Rice Football avenged its opening week loss with a 69-7 victory over Texas Southern University on Saturday evening.
“We wanted to get the taste out of our mouth,” redshirt sophomore safety Tyson Flowers said. “We know we didn’t play to the best of our ability [in Week 1].”
Saturday marked one of the most dominant wins in program history. The 62-point difference is the Owls’ largest margin of victory since Nov. 17, 1916 — over a century ago — when they cruised to a 146-3 win over Southern Methodist University.
17,760 fans were in attendance to watch history be made at Rice Stadium, representing a slight 2.7% increase from football’s Week 1 attendance.
Saturday’s game theme centered around residential college pride. Players had their residential college’s decal affixed to their helmets, and Rice Rally Club held a competition to see which residential college had the most students in attendance. Duncan College was declared the winner.
Elsewhere in the stadium, several campus groups — including RiceVotes, the Kelley Center for Government Information and voter registrar volunteers — hosted a voter registration booth. They encouraged students and other fans to cast a ballot in this November’s general election.
The buzz from the stands was mirrored by energy on the field as Rice stormed out to a quick 7-0 lead on a five-yard touchdown run from senior running back Dean Connors.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Enock Gota converted Rice’s extra point, marking a personnel change. The Owls had previously relied on redshirt senior Tim Horn as their kicker, but he went just 8-for-12 on field goals last year and missed a 37-yard attempt in Week 1. Gota had previously only attempted one kick in the NCAA — a successful extra point against TSU on Sept. 16, 2023.
“It’s difficult because Tim Horn does everything in our program right,” head coach Mike Bloomgren said. “But at the end of the day, Enock [Gota] has been really consistent. It just reached a point where it was time to give Enock a chance.”
At home and in the studio
Visitors strolled through rows of sketches, thumbtacks and sticky notes pinned to the gallery walls of the Moody Center for the Arts during the Sept. 6 opening of “Do Ho Suh: In Process.” The exhibition emulates the studio of worldrenowned artist Do Ho Suh, featuring major works by the South Korean-born and London-based artist in an unprecedented presentation of Suh’s practice that emphasizes his methodology and process.
Alison Weaver, executive director of the Moody Center and the curator of “In Process,” described Suh’s vision as an intimate display of his creative method.
“It feels a bit as if [Suh] has invited all of us to visit his studio,” Weaver said. “I feel very honored that he trusted us here at Rice to share these very personal materials and make them available to the public.”
Gesturing towards “The Bridge Project” — Suh’s multi-decade work that imagines a physical bridge between his past and present homes in Seoul, New York and London — Weaver identified Suh’s artistic signature as an approach of ongoing inquiry.
“[Suh’s works] are iterative, they’re creative, and it takes a certain durational quality to continue to engage with them,” Weaver said. “I keep calling it ‘speculative
Rice issues restrictions on campus protests, poster displays
SARAH KNOWLTON NEWS EDITOR
Rice policy now allows all faculty and staff to remove posters and restricts the permitted times and locations for public demonstrations. The changes went into effect Aug. 30, according to an announcement from Kelly Fox, executive vice president for operations, finance and support.
research,’ because he has an idea or hypothesis which is fantastical, but then he works hard to make it real.”
Years after Suh began “The Bridge Project” in 1999, he collaborated with Rice engineering students to bring new life to the project.
Kalil Erazo, an assistant teaching professor of civil and environmental engineering, described the capstone project in which Suh collaborated with Rice engineering students to envision architecturally viable bridges.
“Initially it was quite challenging trying to understand the vision of the artist, particularly coming from an engineering background,” Erazo said. “But then …
combining [Suh’s] expertise with the work of the engineering team resulted in an incredible multidisciplinary collaboration where we all learned from one another.” Weaver and Suh sought to capture the significance of this collaborative process for Suh’s work.
“When it came time to present the work, instead of … just pulling completed works out of the closet, we thought it would be interesting to … share what [Suh] goes through as he’s innovating and thinking about visually representing these ideas,” Weaver said.
Other universities are enacting similar policies as campuses brace for students’ return, just months after protests about the war in Gaza swept the nation — including Rice, where students erected a two-day “liberated zone.” In June, administrators at the University of Pennsylvania banned encampments. In July, Harvard University was reportedly in talks to also ban overnight camping, as well as chalking and unapproved signage.
Critics across the country have decried universities’ new policies, claiming they violate free speech rights. Rice’s new chapter of Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, released its first public statement denouncing the changes to both policies.
