The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, September 15, 2021

VOLUME 106, ISSUE NO. 4 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

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Leebron’s Rice-UT game prediction

SCENES AROUND CAMPUS Hurricane Nicholas hit early Tuesday morning.

CHANNING WANG / THRESHER

Rice cancels classes and activities due to Hurricane Nicholas BONNIE ZHAO

ASST NEWS EDITOR All classes and instructional activities were cancelled on Sept. 14 due to widespread power outages caused by Tropical Storm Nicholas, according to an alert sent by the Rice Crisis Management Team. This follows an announcement originally requiring all classes after 5 p.m. on Sept. 13 to be taught remotely.

According to an update sent Tuesday morning, there appeared to be little damage to campus and Rice never lost power from CenterPoint during the storm.

The email also announced that the Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center, the campus bus service, Fondren Library and The Rice Student Center were expected to reopen Tuesday at noon, weather permitting. COVID-19 testing and flu shot appointments scheduled for Tuesday were

all canceled. Rice Coffeehouse remained closed on Sept. 14.

Baker Servery was closed for breakfast and lunch on Tuesday. North, Seibel, South and West Serveries operated normally, though they offered only continental breakfast in the morning, according to Housing and Dining.

Hurricane Nicholas brought heavy rain and wind to the Houston area Monday evening, causing 209,525 people in the immediate Houston area to lose power and ten freeways to close due to high-water. The University of Houston and Texas Southern University also cancelled all classes through Tuesday.

Part of Crisis Management’s standard response to storms includes attending National Weather Service briefings and preparing response and ride out teams if necessary, according to Jerusha Kasch, institutional director of crisis management.

Rice students watch TV coverage of 9/11 attacks in Kelley Lounge (now Coffeehouse).

THRESHER ARCHIVES

20 Years Later: Reflecting on 9/11 IVANKA PEREZ

“I was walking into the commons for breakfast. My first reaction was just seeing this group of people standing around This past Saturday marked the 20th in front of the TV and I immediately anniversary of the collapse of the twin knew that something horrible had just towers and the attack on the Pentagon, happened,” Jessica Hartstein, then a and media outlets across the country are Wiess College sophomore, said. “I sat down and watched the television for reflecting on its significance.

Twenty years ago, when the Thresher 30 minutes or so and just kind of had a released its first issue following 9/11, somber feeling.”

Another student said the news was the staff editorial quoted the New York Times on how to support others during difficult to process.

“I turned on my tragedy: “For television to see most of us, who the weather, and cannot perform that’s not what medical triage or I turned on my television I saw,” Carmen help shift debris Watson, a Jones from smoldering to see the weather, and College junior at building sites, that’s not what I saw... the time, said. “It what needs doing was just surreal.” most may not It was just surreal.

Following the be obvious. But Carmen Watson 9/11 attacks, antisooner or later it Muslim sentiment will make itself FORMER RICE STUDENT began to rise in known, and doing the country — a sentiment that did not it will be more than enough.”

Now, as well as twenty years ago, the remain outside the hedges. According New York Times’s words ring true in the to then-Muslim Student Association coRice community. Although the attacks president Ammar Ahmed, an email was didn’t occur in close proximity to campus, directed to MSA filled with offensive it is hard to overstate how deeply the Rice questions toward Muslim students, community was affected by the attacks. including “some degree of intolerance A look at the Sept. 14, 2001 issue of the and stereotyping and scape-goating.”

“We are just as disturbed by this Thresher highlights the aftermath of 9/11 on Rice’s campus: how our campus found as everyone else is, and on top of how out, how the administration responded everyone else feels from it, we have this additional affiliation that people impose and how we as a community coped.

On that Tuesday evening, the Thresher on us,” Hana Khan, another MSA coasked students across residential president at the time, said. colleges how they found out about the attacks.

SEE REFLECTING ON 9/11 PAGE 7

SENIOR EDITOR

2 •WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

THE RICE THRESHER

NEWS

STRIVE, SAFE working to address possible double red zone TALHA ARIF

NEWS EDITOR

Sexual Violence on Campus

Rice imposed an indoor alcohol ban on Aug. 30 due to elevated COVID-19 cases, to which several college chief justices responded that the policy would likely cause more drinking to occur off-campus. Brown said that with the ban potentially moving more parties off campus, it is important to note the differences in the on-campus versus offcampus processes for reporting sexual violence.

“Assaults that occur off campus are not considered to be under Title IV, they are considered to be under Code of Conduct violations, which changes the process,” Brown said. “The Code of Conduct does not include cross examination, [with] the accused student and reporting student seeing each other in a trial… however, it’s still a draining process.”

According to Policy 828, Title IX does not apply to conduct that does not arise as part of the educational activities and programs of Rice University.

Brown said that it is important to note that amnesty policies protect students if they report a sexual assault or any type of sexual or relationship violence, even if they were breaking the indoor alcohol ban.

month

Content warning: This article contains references to sexual assault. according to Richard Baker, Title IX Coordinator The SAFE Office and Students Turning Rice Into a Violence-Free Environment are currently creating a training schedule in order to provide a refresher bystander July 14, 13 intervention workshop for College Teams 2021 and Student Leaders, according to Cathryn Councill, director of the SAFE Office.

May 14, The red zone refers to the period from 2021 mid-August through Thanksgiving break 43 when students new to a university are most March 14, vulnerable to sexual assault, according to 2021 Councill. This training initiative comes amidst the possibility of a “double red zone” due to two classes of students January 14, who are less familiar with the Rice party 6 2021 experience or campus life, according to STRIVE director Aliza Brown.

November “We really want to look at how to 14, 2020 help mitigate some of that and provide resources and education to especially 32 September support students who may not be familiar 14, 2020 with those parts of the Rice experience,” Brown, a Will Rice senior, said.

Thirty-two reports of sexual July 14, harassment, which includes acts of sexual 2020 violence such as sexual assault, were received by Rice from Aug. 15 to Nov. 14, May 14, 2020, according to University Title IX Initiatives moving forward 2020 Coordinator Richard Baker. Comparatively, Councill said the SAFE office also 49 provides training for staff and faculty, from Nov. 15, 2020 to Feb 14, 2021, there March 14, were six reports. through critically thinking about 2020 These dates reflect when Rice received the societal and systemic issues that the report, not the date of the incident contribute to violence, how to be an which may not have occurred during that active bystander and how to support January 14, period, Baker said. students who have been impacted by 2020 According to Councill, there are a interpersonal violence. variety of possible reasons for the red Karohl said she wants students 5 zone, including new students not knowing 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 to know they are worthy of help and campus culture, being unfamiliar with support without reporting what exactly number of sexual harassment cases reported* their surroundings or due to the process of happened or who hurt them. She also meeting new people and making friends. said students should be mindful about *dates reflect when Rice received the report, not necessarily the date of the incident Councill said sexual assault is in no way creating non-alcohol centered events. the fault of the victim.

“If a friend doesn’t seem like they’re The red zone refers to the period from mid-August “Unfortunately, there are others in interested in going out, offer to hang most communities, including Rice, that back with them and put on a movie in to Thanksgiving break when students new to a could see new students as vulnerable commons or something,” Karohl said. university are most vulnerable to sexual assault. and use power and control to harm them, “Normalizing opting-out can create a or they do not model how to assess for culture where people can express their INFOGRAPHIC BY ANNA CHUNG enthusiastic consent or utilize those skills needs and take care of themselves, and themselves when engaging with others,” I think it will lead to a healthier Rice support to new students, the rape culture zone, such as whether students are overall.”

Councill said.

Libby Atkins, a STRIVE liaison, said all that necessitated these resources to exist overemphasizing the necessity of partying Atkins said to ensure new students’ of these new adjustments can heighten in the first place needs to end,” Atkins said. as they return to campus and whether they first college experience isn’t defined peer pressure and anxieties at the by violence, teaching college students are keeping an eye out for new students. beginning of the semester.

“Sexual assault is both a policy about relationship boundaries and Alcohol and sexual violence “While new students are adjusting Izzie Karohl, the former director of issue and a cultural issue,” Tate, a Sid consent is extremely important. to pressures of social life, some are also the Student Association Interpersonal Richardson College junior, said. “While “Rice prides itself on holding its drinking alcohol for the first time ... not Violence Policy committee, described groups like IPVP and STRIVE and SAFE students to high academic standards. to mention that older students may be the double red zone as a phenomena can work on the policy issue, we need the It is the responsibility of the university drinking or partying more to make up for where multiple classes are new to spaces buy in of the entire campus to improve the to ensure that their students are lost time socializing equipped with the knowledge necessary where alcohol and culture around partying and sex.” at college during Karohl said she helped pilot a to maintain healthy sexual and social drugs are present, the pandemic,” correlating to presentation with STRIVE last semester at relationships too,” Atkins said.

Atkins, a Lovett Brown said it can be easy to to shy higher rates of Jones and McMurtry College to empower College senior, said. While it is absolutely critical upperclassmen to create safe party spaces away from conversations about sexual sexual violence.

