Lopez Marketing Manager Grace Earick Distribution Manager Sanvitti Sahdev Business Designer

design Christina Tan Director Sydney Garrett News Designer Katrina Cherk Sports Designer Ellie Mix A&E Designer Tina Liu Spotlight Designer Areli Navarro Magallón Illustrator Esther Tang Illustrator

opinions Julianne Wey* Editor

photo Sirui Zhou Editor Charlene Pan Asst. Editor

sports Andrew Grottkau* Editor

video Clara Tian Editor

online Charlie Paul Web Editor Alice Liu Digital Content Editor *Editorial Board member

you have to admit that shaving takes up time, it’s a little dangerous (particularly in certain *ahem* areas) and it’s costly. It’s also not the most utilitarian move in terms of everyday body care. I’ve noticed more and more that girls sometimes just don’t shave. Did I recoil in disgust? No, I did not. Granted, I noticed, but that’s just an effect of the majority. One time, I was watching a major fashion publication’s Snapchat story, and noticed that the woman giving style tips had foregone shaving her armpits. I felt a pleasant jolt of surprise. Maybe if we stop trying to pretend girls don’t grow body hair, others will follow suit and accept the fact that girls can just not shave if they don’t want to. If you think it’s gross, I’m sorry, but that sounds like a you problem. Girls: Next time you hop in the shower and get to scrub-a-dub-dubbing, before you touch that razor, ask yourself why. Are you shaving because you want to and prefer yourself hairless in a certain area, or because you think when you raise your arms to tie up your hair people are going to stare? Shave because YOU want to. At the end of the day, shaving body hair is an absolutely personal choice; it contributes nothing to society. Take care of your body, make sure you’re comfortable and clean, but for goodness’ sake, can we please stop pretending that girls don’t grow hair? If we can #freethenipple, I say we should be able to #freethebodyhair, too. JULIANNE WEY

Thresher Opinions Editor Jones College Senior jsw7@rice.edu

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. 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, CMA, and CMBAM © Copyright 2017

SPOTLIGHT

A conversation with Al Gore ELIZABETH RASICH & DREW KELLER SPOTLIGHT EDITOR & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF EAR4@RICE.EDU & AJK10@RICE.EDU

The Rice Thresher and the Houston Chronicle sat down with Al Gore after his talk on Monday to discuss a future marked by climate change.

“ ”

WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF A SUSTAINABILITY REVOLUTION WORLDWIDE.

This interview has been edited and condensed for print. Read the full version online at ricethresher.org.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: How does a city like Houston, so based on oil and gas, stop from becoming a 21st century equivalent of an abandoned rust belt town? I don’t think I can give a better answer than say that that process begins with debating the future based on honest information. One of the slides I showed pointed out that solar jobs are growing 17 times faster than other jobs: wind turbine technician, the fastest growing job of all. Texas is the epicenter not only of the petrochemical industry but also the renewable energy push here in the United States of America. I may be biased of course but I would double down on the latter and try to navigate a very tricky transition from the former. Maybe new technologies will bring a magic solution but it’s not smart to count on that, so I say get on with this transition and double down on the prosperity that may be created in the future. I believe very strongly that we are in the early stages of a sustainability revolution worldwide that has the scope of the industrial revolution but the speed of the digital revolution. Houston is well positioned to provide leadership in that sustainability revolution.

ILLUSTRATION BY ESTHER TANG

RICE THRESHER: Despite numerous awareness campaigns regarding climate change, the percent of Americans who say human-caused climate change exists hasn’t changed in the last decade. How do you reach the large segment of people who aren’t convinced by the scientific consensus? What methods have you found to be successful to bridge the ideological divide that is associated with different opinions on climate change? The numbers tell me that actually there has been a change in the last several years. It’s not as dramatic as I would like but the percentage has been going up. A majority of Republican voters now believe we have to solve the climate crisis. A plurality of Trump voters believe we need to solve the climate crisis. In your generation, the percentages are growing much faster. This is one of those generational change issues. To repeat something I did say from the stage, Mother Nature is a more powerful participant in this debate than any of us. I really think that in these last few years the dramatic increase in the severity and frequency of these events that scientists had long predicted have caused a lot of people to look at their hole cards. But the question you ask is one that I actually ask myself practically every day. I’ll give you one sort of offbeat answer. My organization, the Climate Reality Project, engaged a firm that was responsible for something called the Truth Campaign. They came up for a really interesting approach. They said if you can get this target audience to ask themselves a question — not come at it with full frontal force — ‘Am I being fooled? Am I being taken advantage of? Am I in danger of looking like a fool?’ That begins the process of making them change their minds. They ran these ads that were designed in a completely offbeat way. We hired them to run ads when we were trying to demolish the ‘clean coal’ meme, and we raised a ton of money.

RICE THRESHER: As students move forward in their careers and lives, how should they factor in climate change in the choices they make? I’ve felt for a long time that solving the climate crisis must be the organizing principle for global civilization, and your generation is the one that has the primary task of driving that new way of thinking about it forward. So I would say simply that you ought to factor [it into] everything.

HOUSTON CHRONICLE: If storms like Harvey are going to happen more frequently, how does Houston prepare better for next time? I think you have lots of smart people here who have been writing and speaking about what needs to be done. I’m really not an expert. I versed myself in this when I did a three-day training here a year ago. I mentioned this professor of architecture here [Albert Pope] who’s talking about buyouts and orderly retreats from the zones that are certain to be flooded again. Boy, that’s a hard conversation to have and I don’t want it to have to be the ‘Gore Plan’. I’d rather it be named after him or someone else. There are going to be some excruciatingly diﬃcult decisions, but the only thing more diﬃcult is not making them.

