The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Chopd & Stewd fest celebrates West African food

MORIKE AYODEJI THRESHER STAFF

The aroma of African spices, sounds of afrobeats and a vibrant energy filled the sky lawn at POST thanks to Rice MBA alumnus Ope Amosu ‘14, the visionary behind the Chopd & Stewd festival. The event was a day-long culinary and cultural celebration of the West African diaspora, taking place Sept. 30, the eve of Nigerian Independence Day.

The festival’s selection included Amosu’s restaurant ChòpnBlọk, a West African fast-casual fusion spot in Houston. As the founder of the Chopd & Stewd festival, Amosu said he was able to bringt his culinary creations and desire to express his culture to life.

“What a day, what a day, like Erykah Badu said. [Chopd & Stewd] has been a full day of energy and emotion and excitement,” Amosu said. “Honestly, it’s really fulfilling just to see a vision that I’ve had on my heart for over six years come to life and really see us be able to have a place to celebrate who we are as a diaspora. It just means so much.”

Amosu said his idea of the cultural festival coincided with the creation of his restaurant. Chopd & Stewd began as a monthly 20-person dinner event highlighting West African dining.

“I had the vision for creating ChòpnBlọk and I said, well, the way to launch it is through programming, and that’s how we did our Chopd & Stewd dining series,” Amosu said. “When we were ready to do another program, we said let’s do it at a different scale, and that’s how the festival component came about. It’s a full circle moment.”

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

william cordova explores infinite possibilities at Brochstein

SHREYA CHALLA SENIOR WRITER

An array of small, colorful squares — each a starkly different shade from its adjacent counterparts — cover Brochstein Pavilion’s south-facing wall. william cordova created this public art installation, titled “2800 dowling-wasi-sangarara,” as the newest piece in Rice’s ongoing art series, “Off the Wall.”

The exhibit is a partnership between the Moody Center for the Arts and the Glassell

School of Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It opened Friday, Aug. 29 and will remain on view for a year, through Aug. 23, 2024.

According to Frauke Josenhans, a curator at the Moody, the idea of the series was to invite an artist who has done the prestigious Core Residency Program at the Glassell School of Art every year to conceive specific work for the Brochstein Pavilion. “Off the Wall” had its first installation in 2019.

SEE OFF THE WALL PAGE 9

University Court rules Student Association constitutional amendment unconstitutional

constitutional amendment.

University Court made a unanimous ruling in a preliminary investigative hearing Saturday, Sept. 30, stating that the Student Association violated its constitution during its constitutional amendment ratification on April 23.

Simon Yellen, a junior at Duncan College, submitted a complaint to UCourt Apr. 24, the day after special election results were released. In an email to UCourt, Yellen said that a 55% approval of the constitutional amendment does not meet the 2/3 supermajority needed for constitutional ratification outlined in the previous constitution, specifically citing Article 10.

Since the complaint was filed near the end of the academic year, UCourt decided to hear the case in the fall semester, according to Yellen. Solomon Ni, the Student Association president, said that the UCourt chair allowed the SA to operate under the new constitution until a hearing could occur.

In response to the complaint, Ni and Kam’Ren Wells, the Student Association parliamentarian, sent a memo to UCourt outlining their reasons to honor the

Ni and Wells claim that the amendment process in the old constitution was unclear and therefore the question should be deferred to the SA parliamentarian, not to UCourt. They also cite Yellen’s assessment of Article 10 as invalid because it was “placed to lay out instructions on how to implement the newly adopted Constitution at the time.”

“It really just seems like there was a lot of smoke and mirrors thrown up to avoid accepting responsibility, which is disappointing to see,” Yellen said. “There were various attempts to justify reasons why less than a supermajority of votes is acceptable. Saying that the new amendment changed the voting limit to 50% … and should be applied retroactively … is just sort of ludicrous.”

UCourt decided that the constitutionality of this vote should be decided by the old constitution, and therefore ruled the ratification of the constitutional amendment as unconstitutional. UCourt said that as outlined in Section 8.2.2, a constitutional amendment requires the consent of the Senate, as well as a supermajority vote in which at least 20% of the student body participates. As a result, UCourt decided that the Student Association must comply with the old constitution from now onward.

The new constitution requires a majority vote, as opposed to a 2/3 supermajority, for amendments. Ni also said that in creating a new constitution, they have “refounded” the SA. Therefore, the amended voting threshold outlined in the new constitution should be used to ratify the new constitution, according to Ni.

“I think that a governing document should be very reflective of the students that are attending and currently enrolled at the school,” Ni told the Thresher. “Basically, we are operating under a constitution that was adopted by a group of people that no longer are enrolled at Rice … and I don’t believe that a document should be for people that aren’t here anymore.”

Ni and Wells also contend that onethird plus one student should not be able to overturn decisions supported by a majority of the student body.

Yellen said he was disappointed in the SA’s response to the complaint.

“I think the decision puts us between a rock and a hard place,” Ni said. “Especially considering that whenever we think about the 20% threshold for getting students out to vote. That’s a really, really difficult threshold for any college [or] university to actually reach.”

The complainant and respondent have the right to appeal before Oct. 9 before the decision goes into effect.

“We’re exploring our options in terms of what to do because I don’t think anyone wants to go back to the old constitution as it is right now,” Ni said. “[Appealing] is on the table, but there are other avenues. University Court has basically said that it’s up to our discretion whether or not we want to offer it up for another campus-wide vote. And I think that’s something that we’re exploring as of right now.”

If either party appeals the decision, UCourt will hold a closed hearing after the end of the appeal period.

Ivana Hsyung contributed reporting to this article.

The idea was, let’s activate that space, the beautiful, really long, monumental wall inside, with artwork.

Frauke Josenhans CURATOR AT THE MOODY

BRANDON CHEN NEWS EDITOR

FRANCESCA NEMATI / THRESHER ART BY WILLIAM CORDOVA

BRANDON CHEN / THRESHER

Saying that the new amendment changed the voting limit to 50% … and should be applied retroactively … is just sort of ludicrous.

Simon Yellen

DUNCAN COLLEGE JUNIOR

Administration reassures students in light of recent DACA ruling

MARIA MORKAS ASST. NEWS EDITOR

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program unlawful on Sept. 13. According to this ruling, current DACA recipients, or individuals whose DACA status has been expired for less than one year, can continue to renew their status. However, first-time applications will be blocked.

Established in 2012, DACA is a Department of Homeland Security program that allows undocumented youth who arrived in the United States as children to temporarily remain in the country. DACA

recipients must renew their status every two years.

Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman said this ruling does not mean DACA recipients will be immediately deported from the U.S. or lose their permission to work.

“The federal government can appeal [the] ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, and then to the U.S. Supreme Court, so a final ruling probably is at least a year away,” Gorman wrote in an email to the Thresher. “In the meantime, we may see Congress begin, again, to discuss permanent protections for DACA recipients. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and see if there are any other measures Rice can take to help our DACA students within the bounds of the law.”

Rice’s General Counsel Omar Syed said the district court has ruled that the federal government’s creation of the DACA program was unlawful, but the program is not over yet.

“According to the Biden Administration, students who were granted DACA status before July 16, 2021, can keep it until their expiration date,” Syed wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Those students can also renew their DACA status at the appropriate time. Students who never applied for DACA can still

apply, but US immigration authorities are not allowed to process their applications.”

Carson Gilchrist, the chairman of Rice’s Undocumented Students’ Support Services Task Force, said this ruling is not surprising, as the decision was made by the same judge that ruled DACA to be unconstitutional in 2021.

“In the shortterm, there are no new immediate impacts from this decision … Students receiving DACA status at Rice should consider renewing as soon as they are able,” Gilchrist, a Lovett College senior, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “This is because after renewal, you have 2 years worth of DACA. Given the legally tenuous position of DACA as of now, it would be advisable to renew.”

Syed said that DACA students at Rice may be worried about deportation, but the Biden administration has given no indication that will happen.

“Many students — DACA recipients or not — will also believe the ruling is unfair and discounts their important and fundamental contributions to the Rice community. And many will wonder why Congress hasn’t yet reached a political solution for DACA students nationwide,” Syed wrote.

Gorman said that the Rice administration values students and their studies.

“[We] realize that the court decision will create more worries for our students who are DACA recipients, and we will continue to

support them in various ways, as we have before,” Gorman wrote.”

Syed and Gorman both said Rice has created a website to support students who have questions about the policy and direct them to useful resources.

“In addition, DACA recipients with financial needs can visit organizations such as TheDream. us, which offer scholarship opportunities to eligible students,” Syed wrote. “We are also working to set up legal briefings from immigration attorneys who can provide useful guidance to DACA recipients and others affected by the court’s ruling.”

