The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, January 19, 2022

VOLUME 106, ISSUE NO. 16 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

Rice disables EarthCam to review use amid student concerns

COURTESY EARTHCAM

KEEGAN LEIBROCK

THRESHER STAFF

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER

Rice has disabled an EarthCam overlooking the Academic Quad after students raised concerns regarding its usage. The camera delivered a 24/7 feed, visible both on the Rice University and EarthCam websites.

Sammi Johnson, a Duncan College senior, said she believes there was a lack of student input on the camera’s installment.

“One of the biggest problems with the EarthCam’s installment is that there was no student input or announcement that we would be livestreamed 24/7 throughout the entirety of our time at Rice,” Johnson said.

“This camera provides [livestream viewers] with a lot of information about students whether or not administration wants to admit that.”

Doug Miller, Rice’s director of news and media relations, said that the EarthCam is situated in such a way that makes visible passerby unidentifiable.

“The camera is high above the ground six stories over sidewalks,” Miller said.

“The shot is so wide that people walking on the sidewalks look so small you can’t make out any distinguishing features … You can get the image and do a digital enlargement, but the camera lens itself can’t zoom in to get a clearer picture anybody’s face” Johnson said in her and peers’ experience this is not true. In a response to the Rice University Twitter post, students included screenshots of zoomed in shots of the camera. “[Rice Administration] has gone on record saying that you can’t zoom in on the camera while we have evidence that you

can,” Johnson said. “[The administration] also said you can’t identify students on the camera but we did a field test for one of our friends and, if you know what someone is wearing, you can very easily spot them out.”

William Tsai, the Will Rice College Student Association senator, said the EarthCam could possibly deter student protestors from participating in the Down with Willy movement.

“A concern that has been brought to me is that [the EarthCam] may deter people from joining the movement,” Tsai, a sophomore, said. “We don’t know who is watching the livestreams at any point in time so there is that concern of deterring students … For example, a student from a conservative household’s parents may be watching the livestream and this could raise issues at home.”

Laura Fagbemi, a senior at Hanszen College, said she believes the camera is intended to protect the statue from vandalism.

“So far, [Rice administration] has said that the camera is only to provide beauty shots of the campus, and this is questionable because the building the camera is meant to be showing is on the [far] side view of the camera,” Fagbemi said. “The statue of Willy is right in the middle of the camera’s view and is pretty obviously the focus of what the camera is showing at all times.”

Jerry Templeton, a freshman from Duncan, said that he believes the camera may have been intended to monitor the Willy statue for protection against vandalism.

SEE EARTHCAM PAGE 2

Pre-med no more: Rice students talk leaving pre-med TOMÁS RUSSO

SENIOR WRITER

Thirty to forty percent of incoming students at Rice indicate an interest in pre-health studies. But only around 200 students end up applying to medical school each cycle, according to John Fierst, the assistant director of the Office of Academic Advising.

Fierst said that students ranging from freshmen to seniors have met with him to talk about transitioning out of pre-med.

“I think everyone’s journey tends to be unique,” Fierst said. “Some students figure that out sooner than others do. Students have definitely switched out of premed for a whole bunch of different reasons.”

Zahrah Butler, a Duncan College junior, said she wanted to be a pediatrician ever since she was three. Ariana Zhang, a Wiess College junior, also said that she developed an early interest in becoming a doctor.

“If my parents or teachers asked me growing [up] what I wanted to do, I just said I wanted to be a doctor,” Zhang said.

“Part of it was that I genuinely really liked human biology and helping people.”

Family spurred Ray William’s interest in the field.

“My grandfather was a retired doctor,” William, a Martel College senior, said. “One time he brought home a cow heart for me to dissect. All of those experiences with medicine and hearing his stories, which were really cool … got me into medicine.”

I’m just tired of going to school. The pre-med route is really long. It’s four years of school and then residency where you’re still not fully working yet.

Ariana Zhang WIESS COLLEGE JUNIOR

William said that he believes the influence of family, rather than actual experience with medicine, often impacts his peers’ desires to be pre-med.

“If parents are pushing their kids to be doctors, they always have that in the back of their mind. They’ll always want to be doctors just because [of what] their family says or because of the salary or because of the lifestyle,” William said. “But do they

really want to be doctors – or how can you even tell if you haven’t experienced deeply what medicine is about?”

Trevor Egerton (Sid Richardson College ’20) said external influences from his doctor grandparents and intrinsic interest towards science and pre-med activities in high school both contributed to his choice to enter Rice as a pre-med. “[My grandparents] talked a lot about the career [of a doctor] and how great it was and that definitely influenced me,” Egerton said. “But there was some level of intrinsic interest as well.”

For others like Jazmine Castillo, a McMurtry College junior, the salary and job security were important factors.

“I am a first-generation low-income student, and from the time of fifth grade I figured out that being a doctor is one of the best options if you want to get out of your [FGLI] background,” Castillo said.

“People always say it’s not about money, that you shouldn’t be a doctor for money and stuff, but honestly as an FGLI student that’s something that I have to consider.”

Some of those that have decided the pre-med track is no longer for them have found alternative careers in related fields.

Zhang said learning about other careers in health as well as the length and cost of medical school influenced her to pursue becoming a physician’s assistant rather than a doctor.

“I’m just tired of going to school,” Zhang said. “The pre-med route is really long. It’s four years of school and then residency where you’re still not fully working yet.

Whereas other health professions, for example [Physician Assistant] school, are just two years and then you’re working.

Also, as a PA I would be able to do very similarly the actual day-to-day duties.”

SEE PRE-MED PAGE 7

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2 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

Rice aiming to fill admin vacancies by July 1

Vice Provost for Research Provost

General Counsel

FROM FRONT PAGE

EARTHCAM

“It just goes to show how much the school prioritizes [Willy’s] statue over their own students’ concerns for their safety,” Templeton said. “As a student of color, as an African American student, I feel like they’re putting a statue above me which isn’t a great feeling.”

Miller said the Earthcam’s intent is not to monitor the William Marsh Statue. “[Rice University Police Department] already has a camera overlooking the academic quad area,” Miller said. “There has been a camera overlooking the quad for quite some time but only RUPD has access to look at it.”

Clemente Rodriguez, the chief of RUPD, said that the previously installed security camera in the quad is not intended solely to monitor the Willy statue.

“The camera is not specifically there to monitor Willy’s statue,” Rodriguez said. “It monitors the entire area of the academic

When I’m walking across the quad to go to Fondren Library or to class I shouldn’t have to be watched by some stranger on the internet; that’s a very basic right.

William Tsai WILL RICE COLLEGE SA SENATOR

ANDREA GOMEZ / THRESHER in charge of creating a commercialized technology landscape for the university to “maximize the translation of The search to fill three prominent discoveries and inventions across the vacancies in Rice administration is entire university into positive societal currently ongoing. General Counsel impact and commercial success,” Richard Zansitis retired at the start according to an announcement from of this semester after 21 years in his DesRoches.

These search committees are made role. Vice Provost for Research Yousif Shamoo will also be stepping down this up of faculty members across various month, and Provost Reginald DesRoches departments at Rice and will all aid will leave his position later this summer Isaacson, Miller in their search process.

Shamoo’s position of vice provost to begin his tenure as Rice’s eight for research will president. now be known as According the vice president to DesRoches, of research, which with the help is an elevation of of search firm A continued focus on the role within the Isaacson, Miller, diversity, equity and administration, he is hoping to inclusion will be necessary in recognition of fill all three of the continually these positions by as well in addition to an g r o w i n g July 1 of this year, overall focus on elevating importance of when DesRoches the university’s academic, creative work and steps into the research, scholarly and frontier research presidency at Rice, according role.

However, creative activities. to professor of DesRoches said Reginald DesRoches chemistry Peter he is willing to Rossky. take more time if PROVOST Rossky, one needed.

“The most important thing in of the co-chairs of the committee for searches of this caliber is finding the the vice president of research, said right people,” DesRoches said. “In that the committee is currently in the terms of where we are in the process, “listening” phase with a diverse group we are in the early stages. Right now, we of stakeholders and doesn’t have a are finalizing the ads for the positions, specific profile yet.

“The Committee is comprised of a which we hope to have completed and group of outstanding faculty members posted by the end of the month.”

Committees have been formed to from across the University, working find successors for these three positions closely with a highly regarded search along with the new position of vice firm, and our work is proceeding well, president of innovation, who will be as expected,” Rossky said.

VIOLA HSIA

SENIOR WRITER

DesRoches said that the committees are currently developing a profile of certain traits and attributes to look for in the new provost.

“In short, we are looking for someone [for the provost position] who is an accomplished scholar and proven leader,” DesRoches said. “Someone who is strategic, collegial and collaborative.

We also want someone who is a good listener, has good communication skills and who knows how to build consensus.”

According to DesRoches, the committees are looking for individuals who can appreciate the breadth of the university and are committed to the issues of diversity, equity and inclusion, key matters he believes his successor as provost will have to address alongside the pandemic.

“A continued focus on diversity, equity and inclusion will be necessary as well in addition to an overall focus on elevating the university’s academic, research, scholarly and creative activities,” DesRoches said.

In the past few years many changes have occured on campus, from the establishment of resources such as the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to an addition of several majors and research awards, DesRoches said. He said he is optimistic that the committees will find qualified successors for these positions that will continue to consider and build on these changes.

“Rice has grown as an institution in various ways over the past couple of years,” DesRoches said. “I am excited about these searches and want to thank all those who agreed to participate in this very important process.”

quad and has been used for situational awareness during large events such as graduation, and to investigate incidents reported to RUPD. Security cameras are limited to only authorized personnel from RUPD and are not actively monitored unless there is a reported incident in the quad.”

