The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, August 23, 2023

1,127

freshmen join Rice

This year, 1,127 new students joined Rice as the Class of 2027. This marks the most selective admissions year in Rice history, which saw a record-low acceptance rate of 7.7%.

Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne Romero da Silva said that this selectivity was, in part, purposeful.

“We intentionally aimed to enroll a smaller freshman class this year, given the two previous enrolling classes were over 1200 students,” Romero da Silva wrote in an email to the Thresher.

These numbers echo a similar story that Romero da Silva said in March, after telling the Thresher that higher-than-anticipated yield rates — the percentage of admitted students who ultimately enroll — had led Rice to be more conservative with their admission offers for the Class of 2027.

Rice to ‘reset’ student center rebuild, hire new architecture firm

The new student center project has been delayed again, dean of undergraduates Bridget Gorman announced in an Aug. 21 email obtained by the Thresher. Rice has chosen to ‘reset’ the project, firing the architecture firm, Adjaye Associates.

“We are still waiting to learn what this will mean in terms of new architects, design, and timelines, but we know that it will mean that the project is not likely to break ground for the next sixteen months,” Gorman wrote in her email.

David Adjaye, the founder and principal of Adjaye Associates, was

Still, this year’s yield rate is 46%, a slight uptick from last year’s 44%. Romero da Silva noted a pattern of rising interest in Rice over the past several years, but this increase has its limiting factors, she said. The termination of the Rice-Baylor Baccalaureate/MD program, which ended in August 2022, continues to hamper interest in Rice, according to Romero da Silva.

“We knew the discontinuation of the Rice/Baylor program would have a slight dampening effect on applications to Rice, which it did — applications were down by about 400, but we also knew that meant we would have students who were far more committed to Rice in our pool,” Romero da Silva said.

Alina Zhong, a Wiess College freshman, said she initially harbored doubts about how she’d connect with her peers coming into college. Coming from an online high school, she said, made college seem that much more daunting.

SEE

Whether you’re new to Houston or have been here for years, you most likely haven’t explored all that the Houston arts and entertainment scene has to offer. From lively performance venues to some of the tastiest food you’ve ever encountered, the Bayou City has a swathe of fun locales to check out and enjoy.

Broadway at the Hobby Center

Bringing the best of Broadway to H-Town, Broadway at the Hobby Center stages some of today’s most popular plays. Shows like “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” “Les Miserables” and “Beetlejuice” are some of the highlights of the venue’s upcoming slate. The 2023 to 2024 season begins in November with “MJ the Musical,” a multi-Tony award-winning show. The Hobby Center is only a 10 to 15 minute drive from campus, making it a perfect place for some evening entertainment.

Additional theatre-related venues to check out include the Houston Grand Opera and the Miller Outdoor Theater.

Museum of Fine Arts Houston

accused of sexual misconduct by three former employees in July. Rice had previously said they were “very much reconsidering” Adjaye Associates’ role in campus projects.

A spokesperson for Rice did not say exactly why the university fired Adjaye Associates, nor did they clarify if Adjaye’s design will be completely scrapped. Gorman and Kate Abad, the associate dean of undergraduates, did not respond to an interview request.

In Adjaye’s design, Pub at Rice would have shared a second-floor food court space instead of their current exclusive basement location. Elizabeth Groenewold, a former general manager, told the Thresher in 2022 that Rice did

not provide Pub with other options.

“I think that [admin] does want to give us what they think we need, but it just seems like they had made a lot of decisions as to what Pub was going to be before they talked to anyone from Pub,” she said. “Even when I first met them, they were like, you’re in this [food court], there’s no other room for you, you can only have one corner, we’re going to cut your hours, we might not be able to get you a stage, which was a little frustrating.”

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. To read more, visit ricethresher.org.

A 20-minute walk from campus and free to Rice students, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston is an accessible way to experience a myriad of unique art from artists from all over the world. There’s currently a collection of Impressionist and PostImpressionist works from legendary artists like Van Gogh, Manet, Gauguin, Cezanne and Degas on display through Sept. 17. You can also visit Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s immersive exhibit called “Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity” that invites you to step into a dark room of glittering lights. The museum highlights works from artists such as Georgia O’Keefe, Pablo Picasso and James Turrell, the designer of Rice’s very own Skyspace.

Additional museums to check out include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Space Center Houston and the Menil Collection.

Brazos Bookstore

RIYA MISRA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Just walking through the Sallyport and seeing the fireworks, taking pictures, that was really an amazing moment for me.

Faustina Ironkwe WILL RICE COLLEGE FRESHMAN

COURTESY GUSTAVO RASKOSKY

PRAYAG GORDY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ARMAN SAXENA THRESHER STAFF

RENDERING COURTESY ADJAYE ASSOCIATES

GRAPHIC BY ROBERT HEETER

Redesigned ID cards add tap functionality

BRANDON CHEN

EDITOR

Rice has started issuing redesigned ID cards equipped with tap functionality. The new matriculating class was the first to be issued the new IDs, equipped with both a magstripe and proximity functionality.

Solomon Ni, Student Association President, said that he is glad to see Rice issue this update.

“It’s more of getting with the times,” Ni said.

“Magstripe is a very old technology and a lot of post-secondary institutions have been moving away from magstripe towards [Near Field Communication and Radio Frequency Identification Chips]. I’m very happy to see Rice University move in that direction.”

Jessica Solomon, the Director of Finance and Administrative Services for the Rice University Police Department, said in an email to the Thresher that changes for ID cards are part of a multi-year campus safety project allowing dual technology card readers. Alongside the construction of new buildings such as the O’Connor Building for Engineering Science and new residential colleges, combined proximity and magnetic stripe card readers have been installed. Moving forward, these readers will continue to be installed in all classrooms and other teaching and training rooms across campus.

“We have experienced constant wear and tear with our current magnetic stripe ID cards,” Solomon said. “Since proximity cards do not require swiping, they endure very little wear and tear over the years. The contactless nature of proximity cards enables faster and more convenient and secure access compared to traditional keybased or swipe-card systems.”

New students and faculty have already been issued new ID cards. Current students may purchase a new proximity card for $15, or replace their ID card due to regular wear and tear for a magnetic stripe card at no cost, according to Solomon. This raise in price from $10 to $15 comes due to the increased cost of proximity cards as well as inflation on the cost of ribbons and laminate rolls. Solomon also said that RUPD and the Office for Information Technology are exploring options for Apple Wallet and phone integration for contactless entry.

With the transition to proximity ID cards, the Student Association advocated for redesigning the cards to keep them up to date and unify the branding. Design changes include a smaller font for legal names on the back to be more inclusive of students who do not go by their legal name, said Ni.

Paige Sutter, a junior at McMurtry College, was surprised to receive a proximity ID card when replacing her old ID.

Rice renovates bike track

Rice is currently renovating the bike track used for Beer Bike, which involves repaving the asphalt and repainting track markers, according to an Aug. 9 email from the Facilities and Capital Planning department. The project began on Aug. 8 and is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 6.

According to communications and event specialist Faith Neyra, renovations are completed on an as-needed basis.

“The very nature of asphalt subjects it to wear and tear, especially when continuously exposed to the elements,” Neyra wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Over the years, the frequency of required repairs has grown due to use and weather conditions.”