Gilchrist said the student-run task force is intended to be another resource to support undocumented students and help them understand how their documentation status will impact their careers and postgraduation plans.

“Oftentimes the task force simply connects undocumented students to other people who are able to help more thoroughly, whether they be connected to Rice … or occasionally legal help, through non-profits or the [American Civil Liberties Union],” Gilchrist wrote. “We also host panels with previous Rice students and professors that have experience either being undocumented or working with undocumented people … to inform undocumented students of their prospects for after graduation in very real terms.”

President’s house construction nears completion

The Wiess President’s House, which serves as both a private residence for the university president and a space for university-hosted events, is nearing completion of its latest construction phase.

According to Darrel Bunch, the director of grounds for the Facilities and Capital Planning department, the most recent construction project began in the summer of 2022 and is now being finalized.

“The Wiess House is a critical, treasured building and gathering space for the

Thresher. “The purpose of the construction was to bring the historic residence, which was built in 1946, up to today’s standards for residential dwellings, including handicap accessibility, sustainability and related efficiencies.”

According to Bunch, the construction project will not change the existing structure of the house.

“We built a new storage house and decking and repaired the perimeter wall and interior spaces,” Bunch wrote.

Additionally, Bunch said that alongside functional repairs, the new construction

project aims to enhance the aesthetics of the house with artworks created by local artists and landscaping.

“Overall, things will look virtually the same and look new and improved, retaining the historic charm and beauty of the Wiess House,” Bunch wrote.

Bunch declined to comment on the cost of the renovation.

The Wiess House was originally built by Bellows Construction Corporation in the 1940s. According to Bellows, the building has undergone several remodeling and renovation projects since its construction. In 2004, Bellows collaborated with architect William Neuhaus to add a new family wing and redesign the

In the past, the Wiess President’s House has hosted events ranging from matriculating class receptions to senior nights. Just recently, the house hosted a dinner for Orientation Week coordinators.

Xinying Bi, a freshman from Lovett College, said she is looking forward to the events that will be hosted.

“I’ve never been to the house, but I’ve walked past it a few times,” Xinying Bi said. “I am excited to see the events that will be hosted in the house.”

President Reggie DesRoches wrote in a statement that Rice is lucky to own the Wiess President’s House.

“I feel privileged to call it home during my time as president,” DesRoches wrote, “and to be able to use it as a place to host members of our Rice and Houston communities.”

In the short-term, there are no new immediate impacts from this decision … Students receiving DACA status at Rice should consider renewing as soon as they are able.

Carson Gilchrist CHAIRMAN OF UNDOCUMENTED STUDENTS’ SUPPORT SERVICES TASK FORCE

ESTHER TANG AND CHRISTINA TAN / THRESHER

Overall, things will look virtually the same and look new and improved, retaining the historic charm and beauty of the Wiess House.

Darrel Bunch DIRECTOR OF GROUNDS

$1 million donation establishes CAAS postdoctoral fellowship

RICHIE SU FOR THE THRESHER

Rice trustee Terrence Gee and his family donated $1 million to help launch the Dr. Anthony B. Pinn Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Center for African and African American Studies.

Graduating in 1986, Gee studied economics and is the chief information officer at Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. He also served as a member of the Rice University Centennial Commission.

President Reggie DesRoches said Gee has been a member of the advisory board of the School of Humanities since 2013 and a trustee since 2017. “He also has been a staunch supporter of interdisciplinary scholarship at the university throughout the years, helping start various initiatives like the Civic Humanist and BrainSTEM programs,” DesRoches wrote in an email to the Thresher. “He is a huge supporter of Rice and dedicates a great deal of time and energy to ensuring the university remains successful and impactful to our community and the world. I am extremely grateful for his efforts.”

The fellowship honors Anthony B. Pinn, an Agnes Cullen Arnold professor of humanities and the founding director of the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning. It is intended to increase CAAAS’s influence by attracting more scholars with a research focus on African and African-American Studies.

“This fellowship is important because it makes an important investment in CAAAS that will serve to enhance its stature on campus

EcoReps’ clothing SWAP

promotes on-campus

hedges,” Pinn said. “It provides CAAAS with the opportunity to bring innovative thinkers to campus [and] recent Ph.D.s doing cutting-edge research. This will advance the work we are doing and will help us connect with national and international conversations.”

Director of CAAAS Jeffrey Fleisher said the funds will be used to attract young researchers who are finishing or have recently finished their doctorate studies.

“These fellowships are crucial moments for scholars to launch their careers out from their dissertations,” Fleisher said.

“It’s a great way to have scholars from other universities become part of our intellectual community.”

DesRoches said CAAAS performs diverse AfricanAmerican Studies research across campus and facilitates the understanding of Black racism and colonialism.

“The center is a hub for critical conversations, instruction, cutting-edge research and community outreach in an interdisciplinary fashion,” DesRoches wrote.

Fleisher said the diverse backgrounds of the faculty in the department encourage interdisciplinary research.

“If you look at the faculty that are associated with or affiliated with African American Studies at the university,” Fleisher said, “we come from all different disciplines: anthropology, sociology, humanities, religious studies from sciences and natural sciences.”

sustainability

Rice EcoReps hosted a two-day clothing exchange Sept. 27-28 prior to the Sid ’80s public. Students were able to donate unwanted clothes and receive clothes free of charge.

According to EcoRep Valentina Osorio, a senior at Hanszen College, the acronym SWAP stands for Sustainable Wardrobes At Publics.

Osorio said the EcoReps observed that many students would buy more clothes or discard their used ones prior to publics, leading to a large amount of clothing waste.

“Promoting that sustainability, especially with fast fashion, is really important,” Osorio said.

Osorio and Will Rice College EcoRep Alexander Cho said the event, primarily organized by the Will Rice and Hanszen EcoReps, was a success and served as a good learning opportunity for future SWAPs. Cho also said the EcoReps hope to streamline their process of collecting clothes and promoting the event in the future.

Aanchal Thapa, a senior and Will Rice EcoRep, estimated approximately 100 students attended the SWAP.

According to Osorio, future plans for SWAPs include setting a permanent location so the process of swapping clothes would continue year-round. Cho said the EcoReps hope to host SWAPs around future publics, but specific dates and logistics are still being discussed.

“You could donate clothes after you go to the publics, grab clothes that other people have donated from past years, even, and continue that,” Osorio said.

Sid Richardson College freshman Zoe Gupton said she didn’t go to the last clothing SWAP, but hopes to attend in the future.

“It’s a good way to expand your wardrobe and try on new clothes,” Gupton said.

Thapa said she hopes to improve the visibility of EcoReps in colleges and across campus. She said more visibility would improve communication between EcoReps and the student body regarding events and opportunities.

“I feel like students are so disengaged from this part of the world … People call me the composting police because that’s what they see me as, but I don’t think they know that I’m an EcoRep,” Thapa said. Bird said EcoRep-hosted activities within residential colleges and across campus include a campus-wide sustainability day and the Green Dorm Initiative Week.

In the same week as the clothing SWAP, the EcoReps hosted multiple other events including cyanotype printing workshops, a trip to the Rice Village Farmers market and a vegan sushimaking class.

Osorio said the EcoReps also recently launched sustainability badges that students could put on their door to certify that their dorm is a sustainable place.

“The EcoRep program is definitely trying to expand what it does and get the campus a lot more engaged in thinking about sustainability,” Osorio said.

According to Thapa, EcoReps publish notices about future events, including clothing SWAPs, on college bulletin boards and on the Rice Office of Sustainability’s Instagram page.

You could donate clothes after you go to the publics, grab clothes other people have donated from past years, even, and continue that.

Valentina Osorio

HANSZEN

COLLEGE SENIOR

PRASI DESAI FOR THE THRESHER

COURTESY VALENTINA OSORIO

If you look at the faculty that are associated with or affiliated with African American Studies at the university,” Fleisher said, “we come from all different disciplines: anthropology, sociology, humanities, religious studies from sciences and natural sciences.

Jeffrey Fleisher DIRECTOR OF CAAAS

COURTESTY LANECIA ROUSE

African Student Association previews H&D’s Chopd and Stewd Fest dishes

SPRING CHENJP ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Housing and Dining and the Rice African Student Association collaborated Sept. 29 to taste African dishes, served at the Chopd & Stewd Fest hosted at the POST the next day.

Director of Campus Dining Johnny Curet said North Servery hosted eleven chefs from restaurants across the nation Friday, in addition to the chefs’ restaurant staff, Rice chefs and H&D culinary interns in preparation for the event. North Servery is best equipped to accommodate guest chefs, according to Beth Leaver, H&D’s executive director.

According to RASA president Muna Ogbunamiri, the event was prompted by H&D’s interest in representing foods from different cultures. H&D reached out to RASA, which brought elements of African culture into North Servery during the dinner event.

music and just vibed. Honestly, that’s a big part of African culture: celebrating [and] having fun.”