Fagbemi said she previously requested camera footage near Lovett Garage entrance three after experiencing a hate crime on campus in February of 2019. According to Fagbemi, a passerby threw drinks at her and two friends while calling them racial slurs.

In an email obtained by the Thresher, Rodriguez told Fagbemi that RUPD was “unable to locate cameras that captured the incident.”

“When we tried to follow up on [the hate crime] with Rice administration, we were told that security cameras for closely watching the entrances were not an option,” Fagbemi said. “Looking back on this now when it’s very obvious it is possible to install a camera it very much feels like a slap in the face to prioritize … beauty shots of Rice over student safety.”

Tsai said he is worried that the EarthCam would allow for stalking as well as hindering students’ basic right to privacy on campus.

“There is the issue of stalking and there’s also a much more basic right to privacy,” Tsai said. “When I’m walking across the quad to go to Fondren Library or to class I shouldn’t have to be watched by some stranger on the internet; that’s a very basic right.”

A resolution was drafted by the SA calling for immediate removal of the EarthCam and all previous footage.

In an email to several students obtained by the Thresher, President David Leebron said Rice will not turn the camera back on until they have an opportunity to hear from students and address their concerns, especially from the SA and student representatives.

“At this point, I don’t know what the outcome of those conversations will be, as it’s clear that more information needs to be exchanged before any decision can be reached,” Leebron wrote.

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 • 3

Rice alumnus named a TIME 2021 Hero of the Year BONNIE ZHAO

ASST NEWS EDITOR Rice alumnus Barney Graham ’75, a renowned virologist whose research led to the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, has been named a 2021 Hero of the Year by TIME Magazine.

TIME Magazine extended its “Person of the Year” category in 2021 to include “Hero of the Year,” awarding the title to Graham and three other prominent vaccine scientists who developed the COVID-19 vaccine — Kizzmekia Corbett, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman.

“The miracle workers behind the COVID-19 vaccines are the TIME Heroes of the Year not only because they gave the world a defense against a pathogen, but also because the manner of that astonishing achievement guards more than our health: They channeled their ambitions to the common good, talked to one another and trusted in facts,” TIME Magazine wrote.

Graham, a Will Rice College alumnus, said that it was a shock when he learned that he had been named a TIME’s Hero of the Year.

“I knew I had done the interview, and I had some pictures taken, but I didn’t know what they were going to do with COURTESY BARNEY GRAHAM that information,” Graham said.

Graham said that he and his Rice alumnus Barney Graham, a renowned virologist whose research led to the development fellow TIME’s heroes of the year are of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, has been representative of all the scientists that named a 2021 Hero of the Year by TIME Magazine. have been so involved in the vaccine development process.

“It has literally taken thousands and thousands of people to get this done, and Graham said. “Things that may not seem think the COVID-19 vaccines were rushed an endemic problem like the other four coronaviruses that circulate every winter not to mention volunteers,” Graham said. practical or relevant at the time could be and developed uncarefully.

“So one thing I try to tell them is the season, [which] most people don’t even “And at the same time, you have all these very important later.”

Graham said that the VRC had a history of how we got to this point and know about … The virus will have to cohealth care professionals seeing patients in emergency rooms and hospitals trying program already set up with Moderna on how there have been technologies that evolve with us and adapt to a more mild to just survive. And so it’s a little hard to pandemic preparedness because of their allowed us to make something not only upper respiratory [disease].”

Graham retired from the federal be called the hero when so many people experience with them during the 2016 faster, but even better, and simpler and government at the safer than the have been doing so much difficult work Zika pandemic response. end of August 2021. vaccine “And when the new [COVID-19] typical over this time. But if you think of it as “I honestly feel a representation or how science has outbreak happened, we were just at the would be,” Graham like the coronavirus impacted this process, then we can deal point of taking this mRNA vaccine, based said. “If you tell The other emerging problems have on our antigen design, into the clinic,” them, it’s a 40- infectious disease projects with it.” been solved According to Graham, the Graham said. “So we had all these year story, instead were taken over by some of because we have development of the COVID-19 vaccine arrangements and collaboration set up.” of a nine month vaccines, we According to Graham, on Jan. 10, 2020, story, some people my students, and so I felt was a result of many threads of scientific have therapeutic research coming together to make it there were only about 41 COVID-19 cases at least are able to like if I stayed, I would just antibodies, and in the world, and the VRC’s plan was to [understand].” happen. be doing the same thing we know how to Graham said “One of those threads was all the go as fast as they could to demonstrate make new ones that the other and getting in the way of work on HIV and HIV vaccines over the what could be done if it was needed. that we need,” “We didn’t really know that two thing that people the younger scientists. So I last 40 years,” Graham said. “We still Graham said. “The don’t have an HIV vaccine, we may never months after that, it was really going to need to avoid is decided to step away. other emerging have one. But the work involved in trying be a global pandemic, and that it was the misinformation infectious disease the Barney Graham to understand the biology well enough no longer a drill, it was actually a real surrounding projects were taken to make an HIV vaccine, that’s what’s problem that had to be solved,” Graham vaccine, such as WILL RICE COLLEGE ‘75 over by some of my led to these technologies that have said. “We weren’t sure if Moderna was that mRNA might made things like the RSV vaccine, and up to the task. But the technology was change one’s DNA or create infertility students, and so I felt like if I stayed, good, we trusted and other long-term unexpected side I would just be doing the same thing now Coronavirus and getting in the way of the younger the process that effects. vaccine usable.”

“None of that is true. In fact, it’s scientists. So I decided to step away.” we were taking, Graham said he Graham said that he is not really and we knew we biologically impossible for the mRNA had the privilege of And so being in that had a good vaccine that’s going into the cytoplasm to affiliated with any place now, but he is being at the center environment and having design.

So we even interact with the DNA that’s in going to use whatever leverage he has of the Vaccine just kept pressing your nucleus,” Graham said. “That to try to work with people to move to Research Center, those resources and all forward to see how misinformation is a hard thing to pass improve biology education so people can which he founded the different disciplines in around 2000. around me is part of what I far we could take because the misinformation has come set the vaccine more readily in the future people that those people trust … and to work on moving research and “That’s when was able to exploit to make it.”Graham said from The vaccine is 95 percent effective and manufacturing capacity into Africa and several of us that between that it has a side effect frequency one other low and middle income country went there to the successful vaccines the end of 2020 per 100,000 when the infection is having places. start this new virus being Ebola and Graham said that one piece of advice and around June a side effect frequency of about one concept and bring coronavirus. of 2021, he has in three. But those numbers just don’t he would give to Rice students is a quote multidisciplinary from the late biochemistry professor given around 40 penetrate their belief system.” groups together Barney Graham According to Graham, he believes that James Walker, who discovered the or 50 webinars in one place to try TIME’S 2021 HERO OF THE YEAR and community the virus is never going to be eradicated biosynthetic pathway for antibiotics and to work on an HIV vaccine,” Graham said. “Being in that education sessions to groups that ranged because it also infects wild and domestic was the one who inspired and influenced environment and having those resources anywhere from a few dozen to several animals, and that COVID-19 will probably him the most during his time at Rice.

“If you asked him why he was always and all the different disciplines around thousands to encourage people to eventually be something similar to the respiratory syncytial virus, a disease that reading in the window in the library, me is part of what I was able to exploit to become vaccinated.

“The vaccines are even more effective virtually everybody on Earth is infected his answer was always similar: if you’re make the successful vaccines virus being like me, and you love to learn, and you than we expected them to be and are with by age two or three.

Ebola and coronavirus.”

“We started [the pandemic] with really want to learn, you’re accumulating a Graham said that he wants to highlight extremely safe relative to the disease,” that the successful development of the Graham said. “And you can look at the a blank slate and no real pre-existing debt,” Graham said. “That debt can COVID-19 vaccine is a real testament to data yourself. The value of vaccination immunity in the population. Now within only be repaid by publishing something over infection is so extreme that it’s hard a few more months, we’re probably gonna or learning something or discovering basic research. “[It’s] this idea that doing basic to know why people would refuse it… have 85 to 95 percent of all people on something or doing something that adds research to understand things in more To me, the tragedy is when people die Earth be exposed to this virus or vaccine back to nature and a knowledge base and will have some level of pre-existing that you enjoy learning about. That is depth and to understand how biology unnecessarily when there’s a solution.”

According to Graham, he believes the immunity,” Graham said. “That is when something that’s stuck with me in my works in more detail will lead to breakthroughs at some other point,” biggest worry that people have is they it’s likely that this virus becomes more of life.”

4 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

NEWS

Josephine Abercrombie passes at 95 HAJERA NAVEED

ASST NEWS EDITOR Josephine Abercrombie, namesake for the Abercrombie Lab at Rice, passed away at the age of 95 on Jan. 5 at her home in Kentucky.

Abercrombie graduated from Rice in 1946, and shortly after graduation her parents, James Smither Abercrombie and Lillie Frank, donated $500,000 on her behalf to build Abercrombie Lab in 1947.

The building was part of the George R. Brown School of Engineering before it was demolished in 2021.

Abercrombie joined the Rice Board of Trustees in 1975. She ran the Building and Grounds Design Committee until she retired from the board in 1994.

Throughout her life, Abercrombie served as a philanthropist, horse breeder and boxing promoter. She founded the Houston Boxing Association in 1982, through which she promoted International Boxing Hall of Fame members Mike Tyson and Orlando Canizales, among others.