According to to share crisis response violence on campus “ P e r s o n a l l y , in the fall, and is STRIVE liaison resources and survivor when students the beginning of working to expand Mallory Newbern, don’t think it will the year always these discussions liaisons undergo support to new students, be applicable to scares me because to all colleges. extensive bystander the rape culture that them, but everyone 51.8 percent of To truly prevent violence, new students training and work necessitated these resources ultimately plays a survivors we have to not only often don’t have female to consistently pass role in upholding the same support of rape and 65.9 address the potential and to exist in the first place this training along the Culture of Care. infrastructure as percent of female to students at their needs to end.

Councill also said other students,” survivors of sexual current victim survivors, but also the people in the colleges. sexual violence touching at Rice Karohl, a Will Rice Libby Atkins “ M a r t e l p r e v e n t i o n their community who could College senior, said. reported specifically is STRIVE LIASON requires the entire “When I was a new assailant had drank be active bystanders holding a meet and community. student, I was less alcohol, according greet for our liaisons this week in an effort likely to reach out for help, ask professors to 2019 Association and those who have the “To truly prevent to connect with underclassmen who do for extensions, and confide in friends of violence, we have American potential to harm others. not necessarily know who we are or what because I had only just met them.” to not only address Universities STRIVE does,” Newbern, a Martel College the potential and Climate Cathryn Councill The SA IPVP committee aims to focus Campus senior, said. current victim on educational, policy, and collaborative survey data. The SAFE OFFICE DIRECTOR Atkins said many new students have initiatives that minimize the occurrence and data also indicated survivors, but also not received good consent or sex education harm of interpersonal violence on campus, that 84.9 percent of female survivors of the people in the community who could when they matriculate to Rice. according to current IPVP director Jacob Tate. rape and 78.3 percent of female survivors be active bystanders and those who have “While it is absolutely critical to share Tate said students should all consider of sexual touching reported drinking the potential to harm others,” Councill crisis response resources and survivor their role in the creation of the red alcohol before the incident. said.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • 3

Rice students discuss legality of moderating hate speech on campus BONNIE ZHAO AND HAJERA NAVEED

ASST NEWS EDITORS

Wiess College is adding a clause banning hate speech to their college constitution, according to Wiess College President Varun Kukunoor. According to Wiess Diversity Facilitator Alizay Azeem, a group of sophomores at Wiess have recently been reported to Wiess Court for regularly using the N-word. “[Those students], as I understand, are non-black and are actually white,” Azeem, a Wiess junior, said. “They’ve been using the N-word casually in terms of not necessarily using it towards people directly in an inflammatory way, but they’re still using it amongst each other. Regardless of their intention, it is still egregious because they are contributing to a hostile environment.”

Azeem said that the Wiess diversity facilitators plan on holding a workshop in a few weeks to address the situation and educate people on the different forms of hate speech.

“After talking with some people in Wiess Cabinet and the president, we decided to only make it mandatory for the class of sophomores because that is more feasible than to get everyone there,” Azeem said.

Rice held a diversity dialogue on Friday Sept. 10 to discuss whether or not the university has the right to monitor students’ speech, specifically regarding hate speech.

Associate Dean of Undergraduates Catherine Clack said that legislating language is very difficult due to the need to encourage free speech on campus. Clack said that during the diversity dialogue on Friday, students were debating how the administration would determine rules about what is acceptable and unacceptable.

“We do need to encourage free speech,” Clack said. “But we also need to make sure that students understand that there are consequences to some things you say. I think that is where students get confused because they want very specific [rules].”

Azeem said she thinks most people at Wiess are on board with including a hate speech clause in the constitution.

“I don’t know the details about the legality of what we can do as I’ve heard other colleges might’ve had trouble with that,” Azeem said. “But when it comes to racial slurs, I don’t think it’s a gray area; it’s pretty black and white. It’s hurting students and it is also a slur with a horrible history

rooted in white supremacy and a lot of [other] problems that we see in America.”

Kukunoor, a senior, said the clause will have writing representation from the Wiess Cabinet, Court and A-Team.

“So far, we haven’t run into any difficulties,” Kukunoor said. “I know one or two other colleges have clauses against hate speech, and that’s what we look to emulate.

At this point, I believe every college constitution should have a clause against hate speech, and it’s never too late to do so.”

Rice defines hate speech as any act of harassment that incites imminent criminal activity or consists of specific threats of violence targeted against a person because of that person’s membership to a protected class, as cited in Policy 830 on Discrimination and Harassment. The policy also states that hate speech does not cover speech ordinarily considered constitutionally protected speech or expression in the educational or public sphere.

Soha Rizvi, the diversity facilitator coordinator, said that she thinks the administration is inherently not going to be supportive of a universal ban on hate speech written in constitutions on the college level.

“Because they are the actual institution and they could get in trouble for stepping on people’s freedom [of speech],” Rizvi said.

“At that point it becomes like a university thing, even if it’s just the students. Whereas I think keeping it within the residential colleges is more of a collective agreement and less of an official document that we have to get into the weeds of legality for.”

According to Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman, any definition of hate speech found in college constitutions would need to be consistent with Policy 830, and violations of that policy are addressed through the disciplinary process described in the Code of Student Conduct.

Gorman said that restorative and educational approaches within each community are encouraged.

“This could include ongoing and broad conversations within each college about civility and respect, small group discussions facilitated by multicultural affairs staff — these activities help promote growth and development and facilitate environments that are positive and welcoming for all,” Gorman wrote in an email to the Thresher.

Rizvi said that workshops or town halls are good ways to address situations publicly but are not actual solutions.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE XU “It’s just a sort of band-aid fixing it, a space for everyone to react to it together,” Rizvi, a Hanszen College senior, said. “Our primary concern is the wellbeing of students and students of marginalized identities to not have to worry about experiencing hate speech or violent speech or anything that threatens their friends, their safety or their right to not feel judged for their identity.”

Rizvi said that some of the typical consequences individuals would face with hate speech are mandatory diversity dialogues with diversity facilitators, removal from student government or college government positions and ineligibility to be an Orientation Week advisor.

“We want people to learn and grow from their mistakes,” Rizvi said. “We want them to have the opportunity to learn without feeling like they ruin everything if they misstep. But there are consequences to your actions.”

According to Rizvi, students have many resources on campus to educate themselves as diversity facilitators and many clubs regularly host educational events. “[It’s hard because] you have to be met halfway,” Rizvi said. “It’s very difficult to get people who aren’t affected by certain issues to show up to the events to talk about those issues.”

In response to the incident that occured at Wiess, Clack said that she would have handled the situation differently than the college will. She said that the college’s approach is likely to be much more understanding,

encouraging and educational compared to her approach.

“I find it hard to believe in this day and age, unless you’re not from the United States ... that you don’t know that the N-word has very severe restrictions to it and has very ugly connotations,” Clack said. “Anyone who says ‘I did not know I couldn’t use it’, or ‘I used it with my friends back home so I thought’, I’m like, ‘No, you still knew better’. You can’t live in this country and not know that.”

Clack said that she believes the best approach is having a conversation with the student to ensure they understand the consequences of their actions. She said that the direction of this conversation depends on what the student’s intentions were and their prior knowledge about the social issue at hand.

Clack said that one of her goals for the upcoming year is to create a restorative justice plan to use in situations where students are deviant in regards to social issues. She said this plan would be rooted in research pertaining to the specific issues at hand, but does not yet fully understand what the plan will entail.

“I’d like to be able to put some teeth into some of these incidents, so that when students say this happened ... they had a conversation with [Student Judicial Programs] and got a slap on the wrist, I can say they also had to do X, Y, and Z in order to meet our restorative justice game plan. And right now, I don’t have anything that allows us to do that.”

Board of Trustees releases comment portal after Task Force’s findings COLIN WEI

STAFF WRITER

The Chair of the Rice Board of Trustees Rob Ladd sent an email on Aug. 31 announcing a trustee portal, a survey that invites the thoughts and comments from the Rice community.

The first question asks for opinions on what specific actions Rice can take to ensure a diverse and inclusive experience, while the second asks about recommendations regarding the Founder’s Memorial.

President David Leebron said that the results from the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice survey last spring did not have an impact on the Board of Trustees’ work during the summer.

“Those were responses posted by the Task Force in response to a Task Force survey … that was not a process run by the board,” Leebron said. “Part of what we wanted to do in our communication to the campus was to call attention to the fact that the Task Force had posted those responses ... as a potential resource for people to look at.”

Shifa Abdul Rahman, the original organizer of Willy statue sit-ins, said that the governing body of Rice puts forward a Task Force to take input from the broad community, but the Board of Trustees set up their own website to do the same thing.

“Why would there be a Task Force implemented if they were going to practically do the same steps that they were going to do

CHANNING WANG / THRESHER Students have sat in at Willy’s statue to protest for its removal for over a year. outside of what the Task Force already did,” Rahman said.

Leebron said the newest survey portal was on hold until the sample responses from the first survey were posted. The difference between the two surveys is that the first one was proposed by the Task Force while the second one is from the Board of Trustees.