Dishes served Friday included jollof rice, doro wat chicken and injera, an Ethiopian flatbread. Ogbunamiri said she noticed African spices being used in the kitchen.

“I’m seeing a lot of spice,” Ogbunamiri said. “To me, that means [the chefs] know what’s going on. I saw lots of different peppers in the kitchen as well; African food is spicy, so I’m very excited about that.”

[RASA’s] job was to market [the event] to our general body and to add African touches. We set up the servery with kente cloth and different African fabrics on the tables and played music and just vibed. Honestly, that’s a big part of African culture: celebrating [and] having fun.

Muna Ogbunamiri RASA PRESIDENT

Curet said.

at least the plate I have. The plate I grabbed is probably more West Africanbased, and I think the other side [of the servery] is more East African-based [dishes].”

Curet said his favorite dish to make for the event was a salted cod fritter with anchovy aioli.

“[The aioli] is really, really flavorful,” Curet said. “It’s got a lot of fresh herbs in there and fresh chives. Hopefully … the students try this nice dish [tomorrow].”

Thomas Moore, an H&D culinary intern, said he had a good experience cooking for the event.

“It was really fun,” Moore, a Lovett College sophomore, said. “It was nice

to see North Servery this busy. The environment was … very collaborative.”

Leaver said although this is the first Rice-external event H&D has done, the department aims to collaborate with other cultural student organizations in the future.

“This is the first time we have broadened our reach to the community to support an event like this where alumni, students, staff and faculty can come together to celebrate food and culture,” Leaver wrote. “Our goal is to continue working with different student organizations to enhance our dining program and the student experience at Rice.”

“[RASA’s] job was to market [the event] to our general body and to add African touches,” Ogbunamiri said. “We set up the servery with kente cloth and different African fabrics on the tables and played

Curet said he was excited for Rice chefs to learn from other professional chefs.

“[H&D is] excited about being able to work with [ChòpnBlọk, the restaurant hosting Chopd & Stewd], to be able to learn and take that knowledge,”

RASA External Vice President Stephanie Agu said she was glad H&D was learning to cook dishes inspired by African culture.

“I’m from Nigeria, so it looks a little different than something my mom would make, but it still looks really good,” Agu said. “I can tell it’s West African-centric,

RICHARD LI / THRESHER

Promote civil dialogue and media literacy

Last week, we reported on Rice Pride’s decision to cut ties with Houston Hillel. It was controversial, to say the least. An ugly debate reared its head on social media, with online fights and hateful comments breaking out.

We unequivocally oppose any form of hate speech, doxxing or threats. We condemn any and all of this behavior that arose last week. Our mission is to promote the free flow of information on campus, and the threatening language we saw last week adds nothing to civil discourse.

To be clear, we stand by our reporting. We are not retracting our news story or our separate editorial on Pride’s decision, both published Sept. 27. To do so would be to reject our long-standing commitment to publishing articles relevant to the student body and greater Rice community. We are a news organization, and we report on the news. Our issue last week, like any other week, was reflective of this.

We do want to clear up some of the misconceptions that have swirled around our reporting recently. Namely, there’s a difference between our news story and our

GUEST OPINION

editorial on Pride’s decision. The former is an impartial report on the facts of the matter that incorporated multiple perspectives, from both Pride and Houston Hillel; the

EDITORIAL STAFF

* Indicates Editorial Board member

Prayag Gordy* Editor-in-Chief

Unfortunately, media literacy on campus and beyond is at a worrying low.

If we as a community are to promote the open exchange of relevant information, it requires every single one of us to try to comprehend the situations we are placed in.

Journalists — the Thresher included — follow long-standing codes of ethics; we adhere to the Society of Professional Journalists’. It is important for all of us to understand the difference between unethical journalism and a story we simply disagree with.

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

latter is an opinionated statement from our editorial board, reached in consensus and written together.

More broadly, in an increasingly digital age, misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric are their most rampant. There is a visible decline in capability for public discourse. We need unbiased, objective journalism to combat misinformation, but that’s rendered largely useless when it’s not accessible to readers.

We encourage you to read SPJ’s code of ethics, and to look back to them when you find an article troubling. By no means are we asking that you refrain from criticizing us. Your feedback is important — it sounds cliché, but it truly makes us better. We’re not professionals and we welcome any opportunity to learn from our mistakes.

We will continue to report on stories relevant to Rice. We will continue to engage with you, fellow members of the community, in striving for accurate and diverse journalism and in creating a space where everyone can share their voice.

Reject attempts to label Rice Pride ‘antisemitic’

We are Jewish Rice students, alumni and community members who fully support Rice PRIDE’s decision to cut ties with Houston Hillel, and who fundamentally reject the notion of one, hegemonic, Jewish opinion regarding Zionism on Rice University’s campus.

The assertions that Rice PRIDE’s decision to part ways with Houston Hillel is “antisemitic” or alienates Jewish students reduce Jewish personhood on Rice University’s campus to a singular definition of what it means to be Jewish, and stonewalls many of us out of a conversation that directly impacts our lives.

Zionism is a political movement founded by Theodor Herzl, with origins in Europe in the late 1800s. Many early Zionist thinkers, including Herzl, openly characterized the movement as a colonial one and called for the expulsion of native Palestinians. As such, Zionism is not an identity, but a political ideology materially

GUEST OPINION

expressed through the project of Palestine’s colonization.

In order to establish the state of Israel, over 750,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their land and over 400 villages were completely destroyed by Zionist forces. In the name of Zionism, Israel imposes what Amnesty International deems an illegal occupation and apartheid system over Palestinians, routinely demolishing Palestinian homes and arresting Palestinian youth en masse.

Rejection of this political ideology and the organizations which advance it represents a principled stance against colonialism and racism, and is one that all people of faith should unequivocally and unwaveringly uphold.

Indeed, it is dishonest to separate Houston Hillel from its explicit pro-Israel advocacy, and therefore disingenuous to mischaracterize Rice PRIDE’s decision as exclusionary to queer Jews on campus.

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

Anna Rajagopal RICE UNIVERSITY ‘23

Zach Katz BROWN COLLEGE JUNIOR

Hannah Thalenberg RICE UNIVERSITY ‘12

Seth Uzman RICE COMMUNITY MEMBER

Students’ silence on antisemitism scares me

There has been a lot of discourse regarding Rice Pride’s decision to cut ties with Houston Hillel. Yet, throughout this controversy, I’ve noticed an unsettling sense of reluctance to denounce this underlying fact: The precipitating resolution is itself antisemitic.

Among others, I contend that Rice Pride’s decision holds all Jewish students collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, applies double standards exclusively to a Jewish organization and disguises contempt for Jews as contempt for “Zionists.” These acts are all problematic and fall under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. The full IHRA definition is

CORRECTIONS

much more extensive and a vital resource for detecting antisemitism. Moreover, the “Three D’s” of delegitimization, demonization and double standards clarify when rhetoric surrounding Israel becomes antisemitic.

How could anyone disagree with Rice Pride’s objective of increasing inclusivity? But there are methods to accomplish this without alienating queer Jewish students. Merely stating “We [Rice Pride] have no intention of excluding Jewish students” doesn’t absolve this decision of its impact on Jewish students, and seems more than anything to serve as a shield for Rice Pride against any claims of antisemitism.

In reality, the effects of Rice Pride’s decision are far more foreboding than they

claim. The statement ostracizes the Jewish community. It falsely paints Jews as privileged aggressors, as hateful, as against the LGBTQ+ community. It conflates Jewish institutions with oppression. The consequences of this are devastating: It may keep others from interacting with Jewish organizations and from learning about Judaism.

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

Louis Scheinfeld DUNCAN COLLEGE JUNIOR

In “Rice Pride ends partnership with Houston Hillel,” Cole Holladay’s pronouns are they/them.

SPORTS Pavithr Goli* Editor

Diego Palos Rodriguez Asst. 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

Jessica Xu Features

Ivana Hsyung Arts & Entertainment

Kirstie Qian 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, CMA and CMBAM.

© Copyright 2023 ricethresher.org

There is a visible decline in capability for public discourse. We need unbiased, objective journalism to combat misinformation.

Laura Correa Ochoa connects her students with revolution

GALE GAI FOR THE THRESHER

In her syllabus for her course HIST 237 Radicals in the Americas, Laura Correa Ochoa poses a question: “What worlds were radicals in the Americas imagining and building?” Ochoa said her mission is to bring to light the role racial inequality has played in the recent history of Latin America and the Caribbean, especially in her birthplace of Colombia.

“I’m very invested in telling a history that centers Black and Indigenous political participation and intellectual contributions,” Ochoa said. “That allows us to see how central hierarchies of race and racism have been to the development of 20th century and 21st century Colombia politics.”