Neyra said the need for parking around Rice stadium during upcoming football games required renovations to take place at the start of the academic year.

Anirudh Gupta, a member of the Wiess College 2022-2023 men’s bike team, said he noticed issues with the track’s condition while training for last year’s races.

“There were certain parts of the track where you’d go over a bump, or there’d be a pothole in the track,” Gupta, a sophomore, said. “When you’re biking recreationally, that’s not a problem. But when you’re on a road bike with very thin tires, and you’re going very fast, it can be scary.”

VIVIAN LANG / THRESHER

“I saw that they had the tap IDs coming out, so I tried it and then it worked. I didn’t even mean to get it,” Sutter said. “I like the tap because it makes me feel kind of fancy. I think it’ll also improve accessibility for a lot of other people.”

Sutter received her proximity ID at no extra cost, she said. However, other students were presented with the option to reprint their ID on a magstripe card or pay the fee to receive a proximity card.

“I don’t think that they should be making people pay for a change that they didn’t ask for,” Sutter said. “You know it’s like, ‘We decided to do this. If you want it, you have to pay us.’ That’s not my fault that you just decided to reprint them.”

Between July and August, RUPD has issued around 3,000 proximity cards to students and faculty.

Gupta said he was satisfied with the existing track markings and hopes Rice keeps them.

“The track itself was this asphalt color,” Gupta said. “It had a clear white border around the track. I found that really helpful, and I think Rice should continue to have that.”

There were certain parts of the track where you’d go over a bump, or there’d be a pothole in the track. When you’re biking recreationally, that’s not a problem. But when you’re on a road bike with very thin tires, and you’re going very fast, it can be scary

ANIRUDH GUPTA WIESS COLLEGE BIKE TEAM

According to Jones College sophomore Ayra Matondang, the track renovations disrupted planned O-Week events.

“Jones has an event called night ride,” Matondang, who advised at Jones, said. “We go to the bike track in cars, all painted up [and] we do a mock bike initiation … [Advisors] didn’t know the bike track was going to be closed until a few days before that.”

Sid Richardson College beer bike coordinator Akshay Sethi said he believed there were no track-related safety incidents during the past year’s Beer Bike.

“In terms of the track itself it was safe for the bikers,” Sethi, a junior, said. “There were a couple crashes, but I think that was mainly [due to] bike issues.”

FROM FRONT PAGE MATRICULATION

“I was really worried about going to college in general, which I feel like is probably a sentiment that all freshmen share,” Zhong said. “But in particular, I actually went to an online high school, so it’s been quite a while since I’ve been at an in-person learning institution. I was very worried about meeting people … but I feel like O-Week totally dispelled my concerns.”

Other students echoed Zhong’s sentiment about the impact of O-Week. Summer Orr, a Duncan College freshman, said that O-Week helped her reconcile the social and academic sides of college.

“The main thought that was running through my head was, no matter what the social side of this looks like, it doesn’t really matter,” Orr told the Thresher. “I’m here to go to school and I’m here to get an education. But I feel like the love of everyone last week, the DuncLove, just the support that I felt really changed my mind [that] the social side of this does matter. It’s what’s going to allow me to thrive academically and just enjoy myself these four years.”

This year, 13% of admitted students are international, 35% are from Texas and 50% are from outside of Texas. Interest in the undergraduate business major has remained consistent — 11% of the incoming class declared an intention to major in business, compared to last year’s 10%.

Romero da Silva said that 32% of Rice’s incoming domestic students identify as traditionally underrepresented students of color. According to data compiled by Sarah Diez, Associate Director of Analytics for Enrollment, using federal reporting methodology, 30% of the incoming class identify as Asian American, while 24% identify as Caucasian, 18% as Hispanic and 8% as African American or Black.

Faustina Ironkwe, a Will Rice College freshman, said that matriculation was a particularly surreal experience for her.

“Everything happened so fast … just walking through the Sallyport and seeing the fireworks, taking pictures. That was really an amazing moment for me,” Ironkwe said.

The Class of 2027 is entering Rice at a notable time in Rice’s history, marked by several changes in the university’s administration and structure. A few examples include Rice’s rebuild of the student center, announcement of two new residential colleges and a continued commitment toward student body expansion.

Romero da Silva said that the freshmen class fits neatly into the administration’s vision for Rice, and she looks forward to seeing the impact they leave.

“The incoming class is an incredible reflection of President [Reggie] DesRoches’s vision for the future of Rice and where Rice is headed,” Romero da Silva said. “They are an incredibly talented and gifted group of students who bring their unique gifts, passions and perspectives to Rice from all across the world. I look forward to seeing the mark they will make at Rice and beyond.”

I like the tap because it makes me feel kind of fancy. I think it’ll also improve accessibility for a lot of other people.

PAIGE SUTTER MCMURTRY COLLEGE JUNIOR

SPRING

FRANCESCA NEMATI / THRESHER

Frank Geurts to lead world’s longest running nuclear collider experiment

smithereens and look at what comes out of it. [We] deduce what we had in [early universe] conditions.”

Rice University physicist Frank Geurts has been named co-spokesperson for the Solenoidal Tracker at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider collaboration, the world’s first heavy-ion collider located at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Alongside Brookhaven Lab physicist Lijuan Ruan, Geurts will lead STAR for the next three years to collect data on nuclear collisions and study the matter that was present at the origin of the universe.

“The neutrons and protons inside atoms melt into their substructure: quarks and gluons,” Geurts

The STAR experiment can replicate the extreme conditions that existed just microseconds after the Big Bang with detailed control over the data collected.

“In the lab, you can have these kinds of collisions many, many times. You can study the conditions and properties created in a lab in a very detailed way,” Ruan said.

For Geurts, these questions surfaced in his life earlier than most. The Netherlandsborn scientist can trace his love for physics back to the stars.

“As a kid, I was always very interested in astronomy. I woke up at two o’clock in the morning, looking at the stars,” Geurts said. “The rabbit hole was there, I just went deeper and deeper, and figured that nuclear particle physics was my thing. There was this drive in asking, I went from the large objects in the sky to zooming in and understanding why things are what they are.” Geurts went on to study physics in his undergraduate and graduate years in the Netherlands. During that time, Geurts had the opportunity to

CTIS talks more about sex

MARIA MORKAS ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Critical Thinking in Sexuality, a course designed for new students to discuss interpersonal relationships and violence prevention, now includes an additional sixth session about pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease prevention. These changes follow a pilot session tested last year.

SAFE Office Associate Director Janie Guerrero said when CTIS was first implemented in 2018, there was a concern about speaking directly about sex.

“However, as dialogue has changed around sex, students felt it was time to incorporate a sixth session to assist students in staying healthy should they [choose] to engage in sex, and to provide students who do not engage in sex with the tools to have conversations with their sexually active friends about protecting themselves from [sexually transmitted infections] and unwanted pregnancies,” Guerrero said.

Duncan College sophomore Sophia Soltes said she thinks that STI prevention and healthy communication are important topics that aren’t talked about enough.

“This topic is important to discuss because it is relevant to many, if not all, relationships,” Soltes said. “Additionally, it is something that many high school [sexual education] curriculums don’t cover. Given the sociopolitical environment right

now, it is as important as ever that young adults understand what it really means to be in a physically and mentally healthy relationship.”