If Rice is following other universities’ efforts nationally to silence students, staff and faculty seeking to end the genocide in Palestine, then we must remonstrate these new policies.
Sept. 7 statement posted to SJP’s Instagram
“The new policies impose limits on speech and assembly, consequently discouraging and foreclosing political and ethical expression,” the statement, posted to Instagram Aug. 31, reads. “If Rice is following other universities’ efforts nationally to silence students, staff and faculty seeking to end the genocide in Palestine, then we must remonstrate these new policies.”
Policy 820, which regulates campus demonstrations and protests, now states that events may only take place between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. and can last no longer than eight hours per day. Multi-day demonstrations are restricted to three days. Prior versions of the policy stated that potential demonstrations must be submitted for approval at least 48 hours prior to the event, but has no specific limits regarding time or place.
The majority of new changes to Policy 820, including rules on use of amplified sound and guidelines on how to report policy violations, are intended to codify “existing standards” that Rice had previously implemented on a case-by-case basis, according to Fox.
Policy 856, which regulates posters and signage around campus, has also been changed to state that any Rice employee is now authorized to remove posters that violate rules on placement and formatting. Employees are not allowed to remove posters based on content. The guidelines previously stated that posters could only be removed by the school of study in which the poster is placed or the staff of that building.
When asked by the Thresher why it was necessary to authorize more employees to remove posters, Fox stated that the
HANNAH SON
ANDERSEN PICKARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
RICHARD LI / THRESHER
Owls and Tigers collide during
Sept. 7 football game. Rice won 69-7, their largest victory margin in over a century.
FROM FRONT PAGE POSTERS
changes are “an example of clarifying and simplifying the [existing] policy.”
Policy 856 was first issued Feb. 27 to standardize the university’s “loosely established” poster rules, restricting poster displays to only bulletin boards and designated spaces like select college commons. At the time, Fox told the Thresher that administrators were working on additional guidelines to regulate campus signage in shared spaces.
Matti Haacke, a representative for Rice Students for Justice in Palestine, said that the organization considers the regulations to be overly restrictive.
“These policies completely strip any semblance of a right to protest on campus, giving administration complete control by allowing disciplinary action to be deployed on anyone who publicly expressed their views if so desired,” Haacke, a Sid Richardson College senior, wrote in a message to the Thresher. “This constraint is one of the most strict across universities as many have tried to rework their similar policies.
trying to scare us, but we are not scared. We will not let this stop us. We will continue to fight, until all our demands are met.”
Fox said that the new policy changes, designed with input from faculty leaders over the summer, will not infringe on students’ freedom of expression.
“We believe the [approval] process will become more transparent, and that personal expression should and will continue to occur, which is vital for the critical dialogues on a campus,” Fox wrote.
They are trying to scare us, but we are not scared. We will not let this stop us. We will
continue to fight, until all our demands are met.
Matti Haacke SJP REPRESENTATIVE
Other Policy 820 changes stipulate that demonstrations may take place in a university-approved location, which the policy states will most likely be the central quad, Ray Courtyard, the Hindman Garden adjacent to the RMC and the corner of the academic quad to which the Founder’s Memorial has been relocated.
The policy also allows the use of amplified sound from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. unless the sound is deemed to be disrupting university activities or in violation of the City of Houston’s regulations on noise level. The city ordinance may be enforced by RUPD, as well as by city officials.
a Demonstration that violates its Approval Notice or this policy,” the policy reads. “Moreover, Eligible Persons or Responsible Persons who hold or participate in an unapproved Demonstration, or participate in violating its Approval Notice, may be subject to disciplinary action and be held liable for any damages.”
As for Policy 856, new rules now outline a process for filing complaints about posters violating either the postering policy or “Rice’s nondiscrimination guidelines.”
“We were made aware of some issues with individuals filing complaints about posters. The primary concerns were about placement and content,” Fox wrote. “There were some posters that did not contain the identifying information necessary to update the individual or group that the poster was removed.”
Fox said both policies’ changes were prompted by feedback from community members expressing confusion over the policy’s preexisting guidelines.
“These new policies are so clearly targeted against pro-Palestinian advocacy,” Haacke continued. “They are
“The University may immediately terminate any unauthorized event, including an unapproved Demonstration or
“Over the spring semester, we heard from many in our community that parts of these policies were not clear and this led to misunderstanding by both those engaging in relevant activities and those observing what was allowed,” Fox wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Our policies were not clear, resulting in confusion and questions.”