Growing up in Colombia, Ochoa and her family were witnesses to violence and conflict within the country. When she was 10 years old, she left for the United States with her family as refugees and moved to Canada soon after.

From there, she obtained a B.A. at the University of Toronto and then a subsequent Ph.D. at Harvard University in 2021. Throughout her education, Ochoa

always knew she wanted to understand history from a marginalized perspective.

“My entrance into history is from a social justice standpoint,” Ochoa said. “History offers us unique tools to understand the configurations of race, class and gender from very nuanced and complex perspectives. Because of my personal and family’s trajectory with the world … I was always invested in understanding history and the dynamics of race, white supremacy, racial capitalism and how they informed the development of Colombia.” Building on her perspectives on Latin American and Caribbean history, Ochoa designed the course “Radicals in the Americas” two years ago. In the class, Ochoa said she puts an emphasis on progressive transnational radical movements, especially those brought by Black and Indigenous thinkers and activists from across the U.S., Cuba, Chile and Africa.

“We look at the Cuban revolution and its connections with decolonization struggles in Africa and the centrality of those struggles, informing activism that happens in other places, such as in the United States, where the Black Panthers were very connected with the transnational political movement,” Ochoa said. “If we look at the critiques of

empire that the Black Panthers made, they are similar to critiques revolutionaries in Cuba were making or revolutionaries in Chile or those in Africa.”

According to HIST 237 student Ajhinae Brooks, Ochoa connects past perspectives on radical movements to the present.

“Professor Ochoa explains how intersectionality still is a really big issue,” Brooks, a Lovett College sophomore, said. “The civil rights movement has shifted toward the Black Lives Matter movement. The intersectionality between Black men and Black women affected the outcomes of the civil rights movement, and it is still affecting the Black Lives Matter movement today.”

Bridging the past and present is not the only way that Ochoa shares her perspectives. She encourages her students to think critically about the readings and text she provides.

“By engaging closely with the sources, speeches, writing and the text that were produced by these thinkers and activists, hopefully [students] can come out with a nuanced understanding

of how radical politics is and some of its tensions and contradictions,” Ochoa said. “I hope they feel interested in learning about places and people they are unfamiliar with, and challenge themselves to go out of their comfort zones … Some of these movements are very inspiring and have a deep impact on the world.”

According to Brooks, Ochoa makes herself part of discussions with the students in class, sharing her own points of view and turning lectures into conversations.

“I don’t feel like any of the work we’re doing is busywork,” Brooks said. “It’s more conversational than it is an actual lecture. It makes you want to better the world in a way that equality can be given to everyone. ”

Alumni point future engineers towards the stars

Of the 30 mechanical engineers in John H. Scott’s 1982 graduating class at Rice, four would end up at the level of department head or higher at NASA. Scott himself was among them; now the principal technologist for power and energy storage, he noted that many of his classmates wound up in similar leadership roles.

Scott doesn’t attribute his class’s success to any particular focus from Rice on the aerospace industry. In fact, when he graduated, he had no idea he was going to pursue a career in aerospace. Instead, he said it has to do with what he sees as Rice’s ability to prepare future scientists and engineers for any path

“One thing about the Rice

engineering curriculum is that it’s never been [aerospace] industry-focused. Most of the recruiting and networking works with the energy industry and still does,” Scott said. “The engineering curriculum trained you to work anywhere … and that’s from the focus on the fundamentals of physics and mathematics involved and from the focus on being able to write well.”

David Alexander, the director of the Rice Space Institute, said aerospace jobs require analytical minds.

“Preparing for a career at NASA is really just being a good scientist or a good engineer,” Alexander said. “It’s really just producing critical thinking problem solvers, and that’s what we do.”

He also added that any number of careers could contribute to human spaceflight and the aerospace industry more broadly.

“I often say that every company is a space company, whether they know it or not,” Alexander said. “If we’re going to do the things we’re trying to do in space, whether it be satellites observing the earth for the environmental monitoring or whether sending astronauts to the moon or to Mars, we need digital technologies, AI technologies, power technologies, we need people to communicate, now we’re having to think about space law … so there’s all sorts of really interesting aspects.”

Rachel Haubertson graduated in 2018 from Rice’s Professional Science masters program, a non-thesis curriculum which prepares students for work outside of academia. She emphasized the importance of these connections in landing her current position as the deputy system manager for the International Space Station exercise countermeasure systems, responsible for monitoring the technology astronauts use

to avoid muscle atrophy while in space. She said the connections forged through the Rice program made it different from competing programs.

“A lot of [the professional masters] is connecting the students with people in industry and having small program numbers,” Haubertson said. “The benefit is just having access to those people and having them being so willing to give back and talk to the students.”

RSI puts on events such as the Spaceport lecture series, which brings in experts to talk about issues facing the aerospace industry today, along with a number of other events which introduce current Rice students to professionals. Haubertson remembered how helpful alumni-student mixers were when it came to building her network.

“[RSI] will often have events throughout the year for current students and alumni, which were the events that were super helpful as a student to make those connections,” Haubertson said. “Now it’s fun being on the other side of that, to be the alumni and to be somebody working in the field to hopefully help and serve as a mentor to the current students.”

Other aspects of the Rice experience also encourage students to go into the aerospace industry and prepare them for careers in the field. For undergraduate students in particular, Alexander pointed to Rice Center for Engineering Leadership as well as various student clubs and

organizations in the field, such as the Rice Students for the Exploration and Development of Space chapter and Rice Eclipse, the rocketry team.

“We don’t just want to produce a scientist or an engineer or a social scientist or a humanist, we want to produce leaders in science, leaders in engineering, leaders in social sciences,” Alexander said. “That’s why we have all this other stuff around the classroom activity at Rice, we have the engineering leadership center, we have student organizations.”

Scott noted that when he was a student, those clubs did not exist, and he sees that change as a benefit to students.

“If anything helps us recruit into the space program from Rice, it’s those [clubs],” Scott said.

Rice and NASA also have a Space Act Agreement, which is an umbrella policy that allows for collaboration between the two entities. With both institutions in close proximity in Houston, Alexander said Rice is in a good spot to be involved in the future of space exploration.

“As we move forward, how the spaceport develops, how NASA develops some of these programs, they are going to need the kind of stuff that universities provide, and so that’s where we come in,” Alexander said. “We want to make sure our students who are interested get the opportunities, we want to make sure more students are interested … There’s an awful lot happening in space going forward and we’re in the right place to be a big part of that.”

ANDY LIU / THRESHER

BRYAN MENDOZA / THRESHER

ADAM LEFF THRESHER STAFF

I hope [students] feel interested in learning about places and people they are unfamiliar with, and challenge themselves to go out of their comfort zones.

Laura Correa Ochoa ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY

I often say that every company is a space company, whether they know it or not.

David Alexander RICE SPACE INSTITUTE DIRECTOR

Rice’s properties: down to Earth and out of the park

AMELIA DAVIS FOR THE THRESHER

Many Rice students know that the university owns and leases some of the land in Rice Village. Lesser known, however, is the scope of Rice’s extensive and occasionally eccentric real estate holdings, which cover everything from the basics to the land that holds a women’s clothing retailer in the Rice Village, the Impeccable Pig.

Perhaps the most surprising historical holding was the decade-long ownership of the old Yankee Stadium. The capital stock of the stadium via the primary lease was sold to Rice alumnus John W. Cox ’27 in July 1955; Cox then gifted it to Rice in 1962. Although the university owned the stadium itself, the Knights of Columbus, a Catholic fraternal organization, owned the piece of real estate it stood upon.

Leagues,” Rice Management Company President Allison Thacker wrote in an email to the Thresher.

Rice’s resulting endowment of nearly $8 billion is responsible for a significant portion of the budget.

Rice plans for the Natural Resources portfolio to be carbon neutral (with the use of carbon offsets) by 2030, in-line with the University’s carbon neutrality goals.

When it became evident that the stadium was in dire need of repairs in 1970, the Yankees’ owners approached New York Mayor John Lindsay with a proposal to buy it and finance its renovation. Originally, Cox had estimated his gift capable of bringing Rice more than $1 million; the city of New York bought the Stadium’s lease from Rice for $2.5 million in 1972. Added to annual revenues, Rice gained a total of $3.7 million from the donation, equivalent to nearly $19 million today.

In general, Rice’s investments, overseen by the Rice Management Company, tend toward natural resources and real estate, which together make up 24% of total assets. Some ownings, however, are not as standard.