Both were addressed to the entire Rice community.

According to Leebron, this new portal is the first time the entire community will have

a chance to submit views and suggestions in light of the work done by the Task Force.

In their summer report, the Task Force executive committee unanimously said the Academic Quadrangle needs bold change due to its segregationist founding and decades of racial exclusion.

Leebron said that the portal will be open until Sept. 30, when the board will analyze all the suggestions that have been submitted in order to formulate a plan for a potential change to the quad.

“I do expect some concrete changes will come out,” Leebron said. “That’s ultimately a decision of the Board of Trustees, but I can tell you the board takes very seriously the work of the task force [and] the comments that were submitted to the task force.”

Eli Mendoza, a Duncan college junior, said he feels that the Board of Trustees is extending the process of changing the statue.

“We all knew that any sort of research that’s done was going to be in support [of] removing said statue,” Mendoza said. “I remember last year even the Kinder Institute put out something about how keeping up those kinds of statues [is] harmful and why we should take them down. And of course, no one at Rice acknowledged that.”

Rahman said the student body should continue to voice their opinion and make themselves heard outside of the framework which the Board of Trustees has given.

“My particular encouragement for them is to … make themselves heard outside of the framework which the Board of Trustees has given,” Rahman said.

Rahman said he believes making the sitins more overt is important, and that students attending sit-ins will try to be more intentional when scheduling protests during tours since he believes the statue is a determinant of how Rice markets itself as an inclusive campus.

Alexander Byrd and Caleb McDaniel, co-chairs of the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation, and Racial Injustice, did not respond in time for publication.

NEWS

4 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

Rice ranked 17 in U.S. News’ 2022 best colleges list tuition and financial aid packages, according to Leebron.

“We remain absolutely committed to Rice fell one place in the 2022 U.S. News assuring our students outstanding value, and World Report’s Best National Universities in terms of the quality of our education, list, tying with Cornell University for No. 17. the outcomes of the education, and the Over the past five years, Rice has ranked as affordability of our education taking into account financial aid,” Leebron said. low as 17 and as high as 14.

Rice placed No. 265 in top performers on President David Leebron said he celebrated Rice’s placement, though he does social mobility. Though Leebron said that Rice is ranked No. 10 among the private institutions not consider rankings too crucial.

“Overall, we were very pleased with the in U.S. News’ top 25 national universities, rankings, especially the Niche ranking of he said he believes Rice needs to improve outcomes for lowRice No. 7 in the income students. country, and Rice “We must being one of only continue to assure four universities to We must continue to that our student body be named to 11 of assure that our student reflects an expanding the ‘Great Lists’ of the socioeconomic Princeton Review,” body reflects an diversity, including Leebron said. “While expanding socioeconomic more lower income we do pay attention to diversity, including more students,” Leebron rankings, it’s not the lower income students. said. “Although our way I would evaluate graduation rates are the most important David Leebron extremely high, we achievements at RICE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT want to work to make Rice.”

Among other categories, U.S. News sure all students graduate, and that those placed Rice at No. 6 in best undergraduate from under-resourced and [under-resourced minority] populations graduate at the same teaching and No. 5 in best value schools.

Leebron said Rice’s faculty deserves the rate as other students.”

Diversity has improved through Leebron’s accolades.

“It is clear from other surveys and 18-year tenure, as have other aspects of the rankings how much our students value university, Leebron said.

“We have become a much more diverse the commitment and engagement of our faculty,” Leebron said. “We owe our faculty a university, effectively ranked as No. 7 by great deal for this dedication and the quality U.S. News among the top 100 national universities,” Leebron said. “We have of instruction.”

Rice’s place as the fifth-best value school, become a much more visible university, both behind Yale University, the Massachusetts nationally and internationally, and that is Institute of Technology, Harvard Universty reflected in both our applicant pool and our and Princeton University, reflects Rice’s student body.”

Rice’s US News Ranking

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Kapwani Kiwanga: The Sand Recalls the Moon’s Shadow Student Reception Saturday, September 18 6 – 8 pm Free | Music by KTRU Complimentary bites + beverages Moody Center for the Arts Welcome back to campus! Join the Moody for this special reception celebrating our latest exhibition, hosted exclusively for Rice students.

Kapwani Kiwanga, White: Gold Morogoro, 2016. Exhibition view, Ujamma, La Ferme du Buisson, Noisiel, France. Artwork ©2021 the artist and ARS, New York / ADAGP, Paris.

Photo © Emile Ouroumov, courtesy of the artist and Galerie Jérôme Poggi, Paris.

moody.rice.edu | @themoodyarts

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • 5

THE RICE THRESHER

EDITORIAL

It is on each of us to be anti-racist and hold others accountable, not just student leaders The use of racial slurs by college students toward their peers is a problem that permeates across college campuses all over the country. The Rice community is no exception. When students say or do racist things, specifically toward other students, there is usually outrage, and rightfully so. However, in most of these instances, the immediate response is to look to student leaders, namely diversity facilitators, for a reaction. While DFs are well-trained in productive mediation and conflict resolution, it cannot fall on just them and other student leaders to provide accountability. If we, as a community, are serious about being anti-racist, then it is on all of us to hold our peers accountable.

This is not to say that there is no place for student leaders to provide accountability when racial slurs are used on campus. Wiess College is currently

attempting to amend their constitution “ordinarily” considered constitutionally to include a clause banning hate speech. protected in an educational or public But there is only so much that leadership, setting.

Rice’s hate speech policy can only be it student or administration, can do to go so far. If the administration cannot prevent hateful speech. implement certain Rice University restrictions for Policy 830 on legal reasons, it Discrimination goes to students to and Harassment Facilitators can host hold one another defines hate accountable; speech as any act events to help educate but the onus of harassment that students, but it takes cannot just be incites “imminent students, including those on DFs and other criminal activity” not directly impacted, to student leaders. or contains Facilitators can “specfic threats of actively engage with these host events to help violence” toward opportunities. educate students, a person based on their membership to a protected class. but it takes students, including those not Additionally, the policy specifically directly impacted, to actively engage with states that it does not cover speech that is these opportunities.

Instead, as students, we have the responsibility to create a culture in which the use of racial slurs is considered unacceptable. There are simple steps students can take, such as calling out their peers if they ever hear racist speech being used, and encouraging others to do the same. But that alone won’t solve the problem. We need to be proactive in letting our peers know that hateful speech won’t be tolerated, and create an environment where this is understood by everyone. All of us need to do better in responding in the moment, not relying on DFs or student leaders to take action after-the-fact.

We as individuals need to create a culture on campus where being racist in public spaces is met with swift consequences, not just from student leaders, but from peers.

OPINION

Are we insignificant? Meaning, science and God We live in an illusioned and disillusioned world.

Misinformation swarms everywhere as a pandemic ravages the planet. Every person has an opinion, every opinion an archenemy next door. We are divided and afraid. For many, another semester of squelched college experience is now wholly overshadowed by the tangible threat of disease and death all around.

A few weeks ago, I had an unexpected conversation with a new friend halfway across the world. We had barely met, but it was already apparent to me that this unconventionally wise bird, though he had never migrated to Rice, fully shared our intellectual diet. In the midst of global crisis, he wanted to gaze beyond the surface and into the essence: What, to begin with, is the meaning of our existence? Now there was a question to ponder.

In the words of Bill Nye, “Everybody is going to die ... It sucks! ... Evolution, if it were an entity, doesn’t really care about you, man.” But with this as the final word, we can only fold our arms and wait until death reduces our every triumph and tragedy, joy and grief, kindness and malice — all into egalitarian nothingness.

Saint and sadist, rich and poor, we all vanish in the same indifferent dust.

My new friend’s answer surprised me.

Arm in arm with the now-late Stephen Hawking, he looked forward to the day scientists would uncover the primary principle of the universe, the so-called Theory of Everything. Then at last, humans would know their place in the puzzle.

I went silent for a while. Whatever “meaning” is, it can only be found beyond ourselves. Though some philosophers

propose we can create our own, their like the laws of physics, ever spawn sleight of hand defaces any semblance of meaning for a personal human? Would the meaning we seek — something greater not meaning for us relational beings than ourselves, to anchor and satisfy, to be found in relationship? But then this Source of meaning must, too, be personal offer direction, to surpass death.

But then even the Theory of Everything and relational. Now if meaning completes will not do. What chance do tiny specks man and the universe, then of all things, of dust like us stand to uncover the that meaning must be called “good.” Yet fathomless principle behind the whole if the Source has done ultimate good by incomprehensibly vast universe within the providing meaning, would not the Source extend that goodness meager lifetime to everyone? of our species?