RICE THRESHER: Many Rice graduates are looking into careers in oil and gas. Would you advise them to not do so, with the rise of renewable energy you’ve discussed? What advice would you give them? I don’t want to be the one to say that. Many come from families that have been able to send them to college because of what they’ve earned in the fossil fuel industry. All of us owe a tremendous debt to the men and women who went into the fossil fuel industry all these decades and generations. As I said at the outset [the industry] helped bring down poverty, raise standards of living, build our civilization, and we owe them. But we also owe them a truthful discussion of where we are as we look at the future of the human race. It’s that serious. Where young people are concerned I do not want to be the one to tell somebody who might figure out a new way to do things that surprises all of us. So whatever industry somebody’s aiming towards, I would urge them to keep this very much in mind and look for solutions wherever they end up.

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

PARTY PATROL:

NIGHT OF

DECADENCE

hanszen senior

will rice freshman spotlight designer

NAILAH M. AMELIA C.

TINA L.

SPOTLIGHT

PARTY PATROL:

EVENING OF

editor-in-chief

All the sweat in the air took me back to gen chem when I learned about the Tyndall eﬀect.

Less sweaty than previous publics and dark enough to forget that 90 percent of your body was exposed.

The lack of shame demonstrated by so many clammy bodies was almost inspiring.

Didn’t see any food or drinks...there were pancakes?

Nothing like being naked to make you want to shove your mouth with food. What stomach bloat?

Saw too many pancakes coming in; didn’t eat enough actual pancakes going out.

MUSIC & DANCING

A-

If “Yeah” doesn’t make you dance, I don’t know what will. Exceedingly high amounts of grinding.

Booty bouncing.

Riding across campus in the horse-drawn carriage sure beat taking the Inner Loop bus.

The music? Solid. Dancing? Objectively, too many solids.

B I waited too long to get food and there were only mini baguette slices left. My fault but still.

Don’t understand what the big deal is behind Nod and all that extra security.

Privates were poppin’ but I dropped my phone in a suite’s toilet. Miraculously it still works.

I got more compliments on my NOD outfit than my evening of elegance outfit that took two hours of prep.

B+ Way less creepy than I expected and my favorite public so far. I give the nod to Wiess (Ha, get it?)

Red carpet, horse and carriage, aerial silk climber, enough said.

A+

There was brie, so that’s a win.

The chocolate balls melted in my mouth. Yum.

A-

ALive music made for a fun time. Too bad I couldn’t figure out how to swing dance for the life of me.

Swing dancing always provides some quality oldfashioned fun. Easy to learn, hard to master.

Swing dancing was wholesome fun for everyone.

INTANGIBLES

D Was it worth $15 to never be able to look at your COMP 140 classmate in the eye again?

Great place to people-watch. Kind of felt like a roaring ’20s rom-com.

No line, completely free, lots of friends. I’m down.

B Nothing like happy dancing couples to remind you you’re single.

OVERALL

Chic, yet crowded. Comfy couches and horse-drawn carriages were a nice touch.

MUSIC & DANCING

INTANGIBLES

A+

B+

FOOD & DRINK

B+

ELLIE M. EMILY A.

A-

FOOD & DRINK

news editor

ATMOSPHERE

B+

a&e designer

DREW K.

ATMOSPHERE

ELEGANCE

BDecent let-loose party — if only most people could remember it better. It was, as most would say, “an experience.”

AGreat to see an alternative event that outshines the main one in many ways.

A Stay classy not trashy, Rice.

A But actually, where did all the money for this event come from?

INFOGRAPHICS BY TINA LIU

THE RICE THRESHER

SPOTLIGHT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

DOG DAYS OF CAMPUS

CHRISTINE WANG & KATHERINE HU FOR THE THRESHER / CW67@RICE.EDU & KCH5@RICE.EDU

STELLA

Leroy’s instagram page is filled with pictures of him with Duncan students, taking naps, and playing in the DuncTank.

P. Seamus will eat almost any human food, but is very picky about his dog treats. He is a four-year-old terrier mix.

Bruin (left) and Beau (right) are frequent playmates at Jones College. They are both student favorites.

L E R OY

P. S E A M U S

BEAU

After coming across an online ad for two King Charles Cavalier spaniel puppies, Duncan College Resident Associates Courtney Stefancyk and Myron Clemence drove to Dallas to pick up their new pet Leroy. “He’s a diva for sure, he’s very spoiled, and he loves human attention,” Clemence said. “If anything, we think he’s just become more spoiled since he has moved in.” Leroy also has his own Instagram account @tinyleroy, in which Stefancyk and Clemence show oﬀ videos of Leroy doing agility tricks or spending time in the Duncan lounges. For new RA’s, owning a dog has helped increase their presence among their new students at Duncan. “He’s very recognizable and we often walk him around campus, so there’s probably a lot of students who we’ve never really talked to but have seen him,” Clemence said.

“P. Seamus” is short for Popeye Seamus. Martel College Resident Associates Taylor Cooper and Ben Stevenson wanted to name him Seamus, but felt bad stripping him of “Popeye,” which was a name he received in foster care because he pulled through a diﬃcult case of mange. They settled on P. Seamus as a play oﬀ of “P. Sherman Wallaby Way” from Finding Nemo. “The picture of him was [from] when they first picked him up, so his hair was a little funky and he kinda looked like he’d been through it,but he still had this cute tongue hanging out and cute little eyes and nose,” Cooper said. “We were like, yeah, that’s the one.” He’s particular about his treats, and a lover of sweet potatoes. His worst habit? “In the mornings, very, very early, he likes to get a squeak toy and squeak it until you throw it,” Cooper said. “He’s a morning dog, 100 percent.”