Rice makes major changes to degree programs
An environmental engineering major and Asian language concentration within the Asian studies major are now offered at Rice. Additionally, the operations research B.A. will convert to a B.S. and the social policy analysis major is now housed within the political science department. These majors are available for declaration this academic year.
Sonia Ryang, director of undergraduate studies for the department of transnational Asian studies, said that the Asian studies major concentration in Asian languages was created to accommodate students who took a variety of Asian language classes.
The preexisting Asian studies degree plan counted only four Asian language classes towards the major, which often prevented students already majoring in other subjects from earning a degree in Asian studies.
“Oftentimes, STEM majors still want to take language [classes], but there was no mechanism to give these students any credentials,” Ryang said. “For example, in your transcript, it will show that you’ve taken five Japanese language classes, but you aren’t going to graduate with any major or diploma [in Asian Studies].”
Students concentrating in Asian languages may take classes in a maximum of two different languages and must take between four and seven courses in each language. The only core requirement
for the B.A. is ASIA 295: Introduction to Transnational Asian Studies.
“We wanted to create an environment where anybody feels that they can pursue Asian languages on the college level,” Ryang said.
The operations research major has also converted its original B.A. in operations research into a B.S., along with adding a new B.A. with fewer required computer science courses and a new minor in operations research.
According to the Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research website, the B.S. in OR is recommended for those considering graduate school, while the B.A. in OR prepares students who want to work in industry directly after graduation.
Gavin Daves, an OR major pursuing the new B.S., said that the change could mean an influx of interest in the tight-knit department.
“I feel like it’s going to bring in even more majors, because beforehand, people that didn’t want to take these classes that were more [graduate school]-based, and they would rather have that industry knowledge and go straight into the workplace,” Daves, a Duncan College junior, said. “So ultimately, I think it’s gonna be good for the department.”
classes aren’t changing. The major requirements [aren’t] changing. It was just a back-end change.”
The change was intended to to give SOPA more resources for administrative support and more funding opportunities, according to Joseph Cozza, the major advisor for political science.
“Now [students] have access to some resources and funding opportunities that are available through the department of political science, particularly research and travel funding opportunities, research assistantships,” Cozza said.
The department now has two major advisors: Cozza for political science, and Perry for SOPA, so that students pursuing either branch can gain more personalized advice.
“Through SOPA has moved into the political science department, administratively, it remains interdisciplinary in character, so there will still be course offerings in other departments that will count towards and apply towards the SOPA majors,” Cozza said.
Oftentimes, STEM majors still want to take language [classes], but there was no mechanism to give these students any credentials.
Sonia Ryang UNDERGRADUATE ASIAN STUDIES DIRECTOR
The department of civil and environmental engineering has also expanded its previously graduateonly environmental engineering program to include an undergraduate major.
The department for political science has also expanded to incorporate the social policy analysis major. However, this is mainly an administrative change, according to Steven Perry, the major advisor for SOPA.
“In terms of the student-facing side, nothing is changing,” Perry said. “The
The new major is directed at students who want to solve environmental problems from an engineering perspective, Kalil Erazo, an assistant teaching professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering, said.
This article has been cut for print. Read it online at ricethresher.org.
OWEN BUTTONS / THRESHER Posters can be hung in designated areas, like select college commons.
HONGTAO HU THRESHER STAFF
VIVIAN LANG / THRESHER
Sarofim Hall construction to begin
with the Thresher.
Sarofim Hall, the new home of Rice’s art department, is set to be completed next summer, according to university architect George Ristow. Construction of the building enclosure will begin soon, and construction teams are currently laying structural steel, said Ristow.
John Sparagana, chair of the art department, said that construction is still on schedule.
“I think they’re ahead [with getting] permits for the city, which can delay things,”
Canning said that she recently did a walkthrough of the site and that she’s looking forward to art students having a centralized space to conduct their studies.
Its presence will enrich our campus by providing a dynamic, state-of-theart space where creativity thrives and where students, faculty and the broader community can engage with the transformative power of the arts.
Reggie DesRoches RICE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
Sparagana said in an interview to the Thresher. “We did a walk through with the Dean of Humanities [Kathleen Canning] and the development director a couple of days ago, and it’s phenomenal to actually see it becoming a physical reality.”
According to Miles Nelligan, the project director from the building’s architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, talking with the art departments’ faculty about the building and its features – including a large outdoor porch for students to work – has benefitted to the process.