Her signed boxers were provided with free housing, access to training facilities and health insurance.

Abercrombie was also heavily involved in the horse-racing business.

She was a proprietor of the Pin Oak Farm, a nationally recognized thoroughbred horse breeding operation, in Woodford County, Kentucky. In 1995, Pin Oak Farm

was named breeder of the year by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association.

Alongside her philanthropic contributions to Rice, Abercrombie founded the Lexington School in Kentucky, a private K-8 school. Una MacCarthy, current head of the Lexington School, said that Abercrombie’s vision 62 years ago made a deep impact on the community.

“Ms. A, as the kids lovingly call her, was an amazing woman,” MacCarthy said. “Until recent years, Ms. A would come celebrate with us and there would always be a long line of kids who wanted to hug her and tell her thank you. Ms. A was a bit of a rock star here.”

MacCarthy said that Abercrombie created a space to allow children the chance to be their best selves at the school.

MacCarthy described Abercrombie as a warm, welcoming and tenacious woman with a vision for excellence and service.

“We challenge the students to think about how they can change the world around them and give back as she did so many years ago,” MacCarthy said. “Her one act has rippled in ways that can’t be measured.”

Abercrombie is survived by her two sons, Jamie Abercrombie Robinson and George Anderson Robinson IV, and grandchildren Blair Abercrombie and George Anderson Robinson V.

COURTESY PIN OAK STUD Josephine Abercrombie, namesake for Abercrombie Lab, passed away at the age of 95 on Jan. 5.

In-person classes to resume Jan. 24 as dining and alcohol restrictions continue PRAYAG GORDY

SENIOR WRITER

Most courses will shift to in-person instruction on Jan. 24, according to an announcement from Provost Reginald DesRoches and Chair of the Crisis Management Advisory Committee Kevin Kirby. Restrictions on indoor dining and drinking may continue for two more weeks, Kirby and Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman said.

Instructors can petition for their class to remain virtual if they or someone they live with is at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 or cannot be vaccinated, according to the announcement.

The prohibition on indoor dining, which Gorman originally set through Jan. 23, may continue for an additional week, according to Kirby and DesRoches.

Gorman said that restrictions on indoor

drinking will correspond with indoor when making decisions about returning to in-person instruction. dining.

“We need to think very carefully, “We are extending the prohibition because some against indoor of my faculty drinking in tandem colleagues have with the extension various underlying for indoor dining, conditions that including keeping We will provide updates on generally students Willy’s pub closed,” these as we evaluate the don’t have, just Gorman wrote in evolving COVID situation because we’re an an email to the and make decisions about older population,” Thresher. “We will Johns-Krull, provide updates on indoor eating and drinking a professor of these as we evaluate over the next few weeks. physics and the evolving COVID astronomy, said. situation and make Bridget Gorman Masks will decisions about DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATES continue to be indoor eating and required in all indoor settings, Kirby drinking over the next few weeks.”

Christopher Johns-Krull, speaker of and DesRoches wrote. According to the the Faculty Senate, said managing the announcement, more KN95 masks — concerns of at-risk faculty is important which the Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention said provide more protection to the user than cloth or surgical masks — will arrive at Rice later this week.

Johns-Krull said he wants students and faculty to continue masking in the classroom.

“I know many of our faculty feel quite comfortable being in the classroom, particularly with everybody masked,” Johns-Krull said. “I don’t expect any change in the masking policy in the classroom.”

The deadline to add classes has been extended one week to Jan. 28, according to DesRoches and Kirby. In an email to the Thresher, Johns-Krull, the chair of the Academic Restart Committee, said Rice does not plan to extend the drop deadline, currently Feb. 25.

A previous cap on indoor gatherings to 50 people has also been lifted, according to DesRoches and Kirby’s announcement.

CHANNING WANG / THRESHER Most courses will shift to in-person instruction on Jan. 24 as planned. Restrictions on indoor dining and drinking may continue for two more weeks, according to Kevin Kirby and Bridget Gorman.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 • 5

THE RICE THRESHER

EDITORIAL

In responding to camera concerns, claiming ignorance makes it worse Last Monday, Rice announced that potential for this reaction had they been a live video feed of the Academic Quad consulted prior to the announcement. was available online. Two days later, in But as Miller told Houston Press, they response to students raising concerns, “didn’t think anybody would object to it, Rice announced on Twitter that the to be honest.”

Miller later said that the administration camera would be disabled during Baker 13 runs. The next day, at nearly 11 p.m., conducted their own tests of the camera’s three days after the initial announcement, zoom capabilities, so perhaps they did Rice again took to Twitter to say that consider the potential nefarious uses for the camera would be disabled as the the camera. But discussions around the founder’s statue and its accompanying university reviews student concerns.

The immediate aftermath of the protests have been everywhere on announcement can best be described campus for over a year and a half. To think putting a live video as disgruntled, feed of the quad as students online, including e x p r e s s e d the prominently concerns over The administration’s displayed statue, safety, including reaction to students’ would not elicit a the potential strong reaction is for stalking concerns, best short sighted at and allowing described as defensive best and ignorant at someone to view and surprised, shows worst. students walking a startling lack of The fact that alone at night. such apparent The university awareness. Put simply, it’s concerns took the claimed the clear that they don’t know administration camera did their students. by surprise is not have the capability to zoom in, which is upsetting, to say the least. While we definitively false. Multiple students also appreciate that student concerns were hypothesized that the 24/7 livestreaming taken seriously and that the camera camera pointed directly at the statue is no longer operational for now, our of William Marsh Rice could be used to disappointment stems from the lack monitor student protests. To put it mildly, of forethought given to what we feel it seems that the student reaction was were painfully obvious issues with this anything but what the administration camera’s placement.

Moving forward, we ask that expected it to be when future-President actively consider Reginald DesRoches enthusiastically administrators encouraged his Twitter followers to potential student concerns and reach out for feedback. That these objections “check it out!”

Doug Miller, Rice’s director of news were unforeseen speaks to the need for and media relations, had a very busy the administration to forge a deeper week speaking with what seemed like relationship with the student body.

This entire situation could have been every news outlet in the city, telling them that “the whole idea behind [the camera] avoided with a simple email asking was just to show off how beautiful Rice students for their thoughts on the University is. That was the whole point.” camera’s placement. Instead, we got the For argument’s sake, we’re going to chaos of the past week. And all for what, give the administration the benefit of exactly? A cool view of one of the most the doubt and accept their statements photographed spots in all of Houston? that they did not ignore student safety concerns, nor were they attempting to monitor Willy’s Statue, with their placement of the camera.

The administration’s reaction to students’ concerns, defensive and surprised, shows a startling lack of awareness. Put simply, it’s clear that they don’t know their students.

Outrage from students was so instantaneous and unified that it took with the Rice Thresher, only three days for the camera to be turned in print & online! off. A reaction so swift and merciless can submit a draft to and should have been foreseen by the thresher@rice.edu administration. Moreover, any number of students could have warned about the

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Savannah Kuchar* Editor-in-Chief Ben Baker-Katz* Managing Editor

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NEWS Talha Arif* Editor Hajera Naveed Asst. Editor Bonnie Zhao Asst. Editor

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COPY Bhavya Gopinath Editor Jonathan Cheng Editor PHOTO, VIDEO, & WEB Channing Wang Photo Editor Katherine Hui Asst. Photo Editor Jasmine Liou Video Editor Brandon Chen Web Editor

GUEST OPINION

White-washing language: ‘Academic’ writing perpetuates division As is the case with most aspects of our American Vernacular English, the reality, professionalism and academia exploration of discrimination based on have been defined by whiteness to a language expression in grading, and degree that is obvious in their customs, the acknowledgment that conforming to codifications and subtleties. Whiteness is existing language conventions is a choice.

The Program in Writing and often defined as a latent, systemic ideology website states in which the customs of the white majority Communication’s are normalized to a degree that alienates their goal of teaching students to correctly” through others, sometimes unbeknownst to the “communicate white people benefiting from it. Over the FWIS program. Considering the time, white majorities have established integral importance of language, dialect a monopoly on communication, and vernacular to cultural identity, prioritizing their culture-specific the expectation that students of vernaculars and language structure, different backgrounds should express uniformly inherently thus creating norms of communication. themselves Through the expansion of this construct, contradicts inclusivity and can, instead, marginalized communities have been reward conformity. The implications grammatical correctness and actively excluded from academic and of professional spaces institutionalized particular expression of ideas through by whiteness. Our university falls into the standardization of writing can this category. The First-year Writing eventually lead to the suppression of Intensive Seminar program’s curriculum diversity and identity.

As opposed exemplifies this to bridging gaps reality. In light between students, of the necessities alternatively, FWIS that are diversity Upon taking Rice’s classes should put and inclusion in diagnostic composition a higher value on an educational examination over the the wide range environment, of differences our community summer, we are assigned between students must have more into groups based on c o n v e r s a t i o n s our ability in “academic and their about the backgrounds to i n e q u i t i e s writing.”... Is it possible cultivate a culture woven into the that biases and standards of learning from u n i v e r s i t y ’ s of whiteness influence each other. The approach to shifting mission the “ideal” form of academic writing. of UW Tacoma’s For example, written communication Writing Center upon taking and delegitimize other should serve as a Rice’s diagnostic cultures? meaningful guide composition to this sensitivity, examination over the summer, we are disenfranchising the long-held ideas assigned into groups based on our ability of what qualifies as professional or in “academic writing.” This begs the academic.