Jones College Coordinator Michelle Bennack’s dog is an 11-year old golden retriever. “Beau is a ham,” Bennack said. “If you walk into my office, the first thing he’ll do is stick his head right between your legs.” Bennack picked him up as a two year old from a golden retriever rescue, where he was found

Though Stella originally lived with Sid Richardson College Magister Ken Whitmire’s second daughter, Stella moved in with Whitmire in his first year as a Magister. Stella, a border collie golden retriever mix, is almost nine years old. Her calming presence makes it easy for students to open up to her. When a personal tragedy aﬀected one of the students in the college a couple of years ago, she found comfort in playing with Stella. “As magister, sometimes students are not so ready to open up to you about what they’re feeling, but this person just talked to Stella for about half an hour, and it was good,” Whitmire said. Compared to Lady and Nala, Stella is more reserved and enjoys resting her chin on her favorite chair to nap.

L A DY

There are students who specifically come to my oﬃce for no other reason than just to sit, pet Beau for about five minutes, and then get up and go, ‘Okay, I can go now.’ Michelle Bannack Jones College Coordinator as a stray. “There are students who specifically come to my office for no other reason than just to sit, pet Beau for about five minutes, and then get up and go, ‘Okay, I can go now,’” she said. Beau likes to sleep under Bennack’s desk but will often run to his basket and grab his tug rope to play when anyone comes into the office. “Dogs are a really important part of people’s lives, and students come to campus having to leave a pet at home that they’re used to being around everyday,” Bennack said. “I think this fills that niche for a lot of students who miss their home pets.”

BRUIN Kerri Barber adopted Bruin within a month of becoming a Jones RA. When talking about Bruin she more often uses the pet name (no pun intended) Bru Bru, and for Bennack’s dog Beau, she uses Beau Beau. Like Beau, Bru was a stray. “When I got him, he had just been picked up by the Braeswood County police and he was super skinny and [had] bad fur,” Barber said. Last spring, a student tried to teach Bru how to jump through a hula hoop. Barber bought a hula loop, left her door unlocked, and let the student attempt to teach Bru the new trick. “He went through a lot of treats that spring and gained a little bit of weight, according to the vet,” Barber said. “Now he knows how to walk through the hula hoop. He was terrified of it before.” Bru is also an avid squirrel-hunter. Whenever he spies one, he freezes in a hunting pose to watch it. “He wants to try and eat the squirrels, and thankfully he hasn’t,” Barber said.

PHOTOS BY CLARA TIAN

Lady is one of three dogs living at the Sid Richardson College Magister house. She likes to show aﬀection by licking people’s lips.

When Whitmire noticed his first dog Stella looked lonely two years ago, he immediately found a breeder to buy Lady. “I decided I wanted an Australian Shepherd because of their temperament and how pretty they are,” Whitmire said. Lady loves to lick lips and play with her sister Nala. Of all of Whitmire’s dogs, Lady has the most energy. “Occasionally, Lady escapes, and because Sid is connected to the college, she escapes into the commons,” he said. “She’s really fast. If someone comes to the door and is not careful when they come in, Lady will be up in the commons in about 10 seconds.” Whitmire hosts an annual birthday party for Lady because it’s during the semester and is a chance to celebrate with the college.

NALA Nala, the dog of Whitmire’s daughter, is about a year and half old and just moved into Sid Richardson College this year. Though she has only been at Rice for a couple of months, she already gets along well with Stella and Lady especially. “Nala has decided that her place is my bed, and she will go lie in my bed during the day,” Whitmire said.“She curls up right at the

She curls up right at the base of my pillow and lies in my spot. Ken Whitmire Sid Richardson College Master base of my pillow and lies in my spot.” Although she often escapes by squeezing under the gate to chase squirrels, she’s “pretty good” about coming back.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

THE RICE THRESHER

ARTS entertainment

2017 FALL FASHION TRENDS AMELIA CALAUTTI

FOR THE THRESHER / AMC35@RICE.EDU

Fall has finally arrived — days are shortening, temperatures are dropping and the leaves are changing. Oh wait — we’re in Houston. Three weeks into October and it’s still 80 degrees by 3 p.m. While your friends at Cornell and the University of Michigan have been wearing cardigans, jeans and boots for the last three months, you are still rocking the same athletic shorts, oversized tees and Birks from the summer. But don’t let the Houston heat stop you from flaunting the latest trends premiered at last month’s fashion weeks. Here are this year’s fall trends along with ways to adapt them to the not-so-fall weather.

FILM

‘Professor Marston’ recounts Wonder Woman’s invention MADDIE FLAVIN THRESHER STAFF / MF37@RICE.EDU

PROFESSOR MARSTON Episode length: 128 minutes Rating: R Genre: Drama/Biography

1. ‘70S PLAID

Update your classic flannel with an ode to ’70s plaid. This pattern incorporates colors like brown, yellow and orange, perfect for fall. Avoid heavy flannels and instead turn to more weatherappropriate mini skirts and shirt dresses.

2. GLITTER

As the last few months of 2017 roll in, get a head start on the New Year’s Eve fun with sequin and glitter-filled tops. Make sure to keep the look sophisticated with darker colors like black, silver, gold and navy, and limit the sparkles to one article at a time. Sequin crop tops are perfect for a night out and can be paired with skirts or jeans, or make a statement with a pair of embellished shorts.

4. COUCH FLORALS

Think of your grandma’s vintage couch that smells like mothballs. Now imagine that on your body. This is basically the idea of couch florals. This trend includes muted colors and deeper tones than your usual spring florals and looks great with edgier pieces such as leather jackets and combat boots. Wear this pattern in the form of a wrap dress or lace camisole to channel vintage vibes.

3. POLITICAL SLOGANS

With so many contemporary social movements in the U.S., you can create a fashionable and functional look with a graphic tee that supports your cause. This trend was all over New York Fashion Week runways, flaunting messages of feminism and female empowerment. However, this trend can extend to all types of movements, such as Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ rights.

5. SHEER

Perhaps the most visible trend across college campuses, sheer material has taken parties by storm. Lightweight and versatile, sheer tops can be paired with a bralette for a stylish and practical solution to sweaty private parties. Sheer shirts come in a variety of styles such as mesh, lace or embroidery, and are most popular in black and white.