“The faculty have been amazing, very supportive, and it’s been great to talk intensively about what they need and how it can produce an amazing space,” Nelligan said in an interview
“I am looking forward to the invitation the building will extend to our students to experience the arts and engage in art-making in an exciting new space,” Canning wrote in an email to the Thresher. “The Sarofim building will be a work palace for the art students and faculty that will foster new collaborations that have not been possible across two different buildings for the various forms of art teaching.”
According to President Reggie DesRoches, the construction of Sarofim Hall shows Rice’s commitment to the arts and culture at Rice.
“Sarofim Hall is a critical piece of the vibrant arts corridor on the west side of campus,” DesRoches wrote.
“Its presence will enrich our campus by providing a dynamic, state-ofthe-art space where creativity thrives and where students, faculty and the broader community can engage with the transformative power of the arts. This building is a testament to our dedication to fostering an environment where artistic expression and cultural exploration are celebrated and elevated.”
Mixed reviews for Martel’s Texas Party
BELINDA ZHU ASST.
Martel College hosted the first public of the year, Don’t Mess with Texas, Sept. 7. Tickets were separated into quad and sundeck locations, with sundeck tickets distributed based on first-comefirst-serve priority of Google Forms submissions.
Martel Chief Justice Nathan Calzat said the ticketing system was the same as in prior years.
“To my knowledge, tickets for the quad and sundeck were always separated,” Calzat, a Martel junior, said. “It makes things easier with different capacities on the sundeck and quad so that way it’s easier to keep track of who is supposed to be where.”
Calzat said that he didn’t feel that there were more restrictions imposed than in the past, despite increased regulations from the Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee after Night of Decadence last fall.
“I wouldn’t say there were restrictions,” Calzat said. “We decided to remove the beer garden to keep things simple, and we didn’t think it would be missed. I didn’t hear anybody complain about it, so I don’t think it was. But other than that, it was pretty straightforward and a lot like previous years.“
Josh Stallings, a Duncan College junior, stated the party felt emptier than usual.
“There were definitely people showing up,
more than Sundeck, so both areas felt pretty empty,” Stallings wrote in a message to the Thresher. “I liked that they tried to set up games in the quad as an activity [or] olive-branch since I know the socials wouldn’t have split the party unless they were told to do so.”
Han Xu, a Martel sophomore, felt that the party was less enjoyable than last year.
“It was the worst party ever,” Xu said. “It was worse than last year because they released much fewer tickets. It was also organized in a way that separates people from the quad and the sundeck. ”
Calzat said that although there was greater RUPD presence, it didn’t change the party much.
“We had 14 officers at [the] Texas party while there were only eight at the morning party,” Calzat said. “In the grand scheme of things, that didn’t restrict us at all, and we just had more officers there to help us out with what we needed. They weren’t overbearing and just stayed back.”
Stallings said publics have changed post-NOD.
“[The party] was definitely objectively worse than last year’s and the one before that,” Stallings said. “It’s unfortunate to see how publics have to be accommodated in a post-NOD setting now, since admin is limiting capacity more, and everyone is, in general, much more wary about medical emergencies happening ... I volunteered both this year and last, and can say for sure the attendance this year was less and so was the overall excitement for
Funding for Blanket Tax organizations — including student media organizations, the Rice Program Council and University Court — may be delayed until the Student Association resolves its debate over budget allocations.
The validity of the current SA budget was questioned on Sept. 9 at the first Senate meeting of the school year due to the SA’s handling of last year’s 2024 constitution. UCourt ruled the passage of a constitutional amendment unconstitutional due to a
misrepresentation on the ballot, forcing SA to revert to the previous 2023 constitution.
Last spring, the SA rejected the Blanket Tax Committee’s proposed budget under the 2024 constitution. A few weeks later, UCourt ruled that SA must revert back to the 2023 constitution. Under the 2023 constitution, proposed blanket tax allocations do not require a senate vote to pass.
The blanket tax is a charge of $84 from each student’s tuition at the beginning of the academic year. Organizations that provide services to a majority of the Rice population receive funding from the blanket tax money.
During the Senate meeting, SA president
Jae Kim said that while the blanket tax amounts for each organization were properly voted on in the spring, it was created under a constitution that has now been overturned.
However, under the 2023 constitution, the fall 2024 budgeting and funding allocations should have passed last spring.
“We cannot be discussing it in the fall,” Kim said during the SA meeting. “It’s a little more complicated than that.”