Let history speak Surely we will for itself. far sooner go Two millennia ago, extinct. And even COVID has violently if we stumble scraped through our layers at the crossroads of ancient civilization, upon the answer, of illusions and exposed a man was brutally can a material executed as the u n d e r s t a n d i n g the raw truth underneath: enemy of two nations. of the world ever death is closer to you Shortly thereafter, tell us something and me than we imagine. his followers, a band more than that of unextraordinary we are a peculiar And if we are nothing but Jewish peasants, c o n f i g u r a t i o n matter, cells bound to live began boldly of subatomic today and die tomorrow, proclaiming — on particles — with then any pleasure we taste pain of ostracization, no place for whipping and death — p e r s o n h o o d , today and any legacy we that this was the one h u m a n i t y , leave for tomorrow—is for whom generations dignity, rights, meaningless. had waited since time morality?

Bill Nye’s words ring true: Natural processes immemorial, and that he had risen from the grave, defeating the slavemaster of all do not care.

No, if it is “meaning” we seek, we humanity: death. Less than thirty years will have to look elsewhere. And so, as later, every social division was crumbling “one beggar telling another where to find in the wake of this message; Jew and bread,” I began to trace a new trail with Greek, slave and free, man and woman relinquished their pasts for a new purpose my friend.

If meaning exists, I reasoned, then found in one they called “Lord” and to like all things, it must have a source. And whom they sang in one voice, “And he is if that meaning is for personal beings before all things, and in him all things like us, it must validate our personhood. hold together.” Two thousand years later, But how could an impersonal “Source,” their song continues.

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PHOTO & ILLUSTRATION Channing Wang Photo Editor Katherine Hui Asst. Photo Editor Chloe Xu Illustrator Ndidi Nwosu Illustrator DESIGN Robert Heeter Art Director, Opinion Anna Chung News Katherine Chui Features/Backpage Ivana Hsyung Arts & Entertainment Katherine Hui Sports BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Karoline Sun Business Operations Deema Beram Social Media Amanda Mae Ashley Distribution

COVID has violently scraped through our layers of illusions and exposed the raw truth underneath: Death is closer to you and me than we imagine. And if we are nothing but matter, cells bound to live today and die tomorrow, then any pleasure we taste today and any legacy we leave for tomorrow — is meaningless.

Then life is no longer life, but living death.

“God is dead … and we have killed him,” said Nietzsche about modern man who had outgrown God. But did Nietzsche not realize in killing God, we also killed man?

Science offers no solace. It provides invaluable insight into the physical, but meaning is metaphysical, dare I say spiritual. Where do we go next? Where can we go? We killed God, it is said, and man died with Him. But this is only a parody of the real story, for when God became a man, He not only tasted death — but rose again three days later. This semester, do not look away from the ugly face of death, but consider the One who defeated it.

Come and test His claims, ask questions, seek answers. See the arc of history and the grandeur of the universe bending under the weight of His glory, and hear His voice offering you meaning, hope and love.

Could the Theory of Everything be not something but Someone? In the words of Jesus of Nazareth, “Come and see.”

Matey Yanakiev WILL RICE COLLEGE SENIOR

Have an opinion? Submit your draft to thresher@rice.edu.

The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper of 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 right 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 2021

6 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

FEATURES

THE RICE THRESHER

Climate lecture Writer Amitav Ghosh discussed climate change and imperialism in a lecture on campus.

See more at ricethresher.org

International students talk challenges amid the pandemic SHREYA JINDAL

FOR THE THRESHER As the COVID-19 pandemic rages worldwide for another school year, it continues to bring about uncertainty and stress for Rice’s international student community. After facing numerous stressors such as ever-changing travel restrictions, visa problems and time zone differences, the majority of international students arrived on campus this August, according to the Office of International Students and Scholars.

As the primary support office for international students, the OISS dealt firsthand with many international students’ specific problems that occurred as a result of the pandemic, including U.S. embassy closures, flight cancellations and special in-person course requirements of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to Adria Baker, the executive director of the OISS. This year’s matriculating class had a 53 percent increase in international student population. According to the OISS, this increase is due in part to Rice’s successful management of the pandemic.

“We believe it is a reflection of the care that the Rice community has shown in trying to keep people safe, adjusting classes as needed, [enacting] strong COVID-19 policies, [making] testing well available and [providing] vaccination clinics,” Baker said.

This increase in population will have a significant impact on the OISS staff in particular, according to Baker.

“It increases our enthusiasm with each new student, but the amount of follow-up, compliance needs, work authorization, questions, concerns, and students’ issues have greatly increased,” Baker said.

During the pandemic, the OISS has held events that are normally in person virtually. Normally held a few days prior to Orientation Week, the Undergraduate International Orientation (UIO) would provide guidance on setting up phone numbers and bank accounts along with information about visa requirements. “[UIO] is geared for those students who did not do their education in the USA, as well as those students who need to understand the parameters, limits and benefits of their nonimmigrant visa,” Baker said. “[For the last two] years we held Zoom pre-O-Week meetings, as well as meetings during O-Week. We had some in-person gatherings outside for the students [as well].”

Kelly Shang, a sophomore at Hanszen College, spent her first year remotely in China and came to Rice this semester.

Last fall, she took Rice classes online while living on campus at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) in Shenzhen. For the second semester, Shang chose to move back to her home in Nanjing to be with her family, she said.

According to Shang, living at SUSTech allowed her to meet many other Chinese students who were attending Rice remotely. She said she was also able to bond closely with her three roommates.

Due to these friendships, her remote experience last year did not hinder her recent transition to Rice campus life, she said.

“I already know so many friends, either from SUSTech or just from Zoom,” Shang said. “My friends that went in person last year, they’re already very familiar with the campus, so I never actually get lost ...

I feel very secure.”

Martel College sophomore Joshua Chiang said he is also on campus for the first time this semester. While Chiang

ILLUSTRATION BY NDIDI NWOSU

is a U.S. citizen, he was a remote Rice more vulnerable to COVID-19 than the student in Taiwan last year. He said the U.S. “International students probably need absence of support from the OISS made more support than ever before,” she his transition to campus more difficult.

“That sort of in-between category said. “And I felt like emotional and social isn’t really accounted for when it comes resources [don’t] really exist that much to easing in and settling,” Chiang said. at Rice. Because I don’t think that that is “Opening a bank account and setting OISS’ job.”

Quarantines and other travel-related up your phone number are all things I figured out myself because I don’t have restrictions remain obstacles for students that [resource] … I think the lack of from abroad. Jain said she will not be outreach from the OISS to students like returning to Hong Kong for the upcoming winter break. me can sometimes feel alienating.”

“This winter break, I definitely will Baker said that the OISS provides special services to visa-holders, who not be going home to Hong Kong because must meet specific requirements and that it just doesn’t make sense,” Jain said. the academic and that apart from UIO, “Because they’ve now increased [the onthe social resources for international arrival quarantine] to 21 days, I would students and US citizens living abroad literally quarantine and then come back.

There’s just no point.” are the same.

Jain said she traveled to campus as Lovett College sophomore Mehek Jain who is originally from Hong Kong an incoming freshman alone due to and Singapore, came to campus last numerous travel restrictions.

“Even if financially it was feasible for fall. Upon arrival at Rice, Chiang and Jain both said they noted a difference in parents to come, it didn’t make sense American attitudes towards the pandemic logically and with travel restrictions,” and vaccines compared to their home Jain said. “I came alone in the summer countries. While COVID-19 vaccines have in August [2020] … which was obviously been widely available in America and at intimidating — coming to the U.S. for the Rice, many countries still do not have the first time on my specific student visa ... and then setting up same access. everything on my “For me to own.” get my vaccine, I Jain said many really had to use International students international connections,” students that she Chiang said. “But probably need more talked to in her here in America, support than ever before. matriculating class you can just walk And I felt like emotional struggled with in wherever you and social resources obtaining a U.S. want [and get] visa since many the vaccine. That [don’t] really exist that of the embassies also influences much at Rice. were closed in the everyone’s summer of 2020 due attitude where Mehek Jain to the pandemic. they’re like, LOVETT COLLEGE SOPHOMORE “My visa ‘We’re vaccinated.

We’re fine, we can relax.’ But for people appointment was three days before my who are coming from abroad [inoculated] flight,” Jain said. “And I was like, ‘Well, with different vaccines that may not be if something goes wrong, I’m screwed.’”

Sini Koivu, a Hanszen junior from as effective as the ones Americans have access to, [living at Rice] definitely can Finland, also said she faced last-minute changes when arranging her plans for feel a little scary at some times.”

Jain said that it is very likely that the returning to campus last fall. Koivu families of students from abroad are said she and her friends from Rice unvaccinated and living in an area far had to consider traveling to a country

outside Europe for two weeks and then flying to the U.S. from there due to U.S. immigration restrictions.

“We made all these travel plans and it started to sound super expensive, and we were worried that we wouldn’t even be able to come back [to Rice],” Koivu said.

“Luckily, those [restrictions] were lifted maybe two weeks before we were flying back. But, [they] definitely increased stress for many of us. Some of my friends actually had to delay their start to college because of those issues; they were not able to get their visa early enough.”

A swimmer for Rice, Koivu said she did not fly home during her two-week winter break last year due to Finland’s quarantine requirements and the shortened length of the swim team’s vacation.