MONTROSE CRAWL If you’re of age, put on your best costume for the 11th annual Montrose Crawl this Saturday. Prizes are available for the best costume at each of the 12 stops. No cover and no tickets, further details online. Various Locations montrosecrawl.com

In spite of these hardships, the threesome embraces its desires, and their relationship leads to the creation of Wonder Woman, the biggest-selling female superhero of all time. Radcliﬀe College, 1928. At this Harvard sister school, psychology Professor William Moulton Marston teaches a class about his dominance, inducement, submission and compliance theory of human behavior. His wife, Elizabeth Holloway Marston, is his academic equal but is barred from receiving a doctorate for her work due to the era’s gender constraints. Olive Byrne, one of Marston’s students and birth control advocate Margaret Sanger’s niece, submits an application to assist the couple in Professor Marston’s research. As Olive helps the couple invent the lie detector and lets them into her social life, both the Professor and Elizabeth find themselves increasingly attracted to Olive’s curiosity, and she to their radical philosophies on gender and personality. But, when the trio realizes that they are all sexually attracted to each other, they know that this secret could destroy them. In spite of these hardships, the

WONDER CONT. ON PAGE 11

courtesy (1) pinterest (2) polyvore (3) urban shirts (4) pinterest (5) polyvore

THE WEEKLY SCENE

After a 75-year journey from its comic book debut to the big screen, “Wonder Woman” became this summer’s biggest hit. The film broke industry records, shattered glass ceilings and established itself as one of the greatest superhero films to date. While Wonder Woman’s origin story is well known few know the story of the character’s creation. In “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women,” writer and director Angela Robinson tells the wild truth of the backstory to Wonder Woman’s creation, which was too taboo to be spoken of for decades.

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

RESCHEDULED — ‘COULD BE LOVED’

‘AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL’

Celebrate the improving weather with an outdoor viewing of “Young Frankenstein” on the patio of Brasil Cafe this Sunday at 8:30 p.m, or check out “The Shining” at the same time on Halloween. Admission is free.

This on-campus exhibition of “the cute and the crude” features sculpture work by Rice student Huidi Xiang and local artist Lindsea Varisco. The gallery opening is 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at the corner of Alumni Drive and College Way.

Keep your Al Gore buzz going this Friday at 7 p.m. with a screening of “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” the followup to his 2006 film about climate change. The event is free and open to the public.

JuiceBOX Units milleroutdoortheater.com

Rice Cinema Events.rice.edu

Brasil and Flatland Gallery 2604 Dunlavy brasilcafehouston.com

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT’S HIP RIGHT NOW TELEVISION:

HOME:

‘Big Mouth’

MONQ

courtesy marketwire

courtesy the hollywood reporter

In a phrase: You know what they say, when he’s got a big mouth … big laughs. Where to find it: America’s No. 1 destination, Netflix

Midterms have you down? It could be worse, and at one point it was. “Big Mouth” is an animated Netflix original that captures the horrors and retrospective hilarity of puberty, i.e., the worst years of your life. The show covers the usual — chronic masturbation, your first period, questioning your sexuality — but its real genius is the absurdism animation allows. Musical numbers, personified vaginas, hormone monsters and even Duke Ellington’s ghost make the show graphically raunchy, but surprisingly poignant and intelligent too. While it is about middle schoolers, it isn’t for them, it instead actively engages with viewers who have overcome the bleakness and can now recognize that sex and change are hilarious, embarrassing and universal.

WONDER FROM PAGE 10 threesome embraces its desires, and their relationship leads to the creation of Wonder Woman which, according to the film’s end credits, remains the biggestselling female superhero of all time. Luke Evans is a woman’s best friend as Professor Marston. Selfless and respectful, the professor is unapologetic of his progressive worldview. He defends his lifestyle, his ideas, his partners and his creation until his dying breath, refusing to go down without a hard fight. As Elizabeth, Rebecca Hall is ferocious. Fearless, Elizabeth isn’t afraid to speak her mind, even if what comes out isn’t “ladylike.” Even when she and the professor have arguments, the mutual respect is still there. Bella Heathcote gives her best performance to date as Olive. Heathcote effectively transmits Olive’s internal conflicts through her eyes and she makes Olive’s journey from timid girl to empowered woman a truly moving one. The sequence where Olive dons a burlesque outfit that would become the basis for the Wonder Woman costume, complete with tiara and a bondage lasso, is spine-tingling and magical. The chemistry between the professor, Elizabeth and Olive withstands even severe relationship turbulence and makes for engrossing, kinky intimacy, particularly during the film’s first-act finale — a role-play threesome in the backstage area of an on-campus theater that flows pitch perfectly with Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good.” “What is normal?” asks Professor Marston at the start of the film, as he sits before a committee that deems his creation and his principles controversial. Even by today’s considerably more lenient standards of decency, his polyamorous relationship might still raise eyebrows. But, like the man and the women behind the Woman, “Professor Marston” stands its ground about its point of view, satisfying those with a hankering for something more than ordinary.

In a phrase: We get it, you don’t vape. Where to find it: monq.com

ARELI NAVARRO MAGALLÓN THRESHER STAFF / AMN9@RICE.EDU

FASHION: Hoops

courtesy melody ehsani

In a phrase: If gauges are the rebels of earrings, hoops are the divas. Where to find it: Literally anywhere now

Aromatherapy has been around for centuries, namely in Eastern cultures. Only recently has the Western Hemisphere “discovered” its benefits and begun to champion its properties. MONQ Therapeutic Air is a portable alternative to essential oil diﬀusers. Coming in seven blends, MONQ only includes essential oils from organic plants and is free of formaldehyde, nickel, tin, lead, aluminum and nicotine. With every inhalation, the cultivated combination of organic properties grants the desired mood (sleepy, vibrant, healthy, happy, etc). No assembly is required and one inhalation is enough to (allegedly) feel more at ease. At $20 apiece and a lifespan of two to three weeks, MONQ isn’t the cheapest relaxation method, but it seems like the perfect holiday gift for one of your many stressed-out friends.