Soltes said that she remembers thinking that the CTIS curriculum could be improved by discussing STI and unwanted pregnancy prevention when she took the class, as such discussions give students information they will find useful in the future.

Lovett College freshman Jay Natarajan said he thinks the new session is beneficial as it prepares new students for college life and beyond.

“Especially given the ambiguous political climate [in Texas] right now, having a session to clarify any concerns for freshmen, especially those not from Texas, would be helpful,” Natarajan said. “Rice’s culture is welcoming to freshmen and provides them with all of the information they need to thrive, so I think [the extension] would be a welcome addition to the class.”

Guerrero said the SAFE Office is always open to students wishing to petition amendments to the curriculum. To make amendments, a proposal can be made to the Deputy Title IX Coordinator Allison Vogt, who works with administration and the Student Association Internal Vice President committee to add or modify the curriculum, Guerrero said.

Guerrero added that the SAFE Office hopes to collect feedback from the incoming students through listening sessions about the session later in the semester.

work at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, before applying for a postdoctoral position at Rice and beginning his involvement with STAR.

“I [selected] Rice because [of] its reputation in designing, development and research in detectors for particle physics,” Geurts said. “I grew into [the STAR] experiment. I was a co-convener, then I was a Physics Analysis Coordinator, then I was a deputy spokesperson and as of

scientific discovery to the vastness of a boba tea shop menu.

“The origins are still being discovered. In the beginning there were just protons, electrons, neutrons,” Ramesh said. “Now, we know there are maybe 33 subatomic particles, with different flavors. It’s exactly like going to a boba tea shop. It’s just tea with boba, but there are 60 different varieties.”

The public funding that the STAR collaboration relies on requires its findings to be communicated to the general public.

“We’re the longest running nuclear colliding experiment. That is, to a substantial degree, thanks to taxpayers. We need to make sure that high school kids, undergrads and middle school [students] know the science so they can have the same enthusiasm we have,” Geurts said.

STAR plans to record its final collisions in 2025, before being converted into an electron-ion collider. However, STAR’s work will continue after its last collision.

recently, I am, together with Lijuan, a cospokesperson.”

Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Rice’s vice president of research, emphasized the significance of Rice’s affiliation with STAR.

“At the end of the day, you want our faculty to be competing for the biggest discoveries. And the biggest discoveries invariably mean the biggest recognition,” Ramesh said. “We need to be a part of that big conversation, where discoveries are being made.”

Ramesh analogizes the scope of

“STAR will likely continue another five or eight years just digesting and analyzing,” Geurts said. “We basically redesign a new experiment each time we look at the data.”

From a curiosity in the stars to colliding particles at super speeds, for Geurts, all discoveries come back to collaboration.

“To students that want to make big discoveries, talk about science,” Geurts said. “Discuss it with your peers, with your professors, discuss it with your parents for all I care. Big discoveries come not out of single minds. Big discoveries come out of humans talking to each other.”

GENESIS HAHN / THRESHER

MOLLY KYLES FOR THE THRESHER

COURTESY GUSTAVO RASKOSKY

We slam nuclei to smithereens and look at what comes out of it. [We] deduce what we had in [early universe] conditions.

FRANK GEURTS PROFESSOR OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

How do we understand our changing climate?

How can we predict and prepare for natural hazards?

What makes and keeps planets habitable?

Undergraduate B.A. & B.S. Degrees

Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences

• With concentrations in Geosciences, Environmental Earth Science, and Planetary Science

Environmental Sciences

• Interdisciplinary degree offers a concentration in Earth Sciences

Minor in Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences

With a degree from EEPS: Perform research in nature, on rivers, on mountains and even on Mars!

• Solve environmental problems in cutting edge, state-of-the-art research laboratories.

• Careers *for the Earth* are abundant in the private sector, NGOs, government, academia and more!

Check out our website for fall courses, the major and more.

Prioritize students in the new RMC redesign

In an email to staff yesterday, Dean Gorman said that Rice has let go of Adjaye Associates, the architecture firm in charge of designing the new student center, and reset the RMC rebuild project.

For starters, we want to applaud Rice for cutting ties with Adjaye Associates. This announcement arrives a month after the Financial Times uncovered allegations of sexual misconduct against Sir David Adjaye, the founder and principal of the firm. While the email didn’t specify why they let go of Adjaye Associates — Gorman also attributed the RMC reset to post-COVID inflation and frustration over design plans — we can’t help but point out that Rice is joining the list of many clients who dropped Adjaye Associates after the allegations surfaced. We feel strongly that Rice should not maintain a relationship with any individual accused of sexual misconduct, and appreciate that they made the right decision in parting ways.

Now, the RMC rebuild has essentially returned to square one — or square 1.5, considering Gorman also said that donor money is still wrapped up in the rebuild project.

Rice administration should use this opportunity to re-evaluate the intentions of the RMC rebuild and emphasize student needs in the future design. Administration did solicit input from undergraduate and graduate students on the original redesign. However, we question how much that input was

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS’ DESK

valued, given how many student spaces wound up compromised. The previously proposed design put student media in the basement, Pub in a U-shaped food court and gave Coffeehouse an exterior pickup window.

EDITORIAL STAFF

* Indicates Editorial Board member

These student-run organizations shape Rice’s culture. Between class periods, you’d be hard pressed to find a place more packed than Chaus. Pub largely defines our post-lab Thursday nights. ktru’s stickers decorate water bottles and laptop sleeves around campus. To sideline these organizations, cram them into tight spaces and strip them of their quirks would be, in our opinion, conventionally unwise.

The original redesign also moved organizations previously housed elsewhere, such as the Center for Career Development and the Whoo Deli, into the RMC. These would be located on the second floor, sharing space with support services like the Queer Resource Center and the Women’s Resource Center.

Moving forward we urge the administration to rethink their priorities surrounding the RMC rebuild. We encourage Rice to hire a new architecture firm that understands Rice culture and constructs a building to suit its needs. The new student center must be bigger, too. The original redesign planned to increase the RMC’s size by 15 percent, a number that we feel is too low, given Rice’s plans to expand the student body and construct two new residential colleges. The addition of even more food offerings and work spaces can only further complicate the struggle to give students the space and resources that a student center is intended to provide.

Most importantly though, we urge administration to put students’ needs first when re-redesigning the new student center. Student-run businesses and media organizations should have a voice in what their spaces look like. We’ve been saying this for years. In 2019, our former editorial board argued that the rebuild must accommodate the needs of student media, including radio equipment for ktru and private spaces for the Thresher to conduct confidential interviews. Four years and several iterations of our board later, we still echo that sentiment. Some of our staffers spend upwards of 20 hours per week in our office — give us some natural light, please.

Editor-in-Chief Prayag Gordy recused himself from this editorial due to reporting on the corresponding story in our news section.

We’ll meet you where you stand.

Our primary goal at the Thresher has been — and will always be — to serve as a watchdog for the student body, to inform, to entertain and to criticize. As we begin our term as editors in chief, we remain dedicated to our central tenets, but we understand how much we have yet to learn.

Rice is moving in a new direction — and we’re excited to report on it. We also know our commitment to honest, timely and accessible journalism is as important as ever.