“Unique investments include exposure to Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Music Royalties [and] Professional Sports

“The annual distribution from the endowment continues to be the single largest revenue source to the operating budget and supports approximately 40% of the university’s operating expenses,” according to the Rice Management Company. This can contextualize Rice’s emphasis on the upkeep and management of these investments, considering Rice’s projected 2024 operating budget: $920 million. One of the longest-held assets in the natural resource collection is the Beauregard Parish tree farm in Louisiana, which was a large portion of William Marsh Rice’s bequest towards the university’s establishment upon his death. Rice formed the Rice Land Lumber Co. to manage the property, and from there it has played a significant part in the university. Funds from its timber sale financed the construction of the very first buildings on campus, including the Institute Commons, now known as Baker College.

Further, it was discovered in the 1930s that the land was also an oil field with several underground reservoirs, and drilling operations

have continued since then.

A significant portion of the forest was hit by the Tiger Island fire in the area, which occurred Aug. 22, though most of the land itself was unaffected. The farm has weathered similar obstacles before; after the land was stripped of timber and lay fallow for decades, a reforestation initiative was embraced in the 1950s in order to create and maintain a renewable resource. In line with this aspiration is the RMC’s current objective of carbon neutrality.

“Rice plans for the Natural Resources portfolio to be carbon neutral (with the use of carbon offsets) by 2030, in-line with the University’s carbon neutrality goals,” Thacker wrote.

The other major portion of Rice’s portfolio is real estate, which makes up almost 15% of Rice’s endowment. A new project in this sector is the Ion district, an ongoing development in Houston for which Rice is an investor, as well as owner of the sixteen blocks upon which it is being built. The Ion building, which is the central piece of the development, opened in May 2022 and includes coworking

spaces, restaurants and an investor studio.

Rice has had its forays into aerospace as well. The Johnson Space Center is built partially on 600 acres of land donated by Rice a month after President Kennedy gave his famous speech in Rice Stadium in 1962. From the years 1917 to 1924, there was an airstrip called Rice Field just outside the edge of campus, approximately where University Place is today.

Though today there is little so strange as Yankee Stadium within Rice’s endowment, many of the holdings have a long history with the university, and their contributions still shape student life, financial aid and campus improvements. Even something as supposedly straightforward as investments can hide a story.

Lululemon rival

Author Rushdie Geometry calculation

Data, for short

“Say

Activist

Singer

Like

Wind instruments

Cultural dish?

James

One way to run?

Like

HOANG NGUYEN CROSSWORD EDITOR

COURTESY WOODSON RESEARCH CENTER A sketched map of West University Place in 1917.

COURTESY WOODSON RESEARCH CENTER

A plane prepares for takeoff at Rice Field in 1917. East Hall (now Baker College) and South Hall (now Will Rice College) are visible in the background.

COURTESY STORY SLOANE III

Aerial view of campus and Rice Field, above right, in 1924.

Allison Thacker PRESIDENT OF RICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Thresher Declassified: ACL survival guide 2023

Wake up, babe, the newest edition of the Thresher Declassified: ACL Survival Guide just dropped. In what’s becoming a yearly tradition, the Thresher is here to give you the low-down on all things Austin City Limits in case you don’t feel like getting your information on the festival’s website. We just know you’d be lost without us, so here’s all you need to know to survive this year’s ACL.

Wait, what even is ACL?

Before we talk about that, make sure to activate your wristband on the ACL website. I don’t know exactly why you have to do this, but ACL says it will make for a “smooth entry” process. You can also add any credit

or debit card to your wristband when you activate it to go cash/cardless at the festival.

While I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, let’s start with the basics. ACL spans two weekends, Oct. 6 to 8 and Oct. 13 to 15, and is hosted at Zilker Park in Austin. I’m sure you already have somewhere to stay (right?), but you should definitely book now if not. Close to Zilker Park in south Austin may seem ideal, but you’ll probably have to Uber there and back anyway.

Though the headliners tend to stay the same, some acts change between weekend one and two, so make sure to research who you want to see. On that note, make sure to screenshot the lineup/schedule — service can get pretty bad with nearly 75,000 people in the same place. ACL also has an iOS and Android app you can download, but I can’t

say I’m going to be using it — I don’t believe in unnecessary apps.

Getting to the festival may feel a little tricky, and I would recommend leaving your car at the hotel or Airbnb — there’s no parking at Zilker or the surrounding neighborhoods. There are festival shuttles provided by ACL that board at Republic Square Park and let you off at the Barton Springs West festival entrance. ACL also says that the CapMetro offers several bus routes near Zilker Park. Other than that, your best bet will probably be a rideshare app.

What should I bring?

First, let’s go over bag rules so you don’t get turned away immediately upon arrival. Small clutches or fanny packs that are 6” by 9” don’t need to be clear but can only

ACL artists to look out for: Weekend One

you have time to learn all their songs before the weekend comes.

Songs to check out: “Mint Julep” and “Diamonds”

Jane Leo (Sunday, Oct. 8, Tito’s Stage, 1 to 1:45 p.m.)

Jane Leo is a self-proclaimed “art pop” duo that has a distinctive, synth-filled sound and eclectic style. This performance would be a great one to lay in the grass and listen to, taking a break from all that time on your feet. Those going to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs may find Jane Leo’s music intriguing.

HADLEY MEDLOCK A&E EDITOR

While headliners like Kendrick Lamar, the Lumineers, Hozier and Kali Uchis are sure to draw the most major crowds at Austin City Limits this year, each day’s lineup is full of other lesser-known artists you can’t miss out on. From up-and-coming voices in R&B to experimental, new-age pop music, we’d be wrong to not let you know about some of the incredible artists at ACL for weekend one only.

To check out all the Thresher’s song recommendations from ACL artists this year, listen to our playlist on Spotify.

Grace Sorensen (Sunday, Oct. 8, BMI Stage, 1:30 to 2:15 p.m.)

An Austin native, Grace Sorensen is a 20-year-old musician with a sultry, R&B style. She released her first EP, “WHAT I NEVER TOLD YOU,” in 2022, when she was also part of the Austin Music Foundation’s Artist Development Program. ACL will be her first festival appearance, and I would recommend Grace if you enjoy music by H.E.R. or SZA.

ASHLEY ZHANG / THRESHER

Songs to check out: “Miss Majesty” and “THIS ISN’T LOVE”

Delacey (Friday, Oct. 6, BMI Stage, 1:40 to 2:25 p.m.)

The first song I listened to by Delacey was “The Subway Song,” and I thought her voice was enchanting. She also has co-written songs for artists like the Chainsmokers, Demi Levato, Dove Cameron and Halsey. Delacey weaves vivid narratives with her lyrics and should definitely be the newest addition to your “Sad Girl Autumn” playlists (she even has a song called “Sad Gurl”).

Songs to check out: “The Subway Song” and “Phantom Feelings”

Mac Saturn (Saturday, Oct. 7, Honda Stage, 12:30 to 1:15 p.m.)

A groovy, soft-rock band, Mac Saturn’s music is easy to do a little dance to even if you don’t know it yet. A sound straight out of the 70s, their music sounds like the sort of tunes I’d listen to with my mom in the car (she loves Spotify’s “Yacht Rock” playlist). Though their discography isn’t extensive, that just means

Songs to check out: “Necessary Evil” and “The More You Know”

Tash Sultana (Sunday, Oct. 8, Honda Stage, 4:15 to 5:15 p.m.)

Tash Sultana is more than a triple threat, writing, producing, singing, engineering and playing multiple instruments on all their live and recorded music. A gender-fluid musician originally from Australia, Sultana launched to prominence in 2016 with their single “Jungle,” and their most recent EP, “Sugar,” came out in August. Sultana’s music is vibey with a lo-fi feel and lyrics that address themes like cancel culture, self-discovery and vulnerability.

Songs to check out: “Pretty Lady” and “You People Freak Me Out”

The National Parks (Friday, Oct. 6, Miller Lite Stage, 1:40 to 2:25 p.m.)

If you’re looking forward to headliners like The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, you may also enjoy The National Parks, a folksy, indie, four-person band from Utah. Their most recent album, “8th Wonder,” was released in March of this year, and their music makes you want to grab some friends and hike a mountain.

Songs to check out: “Garden” and “As We Ran”

have one pocket. All other bags must be clear and smaller than 12” by 6” by 12,” but I’d recommend going as small as possible — lugging around a big bag all day will get annoying.

Along with this, bring an empty water bottle. It’s Austin, it’s hot -- highs in the 70s during weekend one -- and you’re going to be out in the sun all day. It can be any size, shape, color or material you want (other than glass), you just can’t enter the festival with your own liquid. Water is also expensive (I’m looking at you, Liquid Death), so you’ll save a lot of money by having one you can refill for free. If you’re really thirsty, empty hydration packs, like CamelBaks, are also allowed to be brought in.