“For clubs to operate functionally, there will be money that will be transferred into the blanket tax organizations,” Thomas Ngo, SA treasurer, said during the senate meeting.
“[The spring 2024] amount will be the case
for now but for any further disputes … there are still things in the constitution and on the bylaws that will need further work.”
In an unofficial straw poll, members of the SA unanimously voted to create a new budget this semester. Heather-Reneé Gooch, the associate director of student engagement, said that blanket tax-funded organizations will not receive their allocated portion while the budget is being created.
“These blanket tax [organizations] will not receive funding until we receive further guidance,” Gooch said during the Senate meeting. “This is uncharted territory for all of us.”
VIOLA HSIA ASST. NEWS EDITOR
COURTESY EMILY STEIN
Dean Kathleen Canning takes a tour of the construction site.
BRIAN MENDOZA / THRESHER
Future of boycott resolution unclear, two discrimination complaints resolved
JAMES CANCELARICH ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Rice’s anti-discrimination office has concluded that the Student Association’s proposed boycott and divestment resolution did not violate their policies. It is unclear whether S.RES 02 will be reintroduced at the SA this semester.
Any further action on the resolution could result in subsequent investigations into the resolution, said SA president Jae Kim.
“If we were to vote on it and pass it, that is another actionable thing that the Senate has done that could be subject to its own discrimination investigation,” Kim said. “There’s no clear path … I haven’t talked with the authors of S.RES 02, but it’s not up to us just to bring it back, and I’m not sure what they want to do with that.”
The authors of S.RES 02 did not respond to a request to comment.
S.RES 02 would have implemented an “ethical spending advisory board” to track blanket tax spending and adherence to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement. In response to its introduction, a student filed a discrimination complaint March 27. As Office of Access, Equity, and Equal Opportunity director Richard Baker investigated the complaint, he ordered the authors of S.RES 02 to halt further discussion.
A second discrimination complaint also has been resolved, this one filed against Matti Haacke, an organizer with Rice Students for Justice in Palestine. The AEEO did not find Haacke or SJP to be in violation of anti-discrimination policies. According to Haacke, the complaint involved posters and chants used by SJP at campus demonstrations and protests. Haacke believes that the reports were politically
motivated, he said.
“There’s specific individuals who are trying to weaponize these complaints against SJP,” Haacke said.
Chris Stipes, Rice’s executive director of news and media relations, stated that the university does not publicly comment on specific investigations, especially regarding students.
“In all situations, our nondiscrimination office strives to be responsive, fair and thorough when it reviews allegations brought to its attention,” Stipes wrote in an email to the Thresher. “We encourage anyone who believes they or others have experienced discrimination or misconduct to contact the Office of Access, Equity, and Equal Opportunity.”
One more internal investigation into SJP is still ongoing in response to a complaint filed through the AEEO on July 2, according to Haacke.
Haacke said that the current complaint against SJP echoes the same claims as the previous complaint
was resolved. The nature of the complaint and the specifics of the allegations are unclear.
Richard Baker, director of the AEEO, declined to comment.
Haacke alleges that both of the nowresolved complaint investigations were drawn out excessively as a point of leverage against SJP.
“The apparatus of the institution was trying to find a reason and drag out these complaints and … they were unable to do so, and ultimately found no evidence, because these allegations are, at a basis, frivolous,” Haacke
With the university completing its investigation, that’s great. That’s what they’re supposed to do. However, the actions of the university still require investigation … [into] why they were chilling speech of any kind.
Christina Jump
In response to the tabling of S.RES 02, Rice SJP said it partnered with the Muslim Legal Fund of America to file a Title VI discrimination complaint against the university.
“The complaint is on behalf of Muslim and Jewish students of Rice who were prohibited from voting on the BDS resolution due to discriminatory and targeted suppression,” Rice SJP wrote in a Sept. 4 Instagram post.
MLFA CIVIL LITIGATION DEPARTMENT HEAD
“With the university completing its investigation, that’s great. That’s what they’re supposed to do,” said Christina Jump, MLFA’s civil litigation department head. “However, the actions of the university still require investigation … [and] why they were chilling speech of any kind.”
SJP also recently hosted a “People’s [Orientation]-Week,” which Haacke said was meant to introduce new students to campus activism and the Palestinian liberation movement. As part of the event, SJP returned to the previous “liberated zone” and declared it “Refaat Alareer Square,” named after the Palestinian poet and scholar who was killed in Gaza last year. Haacke said that he hopes the space will become a place for community and connection.