“Christmas is family time for my family, so not being able to be there for people that I only see once a year was a little frustrating and emotionally draining,” Koivu said. “But I think I didn’t realize [that until afterward], when I was tired to even start the semester.”

Remote students faced different issues last year. In far away time zones, some classes were scheduled at odd hours.

Chiang and Shang said they attended the same architecture studio class at 6 a.m. local time in China.

“I [would] always pull all-nighters to try to finish my work before studio,” Shang said. “Every time I finished my class, I would go out and see my friends during [the] daytime. So I feel like my sleep pattern [was] very disturbed because I wanted to [do] my schoolwork and have fun at the same time. It was just a mess.”

Chiang said one of the biggest struggles was the lack of a collaborative academic environment, particularly in his asynchronous classes, due to the virtual format and different time zones.

“When you’re watching a recording, you feel a lot less engaged with the class because you’re also receiving information after everyone else,” Chiang said. “You feel a sense of behindness … being isolated, abroad, from people who are doing the same work as you, but you’re just doing it by yourself.”

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • 7

FROM PAGE 1

REFLECTING ON 9/11 Division I conference commissioners and head coaches decided to play games as scheduled on the weekend following the attacks. However, Rice’s athletics director at the time, Bobby May, made the decision not to have Rice teams compete on that weekend and declined to play a previously scheduled football game against Nebraska.

“Clearly everybody wants to do the right thing,” May told the Thresher in 2001. “We felt this was the right thing for Rice, to wait a while before we get back in the swing of things. Other schools are taking another course of action, and we respect those schools as well.”

Twenty years later, our campus — and our world — is dealing with a different type of catastrophe, and yet certain aspects of how our community deals with tragedy remains the same.

In a frontpage article from the Sept.14, 2001 issue, the Thresher introduces the Crisis Management Team as “a group that meets in emergencies.” These days, the Thresher no longer includes a description of the team’s role, as students receive weekly COVID-19 update emails — as well as this week’s hurricane update emails — from the team.

After news of the 9/11 attacks spread, the Crisis Management team created a website to keep students informed about the tragedy — mirroring the 2020-created “COVID at Rice” page. The team also sent an email allowing professors to decide

whether their class would be canceled that day — a message which was met with both positive and negative feedback.

Malcolm Gillis, Rice’s university president at the time, told the Thresher in 2001 that he thought attending class could provide some benefits.

“For some, going to class was cathartic [on Tuesday morning], and I know of some instances where classes became venues for trying to understand what is really not understandable,” Gillis said.

However, multiple students told the Thresher that they found it strange to attend classes as normal.

“I was like, ‘How can we be sitting in class?”’ Sara Nilsson, a Hanszen College senior at the time, said. “I just wanted to go to the chapel and pray.”

In a letter to the editor entitled “Rice should have canceled classes,” Jennifer Canada — a Martel College junior at the time — condemned the Crisis Management Team’s decision not to cancel classes.

“It is extremely appalling that Rice should refuse to acknowledge the gravity of such an event. Tuesday should have been a day of mourning for the entire country,” Canada wrote. “The physical blast may have only affected Manhattan and Washington D.C., but the emotional shockwave spread across the nation.

It is time for Rice to acknowledge that sometimes no amount of hedges can keep out the real world.”

Although the ongoing nature of the pandemic calls for classes to continue through tragedy, there continues to be

controversy surrounding the manner in which classes are held. When Rice first announced a return to some in-person classes for the fall of 2020, the Thresher published two guest opinion pieces and two letters to the editor criticizing the decision and calling for a fully virtual semester.

“Houston is in the midst of an intense COVID-19 epidemic that is getting worse by the day,” Moshe Vardi, a professor of computational engineering, said. “The conditions are bad enough that the mayor and county executive are pleading for permission from the Texas governor to declare a second lockdown. I feel compelled to share my concerns.”

Times of struggle often call for support.

But for those who did not remain on the front lines, it may have been unclear how to provide this help, as the New York Times wrote in 2001. The Thresher’s staff editorial in 2001 listed ways in which students at the time did their best to help — through organizing blood drives, clothing drives, and other relief measures.

Throughout the tragedies of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rice community has continued to find ways to support its members. Last November, after staff member Margarita Rodriguez passed away due to complications related to COVID-19, the campus mourned — with one student organizing a GoFundMe to support her family. Earlier that semester, a group of six students launched Rice Mutual Aid, a mutual aid network aiming to compile both financial and non-monetary resources in response to the pandemic.

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1 Rank above CPT 4 A game hunter’s weapon 9 TV show which led to The Legend of Korra 13 Colombian cow 14 One related by marriage 15 Pull an all-nighter to study 16 JLo’s baseball-playing ex 17 Search extensively 18 Polynesian wood carving 19 “The ____, the merrier”

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20 Dong leader 21 Jeered 22 Places you might find lily pads 24 Central Cairo square of Arab Spring 26 URL like Facebook or Reddit 27 Peaked, as a wave 29 Holding hands in the park, e.g.

32 Uncooked 33 Device to record brain activity, abbr.

34 Fishing line holder 35 McMurtry is _______

Amid larger gestures of support, some students reached out in smaller ways. After students rushed to receive last-minute vaccine doses during the winter storm in February, some Rice students brought hot water, hot chocolate and snacks to the students waiting in the cold. One Rice alum, who stood in line for vaccines with her mother, wrote a letter to the editor detailing her gratitude for the small act of kindness.

“While the vaccines ran out before us, it was one of the few times in the last year where I felt part of a community of people, generously helping each other persevere and hold on to the hope that what we all want and need so badly is within reach if we stick it out together,” Emily Nichol, Wiess College ‘13, wrote. “It was also just really nice. You reminded me that there are good humans — strangers — who will cheer you on when you need it.”

Looking at how the Rice community responded to the horror of 9/11 can provide us with guideposts on how to navigate grief today. Although 9/11 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are two vastly different tragedies, the Thresher editorial board’s 2001 words still ring true today.

“On a personal level, we can provide comfort and strength to one another just by being around,” the editorial board wrote. “There’s a strong support system here at Rice, and whether you choose to go to a friend, a peer counselor, a master or a mentor, take advantage of being inside the hedges.”

39 Bright 41 Prayer closer 42 New Deal home loan org.

44 Haul 45 Short albums, in short 46 Took in 48 “Mr. Blue Sky” grp.

51 Cold Starbucks drink 52 Canvas holder 54 Sole supporter?

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1 Strand at sea 2 Oak tree nuts 3 Like many seniors 4 Providence design sch.

5 Provoke 6 Allergy medication administered via nasal spray 7 Where one may take a lamb?

8 Newark’s IATA code 9 Break down, mathematically?

10 The Powerpuff Girls, for one 11 Tahoe or Pontchartrain 12 Among 13 “All Night” artist The _____ 21 Raise your hand, at an auction 23 Peruse 25 Entertain 28 Country home to Hutus and Tutsis 29 Plant studied by Mendel 30 Bear abode 31 Elev. on a gauge 32 Finished a 5k, say 34 Gamer’s masterpiece?

35 2010s pet name 36 Unit of current 37 “Super Mario Bros” and “The Legend of Zelda” console 38 Moving like a bunny?

40 Dapper fellow 43 Give a hand?

46 Field of Georgia O’Keefe or Frida Kahlo 47 Tiny 48 Make a getaway 49 Hyped (up) 50 Ancient Mesoamerican culture with famous heads 51 Light as a feather?

53 Fancy neckwear 54 Fasten (in), for a biker 55 Swoosh, for Nike 56 DeNicco course code 58 Memo header, abbr.

61 Olympic footballer Dos Santos

59 Ponzi scheme, for one 60 Hubs 61 Huge 62 Edna Mode’s least favorite superhero accessory?

63 Frankenstein’s henchman 64 Some Arctic natives 65 Oil cartel dominated by the SWANA countries 66 Miniature horse 67 Humorous poet Nash 68 Fictional football manager Lasso

THE RICE THRESHER

8 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT Feminine joy and resistance: “Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s” opens at the Menil

Reviews Galore:

Visit our website to read staff reviews of newly released album and films at ricethresher.org.

PHOTO COURTESY COLUMBIA RECORDS

JACOB TATE

SENIOR WRITER

“She was the first free woman I saw,” iconic feminist Gloria Steinem once remarked after seeing Niki de Saint Phalle in the streets of New York. While de Saint Phalle would never claim to be free from the patriarchal violence that particularly targets women, her artwork throughout the 1960s charts the work of an artist seeking to become free. “Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s,” open free of charge at the Menil Collection now until Jan. 23, 2022, portrays the evolution of the iconic artist’s questioning, raging and joyous feminist works throughout her most radical period.

Prior to entering the gallery, “Bathing Beauty” greets the visitor: a voluptuous, colorful and topsy-turvy sculpture of a feminine figure spreading out to claim space. A stark departure from the constrained female forms of the nearby Cullen Sculpture Garden, this sculpture welcomes us with a thesis: de Saint Phalle aims to freely exist and inhabit as much space as she pleases. A turn into the gallery confirms this thesis as a massive painting looms directly in front of us.