On the topic of being out in the sun all day, please bring some non-aerosol SPF. I don’t care if you “don’t burn” or if “it just turns into a tan,” skin cancer is no joke (at least to this amazingly pale redhead) and you’re going to be miserable all weekend if you end up beet-red on the first day.

One of the most important things, though, is comfortable shoes. I know a cute outfit is everything, but you’re going to be easily surpassing step goals and standing for hours at a time, so good shoes may transcend the need for style.

Make sure to bring your ID as well. If you’re over 21, you’ll need it to buy obscenely over-priced White Claws. I would also recommend a portable charger. While your phone may often be rendered useless due to the aforementioned poor cell service, you definitely don’t want it to die.

A few miscellaneous don’ts include: large chains or spiked jewelry, umbrellas, outside food or beverage, selfie sticks and any video equipment.

Other than that, you’re ready for the challenge ahead. Go listen to some great music, eat some great food and don’t get up to too much trouble on 6th Street afterward.

WEEKLY SCENES AND SCREENS Moody Project Wall

The Moody Center for the Arts will be hosting a reception for its new, collaborative Project Wall installation by Gabriel Martinez. titled “Resolution.” The reception will take place Oct. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Midnight at the Moody

The Moody Center for the Arts will also be hosting an event with the Rice Program Council called Midnight at the Moody. This takes place Oct. 13 from 10 p.m. to midnight and includes free food, a DJ and late-night gallery viewing. Students can also submit their own art to be featured at the event.

Rice Cinema Screening

As part of Our Heritage Month, Rice Cinema will be screening “Missing in Brooks County,” followed up with a panel discussion and Q&A. The film will be shown Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. in Sewall 301.

HADLEY MEDLOCK A&E EDITOR

HADLEY MEDLOCK

A&E EDITOR

GENESIS HAHN / THRESHER

Review: ‘PAW Patrol’ needs quality control

COURTESY PARAMOUNT

once-incarcerated Mayor Humdinger (Ron

Pardo).

“[Brochstein is] such a modern building that really sits at the heart of the campus and students, faculty and visitors go there all the time … It’s a really prominent space on campus,” Josenhans said. “The idea was, let’s activate that space, the beautiful, really long, monumental wall inside, with artwork.”

“2800 dowling-wasi-sangarara” was inspired by two geographical locations important to cordova: Houston and Cuzco, Peru. Starting with photographic documentation, cordova said he abstracted and altered the images and used different materials, ranging from paint chips to graphite to collage elements, to create an overall abstract composition.

really were trying to find an artist who’s up for the challenge,” Josenhans said. “william just seems like a perfect fit, given his really interesting practice and seeing how he works, often referring to transition and displacement in his works of art, but also our perception of places, images.”

Josenhans said one of her favorite parts about the Off the Wall series is that it positions artists to embrace the challenges of displaying art in a public space. According to Josenhans, cordova’s work also engages with many topics that are important to Rice, making it ideal for a public campus space.

The evolving relationship between children’s TV and the silver screen is quite fascinating. After all, it is quite challenging to turn formulaic episodes into a twohour action-packed extravaganza. Still, we can all recall watching our favorite protagonists make a seemingly magical leap from our TV sets to the theaters, with our child-sized minds enamored by animations, explosions and whatnot.

Last weekend, my still-child-sized mind, along with all the actual children in the theater, sought to recapture that feeling of wonder by watching “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie.” Upon leaving, however, I found myself dejected and weary, as if I had been leaving a midterm yet again.

The movie centers around our titular protagonists and their escapades in Adventure City. This Avengers-style team up of high-tech dogs are led by Ryder (Will Brisbin), a slightly sociopathic 10-year-old (aren’t they all?), that utilizes this task force to maintain order and ensure safety within city limits. The plot revolves around Skye (Mckenna Grace), the aviation pup, and her renewed, yet unexplained, feelings of insufficiency.

The story starts off with a literal bang: A meteor crashes into the PAW Patrol headquarters due to the actions of Victoria Vance (Taraji P. Henson), a professional mad scientist. Unfortunately, none of the pups are hurt and instead, upon contact with the meteor, the pups gain superpowers. Skye, having improved her self-esteem through what amounts to performance-enhancing drug usage, must now lead the fight against Vance and the

Before a discussion of the issues in the story commences, it should be acknowledged that this is a movie for children and that we, by virtue of being at least 20% smarter than children, are not the intended audience. However, this does not take away from the fact that this movie sends a very confusing message to its 8-year-old fanbase (and myself, I suppose). To truly grasp the thematic depth and complexity of this film, extensive research into the PAW Patrol lore was essential. It was at this moment that the film began to unravel.

First, the movie doesn’t explain Skye’s feelings of inadequacy. Is it because of the job that Ryder has coerced and conditioned her into doing? Simply put, dogs are not meant to fly, and there is no indication in the 11 seasons of PAW Patrol that Skye’s performance as a dog-copter is substandard in any way. As such, plot points in the film just seem to happen, without any regard as to why or how.

Regardless of the validity of Skye’s emotions, is encouraging children to seek artificial aids, in this case gaining confidence from accidental superpowers, really the best way to handle youth selfesteem issues?

The film completely sidesteps a conversation of Skye’s emotions and instead encourages children to wait for something or someone else to help solve their problems. Skye and the kids watching aren’t taught to better themselves or improve their self-esteem. Instead, they should wait for a magical asteroid to give them superpowers.

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. Read more online at ricethresher.org

“I was interested in utilizing the space-time continuum theory as a way to address distinct historical events in different geographical locations and periods that allude to similar scale factors,” cordova wrote in an email to the Thresher. “The installation is more of a portal … [It’s an] ephemeral monument or ghost monument, as cultural practitioner David Hammons would put it. Ideally, it is a trans-physical space for meditation and recovery all at once.”

The installation is more of a portal … [It’s an] ephemeral monument or ghost monument, as cultural practitioner

“There are so many topics that the artist alludes to in his work that students from different fields and departments can find different ways to engage with it,” Josenhans said. “I think it also speaks to the great international nature of Houston and of Rice University. Houston is the fourth biggest city in the country, and it’s so international.”

David Hammons would put it. Ideally, it is a trans-physical space for meditation and recovery all at once.

william cordova

OFF THE WALL ARTIST

Josenhans said the program invited william cordova because of his rich cultural background. cordova grew up in Lima, Peru, but spent his childhood in Miami. He went on to receive a B.F.A from School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an M.F.A from Yale University, completing residency programs in the U.S. and abroad. Now, his artwork draws inspiration from disciplines across the board, merging architecture, mathematics and cosmogony into distinct abstract pieces.

“When we select an artist, we’re really trying to keep in mind the nature of the space. It’s public, it is very exposed. We

Josenhans said showcasing work with an emphasis on the diversity of Houston and the Rice community is important to the Moody.

“There are so many different cultural influences that are prominent in the city. That’s also true for the Rice campus, with the student body being so informed by all these different countries where students are coming from,” Josenhans said. “So work that reflects the diversity and cultural richness that you can find on campus is important.”

cordova agreed and said that different Rice programs — from astrophysics to the Electroacoustic Music Labs to African American Studies and Latin Studies — all have thematic relationships woven into the fabric of the installation. cordova said he hopes everyone will take their own meanings from the piece.

“We are already a community with infinite possibilities,” cordova said. “Infinite perceptions, infinite perspectives, infinite conclusions.”

Not your average marching band. Not even a marching band.

John “Grungy” Gladu is the Marching Owl Band’s longest standing member, and he was never even a Rice student. Celebrating his 51st year as a MOBster this year, Gladu joined the MOB in 1970 at the recommendation of his own band director at Houston Baptist College, now Houston Christian University. Despite spending his first season doing menial tasks and dirty work, he said he was hooked after his first game on the field.

“[My] band director [said] one day in band, ‘If you miss marching band, go on over to Rice Institute … and meet with Bert Roth. They’ll give you a uniform and 10 bucks per game,’” Gladu said. “And I haven’t left.”

By now, Gladu has reached the status of “old fart,” a moniker given to alumni and community members of the band who are older and wiser than the average MOBster. With a more relaxed schedule than most marching bands and no restrictions about what instruments are allowed on the

field, the MOB is open to anyone. From clarinetists to kazooers, anyone who wants to play music and have a good time is welcomed, MOBsters say.

“I’ve never been particularly good at playing my instrument, like I would never call myself a musician,” Dasseny Arreola, the MOB’s executive producer and Lovett College junior, said.

“I just always have been there for the vibes, and the MOB is the epitome of being there for the vibes.”

While the MOB is smaller than the average band, their unorthodox style is another thing that sets them apart. Most college bands march in strict, orderly fashion while playing through marching band classics, but the MOB nixes these expectations.