“We’re not going to let some complaints harness our protest, harness our advocacy,” Haacke said.
PRAYAG GORDY / THRESHER Students attend an SJP protest in spring 2024.
New demonstration and poster policies seem
targeted, lack student input
Rice recently updated its policies on campus demonstration and postering — changes include new restrictions on campus protests and increased vigilance about signage, to name a few. Students need to be informed about these changes. We worry they weren’t.
The administration emailed staff and faculty Aug. 30, informing them of these changes. It’s been 10 days. Students have yet to receive any notice. In the email obtained by the Thresher, the university said the changes were made in the name of clarity. But neglecting to notify students, those who primarily organize demonstrations and hang up posters, is anything but clear.
At best, it seems like an oversight. At worst, it seems like Rice is trying to catch students in a “gotcha” moment.
We know these changes follow a wave of tension, at Rice and nationally, as students protested the war in Gaza.
Though we agree with codifying existing campus policies, we believe free speech is more necessary than ever. We’re a newspaper — of course we do.
The campus protest policies seem
LETTER FROM THE OPINION EDITOR’S DESK
overly targeted toward long, multi-day demonstrations — much like Rice Students for Justice in Palestine’s “liberated zone” we saw last spring, or any of the many encampments at universities nationwide. However, Rice SJP has consistently met and communicated with administration in advance of their demonstrations, which the Thresher has independently verified. Unlike other campuses, Rice’s protests never seemed too volatile, nor have they resulted in police sweeps or arrests.
Why punish the students who are willing to cooperate with you? It seems like an odd choice for a university that routinely touts its “culture of care.”
to make these judgment calls. If not, they should be — or Rice should revert to an old version of the policy, in which only staff could remove noncompliant posters.
Posters and signage are a form of student expression. Students should know who’s monitoring them.
Posters and signage are a form of student expression. Students should know who’s monitoring them.
Also concerning is the new poster policy, which now allows any Rice employee to remove posters that don’t comply with the rules. We wonder if all employees receive training about Policy 856 and know how
The lack of transparency here sets a poor precedent. We hope the university can remedy that by communicating with the student body more often, being honest about policy changes and consulting with the people most impacted. Students are willing to communicate. Administration should extend that same courtesy back.
Editor’s Note: News Editor Sarah Knowlton was recused from this editorial due to her corresponding reporting in the news section. Arts & Entertainment Editor Arman Saxena was recused due to his involvement with Rice SJP.
Voicing your opinions is important more than ever
Monday, Aug. 26 is a day that I’ll still remember, whether I want to or not.
The shock I felt as I saw the shelter-inplace order ring on my phone. How my heart raced as a friend and I sought safety in a stranger’s suite at Brown College. How my voice shook as I picked up phone call after phone call from friends, family and colleagues.
Aug. 26 was a day that none of us expected — when the fabric of this university and my college was torn apart by tragedy.
Just this past week, at the celebration of life for Andrea Rodriguez Avila in the Rice Memorial Center, I saw people from all across campus talking, communicating, creating with each other wonderful works of prose, string, tile and paint.
We want to hear what you have to say. There are many spaces on campus to connect, to share, to listen. These pages are one of them.
Sammy Baek OPINION EDITOR
Yet it was also a day when Rice students made the decision to mend that fabric — as we hugged each other, went on long walks with each other, held hands with each other, and listened to each other.
CORRECTIONS
It’s especially on a dark day like that Monday that we can begin to process — by listening to each other and what we have to say. We want to hear what you have to say. There are many spaces on campus to connect, to share, to listen. These pages are one of them.
In my first opinion article for the Thresher reflecting on the shooting at Michigan State University, I said that “to create … to mold what lies around us into that which we
desire…is our charge, our debt.”
Those are words I still stand by today — words I intend to implement on this page by raising your voices to the forefront. It’s by sharing what we have to say with each other that we can enrich life on our campus, attend to important issues, and most importantly honor the lives of those who are no longer with us.
As I enter my second year as opinions editor, my goal is to foster your thoughts and spotlight the many conversations held on this campus.
At the end of the day, it’s your voices that matter and that I will strive to uphold. Our door will always be open.
Sammy Baek OPINION EDITOR
In “New FSJP chapter emerges on campus,” the author is James Cancelarich, not Viola Hsia.
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Operations research boom reaches Rice
Students outside the engineering department and those especially averse to fulfilling their Group III distribution requirements may be unaware of the growing presence of operations research –or even what it is.