You have to live under a rock (or just attend Rice) to not have noticed the recent surge in the hoop earring’s popularity. The black and Latinx communities have known the beauty of hoops for centuries, so hoops have historically held certain cultural and classist baggage. But the style is still striking when removed from its context. Recent styles feature double hoops, hoops with pendants and even hoops with writing intersecting the diameter. Some call the removal of the accessory (particularly larger hoops) from its context inauthentic, opportunistic and culturally appropriative. But that hasn’t stopped high fashion and mainstream fashion enthusiasts from doing it.

TRENDING: Niche Memes

courtesy @binchcity

In a phrase: Facebook could never. Where to find it: Instagram People make entire careers out of social media — fashion bloggers create their own clothing lines and “public influencers” advertise sponsored products. Then there are those that invest a ridiculous amount of time into their craft purely for expression and validation: the meme-ers. Memes are exploding in cultural relevance (I’m sure we’re all painfully aware), but the goal for a sect of Instagram isn’t to make it to big Facebook meme accounts that recycle the same image for months. These accounts buck the traditional templates by constantly producing new memes on their personal accounts. Not every meme has to be good; the aim is to produce as much original (and sometimes absurd) content as possible. It takes digging, but deep in the bowels of Instagram is a wealth of memes that, paradoxically, have never been seen.

FILM

Netflix tries feature films with ‘The Meyerowitz Stories’ MICHAEL VERMEULEN THRESHER STAFF / MAV6@RICE.EDU

MEYEROWITZ STORIES Running time: 112 minutes Rating: TV-MA Genre: Drama/Comedy

For half a decade, Netflix has released original television shows to enormous acclaim from both audiences and critics alike. Recently, the company began to branch out into movies, an enterprise struggling to match previous successes. On Oct. 13, it released its newest film: “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected).” Created by acclaimed director and writer Noah Baumbach, the movie is easily one of Netflix’s best films to date. The story follows the lives of siblings Danny (Adam Sandler), Matthew (Ben Stiller) and Jean Meyerowitz (Elizabeth Marvel), each of whom attempts to deal with their stubborn sculptor father, Harold (Dustin Hoffman), as well as each other with varying results. The film’s greatest strength is its starstudded cast. All of the lead performances are wonderful, with Sandler being the standout. Though he rarely utilizes his dramatic abilities, instead preferring to make lowbrow garbage like “Jack and Jill” and “The Ridiculous Six,” Sandler showcases his thespian talents here to emotional results akin to those in the 2002 masterpiece “Punch-Drunk Love.” Shining members of the supporting cast include Emma Thompson as the

siblings’ stepmother, Maureen, and Grace van Patten as Danny’s collegebound daughter, Eliza. Both of these characters contribute to the movie’s levity and are still capable of poignant moments when called upon. Many of Baumbach’s films, like the melancholic “The Squid and the Whale,” are semi-autobiographical in nature — he likes to focus on artistic Jewish families living in New York City, and “The Meyerowitz Stories” is no different. Nevertheless, Baumbach makes this relatively specific subject matter universally relatable through the themes he presents. With his quickwitted, fast-paced dialogue, Baumbach rattles through ineffective parenting, the effects of monetary success and jealousy of one’s peers in mere minutes, all the while maintaining the narrative throughline that holds everything together. A master of dramedy and

riding the fine line the genre entails, Baumbach makes “The Meyerowitz Stories” a stirring experience, enjoyable enough to watch again and again. The movie’s technical aspects are also well executed. The shots are nicely composed, the editing flows smoothly and the piano-filled musical score by Randy Newman fits the tone flawlessly. While these aspects do not stand out in any way, they instead draw attention to the purposefully noticeable components of the film: the writing and acting. Overall, “The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)” is a moving family dramedy and another entertaining entry into the canons of all involved. Personal but comprehensive, serious but droll, intellectual but accessible, the film could appeal to anyone. Considering it’s on Netflix, there’s no reason not to take a couple hours out of your day to take it in for yourself.

courtesy festival de cannes

SPORTS

Football falls to UTSA 20-7 JOSHUA ANIL THRESHER STAFF / JA47@RICE.EDU

So close, but so far. Rice held only a three-point deficit going into halftime of its conference matchup game against the University of Texas at San Antonio, but, due to untimely miscues in the second half, came up short in their 20-7 loss to the Roadrunners. The Owls fell to 1-6 overall and 1-2 in Conference USA play after their loss on Saturday. The Owls lost the turnover battle, throwing two interceptions, including a pick-six, and losing one fumble in while the Roadrunners had just one giveaway. UTSA capitalized on the Owls’ carelessness, scoring 14 points off Rice turnovers. On the first drive of the second half, with the Owls only down 10-7, Glaesmann was intercepted by UTSA sophomore Clayton Johnson on a throw intended for Cephus. According to freshman quarterback Sam Glaesemann, the error was on him.