The exhibit proceeds chronologically, beginning with de Saint Phalle’s early works as an assemblage artist. While not as ideologically cogent nor aesthetically striking as her later works in the decade, the assemblage becomes a key trope throughout her work. Additionally, the start of the decade demarcates when de Saint Phalle began to consider her audience.

“She starts to think about audience participation,” Co-Curator Michelle White said. “For ‘Portrait of a Lover,’ she created a portmanteau of her exes and told gallery audiences to throw darts at it.”

Within the next year, darts turned to bullets. In what would become one of her signatures, de Saint Phalle began creating “Tirs” or shooting paintings in 1961. After collecting assemblages of found objects into plaster, she places containers of pigment that are then shot to explode color over the canvas. Her theatrical shootings that encouraged audience participation made de Saint Phalle a press sensation. This exhibit features several of de Saint Phalle’s largest Tirs,

PHOTO COURTESY COLUMBIA RECORDS

‘Melodic Blue’ JACOB PELLEGRINO

THRESHER STAFF photo courtesy the menil collection.

imposingly towering over gallery visitors.

These shooting paintings feature splatters of paint, the physical representations of her rage at the violent patriarchy while she simultaneously reclaims the symbolic tools of that violence.

However, by 1963, de Saint Phalle felt as if the “Tirs” had done their job. In White’s words, “she killed the patriarchy and moved to make the matriarchy” by starting a new iconic series: the “Nanas.”

Sarcastically derived from a condescending French word that roughly translates to “broads,” the “Nanas” aim to change the depiction of women within art. Whereas sculptures typically operate under the male gaze and categorize women into static identity categories, the “Nanas” both reclaim archetypes by leaning into the imagined monstrous woman while also creating complexities via the assemblage of objects placed upon them.

Despite the heavy context of feminism, Rebecca Rabinow, the director of the Menil Collection, said, “These women are joyous [and] more than one thing.”

De Saint Phalle thus settled into the iconography of the “Nanas” and expounded upon them gloriously for the remainder of the decade. From the typical “Nanas” arose permutations attached to specific archetypes (such as the bride) and even mini “Nanas.” With the addition of the drawn “Nanas,” the throughline remained ideological, not material. De Saint Phalle’s work, which began violently and latently cynical, had devoted itself to the celebration of the female form freed from the patriarchal context of its oppression.

Bringing herself back to her roots of audience participation, de Saint Phalle proceeded to explore the interaction between viewers and the “Nanas.”

“The ‘Nanas’ show her desire for monumentality in the public,” Jill Dawsey, co-curator, said. “There’s a drive to

expand, a want to create sculptures that usually commemorate male victories.”

Thus, the final room features video and photo recreation of the largest “Nana,” Hon. This sculpture, made and destroyed in Stockholm, features a woman laying back and giving birth.

Visitors may walk through her vagina and into her, observing the cacophonous delights de Saint Phalle placed within her nana. From the humble roots of plaster assemblages, de Saint Phalle completed a monumental assemblage celebrating the female form.

“She makes a conscious decision that joy is a serious subject,” Bloom Cardenas, de Saint Phalle’s granddaughter, said.

“There is a strong desire to put joyous women in the world.”

The visitor is then left with this joy and a profound understanding of the significance of de Saint Phalle’s art.

Much art comes from feminist ideas and much art is certainly attributed to feminist ideas but “Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s” centers and uplifts the feminine, just as de Saint Phalle’s own work does.

Despite the fact that the 1960s ended half a century ago, a feminist viewing of de Saint Phalle’s work rings just as true now as it did then. Women are still systematically denied power (and rage). Women are still devalued through sexist archetypes. In light of Texas’s recent decision to ban abortions after six weeks and instill another element of patriarchal control over the body, de Saint Phalle’s work to reclaim her own body, along with the symbolic body of the feminine, appears even more essential. While de Saint Phalle offers us a palette and path of feminine joy, she still reminds us of the dire need for resistance: in “Homage to Jasper John,” she shot a pouch of pigment and paint exploded, like blood, onto a coat hanger.

Baby Keem crafts a well-produced and enjoyable debut album with “The Melodic Blue,” incorporating a wide range of styles and emotions throughout the album to keep listeners engaged.

PHOTO COURTESY MARVEL

‘Shang-Chi’ JOHNNY WANG

THRESHER STAFF

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, MarT Legend of the vel’s “Shang Chi and the Ten Rings” is a stunning visual adventure that seeks to encapsulate the richness of Asian culture.

PHOTO COURTESY INTERSCOPE RECORDS

‘star-crossed’ CALEB DUKES

THRESHER STAFF

With the release of the album and film “star-crossed,” Musgraves is finally letting us in. All the way in.

Read more online at ricethresher.org.

WEEKLY SCENES AND SCREENS “SUNFORCEOCEANLIFE”

“MY FAIR LADY”

Ernesto Neto’s “SunForceOceanLife” will open Sept. 15 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. It is included with general admission which is free with a Rice ID. The immersive exhibit will be available through Sept. 26.

The touring company of “My Fair Lady” from the Lincoln Theater Center will be performing at the Hobby Center through Sept. 19. Tickets begin at $35 and are available for purchase online.

POKÉWORKS OPENS Attend the grand opening of the new Pokéworks in Rice Village on Sept. 18 for a buy one, get one free on bowls and burritos between 11:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

MOSAIC WORKSHOP Learn the basics of mosaic art with this beginner mosaic workshop at Smither Park on Sept. 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The event takes place entirely outside, and the $5 ticket includes all needed materials. Tickets are available for purchase online.

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • 9

Kapwani Kiwanga makes Houston debut in new Moody exhibit JULIA LI

SENIOR WRITER

In late September, the Moody Center for the Arts will be showcasing Paris-based artist Kapwani Kiwanga’s first exhibition in Houston, “The Sand Recalls the Moon’s Shadow.” Due to challenges resulting from COVID-19 travel restrictions, Associate Curator Ylinka Barotto said she worked collaboratively with her colleagues to organize the exhibition entirely over Zoom and WhatsApp. “Kiwanga uses materials as a starting point to generate new perspectives, and I was intrigued by what topics she would decide to explore in regards to Texas,” Barotto said. “She sees geology as an ‘archive of a place’ and a study of the Texas landscape prompted her to further her research into extraction methods. In addition to being interdisciplinary, her practice explores urgent themes that relate to the current global sociopolitical situation.”

The exhibition features two immersive installations and investigates linkages on a local, national and global scale between trade and labor as well as society and the environment. The first installation, “Maya-Bantu,” explores sisal, a historically significant crop for Tanzania, as a medium.

The flowering plant yields a stiff fiber that’s often used in fabricating ropes. Despite its unassuming appearance, the crop served a crucial role in helping the nation’s agricultural economy to expand after Tanzania’s liberation from Britain. Kapwani refashions sisal to create a minimalist, pearly-white sculpture to demonstrate the self-sufficiency and resilience of the nation’s desire to thrive.

The second installation, “Dune,” highlights the issue of fracking in Texas by utilizing sand from southern Texas.

Fracking has been a key component in the recent growth of Texas’s economy. Although the process has been praised for its ability to withdraw natural gas and oil from rocks, it has also been criticized for the harmful toxins and pollutants it releases into the environment. Dune tackles the controversial topic of fracking and its effects on the Texan economy, landscape and population.

“I have been following Kiwanga’s practice for years; her research-based approach, informed by her studies in

anthropology, has always fascinated and inspired me,” Barotto said. “Kapwani and I had a studio visit as soon as I started working at the Moody [Center] two years ago, and, soon after, we invited her for this fall exhibition.”

The showcase will also feature a 2012 video titled “Vumbi” or “dust” in the East African language of Kiswahili. Vumbi is a red powder found on the Tanzanian landscape during the dry season. The video focuses on the separation of vumbi from the

green foliage, drawing attention to nature’s force.

“Rice students have a great opportunity to see the work of an internationally recognized artist who speaks to the ecological and social history their generation is inheriting,” Barotto said.

“This is a special opportunity to meditate on what their role may be at the intersection of economy and environment in Texas while seeing incredible art without having to leave campus.”

Photo courtesy moody center for the arts

THE RICE THRESHER

10 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

SPORTS RECAP

Owls kick the Bayou Bucket against Houston

PAVITHR GOLI

SENIOR WRITER

The Rice football team failed to take home the Bayou Bucket on Saturday in front of a home crowd of over 26,000 fans, losing to the University of Houston by a score of 44-7. The loss dropped the Owls to 0-2 on the season, while it capped off a big week for their crosstown rivals, who were recently invited to join the Big 12 Conference, with their first win of the season.

According to head coach Mike Bloomgren, the Owls did not have any answers for the Cougars’ on either side of the ball.

“I’m a little bit shell-shocked right now,” Bloomgren said. “That’s not at all how I thought this game would go. I wasn’t prepared for it to go that way. I thought we would be able to fight them tooth and nail and that’s not the way it went. I don’t have a lot of answers for you. I didn’t have a whole lot of answers for the team.”