Therefore, empowering question, what constitutes successful students of all backgrounds so that they academic writing? Is it possible that have the skills to express themselves in biases and standards of whiteness an impactful way while maintaining their influence the “ideal” form of written individualism. communication and delegitimize other I hope that students, professors cultures? and the university alike will further In 2017, the Director of the University acknowledge and evaluate the structural of Washington Tacoma’s Writing Center, unfairness of academic writing and Dr. Asao Inoue, asked himself these grammatical conventions, supporting questions. During his tenure as director, the institutionalization and development Inoue used his role to confront exclusive of productive and inclusive alternatives. conventions of writing and prioritize As a community, we should shift our “rhetorical situations” in Writing Center understanding of valuable contributions programming. Underlying this goal was from their ability to communicatively the recognition that enforcing abstract conform to their uniqueness and grammatical correctness excludes unconventionality. many students. In practice, the writing center manipulated the definition of academic and professional writing in Cole Holladay the context of a diverse student body to MARTEL COLLEGE validate individual identities and foster FRESHMAN unique expression. This mission was exhibited through the Center’s efforts to academically legitimize African

DESIGN Robert Heeter Art Director Anna Chung News Siddhi Narayan Opinion Katherine Chui Features Ivana Hsyung Arts & Entertainment Andi Rubero Sports Lauren Yu Backpage ILLUSTRATION Chloe Xu Illustrator Ndidi Nwosu Illustrator Andrea Gomez Illustrator BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Deema Beram Social Media Amanda Mae Ashley Distribution

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. on 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 2022

6 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

ONLINE

Parks and Nature Reserves in Houston read at ricethresher.org

Students talk First two weeks pandemic changes, online: online classes NITHYA SHENOY

ASST FEATURES EDITOR The fall 2021 semester began with online classes amid a rise in COVID-19 cases in the Houston area, attributed to the Delta variant. As the semester progressed, though, restrictions were gradually lifted, allowing for a nearly normal semester.

Now, given the rapid spread of the Omicron variant, classes are online for the first two weeks of the semester once again. This change, along with the administration’s request for students to delay their return to campus, has prompted some students to change their plans for the beginning of the semester.

Gabriel Bolanos, a freshman at Wiess College who has a room on campus, was following the news about the spike in COVID cases and expected Rice to go online after the winter break. Bolanos, who is from the Houston suburb of Cyprus, chose to stay at home for the first two weeks.

“I wasn’t very surprised,” Bolanos said.

“I thought in this instance it was the right call … [Still,] it was incredibly tough to swallow.”

Bolanos said that his plans depended on whether classes were going to be inperson or virtual. “[Since I am in] Cyprus, commuting would be kind of difficult … It would be heavily traffic-dependent,” he said. “If [classes] were in-person, I probably would have gone on campus.”

Tess Roark, a sophomore at Sid Richardson College, decided to remain at home in Germany after she learned that Rice would be starting the semester remotely. Roark said she immediately changed her departure date from Jan. 6 to Jan. 21.

“At first I was relieved,” Roark said.

“Going back internationally is a bit of an ordeal; I have to get a PCR test within 24 hours [of departure] to get back to the United States. Also, it’s concerning because [Rice is] already experiencing a rise in [COVID-19] case numbers with a limited population on campus.”

Roark, who studied remotely her freshman year, said that the current situation feels familiar.

“It kind of feels like going to Rice was a study abroad,” Roark said. “Now it feels like I’m in my natural habitat.”

KELTON KECK / THRESHER

Roark said she wishes Rice would do more for students who were remote for most of their college experience. She said she didn’t consider clubs her freshman year due to the time difference and since she initially thought she would be remote for only one semester.

“I wish there was more [of an effort] to acclimatize the remote people,” Roark said.

“I wish there was something specifically for people who are not freshmen but arriving on campus for the first time to then learn how to get involved while being in-person.”

Now that she is at home for the first two weeks of the semester, Roark said she feels disconnected from campus.

“It’s nice I get to spend more time with my family, [but] at the same time, I don’t get to utilize a lot of that time,” Roark said. “I’ll be starting class right when my family starts dinner. [Then,] with Zoom, it’s hard to get a conversation started in breakout rooms.

I would rather meet people in-person and work face to face because it’s less difficult.”

Bolanos said that he feels disconnected from campus as well. Half of his friend group decided to stay at home, while the other half chose to return to campus.

“It does feel kind of strange,” Bolanos said. “They’ll say [in a group chat], ‘Let’s go and eat outside on the quad,’ and I’ll be like, ‘I’m not here.’ In many ways, it feels like it did in previous years [like in high school]. It can be pretty isolating.”

Keerthi Bhoda, a sophomore at Wiess College, returned to campus on Jan. 9.

Bhoda said online classes make staying connected more challenging.

“Campus is semi-empty and not very crowded,” Bhoda said. “We aren’t allowed to dine indoors so there aren’t usually many people in the commons. I think it is more similar to the fall semester of 2020 or the beginning of the spring semester of 2021.”

Andrew Graziano, a senior and current chief justice at Sid Richardson College, returned to campus on Jan. 9. Graziano said his plans didn’t change after the announcement of remote teaching.

“I was expecting it, since so many other schools were reacting similarly,” Graziano said. “I don’t really have an opinion on it anymore. I used to be more passionate about how the university responded to COVID, but now I think it’s become pretty normal.”

Graziano said that he is lucky he is able to take a few of his classes in person and

that online classes are going well for him.

“There are pros and cons to online classes, so I’m staying positive by recognizing the pros,” Graziano said.

“My professors work hard to make online classes accessible and I really appreciate that.

Even though those online classes aren’t the same as inperson [classes], the online classes have this dynamic of everyone being in the same boat, which is nice because everyone is empathetic and engaged.”

Roark also said she appreciates her professors’ efforts.

She currently has one class that is asynchronous and said she values the flexibility of it.

“I can choose where to fit it into my schedule,” Roark said. “[The professors are] really doing a good job given the circumstances.”

Bhoda said that the shift to online classes means she is able to spend more time on classes.

“Online classes are okay,” Bhoda said. “With no other extracurricular a c t i v i t i e s happening right now, having online classes has given me more flexibility in my schedule and has allowed me to focus on school more.”

Bolanos said that he took heart from the fact that Rice seems to be changing its position toward the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think them announcing their shift in mentality in their email was pretty reassuring for me. At least to me it felt like they were pursuing something not

KATHERINE CHUI / THRESHER impossible to do, which is keep COVID completely out of Rice,” Bolanos said.

“I do very much appreciate that they are very committed to protecting our students, especially compared to other colleges in the region.”

This story has been condensed for print.

Read more at ricethresher.org.

GSA and SA work toward greater schoolwide student interaction GRACE XU

FOR THE THRESHER For the past few months, the Graduate Student Association and the Student Association have been discussing how to facilitate a more cohesive Rice student body.

A proposed graduate student meal plan at the campus serveries would open undergraduate spaces to graduate students to address potential food insecurity. Another initiative is geared explicitly toward interaction between the two student populations: mentorshipfocused meals would bring together undergraduate students who are interested in graduate (or possibly even professional school) with Rice graduate students who are willing to provide mentorship over several meals a semester.

According to Vanuli Arya, chair of the SA Academics Committee, and GSA President Mario Escobar, proposed these mentorship meals to the SA last September. Escobar and Arya both said that the project does not have a set launch date but that the GSA and SA hope to set it in progress this semester or next. “[Escobar] actually came to one of the SA Senate meetings and had a few things that he wanted to talk about,” Arya, Sid Richardson College sophomore, said. “As it is right now, it’s like undergrads are their own thing, [and] grad students are their own thing.

There’s very little opportunity for interaction, apart from personal connections or maybe [connections with] TAs once in a while.”

This story has been cut off for print. Read more at ricethresher.org.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 • 7

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JAYAKER KOLLI AND NIKHAZ OMAR

CROSSWORD WRITERS

FROM FRONT PAGE

PRE-MED

Other former pre-meds said they have found other interests and passions outside of medicine.

“The summer after my junior year, while planning [med school] applications, I was also working on my senior thesis for my history major,” Egerton said.

“While doing research for that project in archives in Texas and D.C., I came to the realization that doing historical research was something I enjoyed doing much more than any of the pre-med science processes or doctoring. I couldn’t walk away from history without giving the academic Ph.D. route a shot.”

Former pre-meds said they discovered a lack of interest in the required classes, nature of study and the process of applying to medical school.

“I didn’t really like (A) the grindy nature of the assignments; (B) the hoops I had to jump through, like research that I wasn’t too interested in; and (C) after shadowing doctors, it was definitely interesting, but it wasn’t so interesting that it was worth going through medical school and having it consume my life,” William said.

Butler said that in addition to the time and money required for medical school, her struggles with required STEM classes motivated her to leave the pre-med path.

“I realized that I wasn’t really a fan of spending my life in STEM,” Butler said.

“I feel like I struggled a lot in STEM and getting used to those physics classes and math classes and things like that. That was really difficult for me.”

Castillo said that watching peers partake in pre-med activities helped her figure out that she would not be happy in the medical field.

“I saw some of my peers, who were also pre-med, studying for the MCAT and shadowing doctors and doing all of these things that I never did because I didn’t know how to even start with that,” Castillo said.

Others said that the pre-med culture at Rice was a factor for pursuing other interests. Zhang said she was intimidated by it at first.

“I always felt that I didn’t fit in with how intense some pre-meds are,” Zhang said. “They’re just really passionate and have all their stuff together and know exactly what they’re gonna do, and I’m not like that at all. I started doubting myself, too, when I started comparing myself to other pre-meds at Rice. It’s very easy to compare yourself and get caught up in the comparison culture.”