We can’t have our oﬀense giving up points when the defense isn’t on the field. David Bailiﬀ Football Head Coach

Sophomore goalkeeper Maya Hoyer boots the ball upfield. Hoyer recorded a shutout in Rice’s 1-0 victory over Charlotte on Sunday that helped the Owls clinch the Conference USA regular season title. Rice is still undefeated in C-USA play.

courtesy eric glemser

Soccer eager for conference tournament C-USA FROM PAGE 1 of Walker’s goal in the closing minutes of the first half. Sophomore goalkeeper Maya Hoyer starred in the win with six saves to secure her eighth shutout of the year. Head Coach Nicky Adams said the team’s competitiveness has been key to the Owls’ success this season. “This team doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk,” Adams said. “They are competitors and fighters and have so much grit.” Rice’s dominance this year has been all-encompassing. The Owls lead the conference with 43 goals and 37 assists in their 15 games played and are tied for second with just 14 goals allowed. Both Stallings and senior midfielder Samantha Chaiken are among the league leaders in total points. Walker said the team’s cohesion has been very important. “Our team chemistry has been so awesome and we’ve been having a lot of fun this season,” Walker said. “One of our best strengths is that we connect really

well on the field: we play really well as a unit, and we do so with an intensity.”

The past two years we’ve lost in the first round, so I know that we are really motivated to come out strong. Annie Walker Junior Forward Walker saw her recent stellar play rewarded with her first C-USA Offensive Player of the Week award, adding on to a long list of Owls award-winners this season. According to Adams, Walker’s play this season has been crucial to the team’s success. “We can always count on Annie Walker to play in clutch games,” Adams said. “Not only is she a great player but [she’s] a great captain of this team too.”

The Owls will play their final game of the regular season on Friday at UNT before turning their focus toward the 2017 C-USA Tournament, which begins on Nov. 1: The winner of the tournament earns an automatic berth in the NCAA Championship bracket, and the Owls will be the No. 1 seed. According to Walker, the team is looking forward to competing in the high-stakes conference tournament. “The past two years we’ve lost [in the] first round, so I know that we are really motivated to come out strong and composed and keep that mindset throughout the week,” Walker said. “We’re all pretty excited for it.” Adams said she was proud of the team’s achievements this year but added that there is much more to accomplish. “We have won a regular season championship,” Adams said. “We went undefeated at home. We are two goals away [from] tying the school record for goals scored. Lots to be proud of but lots more to do.”

“I know Cephus had been making big plays, so I wanted to get the ball into his hands,” Glaesmann said. “But I shouldn’t have gone off script and should have stuck with what the coaches told me to do.” The Roadrunners promptly drove 55 yards down the field and scored a touchdown on a 26-yard pass, turning a 10-7 halftime lead into a 17-7 margin. UTSA managed to score just three more points, but it was enough to down Rice. While the scoreline paints a picture of a blowout, there were some bright spots for the Owls. With defensive end and senior Graysen Schantz out for the season due to injury, senior Brian Womac had to fill his shoes. Womac wore Schantz’s number, 94, on his face during the game as a way to honor his teammate. Womac said it was tough to see his teammate’s career come to an end. “It was a really emotional week leading up to the game,” Womac said. “I had to step up for the team and increase my play,” Womac said. Womac posted a career day, recording nine tackles and three sacks. Though the Owls couldn’t come away with a win for their injured teammate, Womac and the defense showed they could still put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. On the offensive side of the ball, redshirt freshman wide receiver Aaron Cephus had his first 100-plus yard game, posting two catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. Glaesmann said Cephus has impressed with his performance in his first season. “It’s exciting to see how passionate he is on the sideline and on the field,” Glaesmann said. “It’s definitely a relief for me, knowing that I have that kind of outlet at the receiving position on the outside. It’s very exciting to see him grow from freshman year on and exciting to know that I’ll have him throughout the rest of my years here at Rice.”

FOOTBALL CONT. ON PAGE 13

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

THE RICE THRESHER

SPORTS

FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 12 Unfortunately, the individual efforts of Womac and Cephus were not enough to propel Rice to a victory. The Owls only managed to score seven points and posted only 155 yards of rushing compared to UTSA’s 314. Head coach David Bailiff said the offense needs to improve if the team wants to win in the future. “We as coaches have got to figure out a way oﬀensively to score points and eliminate the mistakes we are making,” Bailiﬀ said. “We continue to have selfinflicted wounds that stall drives.” While Baillif praised his team’s defensive effort, he also said that football requires both offense and defense to play well. “We can’t have our offense giving up points when the defense isn’t on the field,” Bailiff said. The Owls have a chance to put together an improved offensive performance and bounce back in their next game against Louisiana Tech University on Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m. in Rice Stadium.

The swim team won its third straight meet to begin the season on Saturday, defeating SMU 190.5-103.5. Senior Kaitlyn Swinney, pictured above, finished second in three individual events including the 1000-yard freestyle. frankie huang /thresher

Women’s club soccer preparing for national tournament

EDITOR’S COLUMN: THE FINAL KAUNTDOWN

MADISON BUZZARD

For those who read more than just the sports section of the Thresher, you should know about Rice’s Second Vision for the Second Century. The Student Association is collecting 100 ideas for the V2C2 through various events around campus. But I’m going to share my idea for Rice’s second century in a diﬀerent way – right here. I live in Massachusetts. When I go home from college and tell people I go to Rice University, responses range anywhere from a blank stare and an ‘Oh, that’s nice’ to the classic ‘What, you mean the food?’ Rice is one of the best schools in the country. And it is a shame that it is not recognized as such all over the United States. It’s not just about pride. If a recruiter in New York does not recognize Rice, he or she is a lot less likely to hire a Rice graduate for an entry-level job. When a high school senior in Boston has never heard of Rice, he or she is highly unlikely to apply. I almost didn’t; the only reason I applied was because my high school college counselor knew about Rice and encouraged me to research it. Rice has to do more to promote its brand. So here’s my vision for the second century: Get Rice into a Power 5 athletic conference. Athletics may not seem like the right way for Rice to spread its brand. But consider this: You’ve heard of the University of Notre Dame. You’ve heard of Vanderbilt University. You’ve heard of Duke University. You know they’re great schools. You also see them on television week in and week out, competing at the top level of Division I sports. Some of you probably also know Emory University. It’s also one of the nation’s top schools. But its athletic teams compete in Division III. Poll the U.S. population and ask if they’ve heard of Vanderbilt, then ask if they’ve heard of Emory, and I would bet anything on Vanderbilt winning. By a lot. Sports certainly aren’t the only way to make Rice more well-known, but they may be the easiest way. Ivy League schools are world-renowned for their academics and cutting-edge research, but their reputations are built as much on historical prestige as anything. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is famous for its research and superb academic programs, but Rice doesn’t have its resources. A reputation built on academics alone works in some cases, but not many. So why not try athletics? Before posting comments about how you came to Rice because of its lack of athletic culture, hear me out. Rice will never be Texas A&M University or the University of Alabama. My hope is for Rice to be like Northwestern