In fact, they don’t march at all. They’re what’s called a “scatter band.” The concept was started by Stanford University students in the 1960s and adopted by Rice in 1970. Members run haphazardly to each formation instead of marching, giving the traditional marching band a more fun and spastic look. Gladu defines the MOB’s true beginning as its first scatter.

“It was the exit from the last formation of

the last show in 1970 [when it happened],” Gladu said. “It was a [Texas Christian University] game and three trumpet players who had admired what Stanford and the Ivies were doing said, ‘[Roth] we gotta do this! [Roth] we gotta do this! Let us do this!’”

The MOB also takes pride in their unique halftime shows. MOBsters spend hours each week carefully crafting sarcastic and satirical scripts to perform on game days. According to Gladu, the first time these scripted halftime skits really hit big was in the year 1973, when the MOB let loose on their opponent, Texas A&M University.

“We did our show and the boos got louder and louder and louder, and then there were people coming down out of the stands to beat us up,” Gladu said. “Sometime in the third quarter I got hit in the head with a Coke thrown out of the second deck.”

Images of outraged Aggies are on the MOB’s website to this day, but despite its unfavorable reception, this show cemented the MOB’s offbeat reputation.

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. Read more online at ricethresher. org

NOAH BERZ FOR THE THRESHER

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER

I just always have been there for the vibes, and the MOB is the epitome of being there for the vibes.

Dasseny Arreola

LOVETT COLLEGE JUNIOR

HAMZA SAEED THRESHER STAFF

Volleyball continues to truck through the AAC

pressure on UTSA’s passing with tough serving and a strong hitting efficiency,”

Going into last Friday’s match against the University of Texas at San Antonio, Rice Volleyball had won 15 of their last 19 sets. At the end of their victorious home stand against the Roadrunners, the Owls had improved that to 21 sets out of 25, extending their win streak to seven games and preserving their undefeated status in conference play.

The first set of the first match began competitively. UTSA and Rice traded kills and errors until the Roadrunners led 7-6; then the Owls got away with the set on the back of a 10-1 run shortly followed by an 8-2 sequence. The game was dominated by senior outside hitter Sahara Maruska, hitting 0.571, and senior libero Nia McCardell, leading all players with 21 digs in the match.

“We have the most digs per set in Division 1 right now,” sophomore setter Darby Harris said. “I think that has been one of the ways we’ve fought through the tough matches that we have. It helps to have a strong and experienced libero [in McCardell] leading our back row to keep balls alive.”

The Roadrunners kept sets two and three closer, nearly achieving parity at 20-19 and 13-12 respectively, but ultimately lost out to the firepower of senior Danyle Courtley, hitting 0.382 with 16 kills for the match, and graduate student Emilia Weske, hitting 0.478 with 12. Rice outscored UTSA 75-51.

“Our goal this past week was to put more

Head Coach Genny Volpe said. “I think we succeeded in both. I’m also happy with our balance of attack.”

The second match began to mirror the first, with UTSA maintaining equality to 5-5 until Rice pulled ahead off a 9-2 run.

The Roadrunners stabilized to reach 16-10, before the Owls took the set with another 9-2 sprint. Set two stayed close, with neither team taking a lead of more than six points and UTSA eventually gaining the set point at 25-24. Weske, assisted by Harris, tied the score on a kill, and the Owls won the set on two consecutive Roadrunner errors forced by blocks from Weske, Courtley and junior Kaitlyn Knobbe.

“[Going into the series], we were most focused on our block,” Harris said. “We ended up with seven stuff blocks from the first game and 10 the second day, which was successful for what our goals were. Knobbe and [graduate student] Satasha Kostelecky led the charge at the net with their aggressive block moves and disciplined setup.”

To start set three, Rice allowed a 10-3 UTSA run that put the score at 13-7, the biggest lead the Roadrunners got in the series. The Owls responded with a 9-2 run off eight kills, before Roadrunner resistance tied the set 20-20. A kill from Kostelecky and another from Weske put Rice in the position to trade points until the set’s end, sweeping UTSA out of Tudor Fieldhouse.

When that second match ended, Harris completed another double-double in digs

and assists, her fourth consecutive and eighth on the season. According to Volpe, this successful stretch for Rice since its Sept. 11 loss to the University of Texas at Austin has been fueled by consistent defense tactics.

“I think our defense continues to shine,” Volpe said. “Our blocking really took off this weekend, which was good to see.”

Rice has made the NCAA Tournament and finished either first or second in

The Rice women’s volleyball team celebrates after scoring. Volleyball swept UTSA twice over the weekend, pushing their win streak to seven with an 11-4 overall record.

conference for five consecutive seasons. They have lost only two starters from 2022’s 27-4 squad and are no longer competing in conference against Western Kentucky University, the only other team to win the Conference USA in the last half-decade. But, according to Volpe, complacency is not an option.

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

Tennis confident after weekend tournament play

Last weekend, the men’s and women’s tennis teams returned to the court to compete in the International Tennis Association Men’s All American Championships and the Houston Invitational, respectively. These early fall tournaments helped the teams get in more competitions in preparation for the ITA Texas Regionals Tournament in Fort Worth later in the fall.

Women’s tennis head coach Elizabeth Schmidt was happy with the way that her squad performed, especially in a tune-up for Regionals.

“It was good to get more competition this weekend, and it gave us a good gauge

of things we need to continue to work on as we lead up to Regionals,” Schmidt said.

The women’s team started their second tournament of the season splitting their doubles matches 2-2.

On the first day of singles, Rice dropped three of their four singles matches against the University of Texas at Arlington as junior Saara Orav picked up the lone win (6-0, 6-3). Day two was more successful, with the Owls sweeping all four of their singles matches against the United States Air Force Academy. On the final day of competition, the Owls lost three of their four singles matches besides freshman Divna Ratkovic’s win in a close three-set match, 5-7, 7-6 (7-0), 10-9.

After going 2-1 on the weekend individually and helping the team to a 6-6

singles weekend record, Ratkovic said the team’s support has boosted everyone’s confidence.

“I feel more confident every match,” Ratkovic said. “My team’s performance has [had an] impact on me because the better they are, the better it is for the team and our confidence on the court. We fight, we want to win and that is the mentality that pushes us going forward and that positively impacts our confidence.”

The men’s team had two players competing in the ITA Men’s All American Championships, in Tulsa, Okla. last weekend. Junior transfer Arthus de la Bassetiere came back from an early oneset deficit to win in the first round (3-6, 6-2, 6-1) against Carl Gustavson from St. John’s University but fell in the second

round against Thomas Pinho of the University of Texas at San Antonio to end his tournament run.

Senior Trinity Grear was able to advance to the fourth round after three straight wins, but in his fourth match of the weekend, Great lost a tightly contested third set against Linus Carlsson Halldin to end his tournament run (6-4, 3-6, 6-7).

“The toughest part was the physical part. As tennis players, we’re pretty accustomed to only having to play one match a day, but this tournament required two matches in a day at a very high level, which took a lot of effort,” Grear said. “I had a lot of chances in my fourth round match but I just didn’t get over the finish line unfortunately. Despite that, I’m feeling good about my form and I’m looking forward to taking the positives from this weekend into matches down the road.”

Grear was pleased with the team’s overall performance from the weekend.

“[de la Bassetiere] and I both played a few competitive matches which is exactly what we traveled to Tusla to do in the first place,” Grear said. “These matches have taught us both a lot about our games and we’ll use what we’ve learned to improve going forward and in events later on in the season.”

Senior Trinity Grear returns the ball in a game. Rice men’s tennis competed at the International Tennis Association Men’s All American Championships in Tulsa, OK over the weekend while the women’s team played at the Houston Invitational.

Going forward, the men’s and women’s teams will have time off before the ITA Texas Regional Tournament, starting Oct. 12 for the women’s team and Oct. 19 for the men’s squad. Depending on their performance, both teams will have a chance to send athletes in either singles or doubles to the ITA Fall Nationals in San Diego, Calif. starting Nov. 1.

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

COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS

LANDRY WOOD THRESHER STAFF

CADAN HANSON SENIOR WRITER

COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS

Men’s XC place sixth, Women’s XC finish 21st in weekend races

PAVITHR GOLI SPORTS EDITOR

The men’s and women’s cross country teams were in action last weekend, with the men’s team traveling to the University of Arkansas to run in the Chile Pepper Festival while the women’s team competed in the Live in Lou Classic hosted by the University of Louisville.

The men’s squad continued their hot start, placing sixth in the 8k race. For the second straight meet, freshman Gus Gannon led all Owls, finishing 12th out of 317 runners. Gannon was only three seconds from the top-10, and his 12th-place was the best of all freshman runners at the race. Gannon said his performance this past weekend showed him that he is prepared to face tough competition as the season continues to progress.