Rice Engineering launched new degree offerings in Operations Research (OR), a branch of applied mathematics, this semester. This addition has been foreshadowed since July 2022, when the department changed its name from the Department of Computational and Applied Mathematics to Computational Applied Mathematics and Operations Research.
The B.A. in OR under the then-CAAM department became a B.S. degree with the same graduation requirements.
Later, a replacement B.A. was introduced alongside a new OR minor, to be available for students beginning this semester.
Andrew Schaefer, a professor of operations research, defines the field of operations research “as mathematical and rigorous approaches to complex decision making,” though he stressed that was a simplification.
“This is just the fourth year that we’ve had a major called operations research, but there’s always been a few classes or an aspect of it within engineering ... Rice pioneered a lot of the methods and software in particular over the years, but, for whatever reason, it hasn’t happened [until now],” Schaefer, a ‘94 Rice graduate in Computational and Applied Mathematics said.
Information provided by Schaefer showed that students studying OR are in high demand; the Bureau of Labor
Heart Eyes
Statistics forecasts a 23% growth in demand for such majors from 2021-31. To put the market for these graduates into context, the projected growth in electrical engineering and mechanical engineering jobs ranges from 2-4% over the same time period. In May 2023, CBS News reported that the major with the highest salary four years after graduating is Operations Research, with salaries that are nearly twice those of business majors.
However, students are drawn to the field for more than the financial or career
opportunities. Daniel Suarez, a Martel College senior working on a B.S. in OR said he found the field interesting because of its applications and unique problemsolving features.
“When someone tells you it’s a 300-level applied math class, you don’t think [Introduction to Operations Research is] going to be fun, but it was,” Suarez said. “A professor gives you a problem with words, and you have to find a way to translate that word problem into a mathematical equation. And that just clicked with me.”
Suarez is also involved in DecisionLab, an opportunity for students in OR to apply their studies to problems around Rice.
“Last semester, we had around 30 students matched into five teams,” Suarez wrote in an email to the Thresher. “The projects were an advanced software to schedule meetings, roommate matching, a travel itinerary optimizer, exam scheduling and Knotmates (an app that matches people with similar interests on campus).”
Even for those who aren’t studying operations research as a main focus, the field has someone to offer for everyone. Snikitha Kassey, a Martel College sophomore who recently declared the OR major, said that the expansion of the degree offerings only diversified the kinds and numbers of students drawn to the course.
“They made a B.A. for OR, [and] that’s actually why I even considered it,” Kassey said. “It was just so much more reasonable for me to do it now. This degree itself is just so, so diverse. And you can get into it through anything … I think you should definitely give it a shot before you decide that it can’t help you.”
The value of this training lies not only in its practical applications to careers, but in its examination of ethics and life improvement within companies and organizations, according to Schaefer.
“Historically, [OR] has been maximizing profit, subject to a whole bunch of complicated restrictions, but in the last couple decades, we’ve been trying to maximize life expectancy, quality of life, fairness,” Schaefer said. “I think that those are things that really appeal to Rice students — and being able to see just how versatile and interesting the models are.”
ACROSS DOWN
Renee
song title, when doubled
Santa checks it twice
Fashion magazine
Yesterday, in Spain
Boston basketball team
Walking stick
Nevada neighbor
Former United Kingdom
Prime Minister
Johnson
Dodge Pitcher Ryan
The People’s Princess
Dressed like a judge
Multiplied by
Public persona
Reef component
Fantastical stories
Baggage-claim structure
Coronavirus variant
Put to sleep
Cleveland’s state
Iron and bronze
Guitar basics
Machu Picchu empire
Basketball target
Sunburn soother
Taxi money
Fibs
Spanish model Sastre
March Madness org.
Obtains
Charlie’s best friend, in “Heartstopper”
AVA MCCLUNG CROSSWORD EDITOR
GUILLIAN PAGUILA / THRESHER
AMELIA DAVIS THRESHER STAFF
Bird is the word: Avian advocates urge awareness
THOMAS PICKELL FOR THE THRESHER
Rice students’ lives are intertwined with avian life, from our mascot Sammy the Owl to the many birds that inhabit our thousands of trees. Recently, a group of students and faculty have raised concerns about the safety of birds at Rices and the unintended dangers campus architecture may pose.
“It is estimated that in North America, over the last few decades, the overall bird population has crashed by 4 billion birds,” Rafael Marcondes said. “Birds often fly into windows, which often kills them. They don’t perceive the glass so they fly into the windows.”