THRESHER STAFF / MCB13@RICE.EDU

Rage Cage, Rage Cage, Rage Cage, five, four, three, two, one! This chant prompts the beginning of a drinking game known as “Rage Cage,” familiar to most every Rice undergraduate. Despite its popularity at Rice, Rage Cage just doesn’t quench the thirst of the Rice women’s club soccer team. Instead, the team, which recently qualified for its second National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association tournament in three years, prefers “Gato-Rage Cage,” with beer replaced by lukewarm fruit punch Gatorade. Sound appetizing? The women’s club soccer team might be the only team in the U.S. that pregames with Gato-Rage Cage, but it’s hard to disagree with the results. The Owls have captured three wins to just one loss in the year, with an overall record of 3-1-3. Their only defeat was a tight 1-0 match against the University of Texas at Austin. The Owls have beaten Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin State University and St. Edward’s University. Furthermore, the team took powerhouses Louisiana State University, University of Houston and Tulane University each to a draw. Junior attacking center midfielder Quinn Mathews is still unsatisfied with the team’s record. Mathews said her team outshines every opponent in all facets of the game aside from goal scoring. “Our record is 3-1-3, but even though this is a decent record, it does not accurately reflect the skills of our team,” Mathews said. “We usually out-skill the other team, but when it comes to actually making shots, we have a hard time putting them in the goal. We are very good at pinging passes around the other team and possessing the ball for most of the game, which is why we can compete with [players] that are way larger than us.” Mathews is not the only club soccer player brimming with confidence. As the team’s co-captain, with senior Caroline Krawczyk, Mathews inspires conviction in her teammates and empowers them to let loose on the pitch. The Owls’ leadership has enabled freshman outside midfielder Morgan Laaksonen to lead the team in scoring four goals, an impressive feat for a young player on a team of veterans. On the back end, Rice’s defense plays fast and loose with complete confidence in senior goalkeeper Kelsi Wicker. When firing on all cylinders, this Rice women’s club soccer team is as disciplined, skilled and competitive as any Owls squad in recent memory. This combination of talent and experience has helped Rice qualify for the national tournament. This year, the NIRSA tournament is in Phoenix. Unfortunately,

the long trip will require airfare, hotel fees and numerous other expenses. According to Mathews, fundraising on campus will take place soon so the team can obtain travel funds. “We are beyond excited to go to nationals,” Mathews said. “When we went two years ago, we had a record of 1-1-1 and we have increased our skills substantially in the last two years, so we know that we can actually compete this time.”

We are very good at pinging passes around the other team and possessing the ball for most of the game. Quinn Mathews Junior Midfielder The team has a GoFundMe page open to collect donations for the trip to Phoenix. According to Mathews, they are also setting up events like bake sales to raise money. Both Krawczyk and Mathews stressed the importance of student donations and noted that the club soccer team would not be able to compete against the best teams in the country without fundraising support. According to Krawczyk, a trip to nationals would oﬀer the team’s seniors the perfect opportunity to showcase four years of hard work, determination and grit. “We went to nationals two years ago, but the team has far improved since then,” Krawczyk said. “I am excited to compete with top teams again this year and hopefully win our bracket. The teams we will compete against have a much larger student body than Rice and far better funded athletics, but I believe our team is strong enough to compete with these high caliber opponents.” After NIRSA nationals, Rice women’s club soccer will continue to expand--the team has already doubled in size over the past three seasons. According to Mathews, the team environment and competitive atmosphere have made her club sports experience void of regret. “Growing up, soccer was always my favorite sport,” Mathews said. “When I came to Rice two years ago, I wanted to keep playing the sport, which is why I tried out for the club team. This being my third year playing, I don’t just play to play the sport, though. I play for the team. A lot of my closest friends have actually come out of playing soccer and I know I will always have the team to rely on.” To donate to the women’s club soccer team’s national tournament, find the GoFundMe page titled Rice Women’s Club Soccer Nationals.

V2C2 must include athletics University. It should compete in a top-level conference, appear on ESPN, CBS and FOX a couple times a year in football and basketball and occasionally compete for a spot in the NCAA basketball tournament. These appearances will expose Rice to people all over the nation. Fans of college athletics will watch a Rice game, see picturesque shots from around campus and hear the announcers talk about how great a university it is.

Moving to a top conference will require a commitment by both the athletic department and the administration, not just idealogically but financially, too. Easier said than done, obviously. Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard said Rice has been hoping to join a Power 5 conference since he took the job in 2014. It has had opportunities to make that leap, most notably during the Big 12 nonexpansion saga of 2016, but it has come up short each time. Moving to a top conference will require a commitment by both the athletic department and the administration, not just ideologically but financially, too. It will require an investment of money in the athletic program, whether for hiring top coaches, recruiting nationwide or advertising the teams to Houstonians. The administration may also have to lower admission standards for athletes. The process will not be easy and may take a long time, but it will be worth it if it means a more recognizable university. As Karlgaard told me last week, at its best, athletics can further the university’s brand and benefit all members of the community. The V2C2 draft includes important goals such as expanding Rice’s research footprint and improving Rice’s undergraduate education, but improving Rice athletics’ national brand is vital as well. Right now, it is just a vision, and a lofty one at that. It’s up to President Leebron and Karlgaard to make it a reality.