The past several months have shown the impact student journalists can have. For example, The Stanford Daily’s investigation into allegations of scientific misconduct in Stanford president Marc Tessier-Lavigne’s research prompted his resignation; and at Northwestern, The Daily unearthed

share your

allegations of racism and hazing on the football team, leading to football coach Pat Fitzgerald’s firing.

This year alone, Rice has formally shifted into a new athletic conference, announced plans to build two new residential colleges, made plans to redesign the academic quad, reset the student center project, hired a new athletic director and seen a record low acceptance rate.

Rice is moving in a new direction — and we’re excited to report on it. We also know our commitment to honest, timely and accessible journalism is as important as ever.

As many former editors in chief have said, our mission can be summed in one word: trust. Without your trust, our work will not benefit you. We will strive to build and retain your trust by promoting and publicizing our clear, transparent brand of journalism.

Timeliness is essential across all aspects of the Thresher. A growing university requires even more attention, from daily coverage — such as this week’s breaking news about the new student center delay — to long-term investigations. One year after introducing our Special Projects team,

with the Rice Thresher, in print or online!

the Thresher has dug into gentrification, abortion, student labor, athletic failures and more. Our focused investigations will continue into the new school year.

Finally, we are taking additional steps to increase the accessibility of our journalism. Although we will continue to print our paper issues — crossword included — every week, journalism is rapidly shifting towards digital platforms. In that spirit, we’ve expanded our social media staff and are branching out into new forms of multimedia, online-only content. The Thresher is run by the students and for the students. We need to meet you where you stand.

To those who are interested in making this difference, we invite you to join us. The door to our office is always open.

Riya Misra & Prayag Gordy EDITORS IN CHIEF

Prayag Gordy* Editor-in-Chief

Riya Misra* Editor-in-Chief

Nayeli Shad* Managing Editor

NEWS

Brandon Chen* Editor

Spring Chenjp Asst. Editor

Maria Morkas Asst. Editor

OPINION

Sammy Baek* Editor

FEATURES

Sarah Knowlton* Editor

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Hadley Medlock* Editor

SPORTS Pavithr Goli* Editor

BACKPAGE

Timmy Mansfield Editor Ndidi Nwosu Editor

Andrew Kim Editor

COPY

Jonathan Cheng Editor

Annika Bhananker Editor

PHOTO, VIDEO, & WEB

Cali Liu Photo Editor

Francesca Nemati Asst. Photo Editor

Camille Kao Video Editor

Eli Johns-Krull Asst. Video Editor

Ayaan Riaz Web Editor

DESIGN

Alice Sun Art & Design Director

Chloe Chan News

Siddhi Narayan Opinion

Robert Heeter Features

Ivana Hsyung Arts & Entertainment

Alice Sun Sports

Lauren Yu Backpage

SOCIAL MEDIA

Michelle Oyoo Abiero Manager

Priya Armour Asst. Manager

Cassidy Chhay Asst. Manager

BUSINESS

Edelawit Negash Business Manager

Korinna Ruiz Advertisement

Vanessa Chuang Distribution

ABOUT

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,

Student-run businesses and media organizations should have a voice in what their spaces look like. We’ve been saying this for years.

From the infamous yellow bumper stickers with rearranged letters to the often eclectic and unique range of music they share, the ktru radio station is an institution well known among the Rice community and even beyond the hedges. Despite this, few know the expansive history behind the iconic radio station and how it came to be the ktru we know and love.

In February 1967 from the Old Hanszen College basement, a group of students started a two-watt AM radio broadcast, and ktru was born — except it wasn’t quite ktru yet. KHCR, standing for “Hanszen College Radio,” served the students of Hanszen with news and music through low-tech equipment and the college’s buzzer system.

Shortly after its inception, ktru became KOWL in 1968 and was broadcast on 580 AM through wires that ran across the campus’ steam tunnels. Just three years later, the station was granted its FM license by the Federal Communications Commission and finally became ktru — standing for “The Rice University.” Broadcast with a 10watt signal to an 8-mile radius of campus, ktru began broadcasting May 1971, and its broadcast tower sat atop the original Sid Richardson College.

A measure of a station’s signal strength, wattage determines a radio’s power output and how far the broadcast can be heard. Commercial stations typically broadcast at 50,000 or 100,000 watts, but ktru was not there quite yet. The station started to broadcast to stereo in October 1973 and was given permission by the FCC to expand to 250 watts shortly after in April 1974. This was further expanded to 650 watts in 1980, and they grew their broadcast to 24 hours a day in 1981.

When the Ley Student Center in the Rice Memorial Center was expanded to a second floor in 1987, ktru found its home there. In 1991, ktru expanded to a full 50,000 watts. A past Thresher article on the evolution of ktru explained that student DJs were wary of this decision, worried they would have to relinquish student control of the station, but were promised that this would not happen.

Despite its rapid expansion and estimated 23,000 listeners in Houston at the time, ktru has not been without its share of controversies. On Nov. 30, 2000, a Thresher article said that ktru was off the air indefinitely after two ktru DJs broadcast the last hour of a Rice women’s basketball game simultaneously with music. ThenVice President for Student Affairs Zenaido Camacho pulled the plug on the station and called for a reorganization of their internal structure and management. The station was locked, iconic ktru bumper stickers were removed from the door and a sign

posted read, “No Admittance. Violations Subject to Code of Student Conduct.”

While student programming returned to ktru Dec. 8, 2000, the structure of ktru changed significantly and Camacho decided that three to four Rice sports events per week, in addition to most tournament games, had to be broadcast on ktru for the next two years. This decision also called for the ktru station manager to now be elected by the student body and a constitution to be created that dictated internal structure along with the DJs.

In a Letter to the Editor for the Thresher, Rosa Maria Guerrero, a former Admissions Office staff assistant, even cited this ktru incident as a reason for her resignation after four and a half years in the role.

“I refuse to profit from an administration that chooses unilateral action when confronted with the natural struggles that arise from sitting at the helm of the unwieldy and wonderful ship that is Rice University,” Guerrero wrote at the time.

Back on the air, the first song ktru played was the jazz song by Miles Davis that was interrupted by static during the initial shutdown.

In 2010, disaster struck ktru again when news broke of a secret deal signed between Rice and University of Houston to sell ktru to KUHF by former Rice president David Leebron. ktru’s license, frequency and tower were handed over for $9.5 million after the deal was closed in May 2011.

“The issue [of selling ktru] has come up over the years, in part with the recognition that this is an asset that might decline in value and that ktru was not making use of 50,000 watts,” Leebron said at the time. “We have a responsibility to the university for making the best use of our resources.”

After this sale, ktru was an internetonly station until it returned to FM radio under the call sign KBLT-LP in October 2015, essentially resulting in the loss of legal use of the ktru call sign on air. In 2019, though, former ktru operations director Harrison Lorezen led the charge to buy back the radio station’s iconic call sign. After a Kansas Christian radio station using the ktru letters sold them to another entity in 2018, Lorenzen was able to negotiate the sale and reobtain the call sign with $10,000 from an anonymous donor.

Despite a few bumps in the road since its inception, Keegan Pierce, a current station manager and Lovett College senior, said that ktru has only continued to grow, especially in a post-COVID era. Boasting over 200 DJ applications in recent rounds and a variety of local Houston community DJs and musicians, Pierce said the station has become a way to connect Rice to the local music scene and allow a space for people to be themselves. The station streams on the low-power 96.1 FM and online.