The first quarter of the home opener was one to forget for the Owls. The defense was unable to contain the Cougars as their offense scored 17 points with 188 yards of offense. The Owls offense was mostly ineffective as they only held the ball for 3 minutes and 20 seconds and only gained 30 yards.

Bloomgren said that the Cougars’ offense got going before the Owls’ defense had a chance to settle in the game.

“They did a heck of a job,” Bloomgren said.“To come in and to be able to score 17 points that quick on our defense, that’s tough stuff. Offensively we weren’t able to keep the ball. Anytime somebody scores in the first quarter or on the first drive, you know it’s like okay let’s get our bearings.

Unfortunately, there were like three drives before we were able to settle in.

As the game went on turnovers on the offensive side of the ball stymied the Owls’ attempt to level the score.

Redshirt freshman quarterback McCaffrey, who was handed the starting quarterback role after redshirt sophomore Wiley Green threw three interceptions in the Owls’ opener against Arkansas, went 9-19 with just 86 passing yards and one touchdown to go along with three interceptions of his own. McCaffrey said that he needed to do a better job protecting the ball and leading this offense.

“There’s a lot of room for improvement as our team, obviously, that’s reflected on the score, but, me personally, I got to do my job better protecting the football and distributing the ball,” McCaffrey said.

“We had a couple of drives where we’re driving and then they end, and that’s the consistency factor that we’ll have to reflect back on and find an answer for.”

Bloomgren said that more playing time would be significant for McCaffrey’s

I’m a bit shell shocked right now. That’s not at all how I thought this game would go.

Mike Bloomgren HEAD COACH improvement, given that he only joined the program over the summer after transferring from the University of Nebraska.

“Luke has been here since mid-June and every rep he gets has value, and he improves as he learns,” Bloomgren said.

“When the quarterback doesn’t have time

Photo COURTESY Tim Warner – RICE ATHLETICS

Redshirt sophomore fullback Brendan Suckley takes on a defender this past Saturday against the University of Houston. The Owls dropped the game to their crosstown rivals 44-7.

to get his back plant foot in the ground on a five-step drop, it’s hard to evaluate, it’s hard to blame him.”

The closest the Owls came to getting back into the game was an 11-play, 81-yard touchdown drive in the final seconds of the first half, which brought the Owls within ten. However, the Cougars responded immediately at the start of the second half, with a 17-play, 75-yard touchdown drive of their own. On that drive, the Cougars converted two third down attempts for 19 and 17 yards, to extend the drive and eventually put the game out of reach.

According to redshirt senior defensive lineman Elijah Garcia, who had six tackles and 0.5 sacks on Saturday, the defense’s inability to force fourth downs was part of the Owls’ downfall.

“I thought we played hard up front. On the back end, though, they threw some bombs [deep passes] on us. Part of that is on us too in [pressuring] the quarterback and helping out our secondary,” Garcia said. “It’s definitely tough. This week we just got to work on third down and just

getting off the field, because that really hurt us today.”

Despite two consecutive large losses, Bloomgren is remaining optimistic that the team can improve and still achieve the goals that they started the season with.

“We just need a lot of growth if we’re going to do the things we’ve talked about in this program this year,” Bloomgren said. “I still think we can. I don’t think this is going to be terminal. This is not going to affect our ability to go to a bowl and win it. But if we play like this, there is a zero chance.”

Next Saturday, the Owls will make the trip to Austin to play the University of Texas (1-1) at 7:00 pm.

Despite the matchup against this big program, Bloomgren is wary of the challenges that are on his squad that need to be solved.

“We’ve got a heck of an opponent coming up in Texas next week, but we’ve got a lot to solve with the Rice Owls before we worry about any other opponent right now,” Bloomgren said.

Volleyball sweeps the weekend, records two wins at home SHILOH MILLER

FOR THE THRESHER

Over the weekend, Rice volleyball closed out their homestand in strong fashion, with sweeps of Louisiana State University and Sam Houston State University in the Adidas Invitational II. On Friday evening, the Owls conducted a 3-0 performance over the LSU Tigers inside Tudor Fieldhouse. The Owls followed this up with another home win over the SHSU Bearkats on Sunday afternoon for their second sweep on the weekend and their fourth consecutive win. These back-to-back sweeps bring the Owls’ season record to 4-3.

In the first match of the invitational, the Owls defeated the Tigers in straight sets

behind a historic night from senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon. Catching fire early in the first set, Rice took a 6-2 lead and never looked back, closing the first frame out by a margin of 25-18. The second set proved more competitive, but the Owls maintained their composure to fight off a late LSU push and preserve a 25-23 victory. The Owls wrapped up the night with a 25-19 win in the third set, featuring Lennon’s match-high 18th kill that elevated her to No. 2 overall in Rice history for total number of career kills. While Lennon said that chasing school records is definitely a conscious effort in her mind, her ultimate motivation is facilitating the team’s success.

“It would be a dream come true to smash the all-time kills record, or to reach 2,000

kills,” Lennon said. “However, the best thing about these goals is that [reaching] them is beneficial to my team. If I can perform well offensively so that we can win games and have another historic season, then it’s a winwin situation.”

In addition to Lennon’s historical kill and strong attacking presence, junior right side Ellie Bichelmeyer and freshman outside hitter Sahara Maruska each added eight kills apiece, while junior setter Carly Graham converted her fourth double-double of the season with 35 assists and 13 digs.

It would be a dream come true to smash the [Rice] all-time kills record. However, the best thing about these goals is that [reaching] them is beneficial to my team.

Nicole Lennon SENIOR OUTSIDE HITTER

Photo COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS

Junior middle blocker Anota Adekunle and senior outside hitter Nicole Lennon celebrate a point. The Owls won their two games over the weekend in straight sets to improve to 4-3.

The offense carried over its momentum into Sunday’s battle against SHSU. The Owls took the first set 25-21, but found themselves in a 13-7 deficit in the middle of the second frame. In a tight fight, the Owls climbed their way back to a 28-26 victory, before completing the sweep with a 25-17 victory in the third set.

Head coach Genny Volpe said she was proud

of their team’s grit and resilience to come out on top amidst some competitive and tight scenarios.

“I was pleased with our focus, and confidence when we were pushed by both teams,” Volpe said. “We have had some tough battles this season, and to see us maintain our composure under pressure and find a way to sweep those teams was a really good sign.”

Volpe also said that she was happy with the team’s execution on the offensive side, as the Owls hit a season best 0.384 as a team against the Bearkats. Graham contributed 46 assists and Maruska tallied a career high of 15 kills on 25 attacks (0.520). Once again, Lennon led the way with her offensive force, topping even her previous game’s performance by recording 26 kills and adding 11 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Lennon said that she credits her ability to consistently produce top performances to her teammates and the connections they make on the court.

“Honestly, my performance is heavily dependent on my teammates,” she said. “Of course, I’ve learned to be more consistent over the years, but it takes a true team effort in order for me to have games like I did this weekend. I’d like to give special credit to my setter Carly, because we have been working a lot on our chemistry lately, and she gave me the most amazing sets this weekend.”

After completing their five-game homestand, the Owls will next travel to Waco, Texas for the Baylor Classic later this week. They will look to extend their four game winning streak against No. 12 Baylor University on Thursday and McNeese State University on Friday; both at 5:00 p.m.

SPORTS

PREVIEW

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • 11

Not because it’s easy: Rice heads to UT

DANIEL SCHRAGER

SPORTS EDITOR

It’s well established that Rice hasn’t beaten the University of Texas, Austin at football in a while – 27 years to be exact. You’d have to go back even longer, to 1965, to find the last time the Owls did what they’ll try to do on Saturday – beat the Longhorns in Austin. As they prepare, head coach Mike Bloomgren said that the Owls can’t afford to focus on the magnitude of the game.

“Our focus is going to be on us,” Bloomgren said. “[It’s going to be] on fixing the things that need to be fixed, and on preparing to play our style of football this weekend.

The Owls enter the game at 0-2. After hanging with the University of Arkansas through three quarters in their season opener, the Razorbacks ran in way with the game in the fourth quarter to hand the Owls a 21-point loss. Then, last week, the Owls took a beating from the University of Houston in a 44-7 loss.

Going into week three, the Owls will make some changes. Most notably, they finally have clarity at the quarterback position. After switching between redshirt sophomore Wiley Green and redshirt freshman Luke McCaffery in week one, McCaffery led the offense the entire game against UH, despite throwing three interceptions. According to Bloomgren, while both quarterbacks are prepared to run the offense, he is sticking with McCaffery, who only recently joined the Owls from the University of Nebraska, going forward.

“We are going forward with Luke McCafery right now,” Bloomgren said. “We think [he] gives our team the best opportunity to be successful. There [are] things that he brings to the position and to the team that are different – the ability to affect the game with his legs, the ability to keep plays alive.”