ANDREW GROTTKAU

Thresher Sports Editor McMurtry College Junior abg4@rice.edu

SPORTS

THE RICE THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

Volleyball thrills in 8th 5-set victory SPENCER MOFFAT THRESHER STAFF / SM114@RICE.EDU

This Rice volleyball season has had no shortage of drama, and the Owls are coming in clutch. The Owls won their eighth fiveset match of the year on Sunday at Tudor Fieldhouse, this time over the University of Texas at El Paso. With the win, the team extended its streak to eight in a row. Near the end of the final set against UTEP, junior Stephanie Mendivil subbed in with Rice up 13-12. Mendivil got the final kill for Rice as the Owls took a 14-12 lead, after which they sealed the victory on a UTEP service error. According to head coach Genny Volpe, the team was fortunate to come out on top. “I definitely feel like we escaped with a win today,” Volpe said. “We have a lot of respect for a UTEP team that has been struggling to get wins.” The Owls’ only conference loss came to UTEP in the team’s first Conference USA contest of the season. Since that loss, Rice has won eight consecutive conference matches to start 8-1 in C-USA. The Owls are currently second in the standings, behind only undefeated Western Kentucky University. Much of Rice’s success has come in close matches. Since their five-set match against the University of the Incarnate Word, the Owls have won eight of their nine five-setters. Sophomore Grace Morgan said the team is enjoying the exciting 3-2 wins. “We really like to put on a show,” Morgan said. “We’re experts in nail biters. We’re definitely going to work on getting it done faster.” Volpe said the comebacks are a sign of the Owls’ resilience.

Freshman Nicole Lennon follows through during Rice’s 3-2 victory over the University of Texas at El Paso Sunday at Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls improved to 18-5 on the year with the win and 8-1 in Conference USA play. jasmine zhou/thresher

“They are showing that they are going to battle and they want to compete,” Volpe said. When asked about what has been going well for the team in its eight-match winning streak, Volpe said that the team has been working on its fundamentals. “I think that our serving has improved,” Volpe said. “I think that our defense has improved in general but we still have a ways to go to get where we want to go as a team.” One of the keys for Rice’s success this year has been the performance of its freshmen. Coming into their match against UTEP on Oct. 22, freshman Nicole Lennon was leading C-USA in kills. According to Volpe, Lennon has been one of Rice’s most important players.

“Nicole has been a huge force for us,” Volpe said. “She’s playing six rotations. She’s taking on a lot of responsibility.” Lennon is not the only young contributor. Freshman setter Lauren Lee, who stands at just 5-foot-1, is second on the team in digs. According to Volpe, she too has impressed. “Lauren has been a mainstay in our back row,” Volpe said. “She’s been playing solid defense.” While youth has helped the Owls, seniors have led the way. Senior setter Madison McDaniel recently eclipsed the 3,000 career assists mark and has been a mainstay in the Owls’ rotation the past three years. According to Volpe, she is indispensable.

“Madison has definitely proven herself as one of the strongest setters in our league and one of the strongest competitors,” Volpe said. Rice is now 18-5 with the No. 88 RPI in the nation. The team is looking to rebound from a five-set loss in the conference championship game last year that ended the Owls season just short of the NCAA tournament. According to Morgan, the team’s main goal is to rebound from that loss. “We want to win the conference tournament,” Morgan said. The Owls will look to continue their exhilarating season with five more conference matches in the regular season before they begin the C-USA tournament on Nov. 17 in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

THE RICE THRESHER

BACKPAGE

ge a p k c the Baide to Gu

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017

Families’ Weekend I

E J

K L H F

A Various unlabeled bottles of half-drunk

D Empty boxes of Cheez-Its™ to appeal to

booze. Throw some fake flowers in there, get a can of floral airspray to cover the smell of alcohol, and you’ll be able to conserve all of your unfinished vodka.

your mother’s maternal instincts to keep you well fed. If you’re really lucky, she’ll just give you her credit card, and you can buy some more “vases.”

B Your collection of fall turtlenecks, purchased just in time for the arrival of cooler weather, and hey! Wouldn’t you know it, they’ll be the perfect thing to cover up your hickey-ridden neck.

E In order to avoid explaining what Baker 13 is, tell your parents that you’re stockpiling excessive amounts of shaving cream because you’re gearing up for your ASB to teach fatherless boys how to shave.

C A ticket to Al Gore’s talk you found outside Tudor to show Mom and Dad that their hard-earned dollars are being used for a good cause, rather than for private party funds and desperate Postmates calls.

F The ashes of your NOD outfit. G The six-shots-too-many puke stain you

pass off as the marinara sauce your mother overnighted you last week.

H Mildly implicating evidence. I An icon of whatever religion your parents subscribe to.

J A candle you just bought because there’s a lighter you can’t find.

K Extremely condemning evidence. L Books. All your books stacked to give

the impression that you’re not two weeks behind in every class. But hide that one history textbook that’s got you questioning your BIOC major, or whether you even want to be a doctor. Sweet lord, hide that one deep in the depths of hell. Dad’s heart just couldn’t take it.

The Backpage is satire by Joey McGlone and Isaac Schultz. This week Oeishi Banerjee created the concept and contributed with Amelia Calautti, while C-Money Tan did those graphies. But we’ll take the credit, thank you very much. For comments or questions, please email farts@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 Sciences, Foreign Language, Humanities, and SAT/ACT prep. Reliable transportation required. Pay is based upon variety of factors. Contact 832428-8330 and email resume to sri.iyengar@ sriacademicservices.com

BUSCAMOS UNA NIÑERA responsable, confiable y cariñosa para nuestro hija de 7 años de habla Hispana para tiempo parcial. En la área de Montrose. Por favor, escríbeme en Kristin.E.Adler@googlemail.com.”

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