“This performance was a great confidence booster for me,” Gannon wrote in an email to the Thresher. “It was the proof I needed that I’m fit and ready to mix it with some of the best in the region once the postseason rolls around. I know the team was looking for a little more than what we showed but invaluable experience was gained

racing a championship distance in a highly competitive field.”

Following Gannon was senior Grant Samara, who finished 44th, while junior Jackson Moran finished 72nd and sophomore Ben Tijerina finished 74th. Rounding out the top five runners for Rice was junior Davis Thames, who placed 89th. Men’s head coach Jon Warren said he was proud of his team’s performance in Fayetteville on Friday.

“This was the first big meet of the season and I think most of the guys responded well,” Warren wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Especially [Gannon]. He mixed it up well with the top guys in the field and finished very high. I have nothing but high praise for the rest of the team. [Samara] ran a very solid race and the rest of the top five kept the spread fairly close.”

Competing in the 5k Gold Race in Louisville, the women’s team finished 21st overall with senior Taigen HunterGalvan placing 30th and sophomore Amelie Attenborough finishing 90th out of 335 overall competitors.

Head Coach Jim Bevan saw last weekend’s race as an opportunity for growth considering many of his runners’ inexperience.

“It was a learning experience for

many of our runners,” Bevan wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Only one of our top six runners in the race had any experience in an intensely loaded field like we had, so I would call it a learning experience. If we were to re-run the race again next week, I think we would see a lot of improvement by our team. If we learn from the lessons it will be worth the experience.”

Hunter-Galvan, who ran in her first race of the season, said she was pleased with her finish over the weekend

RICE

The men’s cross country team runs at a recent meet. The men’s team placed sixth at the Chile Pepper Festival while the women’s team placed 21st overall at the Live in Lou Classic.

considering the injuries that she had to overcome to start the season.

“I had to be patient for this race,” Hunter-Galvan wrote in an email to the Thresher. “After missing the first 2twomeets due to minor injuries, I finally felt prepared to perform my best 5k race ever. I felt like I had full control of my body and would say the overall race was a great success.”

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

Football wins its first-ever AAC game, defeats ECU 24-17

KATHLEEN ORTIZ THRESHER STAFF

Sporting Columbia-blue Houston Oilersthemed throwback jerseys, Rice secured a 24-17 win in their American Athletic Conference home opener against East Carolina University on Saturday. While the Owls only trailed for five minutes in the first quarter, the game was close the entire time as both teams fought for their first AAC win of the season.

Coming off a week of uncertainty after graduate transfer quarterback suffered a lower body injury during last weekend’s loss, Saturday’s game forced Daniels to adapt his play around his physical capabilities/

but it’s not like a super significant crazy change I had to get adjusted to,” Daniels said. “Once we did and once I felt good moving, then it was completely fine, out of the question, but there’s a little bit of confidence in feeling good on the ankle.”

What are we going to do ... to make sure we come back in this locker room and it’s a victorious locker room ... instead of being all sad-faced and talking about what could have been?

Mike Bloomgren FOOTBALL HEAD

COACH

Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, and Rice scored its first touchdown early in the second. Daniels’ four-yard touchdown pass to freshman wide receiver Rawson MacNeill was aided by junior linebacker Chris Conti’s interception of an ECU throw at the tailend of the first quarter. The Pirates then responded with two field goals to bring their deficit to one point at the half.

the ending from last week’s loss.

“I was basically trying not to use [my ankle] for the most part, which is a change

EDITORIAL CARTOON

The score was 10-9 headed into the break, but Head Coach Mike Bloomgren and the Owls knew they needed to make improvements if they were going to change

“My halftime speech was not elaborate,” Bloomgren said. “It was like, ‘Well here we are again. We have a one point lead at halftime, just like last week. We didn’t play very good in the first half, just like last week. Now what are we going to do? What are we going to do individually and collectively to make sure we come back in this locker room and it’s a victorious locker room and we’re playing our music and making it look like a club instead of being all sad-faced and talking about what could have been?’”

His speech may have paid off. The third quarter was relatively quiet on both ends until freshman quarterback Chase Jenkins ran four yards into the endzone in the last minute to widen Rice’s lead to 17-9. ECU responded in the fourth quarter with a touchdown and two point conversion to tie the game with 8:24 left.

To put Rice back on top with 6:24 left in the game, freshman Landon RansomGoelz scored a touchdown on a 44-yard catch and run from Daniels. After a week without practicing while nursing his injury, Daniels finished the game with 232 passing yards.

“I thought JT Daniels was a complete warrior today,” Bloomgren said. “Obviously we set the bar so high and have such high hopes and expectations every time he plays, and this one will never go down as his best game on the stats sheet, but it’s one of his best games ever because of what he fought through to get there and because he stayed on the field through it all.”

Before Bloomgren knew Daniels would be able to play at all this weekend, Chase Jenkins was slotted in the starting quarterback spot. In the end, the offense played a dual-quarterback system against the Pirates. Jenkins was able to go in and help the team as Daniels continued to adjust after his week of recovery.

True freshman wide receiver Landon RansomGolez attempts to evade ECU defenders on Saturday night. The Owls defeated the Pirates 24-17 in a tight game, securing their first-ever American Athletic Conference victory.

“You got a week of film and meetings and all that, but none of it translates, none of it is ever the same as actually doing the thing physically,” Daniels said on his preparation for this weekend. “I love when we get Chase in.”

Jenkins led Rice in rushing yards with four carries, 27 yards and one touchdown, his first in college. The only other true freshman in Rice history to graduate early from high school and begin practicing with the football team in the winter, Ransom-Goelz led the team in receiving yards with two receptions, 54 yards and one touchdown.

“Some big-time contributions [are] by some guys that maybe aren’t household names in the Owl families yet,” Bloomgren said on the underclassmen who stepped up and filled gaps this weekend. “Guys like Daveon Hook, guys like Chase Jenkins [who] jumped in there. Two of the guys that scored touchdowns for us on offense, Chase [Jenkins] and Landon RansomGoelz, were here in January.”

Securing a win moved Rice’s record to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference. Next weekend, the Owls will host the University of Connecticut, who are 0-5 so far this season. The game will start at 4 p.m. Oct. 7, streaming on ESPN+.

“Owl-American”

“R-R-R-RICE WINS!!!”

COURTESY

ATHLETICS

FRANCESCA NEMATI / THRESHER

HONG LIN TSAI / THRESHER

Life Hacks for the Economical Owl

SERVERY HACK

Ever since meal swipes restricted students to one servery entry per swipe, we’ve been strapped for ways to maximize how much food we can carry out at once. Let’s get to stacking!

Step One: Ask for two disposable plates when you swipe into the servery

Step Two: Take three to five cups from the drink station and place equidistantly on first plate

Step Three: Fill cups with desired food, maintaining careful balance

*Triple decker food buses have not been tested by and are not endorsed by the Backpage. The Backpage claims no responsibility for any resulting damages.

Step Four: Stack second plate on top of cups

Step Five: Repeat at necessary*

DORM HACKS STUDY HACK

Bunk Mattresses

An even more economical alternative consists of stacking your mattress on top of your roommate’s to take advantage of the vertical space in your room. Bonus points if you can accomplish this with the otherwise useless floor space in your bathroom!

Want to host in your room but lacking in real estate? Try out these space-saving hacks to get the biggest square footage bang for your buck!

Wall Bed

Think outside of the box frame and prop your mattress on the wall! Not only does this hack save you precious floor space, it also saves you time in the morning—when you wake up, hit the ground running by simply taking a step forward.

Now that it’s midterm season, it’s time to level up your studying skills. Give this hack a try to keep that GPA alive!

Step One: Collect thirty to sixty thumb tacks (go for seventy if a midterm’s around the corner!)

Step Two: Carefully place each thumbtack evenly across your keyboard—one thumbtack per one or two keys

Step Three: Put on your handy-dandy mittens or rubber cleaning gloves and get to work without worrying about falling asleep on the job. If you start to doze off, the thumbtacks will give you a rejuvenating jab!

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.

CLASSIFIEDS

TUTORS WANTED

Rice Alum hiring well-qualified tutors for all levels of STEM, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Reliable transportation highly preferred. Pay $30/hr+ based on experience. Email resume to sri. iyengar@sriacademicservices.com Visit our website www.sriacademicservices. com to learn more!

ADVERTISING

The Thresher accepts display and classified advertisements and reserves the right to refuse any advertising for any reason. Additionally, the Thresher does not take responsibility for the factual content of any advertisement. Printing an advertisement does not consititute an endorsement by the Thresher.

Display advertisements must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication; see ricethresher.org for pricing. Classified advertisements must be received with cash, check or credit card payment by 12 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication; see ricethresher.org for pricing.

thresher-ads@rice.edu

P.O. Box 1892 Houston, TX 77005-1892 (713) 348-4801