Calling all budget-conscious brainiacs. If you’re a student looking to stretch your dollar, you’ve come to the right place. This week, the Thresher is diving headfirst into a world of wallet-friendly wonders that’ll have you mastering the art of student discounts. Use all that saved-up money for extra Chaus.

Piada Italian Street Food

Head to Piada on Fannin Street between 2-5 p.m. Monday through Sunday and all day Wednesday to get any entree and a large fountain drink for $8 (plus tax). All you need to do is show your student ID. Hop on the Metro at Hermann Park/Rice U on Fannin South and you can make your own flatbreads, salads and pastas.

Amazon Prime

Students get six months of Amazon Prime free with their student email. Get next day deliveries, free shipping, free returns and Prime Video. The account also includes a year of Grubhub+. You could be saving $14.99 per month on the Prime membership, $8.99 per month on Prime Video membership and $9.99 per month on Grubhub+ membership. You can also create three Rice email aliases, getting you up to 2 years of free Amazon Prime in total.

Student Beans and UNiDAYS

Save on clothing retail stores like H&M and American Eagle up to 20% and 30% off, respectively. Show your student ID in stores or order online and get a promo code from apps like Student Beans and UNiDAYS. You can also get discounts on other stores like Foot Locker, Crocs, Puma, North Face, J.Crew and more.

Target

Get all of your room essentials online from Target at a 20% discount. From the very basics to the fanciest decor, you can get it shipped to your door for free in two days as long as your order is above $35. Save that money on unavoidable purchases as you stock up your room.

Travel If you’re trying to book your trips for midterm recess, Thanksgiving or winter break, don’t forget to check StudentUniverse. They provide the cheapest flight ticket and hotel bookings for students with an additional 10% discount for Amazon Prime Student accounts. Amtrak offers 15% off for tickets booked one day in advance. United offers a 5% discount on flights booked through the United app with a MileagePlus account when you select discounted travel (1822) during the booking process. For international students, Emirates offers a 10% discount with the promo code STUDENT.

Spotify Premium, Hulu and Showtime

For music and movie lovers, Spotify offers a great deal if you sign up with your student email address. For a reduced rate of $5.99 per month, students get access to ad-free music. The subscription also includes access to Hulu for streaming.

Museums and zoos

Rice students get free access to Houston’s renowned museums such as the Museum of Fine Arts Houston and the Museum of Natural Science. When entering the museum, just present your student ID to explore all the art, history and science you could ever need. The Houston Zoo is also free to students – just select “College Student” under discounted tickets when you reserve your tickets online or show your ID at the entrance. The zoo and several museums are walking distance from the North Colleges, and with your Rice-provided free Metrocard, you can also catch a ride to beat the heat.

Dave’s Hot Chicken

Dave’s Hot Chicken in Rice Village offers a 15% discount if you show your student ID when you order. The Rice Village institution is an eternal staple for hungry students and is also within walking distance for many places on campus.

COURTESY KTRU ARCHIVES

HADLEY MEDLOCK

A&E EDITOR

DISHA BALDAWA THRESHER STAFF

Started in the basement, now we’re here: Explore ktru’s history

ACROSS

New Beginnings!

Rock band Van __

Tequila source

Extend a subscription, perhaps

JPG alternative

Drives Stain

Common HTML element

“Ctrl” and “SOS” singer

Landlocked African country

Old-fashioned

Quick bucks

“Sex Education” actor Butterfield

According to

Distorts, as data

How gay people allegedly get their coffee

German cars

Becomes thinner

Stone and Chamberlain

Kind of bath salts

Actress Witherspoon

Site mod

Annoy

In other places

“Breaking Bad” actor Paul

Permit

Dye often used for body art

Swedish furniture chain

Incendiary weapon used in the Vietnam War

Italian dessert

Ruby or emerald

Part of cow’s stomach

Sanctuary

Sibling’s daughter

SAT section

Artist’s deg.

Not strict

“__ pasa?”

Olivia Jade’s former school

Steal

Ryan Freidin, artist and networker

Sports media is ubiquitous. It is in every cable package, every newspaper and many Twitter feeds. In order for all that content to exist, organizations need videographers and curators, people who can exercise creativity and technical expertise at once; they need people like Ryan Freidin.

Freidin said his interest in videography began in his hometown of Los Angeles, encouraged by his movieindustry parents and by the film classes offered at his high school. His love for the art of film would soon concentrate into passion for the more specialized world of editing and cinematography.

“When I was going into high school, it felt really natural for me to get into movie making,” Freidin, a Duncan College senior, said. “All my life I’d been listening to my parents’ phone calls and meetings.”

Freidin took advantage of his high school’s film program, in which the class would choose a senior’s script to turn into a short film.

“Mine was chosen, which was super exciting,” Freidin said. “Then COVID hit … so I was passionate and had all this downtime, with the choice of doing either nothing or something, and I taught myself about [Adobe] Premiere with hours and hours of YouTube tutorials. I caught the editing bug.”

Freidin brought this zeal for acquiring technical experience into his work in Rice’s sport management program by taking a video operations internship with the football team, a role which led to further and further opportunities.

“[At first] all the footage we were shooting was film for practice, so there weren’t many creative aspects of the work until my boss gave me a few opportunities to go down and shoot some creative stuff with the camera,” Freidin said. “From those experiences shooting on the field, I was like, ‘This is what I want to do.’ That progressed to being able to work with Rice Baseball and Rice Athletics as a whole, with the [Baltimore] Orioles, with NCAA, with USA Baseball and now with NFL Films.”

A defining feature of Freidin’s time at Rice has been his ability to use his specialist skills and networking virtuosity to carve out a creative niche. Rice offers coursework in neither videography nor sports media production, so Freidin has had to take advantage of the professors and resources Rice does have to set himself up for success.

“What’s been really nice about sport management and that community is that they know what I love and they know where I want to go, so they’ve worked to help put me in a place where I can succeed,” Freidin said. “I’ve basically taken a lot of the elements that we’ve been taught, from resume building to networking to how to build a LinkedIn profile, and then just applied them to my field, which has been great.”

Following his internship with Rice Football, Freidin was given free rein of the baseball program’s social media presence with the goal of boosting the team’s digital following and engagement. During his tenure, he brought on other students and expanded their outreach to the extent that he was engaged to work with Rice Athletics in general.

Freidin began doing social media content for several teams throughout his sophomore and junior years. During this time, he worked a fall editing internship for the Baltimore Orioles where, according to Freidin, he realized his passion for long-form, nonfiction content.

“My final project with the Orioles was part of a series they had going interviewing important figures in the team’s history about the big moments they’d been a part of,” Freidin said. “It was on me to then create a seven-minute piece on Delmon Young hitting a goahead double in the 2014 [American League Division Series]. It was the first piece that I’d ever made that was longer than a minute and a half. It was my introduction into long-form storytelling and I was completely sold on it.”

Stringed instruments

Erotic practices often involving power dynamics, for short

Harvest

Like Bond or P

Minnelli or Koshy

Let up

“American Horror Story” actress Jessica Egg-shaped

Russian ruler

WALL-E’s friend

NYC time zone

Lofty

Noah’s freshly-built ship?