Butler also said that pre-med culture was not for her.

“I feel like I know a lot of pre-med students who are more focused on being a doctor than being a person as a doctor and they are just like grades, grades, and research, research and do that kind of stuff,” Butler said. “I feel like generally toxicity at Rice is better than it is at other colleges, but I still will say that it can get surprisingly ugly at times.”

In contrast, Egerton said that he enjoyed being part of the pre-med community at Rice, especially at his residential college.

At Rice and among Egerton’s family, making the transition out of pre-med was difficult.

“Internally it wasn’t the easiest thing,” Egerton said. “Being pre-med at Rice comes with some level of status, and leaving that means leaving that status, which is not the easiest of transitions. It was not the easiest thing to tell my parents as you can probably guess. My grandparents [also] didn’t particularly like that I was changing [out of pre-med].”

Castillo said that in addition to the pressure of telling her mom about her change in direction as an FGLI student, she is stressed by the process of transitioning to a new career path halfway through college.

“I’m still in that stage of discovery, and it’s honestly really stressful as I’m a junior now and this feels like stuff I should have started exploring much earlier,” Castillo said. “I could have done externships … and internships and tried to find what things I’m interested in. Now [that I’m] a junior, deadlines are impending.”

Castillo said she is considering a Rice 4+1 masters program in environmental analysis and is unsure whether she wants to go straight into a career involving

1 Chains, whips, etc.

5 Junk 9 Performer that thinks inside the box?

13 Physicist Curie 14 Like Texas’ star 15 [sigh] 16 Wag finger at 17 Greenlight 18 Ye ____ Shoppe 19 Run of the mill, or a snickerdoodle stencil 22 NBC show starring Michael Che and Ego Nwodim 23 Biblical object believed to be in Ethiopia 24 Rodrigo of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” 28 Rockstar Games game, to fans 29 Brain and spinal cord, abbreviated 30 Home security company, abbreviated 31 Rice student newspaper 35 The end of a shoelace 37 Partner 38 German and French currencies 40 Chinese alternative to 38-across 41 2019 Netflix film “Always Be My _____” 43 Holy fish?

45 American alternative to 38-across, abbreviated 46 Spinal Tap turned one to 11 48 Texter’s two cents 49 ______ Falls Convention 51 Pal 52 Opposite of NNW 55 Ambushes by 19-across, 31-across, or 43-across 59 Ones with no loving attraction to others, for short 62 Defunct Swedish car manufacturer 63 Arctic peoples 64 Explorer portrayed by Isabela Merced in 2019 film 65 Hathaway of “The Princess Diaries” 66 Hibiscus holders 67 Soccer star Wambach 68 K-Pop star 69 Yale students

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ANDREA GOMEZ / THRESHER

conservation or ecological and biological consulting or if she should apply to graduate school and do a Ph.D. in biology with the aim to become a professor.

William, who transitioned out of premed and a major in biochemistry earlier during his time at Rice, said that he switched between many different majors and career goals – ranging from majors in economics to statistics and careers in entrepreneurship to machine learning before he decided on a major in computer science, with the intent to become a software engineer.

Butler said she aims to pursue a Ph.D. in African-American Religion with a focus on Christianity in enslaved communities in the U.S. South. Egerton is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado Boulder studying 20th century American history, history of the U.S. South and environmental history.

Despite the challenges in transitioning out of pre-med, multiple students said they are happy with their new paths.

Fierst said that the Office of Academic Advising and the Center for Career Development would be happy to help Rice

students thinking about switching out of pre-med.

“We serve all students whether they are pre-med or not,” Fierst said. “We definitely want to have those conversations [about switching out of the pre-med track] with students at any point in their journey. Other students find their way to the Center for Career Development. For students going straight into a career they may find that the services of the CCD are better suited to the questions that they have and the needs they might have moving forward.”

Castillo said that advice given to her freshman year regarding medical school influenced her decision to leave the premed track.

“I was part of a program at Rice called Big Owls Little Owls in which they brought in medical students and doctors to talk to undergrads, and one of the med students said something that is still now sticking with me,” Castillo said. “He said, ‘If you even think there is something else you might want to explore, do that before you go into med school, because that is so many years of your life.’”

8 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

Black Art at Rice:

THE RICE THRESHER

Talking with one-man band David Ikejiani

COURTESY DAVID IKEJIANI

EMILY MA

THRESHER STAFF David Ikejiani, a Duncan College senior, is a one-man band — he sings, plays instruments from the saxophone to the ukulele, and writes his own music.

On top of all this, he has also forged his own community of fellow musicians and artists in the Rice Music Collective and works tirelessly to ensure that students can come together in a shared creative space. He reflects upon his own musical journey, the challenges he has faced in balancing rigorous academics with music and his advice for other Black students to find support and community. Ikejani is currently working on releasing an EP. Rice Thresher: How did you first get into music and singing?

David Ikejiani: My family has always been relatively musical. I always joke about it, but my mom was in a choir when she was pregnant with me, and that’s why I’m musical, too. I started learning how to play saxophone when I was in fifth grade, and I always sang in my family. That’s something we did growing up. But that was my first official instrument [and] education in a type of music. I also play guitar, ukulele, drums and piano — I’m learning a lot of

instruments. I just wanted to be able to play as many things as I needed for making music.

RT: What are you currently working on, and what do you have planned for the future?

DI: I’m the president of an organization called the Rice Music Collective. It’s a community of musicians and creatives that are interested in the music industry, and we’re really providing a setting for them to excel in whatever path they’re choosing. At the end of last year, we did something called the Tiny Nest Music Concert — it’s a play off of Tiny Desk from NPR, and that’s a way for people to get experience performing as well as releasing music video content. This year, we’re aiming for our big thing to be a music festival towards the end of the spring, COVID willing. In addition to that, we’re playing with the idea of making Tiny Nest an annual thing. And lastly, a big thing for us is collaboration, both on the individual [level and] across organizations. Right now, we’re in collaboration with Nocturnal in recording their first studio album.

Looking towards individual stuff, I’m working on releasing an EP soon. So I’ve been producing stuff over the break and towards the end of last year. I’m working

on finishing up some tracks now, and am planning a release schedule for that soon.

I’m also doing pop up performances as part of the club, performing at Africayé and soul nights, and I’m a part of a couple bands here on campus as well.

RT: What are your favorite genres of music, and, within those fields, do you have a favorite musician?

DI: I would say that I was raised on soul and jazz. I like a lot of genres, but that’s the center of them, and it branches out from there. I definitely have a lot of jazz, soul, and neo soul influence in the music I make and write for, and just how I think of ideas. That’s the basis, but I really love listening and writing for hip hop and rap, and some more indie alternative stuff as well. I definitely think Bruno Mars is a huge [inspiration] for vocals in general.

In terms of production, variability, and ability, I think people like Jacob Collier and FINNEAS are really good new [artists] right now. In terms of more independent producers that focus on drums, The Kount is really good at that aspect of music production.

RT: What has been your favorite musical experience?

DI: That’s hard to choose. I think my favorite [performance] is when I played at my second Africayé. I played an original song of mine, and I had a really positive crowd response. People were really enjoying the show and came up to me after it and were asking, “Oh, what’s the song?” or “Who made it?” And that’s me.

So that was a really validating experience

It’s difficult balancing different passions — I’m also a photographer and videographer, because I want to use those as a part of my art. But I think having those varieties of passions is also a strength on its own.

David Ikejiani DUNCAN COLLEGE SENIOR

for me on my path as a musician — that if I pursue it, it’s hopefully something people would be interested in. In that same vein, a big musical experience for me [was] also

related to that same song. It’s called “What About Love,” but at the time, I only made it for guitar. A couple months later, I finished producing a more fleshed out track, and I showed a couple of people that are actually in the music industry, and they were like, “Oh, this is like a professional level song!” That was a really mind-boggling experience for me, the first time where I felt like my production or my skill was at the point where I’m proud to show stuff I make.

RT: On the flip side, what are some challenges that you have faced on your journey as a relatively young musician who is already releasing your own music?

DI: Some challenges I’ve faced come more on the logistical side of things. If I could make music 24/7 and not have to worry about anything, I would, but [I’m] thinking about school and thinking about work, and just trying to operate in ways where I can have a relatively financially secure future, while also being able to pursue music. [I’m] operating on a bioengineering schedule as well. It’s always a bit difficult to plan those late nights where I have to work on homework or work on music, because I want to pursue both. It’s difficult balancing different passions — I’m also a photographer and videographer, because I want to use those as a part of my art. But I think having those varieties of passions is also a strength on its own.

RT: What advice would you give other Black students who are passionate about music?

DI: It can be relatively isolating when you come into this type of institution that doesn’t really have as many people that look like you or have similar stories as you.

So my advice is really trying your hardest not to be deterred by that. [Try] your hardest to make that community of your own. My sophomore year and my junior year, me and a couple people I knew formed the Rice Music Collective, and invigorated it to the point where I have a lot of friends there — a lot of people that I’m really close to and are also passionate [about] music. If you don’t have that community, it’s [about] making it and making the most out of the situation that you’re in. [It’s about] not being too pessimistic as well, because I think it’s also very easy to fall into [thinking] it’s not going to change. It’s a matter of finding the silver linings in situations and making as powerful changes as you can for yourself and people you care about.

Review: Hanya Yanagihara’s “To Paradise” — It took me there HUGO GERBICH-PAIS

FOR THE THRESHER

The first man will never have to work in his life, in fact he is so wealthy he can leave everything to chase love. The second man is a broke paralegal who fled from his homeland and is now dating his wealthy boss. The third is a successful virologist, whose very success has trapped him instead of freeing him.