Texas, meanwhile, enters the game on the heels of a disappointing loss, also at the hands of the Razorbacks. The Longhorns entered the game ranked No. 15 in the country, their 4021 loss knocked them out of the AP rankings entirely. The Razorbacks ran for 333 yards, including 73 from quarterback KJ Jefferson.

According to Bloomgren, the Owls will look to Arkansas as an example of how to exploit Texas’s run defense.

“What Arkansas did with their quarterback [in the run game] was incredible,” Bloomgren said. “I certainly think we’ll have some opportunities to do that ourselves.”

Bloomgren also said that Arkansas’ performance against Texas gives him hope for what his run defense can do on Saturday.

“What our defense was able to do to Arkansas for those first three quarters, it was

Photo COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS

Now-junior Rice linebacker Antonio Montero takes on a pile of Texas players during the two teams’ 2019 meeting. The Owls will face the Longhorns again this Saturday in Austin.

pretty impressive when you go back and look at the way Arkansas was able to run the ball last Saturday night,” Bloomgren said.

But Bloomgren said that he is wary of reading too far into the teams’ respective games against the Razorbacks.

“You always have issues when you compare teams in games [against] common opponents,” Bloomgren said. “It’s a great resource, but it can also be dangerous.”

Just two weeks into the season, the Longhorns have already experienced a lot of turnover. The Longhorns are in their first year under head coach Steve Sarkisian, who after a disappointing tenure as the head coach of the University of Southern California, rebuilt his career as the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama.

The Longhorns also had to replace longtime starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger this season, and two weeks in, they are yet to settle on a starter. While he won the starting job in the offseason, redshirt freshman quarterback Hudson Card was replaced by junior Casey Thompson after struggling against Arkansas. According to Bloomgren, the Owls now have to account for the rushing ability of Thompson, who will start on Saturday.

“Changing the quarterback up, that’s going to lend itself to more [of a] quarterback run game for them,” Bloomgren said. “I think we’ll probably see Hudson too, [so] that’s something we’ll prepare for.”

Thompson will be joined in the backfield by sophomore running back Bijan Robinson.

Robinson, who averaged 8.2 yards per carry on 86 attempts last year, placed No. 7 on Sports Illustrated’s list of Heisman Trophy favorites going into this season.

The Owls defense will be tasked with stopping Thompson and Robinson. After placing No. 12 in the country in points per game allowed last season, through two games, Rice has allowed 41 points per game, good for No. 122 in the country. According to junior linebacker Antonio Montero, who is currently tied for the most tackles among all Conference USA players, the Owls defense has shown flashes, but needs to improve its consistency.

“We felt like we’ve played good quarters, but not full games,” Montero said. “That’s not good enough. We’ve given up too many points, which I know will get corrected.”

The last time these two teams met, Texas won handily by a score of 48-13. As it stands now, the Longhorns have a 73-21 edge over the Owls in the all-time series. According to Bloomgren, the team knows how significant it would be for Rice to pull off the upset for the first time since 1994.

“You look back at the history of this game, and how many times it’s been played, it’s a great rivalry,” Bloomgren said. “Now it’s been a little bit of a one-sided rivalry. But we’ve done a lot of firsts in the last three years, and we’d sure like to find a way to earn this victory.”

RICE VS TEXAS

staff and guest predictions DANIEL SCHRAGER sports editor

UT

“Texas has some weaknesses and Rice’s defense could keep them in the game. But after last week, I can’t pick Rice. 34-20.”

BEN BAKER-KATZ managing editor

UT

“Thoroughly unimpressed with Rice the last two weeks. Don’t see why this week will be any different. 42-17.”

PAVITHR GOLI senior writer

UT

“Despite the uncertainty about the UT offense, they will capitalize on Rice’s defense. Expect a low scoring game. 20-6.”

DAVID LEEBRON guest prediction

RICE

“I’m looking forward to the biggest Rice upset since 1994!”

INFOGRAPHIC BY KATHERINE HUI & DANIEL SCHRAGER

Soccer tops UH, falls to SMU for first loss BEN BAKER-KATZ

MANAGING EDITOR

Rice soccer split their two games last week, getting the best of crosstown rival University of Houston 1-0 on Thursday before dropping their first match of the year to Southern Methodist University by the same score.

The Owls jumped on top of the Cougars quickly on Thursday, in a battle of what were, at the time, two undefeated teams. Rice applied pressure from the offset, with four shots in the first 20 minutes, including a free kick from junior goalkeeper Bella Killgore that rocketed off of the crossbar in the 18th minute.

It took until the 32nd minute for the first and only goal of the match, with junior midfielder Delaney Schultz connecting on a header that found the back of the net on a throw-in from senior defender Caleigh Page.

The Owls finished the half with nine shot attempts, but according to head coach Brian Lee, the box score doesn’t tell the full story of their performance in the first half.

“I thought it was a tale of two halves,” Lee said. “In the first half, our attack was really fluid. We might have been playing even better than the number of chances we were creating.”

The second half saw Houston controlling possession more than the Owls, managing nine shot attempts. Despite their lack of possession time, the Owls did tack on another nine shot attempts as well. Lee said that while the Cougars controlled the pacing for much of the second half, the Owls were not lacking for opportunities.

“I thought the game turned in the second half, Houston had the better of it,” Lee said. “But we defended the same way for the full 90 [minutes]. Even if we weren’t attacking in the second half … We were still creating chances on the break, we just didn’t have as much with the ball.”

Rice’s contest with SMU on Sunday started much slower than their previous match. The Owls and Mustangs traded shots to no avail in the first half, with the score knotted at 0-0 during the intermission.

“I thought we played great [in the first half, we might have been a little soft on our 50-50s,” Lee said. “Then, something we really have never seen, putting us down to 10 players.”

In the 52nd minute, freshman forward Vyviene Spaulding attempted a mistimed tackle on an SMU player from behind, earning herself a second yellow card and

Photo COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS

Freshman forward Vyviene Spaulding dribbles past a Houston defender in Thursday’s game.

The Owls beat the Cougars 1-0, before falling to SMU Sunday in their first loss of the season.

leading to her removal from the game.

She became the first Owl since 2012 to be ejected from a game due to a red card.

Despite playing the last 38 minutes with only 10 players, the Owls kept the game close. In fact, the only goal of the match came on a penalty. In the 78th minute an errant tackle in the box resulted in a Mustang penalty kick. SMU snuck the shot inside the left post and past Killgore, finding the back of the net for the only goal of the evening.

“I thought we responded great,” Lee said of the Owl’s performance after the ejection. “We had plenty of chances to score … To create that many chances with 10 players and play that well, it’s a really positive sign moving forward.”

The Owls will be in west Texas tomorrow for their first conference match of the season against the University of Texas, El Paso. From there, they will fly to Philadelphia to take on the University of Pennsylvania on Sunday.

BACKPAGE

12 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

BREAKING NEWS

ORGANIZED CRIME ON CAMPUS? Police are looking for a group of

something big is coming. “Something

rogue students behind Rice’s upcoming

more stinky, more shocking, and more

crime syndicate. A nefarious crew of

unsavory is on the horizon,” said

evildoers suspected to be behind the

our lead investigator Ineda Clu. Our analysts predict that the North colleges are bound to be the stage for their

These dastardly defecators have been running rampant for some time now, and our insiders warn us something big is coming.

upcoming act of public indecency.

RUPD warns against approaching any suspiciously white, brown, or yellow substances on campus. What you might think is leftover shaving cream from a recent Baker 13 might be something much less pleasant and much more sticky.

events in the window of Old Sid and the gastroenteritis outbreak earlier this year has made an abominable

Suspects are described

deposit in the halls of Baker in

as… pantless.

response to Baker 13 being cancelled “Suspects

this week. These dastardly defecators

are

described

as…

pantless.”

have been running rampant for some time now, and our insiders warn us

! Please avoid the area and call RUPD at 1-800-420-6969 if you see the suspects.

P R E V I O U S L Y. . .

S E P. 1 0

AUG. 26

AUG. 23

<

NEAR FUTURE

Old Sid incident

Gastroenteritis outbreak

Baker incident

???

The Backpage is satire and written by Simona Matovic and designed by Areli Navarro Magallòn. For comments or questions, please email sem11@rice.edu

CLASSIFIEDS

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AFTER-SCHOOL SITTER AND DRIVER Rice Alumni family of 6 (mom, dad, 3 kids and dog) seeking after-school help with kid driving and babysitting. Shifts flexible and typically in the 2 pm - 8 pm range. We live 7 blocks from the Rice post office.

Email thedolatifs@gmail.com SANDWICH MAKER A small sandwich shop just minutes from campus seeking part-time help. A no-frills joint serving deli classics.

No experience necessary. Call us at 713-7992544 and see if this job will work around your schedule! houstonfamousdeli.com Email lol2315@aol.com

RICE ALUM HIRING TUTORS for Middle & High School Math, Natural & Social Science, Foreign Language, Humanities and SAT/ACT prep. Reliable transportation required. Pay is based upon variety of factors. Contact 832-4288330 and email resume to sri.iyengar@ sriacademicservices.com

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