A freshman, say

Function

Parisian pal

Common Midwestern expression of surprise

Mimicked

Not so hot

Saint-Saëns’ “__ Macabre”

Sandwich shop

Silverman or Snook

They follow Cancers

Soccer star Lionel

“A __ by any other name...”

Tick-borne disease

“After Like” Kpop group

Be aware of

South Vietnam prime minister __ Dinh Diem

Girl group that’s looking for attention?

Man of gravity?

Pile

Bad start?

Aishwarya of Bollywood

Sounded a horn

Shade of blue

Come up

Ticket money

A deadly sin

Hot __

Figure skating jump

Engineering course code

Overweight

Freidin’s career has continued its upward slope. He was hired by the NCAA to manage the Final Four’s social media activity this spring, and this summer he worked as an intern in the creative producing department at NFL Films.

“[Working at] NFL Films was a dream come true,” Freidin said. “I had a real creative impact working on one of their biggest shows, NFL Top 100 … but the biggest takeaway for me was just to be in those rooms and have conversations with producers who have been in the industry for decades. The goal for me is to be able to go back and work as a seasonal producer for them post-grad.”

LANDRY WOOD THRESHER STAFF

I taught myself about [Adobe] Premiere with hours and hours of YouTube tutorials. I caught the editing bug.

Ryan Friedin DUNCAN COLLEGE SENIOR

COURTESY BRIANA GELLINEAU

Don’t miss these summer flicks

Nora (Greta Lee), who moved to the United States from South Korea, as she meets her childhood friend Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) after years of separation. The movie is KoreanCanadian director Celine Song’s debut film and is simply stunning.

Filled with lingering location shots and impeccable pacing, the movie is an incredibly nuanced and affecting story that hinges on Lee, Yoo and John Magaro’s exceptional acting and facial expressions. So much of the narrative takes place through the emotion on the three principal actor’s faces. It’s a touching watch and sticks with the audience long after viewing.

“Asteroid City” by Wes Anderson

the titular J. Robert Oppenheimer. Nolan has been casting Murphy in supporting roles for years and Murphy proves Nolan’s instincts correct, delivering a masterclass in acting throughout the film. Another highlight was Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, an atypical role for the actor, known for his portrayals of playboys like Tony Stark, but one in which he really excels.

“Oppenheimer” is visually outstanding and meticulously researched, shedding light on not just the well-known Manhattan Project but also the aftermath for Oppenheimer himself. The three-hour runtime might seem scary at first, but “Oppenheimer” is well-paced and packed with plot that it justifies its length.

This past summer was packed with new movie releases. We at the Thresher know that it can be hard to keep up with so many different films vying for your attention, especially during the height of summer. Here are a few of the highlights to catch you up on anything you may have missed — we promise they’re worth the watch.

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson

“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” continued what is perhaps the best take on the Spider-Man character, using even more

FRONT PAGE HOUSTON GUIDE

quantity it makes up for in quality. Brazos Bookstore features a diverse array of literature that’s carefully curated — it’s a challenge to find a book here that doesn’t pique the bibliophile’s interest. An eight minute drive from campus, this spot is perfect for an afternoon of perusing some entertaining, thoughtful and all-around wonderful books. Additional bookstores to check out include Murder by the Book, Kaboom Books and Kindred Stories.

House of Blues Houston

What do Owl City, RAYE, Keke Palmer and Paris, Texas all have in common? They’re playing at the House of Blues in the next two months. This concert venue chain, which also has locations in cities like Chicago, Vegas and New Orleans, is famous for their slate of some of the most popular indie/ alternative artists active today. But live music isn’t all they have to offer, House of Blues is known for signature meals, such as the HOB Smash Burger, their BBQ Nachos or their baby back ribs.

Other music venues to check out: White Oak Music Hall (King Krule, TV Girl, Mt.Joy, George Clanton), 713 Music Hall (Lil Uzi Vert,

animation styles than the first film in Sony’s Spider-Man trilogy, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse,” from 2018. A particular highlight of the film was the abstract style used in Gwen’s world, where the animation conveys more subjective emotions and overall tone instead of objective reality. There’s so much heart in this movie that makes it easy to love, and for one of the longest animated movies ever, it goes by fast. Even as a part one, it has a completed arc that sets up for an exciting conclusion in a currently postponed part two of the film.

“Past Lives” by Celine Song

One of the more under-the-radar releases, “Past Lives” tells a complex story of love and cultural identity following

“Asteroid City” is classic Wes Anderson, taking all of his stylistic trademarks and distilling them into one delightful film with a charming deconstructionist flair. As is typical of Anderson’s work, the pastel color palette and cast are equally effective in creating a unique world with a fun story.

“Asteroid City” is set as a faux documentary narrated by Bryan Cranston about the production of the fictional titular play, alternating between black-and-white and color. Different film ratios keep the film engaging and further create a clear division between the documentary and the play. Cranston was a perfect choice for the television documentary host, and “Asteroid City” is a movie that begs a rewatch in order to fully enter its world.

“Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan

“Oppenheimer” is Christopher Nolan’s massive epic about the “father of the atomic bomb.” Cillian Murphy — piercing blue eyes and all — is an ideal casting choice to play

“Barbie” by Greta Gerwig

Between its marketing campaign and shared release date with “Oppenheimer,” there’s no doubt that readers have heard of “Barbie.” “Barbie” is a candy-colored fever dream of a movie that delivers both consistent laughs and social commentary. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling (see “I’m Just Ken”) were the best castings for their roles, with Robbie embodying selfdiscovery and Gosling embracing the absurdity of his role (even in the press tour).

Greta Gerwig directing a big-budget movie about a doll is not something that many people would have expected with her track record of smaller, criticallyacclaimed films such as Lady Bird, but it works incredibly well as she mixes her style with the iconic Barbie. The record-breaking movie delivers on two fronts: paying a nostalgic homage to the original toy and creating a modern story that is worth telling.

Kim Petras, Cigarettes After Sex, Wizkid), NRG Stadium (Beyonce, Karol G), Toyota Center (Playboi Carti, 50 Cent, Sam Smith, Jonas Brothers, SZA, Joji, Suicideboys, Depeche Mode), The Warehouse Live (JPEGMAFIA and Danny Brown, Chris Travis, Dom Corleo, Iann Dior, Ty Dolla Sign, All Time Low)

WEEKLY SCENES AND SCREENS

Open Mic Night

This Friday Aug. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m., the Rice Music Collective is hosting an open mic night in Lyle’s, the Lovett basement.

Student Media & Arts Fair

Head to the Moody Center for the Arts Aug. 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. chat with Rice’s media and arts organizations, check out the current exhibit, JooYoung Choi’s “Love and Wondervision,” before it closes and enjoy free food, refreshments and a ktru DJ set.

Restaurants Houston is a foodie’s paradise, and there are really just too many mouth-watering, palate-expanding destinations to choose just one to spotlight. No matter what you’re craving, there’s something tasty close by. From bakeries like Koffeteria and hot dog

Peter and Wendy: Family Dance Theatre

The Miller Outdoor Theatre is hosting a free dance performance that’s a fresh take on the classic tale of Peter Pan and Wendy. Tickets are free and available Aug. 24 starting at 10 a.m., and the event takes place Aug. 25 at 8 p.m.

spots like Good Dog Houston to Indian restaurants like Pondicheri and Aga’s, Houston boasts a wide range of cuisines, vibes and styles. Some of the best places less than two miles from campus include Hamsa, Lucille’s, MF Sushi, Davis St. at Hermann Park and Kata Robata.