“To Paradise” is Hanya Yanagihara’s first work since her incredibly successful 2015 release “A Little Life,” shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. “A Little Life,” released Jan. 11, is a novel on par with if not better than her previous release.

To appreciate this book, I had to trust Yanagihara — its 700 pages are split across three sections, each set 100 years apart from each other. Each story is wildly different, but all are narrated by a gay man and set in the same large home in New York City . I admit, this terrified me. It seemed far too ambitious to keep me invested enough to finish this novel.

However, my fears were unwarranted.

By the end of my time with “To daydreams and changing narrative Paradise”, the novel felt like an old perspectives, the reader darts across friend. I was accustomed to Yanagihara’s time in this novel, allowing Yanagihara gentle narrative style, and, even if the to masterfully control the novel’s pacing. characters and time periods changed, I was completely at her whim and often they never felt alien or disorienting to me struggled to put the novel down, reading furiously just to as a reader. I was return to the time constantly guided period that I was by the work’s most invested in. unifying theme: Yanagihara’s There is a fine regret.

Across line between truly all three stories, authorial talent is also disliking a character we encounter demonstrated by her and hating the way characters filled beautiful use of time they put themselves with regret, in harm’s way, and wishing that they distortion. Through Yanagihara walks it had done more letters, daydreams and well. For the most for their loved changing narrative part, I was fond of all ones. This is one perspectives, the reader of the protagonists, of Yanagihara’s and when I felt p a r t i c u l a r darts across time in this disappointed or strengths — novel. frustrated at them, it transcribing onto the page the things we are too afraid to was clearly the author’s intent. However, at times I felt their development was say out loud.

Yanagihara’s authorial talent is rushed, and character complexity was also demonstrated by her beautiful lost — no doubt a consequence of having use of time distortion. Through letters, to cram five protagonists into one novel.

I also appreciated the way that Yanagihara was able to provoke reflection on key contemporary sociopolitical issues. The first section is set in 1893, in a world where marriage equality exists and women have been full members of society for a hundred years already — while people of color are still marginalized and not treated equally.

In the second section, set in 1993, we witness the AIDS pandemic, and how classism shaped the experiences of AIDS victims. Finally, the third section is set in a totalitarian America in 2093 ravaged by plague, warning us about how swifty the decline into dictatorship can take place and how dire the consequences are once it arrives.

This novel is long but never felt like a chore to read, a testament to Yanagihara’s genius. It is paced beautifully, and I was able to escape to worlds that were foreign enough to be fascinating, yet familiar enough to force me to reflect on my own life. “To Paradise” made me consider the consequences of our pursuit of happiness on our relationships, our family and our future.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 • 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Change your scenery: study spots a short trip from Rice in Rice Village. Sweet Paris not only has delicious crêpes, but also offers waffles, salads, soup and hot drinks. Unfortunately, Sweet Paris does not have many power outlets, so visitors may need to charge your laptop beforehand if they intend to finish their work. With access to Wi-Fi, students can almost never go wrong by starting their day with a sweet treat while finishing their sour COMP 182 homework.

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER

DISHA BALDAWA

THRESHER STAFF

Tired of never finding a seat at Chaus and always losing your favorite study spot at Fondy to someone else? Don’t want to study in your room but don’t know of places outside where you can do so? Look no further for a list of cafés, restaurants and

more near Rice to explore for a change of pace while attempting to get through work this semester.

Sweet Paris Complete work and treat yourself to various sweet and savory crêpes at Sweet Paris anytime between 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Review: FKA Twigs showcases dazzling candy-pop on ‘Caprisongs’

El Tiempo Cantina If you are fancying some good TexMexican lunch, check out El Tiempo Cantina at Richmond Avenue. Only a seven-minute drive or a 20-minute bus ride away, Cantina is known for its spicy fajitas, enchiladas and Texas-size portions. The back patio will is charming and, momentarily, visitors might even forget that they are there to do some work, using the free Wi-Fi that the restaurant offers.

Starbucks Students can never go wrong with our good ol’ pal, Starbucks. Get ready to finish

IMOGEN BROWN

Fresco For good pasta and music to study with, Fresco could be a new favorite study spot. Only an 11-minute bus ride away, Fresco offers a wide variety of pizza, pasta, lasagnas and various types of sauces anytime between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. from Wednesday through Sunday. Since Fresco does not have Wi-Fi, offline work can be completed without the temptation of being online.

JACOB PELLEGRINO

THRESHER STAFF

COURTESY YOUNG

“Hey, I made you a mixtape / Because when I feel you, I feel me / And when I feel me, it feels good,” breathes FKA Twigs in “ride the dragon,” the first track on her latest album, “CAPRISONGS.” Released on Jan. 14, “CAPRISONGS” is a love letter to friendship, music, adventure, collaboration and, most of all, to Twigs herself. A drastic departure from the divine, heartrending emotion of “MAGDALENE,” its follow-up is a blitzy, feature-filled mirage of candied pop. Described by Twigs as “bronzer in the sink, alco pop on the side, a cherry lolly… a club pre-game, meeting a friend at the airport, just togetherness,” the album is studded with plastic rhinestones. Though “CAPRISONGS” sporadically falls prey to underdeveloped interludes and forgettable songs, its otherworldly synth frenzy renders it a respectable recovery mixtape.

With her first two tracks, “ride the dragon” and “honda,” Twigs sets the stage on the club floor. Jarring trap beats and repetitive lyrical refrains leave us wondering where the lonely, gut wrenching balladry of “MAGDALENE” went. “So if you really wanna kiss me / Do it quickly ’fore the end of the song,” Twigs flirts, demonstrating the carefree, no-nonsense tone that dominates the album. Forever the alien artist, Twigs opens “CAPRISONGS” by reminding us of her ability to skirt the edges of what is mainstream while floating just above what is earthly.

“Meta angel,” reveals a restorative vulnerability, as it begins with peals of warm laughter from Twigs’ friends. “Throw it in the fire / Ego in the fire,” she belts, using her raw, sensitive voice to evoke the triumph of knowing her wounds have healed. “Tears in the club,” another fan favorite, is a

Freed-Montrose Neighborhood Library For a change in environment to study with peace and quiet, Freed-Montrose Library is an excellent option. With a number of outlets and free WiFi, visitors can get their work done here anytime between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Freed-Montrose is open to the public and is an easy six minute bus ride away.

Review: The Lumineers embrace an undercurrent of hope on ‘BRIGHTSIDE’

FOR THE THRESHER

Genre: Art-pop Top Track: “oh my love”

work with that coffee adrenaline rush anytime between 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. There are several locations near campus just a short walk or METRO ride away.

bubblegum joyride filled with all the happy delirium of a rave, while “oh my love,” establishes a vivacious maturity. Throughout the album’s first half, Twigs’ trademark silky thin voice shines through a bedrock of thick, rich-sounding beats, resulting in an auditory experience not unlike swallowing Poprocks.

Despite the crisp funkiness of its beginning tracks, “CAPRISONGS” limitations lie in its forgettability. Stumbling over time-killing conversational interludes and inconsistent song structures, the project tends to lose itself in an attempt to cultivate a very specific aura of sparkle and crunch.

Certain tracks reflect simplistic bids for a catchy chorus rather than well developed verses, while others are headache-inducing in their unrelenting insistence on merciless trap rhythms. Though “lightbeamers” is a beautiful showcase of Twigs’ vocal talent, subsequent tracks fall off the beaten path, getting lost in a cloud of glittery sound bites and pseudo-profound pieces of dialogue. “which way” is Grimes-esque in its nonsensicality yet lacks the core melody needed to unify its dissociative threads, while “jealousy” seems akin to the contrivance of an underwhelming Y2Kinspired song that the world forgets within a week of its release. By the end of the record, Twigs manages to rediscover her direction with “darjeeling” and “thank you song.”

Throughout the album, FKA Twigs washes us in a tunefully ecstatic journey of growth, love and community. Against the backdrop of “MAGDALENE”, a harrowingly beautiful open wound released in the context of two traumatic, high profile relationships, Twigs takes the opportunity to show us how far she has come. Her love for those around her and for musical experimentation and introspection is reflected in the euphoric hall-of-mirrors that is “CAPRISONGS” as Twigs urges us to call up our friends and dance our problems away.

COURTESY DUALTONE AND DECCA RECORDS

Genre: Alternative Top Track: “WHERE ARE WE” In late 2019, The Lumineers released one of the best albums of that year, “III,” an intimate portrayal of the long-reaching effects of addiction on a family. Accompanied by a video series, the album was deeply cinematic and emotional in a way that stayed with listeners. As the title might make you guess, “BRIGHTSIDE” is a very different animal. Their new album always has an undercurrent of hope and redemption, even in its darkest moments. It also veers from the conceptual nature of “III,” while still having a unity and focus that leads to a consistent listen.

The album opens with its first single and title track, an ode to love and commitment. The music video features videos of a diverse range of real couples. Lead singer Wesley Shultz emphasized the importance to him of featuring “people who are actually in love, and have been through some hard times together, some beautiful times together” to further develop the meaning of the song. Featuring a more electric instrumentation than Lumineers fans might be used to, the contrast between tumultuous situations in a relationship and being a partner’s “brightside” makes the song a strong composition.

“WHERE WE ARE” is another example of the persistent optimism that engulfs the album through both the lyrics and instrumentation. The track begins with the narrator’s assertion that they’ll be okay even though they don’t know where they are as the sound opens into a kinetic and uplifting piano part.