Rooftop Cinema Club

Y2K Tuesdays

Houston’s Rooftop Cinema Club is hosting a series of nostalgic movie screenings every Tuesday from the early 2000s era. Their next showing is the movie “Barbershop” Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $19.75.

FROM

JACOB PELLEGRINO THRESHER STAFF

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER

GUILLIAN PAGUILA / THRESHER

Review: ‘Red, White and Royal Blue’ is best forgotten

characters and inserts pivotal moments that harm the overall plot.

“Red, White and Royal Blue” also found trouble in its timing and pacing. In what feels like the span of five minutes, Alex realizes that he is bisexual, has fallen in love and is willing to drop everything for Prince Henry. Throughout these revelations, Zakhar Perez seems to rely more on his abs than acting ability. He fails to produce any emotional intensity or gain our sympathy — instead of emotional vulnerability, we get decadent shots of him topless.

Galitzine’s Prince Henry is a more resonant character, though much more could’ve been done with his portrayal. He is written as moody and complex, but in the film the audience doesn’t meet the brooding man they’re promised. Instead, they meet a Henry who is uninteresting and boring. Moments that were supposed to highlight his character complexity, such as when he opens up about his father’s death or after he kisses Alex for the first time, are skimmed over in the film.

“Red, White and Royal Blue” is just like a summer fling. It’s hot, rife with plenty of moments you wouldn’t want someone to walk in on and ultimately something you’re too embarrassed to tell your friends about.

Released on Amazon Prime Video Aug. 11, “Red, White and Royal Blue” is a film based on the book of the same name by Casey McQuiston. The book received substantial critical acclaim when it was released in 2019, not necessarily for the quality of its writing but because of its raw exploration of coming-out and finding queer love.

The book is a quintessential love story:

The first son of the U.S., Alex Claremont-Diaz (Taylor Zakhar Perez), falls in love with the Prince of England, Prince Henry (Nicholas Galitzine). But the reality is that queer love is never that easy in this day and age. From an oppressive family environment to being outed on the world stage, the couple faces countless obstacles. Of course, though, this fairytale has a happy ending.

The novel gave us a queer fairytale, with an emphasis on queer, but the film did not. The film significantly lacked character development. This was primarily because the dialogue felt superficial, especially between the protagonists and their friends. While the plot is obviously a fantasy, the book was redeeming because it didn’t hide from touching on the harder parts of queer

Albums of the summer

JONATHAN WOO FOR THE THRESHER

The music landscape is always changing and shifting, with new artists bursting onto the scene, niche styles getting a wider following and high profile releases scheduled. This year was no exception with exciting runs from Taylor Swift, NewJeans and Travis Scott in particular, so the Thresher has rounded up three of this summer’s biggest releases in case you missed them.

“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” by Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s re-recording of her iconic 2010 project saw the largest opening week of 2023 and is part of an expansive effort to reclaim her masters. Although Swift stays mostly faithful to the lyrics, accompaniment and emotion of the original, it is inevitable that “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” has taken on new light and energy 13 years later.

“Dear John” and “Innocent” are songs that benefitted especially well from the rerecording. Both songs, which highlight a period in her life marked by betrayal and difficult break-ups, become more full and resounding with the careful and serene delivery of the re-recording, as well as the modernized accompaniment. However, the same delivery causes some of the more uptempo songs like “Better Than Revenge” to lose some of the manic energy that originally made it such a fan favorite. The “From The Vault” tracks on the album, which refer to previously unreleased songs, are largely hit or miss with an out of place Fall Out Boy feature on “Electric Touch” but strong storytelling and catchy melodies on “When Emma Falls in Love” and “I Can See You.”

All in all, “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” is a strong modernization of a classic album, although it may not fully beat out the appeal of the original.

“Get Up” by NewJeans

The second EP from K-pop group NewJeans comes a little under a year after their debut in 2022 which garnered explosive global attention and fanfare for the quintet’s brand of laid-back, addictive pop. The six song “Get Up” sticks to their proven formula for easy to listen to, short earworms backed by smooth EDM-esque production with hits such as “Super Shy” and “Cool With You.”

What “Get Up” lacks in variety and length, though, it makes up for in consistency. A lot of thought appears to have gone into every cut on this project, from the album cover created in collaboration with Powerpuff Girls to every second of the polished vocals paired with the minimal accompaniment.

With a lot of the lyrics written in English and sound inspirations ranging from UK garage to American R&B, “Get Up” can serve as an easy introduction to K-pop for many global listeners, and the project is yet another success for the newly minted superstars.

“Utopia” by Travis Scott Travis Scott’s long awaited fourth studio album was born from a dark and turbulent gestation.

Editor’s Note: This story has been cut off for print. Read the full article at ricethresher. org.

love: accepting yourself while learning how to navigate a society that doesn’t do the same.

The biggest travesty in the adaptation is the substantial changes to the plot. The story’s climax was completely rewritten. The book tells a story of governmental corruption and abuses of power. In it, the presidential candidate opposing the reelection of Alex’s high-powered politician mother outs the couple in hopes of winning more votes. The movie adds in a side character — an aspiring journalist — who outs the couple, lowering the stakes and somewhat changing the message of the book in turn. The family dynamic in the film version is far less dramatic than in the book, largely because the film removes vital

Beyond the larger character issues, “Red, White and Royal Blue” also fails at some of the basics. The costume design is awful. Alex is dressed straight out of a 2014 American Eagle catalog. Prince Henry is always in a suit and tie — the lack of variety reads as lazy, especially when “quiet luxury” is all the rage in fashion right now. Moreover, text messages and emails play an important role in the film’s plot, yet they appear on screen in an unsophisticated and garish manner with blue text bubbles popping up, complete with little cringeworthy sound effects.

Overall, the film felt rushed. It needed more time and better actors. Most importantly, “Red, White and Royal Blue” needed to lean into what gave it so much potential: its queerness.

sa.rice.edu/DonateSwipes

The Meal Swipe Donation Program is designed to mitigate food insecurity on Rice’s campus by providing access to hot meals via the Residential College Serveries. This program is a collaborative effort between the Student Association, Housing and Dining, Student Success Initiatives, and the Dean of Undergraduates Division. You can help by donating up to 15 swipes to the program.

To request meal swipes go to sa.rice.edu/RequestSwipes For more information/questions contact success@rice.edu

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

HUGO GERBICH-PAIS THRESHER STAFF

COURTESY AMAZON STUDIOS

JENNIFER LIU / THRESHER

Volleyball optimistic for season

almost every day in the gym this summer, working through things, bonding off the court and continuing the culture we have established.”

Weske, a right-side hitter who transferred to Rice from the University of Southern California, earned a Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention last season and made it to the post season, losing in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Despite moving to a different state and joining a new team, Weske feels as if her integration has gone smoothly.

Nia McCardell defines her

own name

On the court, you can see Rice’s senior libero Nia McCardell tapping the floor four times with her nails before receiving each serve. Off the court, you can find McCardell behind the camera, filming a vlog for her new YouTube channel “niaaanicole.”

the core and just having that role model early on was great.”