The song was inspired by a car accident that Shultz had gotten into.

“It was about ten years ago, I was driving, it was raining and it was snowing.

Just me and my wife, we hydroplaned off the road going 70 [miles per hour] and we flip the car three times,” Shultz said. “When we realized we were still alive, we get out of the car. These people kept coming up to us, and they were sobbing, they were crying, ‘cause they thought we had died.”

This event’s infusion in the song combines with the sense of hope and stirring instrumentation to create a deeply emotional listen.

“NEVER REALLY MINE” opens with the ear catching line — “love was not designed for time; you were never really mine” — a statement that listeners would normally expect to hold some bitterness. Instead, the song is more of a tender acknowledgement of the end of a relationship, poetically illustrating the former love fading away as the singer accepts it’s end.

As the album comes to an end, “REMINGTON” brings in a nuanced croon that uses two small vignettes to transport the listener. The short track’s unconventional structure (two verses, a bridge and a refrain) and lack of a chorus make it even more intriguing, with an almost somber air to it. The song creates a sense of anticipation for something greater while allowing listeners to provide their own interpretation of the imagery.

The final track, “REPRISE,” returns to the motif of a “brightside” from the beginning of the album to bring the album home to a fitting ending. While creating a sense of finality for the work as a whole, the chorus provides a sense of movement that keeps the composition interesting.

“BRIGHTSIDE” is a hope-filled folk rock album that utilizes electric elements and other new stylistic elements for the group to lead to an enjoyable and satisfying album.

10 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

Women’s track indoor season gets off the blocks this week In addition to the team placing fourth at conference, junior shot putter Erna Gunnarsdóttir and sophomore distance Next Saturday’s FasTrak Collegiate runner Grace Forbes both had standout Challenge at the University of Houston’s performances, earning individual gold Yeoman Fieldhouse will mark the start medals and qualifying for the NCAA of the Rice women’s indoor track season, Championships. Gunnarsdóttir’s winning and head coach Jim Bevan said that he is throw was over two meters greater than looking forward to what is shaping up to the second place effort, and Forbes won both the mile and the 3,000-meter races in be a great year.

“The meet is just a starter for us, a ‘rust dominant fashion, setting a new meet and school record time of 4:37:53 for the mile and buster’ if you will,” Bevan said.

The team is coming off of a 2021 season beating second place in the 3,000-meter by which saw them place fourth out of 12 at the over 20 seconds.

Other notable results from last year’s Conference USA Indoor Championships.

They managed to achieve this despite meet include sophomore thrower Tara Simpson-Sullivan’s having to deal with third place in the last year’s winter weight throw, storm in the days sophomore Eliza immediately prior Kraule’s fifth in to the meet, as well We have athletes in all the pentathlon, as the fact that events that have a chance sophomore sprinter/ it was their first to score at conference. We Justice meet of the season will be highly competitive hurdler Coutee-McCullum’s due to COVID-19 fourth in the c a n c e l l a t i o n s . in our conference and we 60-meter hurdles, In fact, it was will have a presence at the sophomore distance the Owls’ first national meet. runner Taigen tournament H u n t e r - G a l v a n’ s since the start Jim Bevan fourth place in the of the COVID-19 HEAD COACH 800-meter, and p a n d e m i c , meaning they had not competed in nearly sophomore jumper Ginnie Okafor’s fifth a year when the tournament rolled around. place in the triple jump.

This year, the team will look to improve This year, the team will have a more normal schedule, with the Owls set to off of those results. Forbes and Gunnarsdóttir compete at four meets before the C-USA both return and will look to get back to the NCAAs, where they finished sixth and Championships.

ANTOINE WILEY

THRESHER STAFF

COURTESY CONFERENCE USA Sophomore distance runner Grace Forbes competes during last year’s C-USA championships.

The Owls will look to build off of last year’s performance as they begin their indoor season.

eleventh in their respective events. SimpsonSullivan, Coutee-McCullum, Hunter-Galvan and Okafor all return as well. According to Bevan, he is optimistic that the team can continue to grow and improve off of last year’s showing “We have an energized group that has a lot of potential,” Bevan said. “We have a very well rounded team and I am looking forward to watching their growth as we start competing.”

As the season gets underway, Bevan said he is optimistic about what the team can accomplish. According to Bevan, the team has a shot to win conference and make their mark on nationals.

“We have athletes in all events that all have a chance to score at conference,” Bevan said. “We will be highly competitive in our conference and we will have a presence at the national meet.”

After this weekend’s meet, the Owls have meets scheduled for three weekends in a row, with two taking place at UH, and one at Texas A&M University, before they head to Birmingham, Alabama for the C-USA meet from Feb. 19-20. After that, whoever qualifies will head to the NCAAs, which are also taking place in Birmingham this year, from March 11-12.

Men’s indoor track and field season starts to heat up PAVITHR GOLI

SENIOR WRITER

This past Friday, the Rice men’s track team opened up their indoor season at the Leonard Hilton Memorial Invitational at the University of Houston. As a small meet, only 10 athletes represented the Owls at the competition last weekend.

Despite the small number of participants, four Owls reached the podium. According to head coach Jon Warren, the meet was a perfect way to kick off the season.

“For these athletes, this was the perfect meet,” Warren said. “They got to work on a few things in a competitive environment and get their seasons started off right.”

Junior runner Evan Marshman, who took second in the 400-meter, said that the meet was a great opportunity to receive constructive criticism from his coaches so that he can continue to improve as the season progresses.

“My teammates and I were able to communicate with our coaches leading up to our events as well as receive feedback right after,” Marshman said. “This helps us highlight what we did well and what we need to work on going forward.

Overall, it was a positive experience for everyone since we view these meets as valuable opportunities that will help us improve.”

The high jump event, which only featured Rice athletes, was won by

COURTESY CONFERENCE USA Junior thrower Nick Hicks participates in last year’s C-USA indoor track championships. Hicks and the Owls have meets in the next three weeks, before they begin their postseason.

sophomore Ese Amata. Freshman Patrick Elizondo and freshman Gus Henry came in second and third, respectively.

Although not every Owl placed at the meet, according to Warren, the athletes performed well in their respective events.

“Ese Amata and Patrick Elizondo kicked off their seasons in the high jump,” Warren said. “[Freshman] Javier Alatorre set a personal best in the high jump. [Junior] Austin Conrad and Evan Marshman got off to good starts in the 60 meters and the 400 respectively.”

After the meet, Amata said he was pleased with his achievement at the meet and believes that his teammates have improved from their 5th place finish at the Conference USA championship last year.

“It was my first victory ever in the indoor season,” Amata said. “I also saw a huge improvement from my teammates compared to last season.”

After not winning in the indoor season last year, Amata said that he was able to improve during the offseason by becoming increasingly poised at meets.

“Last year being my first year I was mainly focused on getting comfortable competing at the collegiate level,” Amata said. “With one year under my belt, I am more confident and determined during competitions. This offseason I worked on critiquing my high jump approach.”

This upcoming Saturday, Jan. 22, the Owls will hope to implement the improvements they made over the offseason as they will take part in a bigger meet. A larger portion of the team will participate in the FasTrak Collegiate Challenge, which is hosted by the University of Houston. According to Warren, most of the athletes will get their first action this weekend, while others will start the season the weekend after that.

“Next week we will get two-thirds of the team going,” Warren said. “The group that competed this week will compete again and the throwers will start their campaigns. The distance group will start the following week, Jan 28-29 at UH.” With the team entering their first taste of competition this week, Warren stated that he has high goals for his squad this season. Warren aims for his athletes to qualify for the postseason and place highly at the C-USA championship and believes that his players have the character to do so.

“We have some super athletes and people on this team,” Warren said.“Looking at both the indoor and outdoor seasons, we are confident that a good amount of athletes will qualify for the postseason. If things fall into place, I am hopeful for a very high finish at the conference meets.”

According to Amata, he intends to place highly at the conference championship to ensure a spot at the national championship.

“My goal for this season is to place top three at the conference championship and qualify for NCAA Indoor Nationals,” Amata said.

Marshman said that, in addition to his individual goals, he wants to support his teammates so that they can also reach their best as well.

“My goal is to help the team as much as I can by scoring points at the Indoor and Outdoor Conference USA Championships,” Marshman said. “While performance goals are important, I believe it is just as important to continually support and encourage teammates” The Owls will compete in three more regular season indoor meets before they head to Birmingham, Alabama for the C-USA Championships in mid-February and will finish their season in early March with the NCAA Championships if any Owls qualify.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022 • 11

SPORTS

Women’s club ultimate talks nationals, upcoming season REED MYERS

SENIOR WRITER Following cancellations due to COVID-19 that altered women’s club ultimate frisbee’s 2020 and 2021 seasons, they finally got a chance to play out their previous seasons this past fall.

According to Hanszen College senior Amanda Lopatin, one of the team’s two captains, their participation in regionals this October was the first chance to play together as a team again for quite some time.

“We didn’t get to play last year,” Lopatin said. “We had regionals in October and those were our first games since February 2020.”

The team, which competes in Division III of USA Ultimate, the governing body that oversees club ultimate frisbee competitions across the country, normally spends fall semester recruiting new players and preparing for the upcoming season. However, this year would be different because it was decided that in addition to their normal spring season, they would have a fall season to make up for 2020-21. That meant that players from prior seasons who had could also compete during this year’s competitions in the fall.

Regionals provided the first opportunity for the team, which goes by the name Torque, to finally come together, with newcomers, returners and graduates all playing on the same team with hopes of making it to nationals. According to Brown College sophomore Heather Szczesniak, the team’s other captain, playing in regionals allowed the team to mesh, with the returners helping to make the team transition a smooth one.

“It definitely took a little bit, like maybe our first couple games, and we were kind of working on figuring out different people’s feeds and what different people’s favorite type of throws were and how to work with different people.” Szczesniak said. “We did get a regionals tournament where we also got to play with them, so that allowed us to get together and work on it a little bit and then also a lot of returners are very

good high-level players so even though you do have to learn a little bit of working together and playing as a team, it was very easy to play with them because they were really incredible players.”

Torque was able to win at regionals, which punched their tickets to nationals, which took place from Dec. 17-20 in Norco, California. According to Lovett College freshman Sophia Figueroa, the realization that they were going to nationals was an emotional one.

“Everyone was really happy, but especially [graduated seniors from last year] because they weren’t able to experience that last year,” Figueroa said. “[For them] to be able to experience it with the new team also made it really gratifying and brought the team together because we actually haven’t really played that much prior to regionals as a full team [in] full games.”

At nationals, the team was able to compete and watch high-level talent throughout the tournament. The team began nationals in pool play. Rice placed second in their pool, and advanced tobracket play. After they were eliminated

by Vassar College in the first round of bracket play, the team moved to the consolation bracket, where they were set to play for ninth place, but according to Lopatin, the game was called off.

“We were supposed to play for ninth place against Brandeis on the next day, but they actually [had] a COVID case in their team and so they had to pull out of the tournament so then we got ninth place by default,” Lopatin said.“It was the [division I] and [division III] nationals at the same place at the same time, so even though we couldn’t play on the third day we still got to go watch a bunch of games and it was really cool.”

As nationals concluded, Torque experienced the distinct environment that is ultimate frisbee. While the team didn’t manage to win the tournament, according to Figueroa, they left with another award.

“The community of ultimate is really fun,” Figueroa said. “Everyone was cheering on each other, they have this

COURTESY TORQUE ULTIMATE FRISBEE Torque, Rice’s women’s club ultimate frisbee team, poses for a team photo at nationals. The team placed ninth at the tournament, and will now prepare for their upcoming spring season.

thing called the “spirit of the game” where, since everything is self-reffed, the teams check in with each other to make sure that it’s good sportsmanship throughout. Our team won the “Spirit of the Game” award [which] means that we knew the rules, were very friendly with the other teams and communicated well, and just [had a] good spirit overall.”

Competing at nationals under such unique circumstances meant many different things to the players on the team. For Szczesniak, much excitement came from making it and then competing at nationals in her first real season of ultimate frisbee at Rice.

“It was really exciting,” Szczesniak said. “For me, I’m a sophomore and am a captain of the team, but I also just joined last year and it was COVID year so we didn’t really get to do a whole lot. It’s really exciting that in my first real season we made it all the way to nationals and it’s just a really great experience to be able to play a really high-level of ultimate.”

Lopatin reveled in being able to achieve her ultimate frisbee goal, while also being able to show the next wave of players at Rice the sport at a high level.

“It meant a lot to me because I’ve been on Torque every year and it’s always been a goal to make it to nationals, so it was really exciting to be there with everyone,” Lopatin said. “We have a pretty young team in terms of year at school and also new to the sport, so I thought it was a really good bonding experience for us and then [also] a way to show them what high-level ultimate looks like and what the future can hold for us as a team.”

According to Szczesniak, the team was also able to bring back graduated players for their tournament run, and it was meaningful for them to finally see their ultimate frisbee careers out after losing their senior season.

“It meant a lot to a lot of them because they didn’t get their senior year tournaments,” Szczesniak said. “So the fact we made it all the way to nationals meant that they got to really have a great finale to their Rice frisbee experience.”

The team will now work on honing its craft as they gear up for their spring season, where they’ll aim to make another run to nationals.

According to Lopatin, she believes that with continued work and practice, the team has a chance to make it once again.

This article has been cut off for print. Read more at ricethresher.org.

MBB gets outmanned by WKU CHLOE SINGER

THRESHER STAFF

On Thursday, the Rice men’s basketball team faced off against the reigning Conference USA regular season champions, Western Kentucky University, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Despite holding a halftime lead, Rice fell 80-66 for their seventh consecutive loss to Western Kentucky. The loss brought their record to 9-6 on the season, and dropped their conference record to 2-2.

Despite playing on the road, an early 16-2 run propelled the Owls to a double digit lead in the first ten minutes of the game. After Western Kentucky switched from a 2-3 zone to a man-to-man defense, the tide began to turn and the Hilltoppers cut Rice’s lead to two going into halftime.

Western Kentucky extended their scoring run after the halftime break and did not relinquish their lead. After the game, head coach Scott Pera said multiple factors led to the loss.

“I don’t know that [Western Kentucky] made tremendous adjustments, in that they started pressuring us a little more,” Pera said. “We missed some shots that we [could have made]. We missed some opportunities to cut the lead back when they got it. They’re a very talented offensive team as talented as any offensive team in the league. They’re playing at home [which] is a tough place to play.”

According to sophomore guard Travis Evee, the defensive adjustments by WKU head coach Rick Stansbury ] shifted the momentum of the game. “[Western Kentucky] started in 2-3,” Evee said. “We were able to hit some easy

looks early, which was able to get us in a rhythm. Towards the end of the first half, they switched to man and they sat on a couple things that we were trying to do.

They were able to use their length [and] physicality against us.”

In particular, Jamarion Sharp, Western Kentucky’s 7’5’’ center, continually posed problems for Rice, according to Evee “When you have a 7’5” guy in the middle that makes things pretty challenging,” Evee said. “Just to have [Sharp] in there, affecting drives [and] blocking shots made it pretty difficult.”

[Western Kentucky] started out in a 2-3 [zone] ... Towards the end of the first half, they switched to [man-to-man defense] and they sat on a couple of things that we were trying to do. They were able to use their length [and] physicality against us.

Travis Evee SOPHOMORE GUARD

Despite the final score, the Owls ended the game with four players scoring in double-figures. Freshman Mylyjael Poteat shot 70 percent from the field and led all Rice scorers with 15 points in just 20 minutes. Evee credits Rice’s strong first half start to having a strong game plan and playing unselfishly.

COURTESY MARSHALL ATHLETICS Sophomore guard Travis Evee takes on a defender in Rice’s 87-77 win against Marshall University. The Owls began the weekend with a 80-66 loss to Western Kentucky University.

“The scouting report was really good by assistant coaches,” Evee said. “We were able to play pretty well off without the ball. Max [Fiedler] was finding cutters. We were able to hit some shots, move well without the ball, stick to the game plan, and play defense. All around it was a good performance.”

The Owls closed out their weekend on the road against Marshall University.

The Owls got out to a big first half lead, and this time they were able to hold on, winning by a score of a 87-77 to bring their conference record back above .500.

Coming up, the team has the heart of their conference schedule, before they

begin to prepare for the postseason. Pera said that as the season goes on, the team will only keep improving with continued health and experience.

“One of the keys right now is being who we thought we’d be on November 14, and that is a healthy, talented, older basketball team,” Pera said. “We have gone through some injuries with Quincy and Chris. We went through the COVID issues over the holidays. We feel that we’re finally hitting our stride.”

The Owls will play Old Dominion University on Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at Tudor Fieldhouse, as they look to get their fourth conference win.

12 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2022

BACKPAGE

In the wake of The Schliss getting up to no good at the University of Michigan, the Backpage decided to exercise our FOIA rights and take a peep around Leebron’s emails for any surprises…

From: To: Subject:

From: To: Subject:

I’m booooored. :P looking forward to dominoes! leeberz (trying out a new signature. what do you think?)

Sent from my iPad

David Leebron (president@rice.edu) Reginald DesRoches (provost@rice.edu) shower thoughts..

Reginald, What if we missed our shuttle and got stuck at Skyspace

David Leebron (president@rice.edu) INDIV ID UAL 1 Re: Dominoes!

💖

From: To: Subject:

Not sure if you got my last email, just wanted to say I’m really excited to play dominoes tonight!

leebs (again)

Sent from my iPad

David Leebron (president@rice.edu) IN D IV ID UAL 1 Re: Dominoes!

From: David Leebron (president@rice.edu) To: IN D IV ID UAL 1 Subject: Dominoes!

lol leebs xoxo

From: David Leebron (president@rice.edu) To: Rice Coffeehouse (no-reply@coffeehouse.rice.edu) Subject: Re: Order #42069 Please consider using more nut in your Nutty Bees and less bees, they are endangered. #savethebees.

From: Rice Coffeehouse (no-reply@coffeehouse.rice.edu)

To: David Leebron (president@rice.edu)

Subject: Order #42069

Hi Ping you still on for dominoes tonight?

Leebs x

Sent from my iPad

From: To: Subject:

David Leebron (president@rice.edu) Faculty mailing list (faculty@rice.edu) Silly meme I found :)

Did you see this?

🙂 Hahah. Should I send it to the slack?

------------------------------------- ORDER RECEIPT ------------------------------------- 1x Nutty Bee . . . $3.50

—Xtra Nut

—Lite Bee

3x Eye Opener . . . $6.00

2x Knish . . .

$5.00

Total . . . $14.50 ------------------------------------- This is an automated email. Do not reply to this message.

David

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Rice Coffeehouse

The Backpage is the satire section of the Thresher, written this week by Ndidi Nwosu, Andrew Kim, and Timmy Mansfield and designed by Lauren Yu. For questions or comments, please email dilfhunter69@rice.edu.