The 2022 season was full of firsts for the Rice volleyball team. The Owls lost just four matches the entire season on a run that saw them ranked in the top-20 in the nation for the first time in program history. Their wonder season ended at the hands of No. 17 Baylor in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Waco.

This year, the Owls return a majority of their roster in what they hope to be a year that sees them maintain their form. According to head coach Genny Volpe, the team’s core and newcomers are all making their own impacts within the team.

“We know that even with the loss of some key players from last year’s team, we still have a very solid foundation in place,” Volpe said. “Newcomers to the program and returners filling those spots and making their own impressions in those roles are what we are looking for.”

In preparation for the season, the Owls played exhibition matches in Brazil against local clubs and national teams. According to senior setter Izzy Rawlings, this trip greatly benefitted the team, introducing the new team members to Rice volleyball and honing the team’s overall skills and familiarity.

“Having the opportunity to travel and play in Brazil this past June was a huge asset to the team,” Rawlings said. “Our freshmen and graduate transfer, Emilia [Weske], were able to come to Rice in late May, allowing us all to train together with the coaches. Without Brazil, this wouldn’t have happened. We also spent

“Rice is heavily influenced by [Volpe’s] 20-year-long experience as a head coach,” Weske said. “It seems to me that the program is building off of tradition and pride. At USC, there is lots of glamor and constant media attention which makes you feel special, but it comes with a certain expectation and can fluctuate easily. It’s the Southern hospitality and friendliness of the people here in Texas that makes you feel recognized and valued in the Rice community.”

A big change coming this year for the Owls is its introduction into the American Athletic Conference. This step up in conference, coupled with the expectation to build upon last year’s success, could rattle any team. According to Rawlings, though, that change is coupled with anticipation.

“I think it’s all excitement, to be honest,” Rawlings said. “Change can be scary, but this is a huge step forward for the university and our program.

When asked about any changes to the team in response to the conference change, Volpe emphasized that the team’s goals remained the same, doubling-down on her expectations for her squad.

“We plan to compete for a championship, put ourselves in the best position to make the postseason and advance as far as we can,” Volpe said. “The main difference this year for us is that there is no conference tournament that earns the automatic qualifier.”

The team starts their season off against some of the country’s best teams, including No. 1 Texas, No. 3 Stanford, No. 15 Baylor and No. 22 USC, Weske’s former school.

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. To read more, visit ricethresher. org.

“I’ve always been saying I want to start a YouTube channel,” McCardell said. “This summer, a lot of people [were] reaching out to me for [Name, Image and Likeness] deals so I said this is the perfect time because I’ll have content.”

McCardell is no stranger to the personal branding world. Since NIL was permitted for NCAA athletes, McCardell has been leveraging her athletic talents and active social media platform to land multiple brand deals. McCardell said maintaining her public image is crucial to her NIL success.

“With these brands, I’m just showing the life of an athlete and just making sure that even though I’m posting all this stuff, I’m taking time for me and taking time for school, friends and family,” McCardell said.

That support helped McCardell develop her game and eventually make her way to Rice, fulfilling her dream of playing collegiate volleyball. As a freshman, McCardell contributed immediately as a starting libero and then defensive specialist. Last year, as a junior, McCardell was not only the starting libero but one of the team’s veterans. Now, as she goes into her senior year, she is beginning to embrace her role as a vocal team leader.

Her growth translated into success on the court, with McCardell earning accolades such as Conference-USA Libero of the Year award, while helping the Owls win the C-USA Championship where they defeated rival Western Kentucky University.

brands,

“It was the best feeling ever,” McCardell said. “There were so many tears shed because it had been a long time coming and especially against Western Kentucky in their own gym. It felt like we had to finally accomplish what we’ve been working for since we got to Rice. It was a good way to leave C-USA.”

Nia McCardell SENIOR LIBERO

McCardell’s volleyball career started early, while watching her older sister Keandra McCardell play club volleyball. According to McCardell, her passion for the game was intertwined with her bond with her sister.

“When I was little, my older sister played club volleyball so I was always at her tournaments, always on the side peppering with my other sister and just kind of fell in love with it from there,” McCardell said. “I was always around the game and so my parents threw both me and my sister into the sport.”

Sports has always run through the McCardell family. Keandra McCardell became a star volleyball player at the University of Houston, while twin sister Naykeea McCardell plays on the women’s lacrosse team at the University of Clemson. Her father, Keenan McCardell, played for 12 years in the National Football League, winning two Super Bowls. Although her family’s success sparked McCardell’s passion for sports, she said that at times she feels like she lives in the shadow of her family’s success.

“When I was younger, I wanted to start a new legacy,” McCardell said. “[My father’s] athletic background and his knowledge really pushed me and my sisters but I just wanted to create my own name.”

Despite the desire to create her own image, McCardell has made sure to not stray too far from her family. Each of the four women in the McCardell family has a vertical tattoo of four small, individual heart outlines, representing their birth order — Nia is the third.

“My older sister has been such a big supporter of me,” McCardell said. “When I was little, just seeing her work ethic on and off

Looking forward, McCardell, a sport management major, is ready to capitalize on the combination of her academic pursuits with her passion for personal branding and marketing. However, the end goal is to continue her volleyball career and, with the emergence of a new American professional volleyball league, McCardell said that that reality seems increasingly more possible.

“I still get that question: ‘Do you want to go pro?’” McCardell said. “That’s definitely in the back of my mind, especially with the new league that is starting this year. It would be a great opportunity if I were to get drafted. Try to maximize my career as long as I can but if that doesn’t work out, working with a professional team doing social media or marketing is definitely a goal.”

Now, with the volleyball career that McCardell is putting a bow on and the success that she is experiencing in media and marketing, she has a new answer when asked if she has made a new name for herself.

“I definitely have.”

DIEGO PALOS RODRIGUEZ SENIOR WRITER

CADAN HANSON SENIOR WRITER

it’s my first time here.”

With these

I’m just showing the life of an athlete and just making sure that even though I’m posting all this stuff, I’m taking time for me and taking time for school, friends and family.

HONG LIN TSAI / THRESHER

COURTESY JOE BUVID — RICE ATHLETICS Senior Nia McCardell plans to continue making a name for herself on and off the court.

COURTESY JOE BUVID — RICE ATHLETICS

Head Coach Genny Volpe enters her 20th year leading the Rice volleyball team as they start a new chapter in program history.

RICE UNIVERSITY PATCH NOTES 112.23.8

1. Map Updates

a. Old Sid Richardson dorm removed due to outdated graphics

b. New O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science arena introduced

c. Removed tree in Central Quad due to pollen exploit

2. Rebalanced class distribution by increasing Merchant/Business Bro spawn rate by 40%, reducing Bard/Theater Kid spawn rate by 15%

3. Patched bug that displayed spam advertisements for “Navigate” to some users

4. New players may now enter as Fizzfluencer class; Fizz dialogue option now reduces charisma attribute by 15%

5. McMurtry College Reworks: New players now have a 20% chance of spawning as Mage class; new voice lines and emotes added

6. Completely and satisfactorily renovated Academic Quad to address user feedback, now settling that matter once and for all

7. Fixed bug breaking air conditioning in Tudor Fieldhouse when over 1,000 players joined server

8. Recalibrated RNG to reduce incidence of random electrical fires

9. Nerfed COMP 140 difficulty by removing one of final bosses

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.