Marcondes, an evolutionary ornithologist and biologist at Rice, is the faculty sponsor of Rice’s effort to save the birds. The group’s plan is to assemble a database to demonstrate the imminent dangers of certain architectural choices to Rice’s bird population, so they can address them.
Marcondes explained that Rice’s location leads it to have notably high avian traffic.
“They have just flown over the gulf, they’re starving, they need to rest and re-fuel. That’s the reason Houston is a migration hotspot,” Marcondes said.
Bird traffic has been a chronic problem for Rice. According to the January 10, 1980 issue of the Thresher, the administration tried “tree trimming, defoliation, chimes, cannon, ultrasound, starter pistols – even helicopters and giant tree nets” over the prior decade with limited success.
Efforts to control a high bird population and the ensuing deaths have also varied.
The February 6, 1975 issue of the Thresher explains a concentrated bird tagging effort by researchers Bruce McDonald and Phillip Samuels.
Their colleague, Keith Arnold, an ornithologist from Texas A&M University, stood on the roof of Brown College and
tracked around 700,000 birds entering campus throughout the migration season. In their parallel project, McDonald and Samuels trapped birds in decoy traps next to the Rice Memorial Center in order to track and label them.
Today, the focus has shifted from limiting the presence of birds or tracking them to finding solutions to dangers to campus birds.
“Each morning [of migration season], one volunteer walks around the building[s], carefully looking for birds. We do that because … most collisions occur overnight or in the morning,” Marcondes said. “The solution to this problem is very simple. All you have to do is apply a film to the window with dots
Birds often fly into windows, which often kills them. They don’t perceive the glass so they fly into the windows.
Rafael Marcondes EVOLUTIONARY ORNITHOLOGIST & BIOLOGIST
on it, because it breaks the reflection and the birds can perceive that the glass is a solid surface.”
In doing these surveys, they have noticed hotspots for fallen birds, including Sid Richardson College and the O’Connor Engineering and Sciences building.
“There was one or two weeks in September where I was just [getting messages daily] like, ‘Hey, you need to go to O’Connor because there’s a dead bird,’” Kayla Yao, a Duncan College junior, said.
The project has given its members an active role in protecting their planet, Yao said.
“I’ve always really liked learning about birds and animals … there weren’t a lot of
ornithology opportunities [at home] … a lot of it isn’t really accessible,” Yao said. “Freshman year I found out [Marcondes] had a position open. I just emailed him, and that was how we started.”
Though the work can be tedious at times, Yao said she motivates herself through the vital nature of their work.
“I think I push myself a bit, it’s a lot of early morning wakeups … it takes quite a while to get to [a reported bird], bring it back to the lab and process it,” Yao said. “But one thing I really [think] is important, is that if we don’t do this research, nobody will, and it’s only gonna get worse from here.”
In addition to environmental concerns, Yao also said that bird fatalities could prove dangerous to students.
“This is also a kind of public health issue,” Yao said. “Birds are carriers of disease … Nobody should be picking up dead animals.”
Marcondes stressed the importance of awareness and public participation in their database, urging everyone on campus to contribute.
“If [readers] find a dead bird on campus, do not touch it, do not move it, let us know exactly where it is with a photo,” Marcondes said. “That helps us … the most important part [of our research] right now is the raw data,” said Marcondes. “About 75 percent [of all data] is recorded from the public.”
“It’s a small problem that we can address on our campus … we can do something about it right now,” said Marcondes. “It’s going to have a small effect, but it’s going to be a positive effect on the conservation of our biodiversity.”
In addition to their database, the researchers are working through administrative channels to implement changes to campus facilities.
Florence Tang, the senior project manager of facilities and capital planning and liaison for the Office of Sustainability and Housing & Dining, acts as liaison between the
researchers and Rice’s administration. They said they hope to persuade those in charge to heed their findings and make necessary architectural changes.
“By utilizing bird-friendly glass and bird-friendly window films, we can help to minimize the collisions and help to conserve bird populations,” Tang said.
Along with sustainability program coordinator Kristianna Bowles, Tang is also working to incorporate bird-safe practices into student life.
“People can make a difference by adopting bird-friendly practices in their daily lives,” Bowles said. “For example, keeping cats indoors, planting native vegetation for bird habitat and reducing light pollution during migration seasons are all impactful steps.”
Shruti Patankar contributed reporting to this article.
MARCONDES’ WEBSITE
Applying dots to a window may prevent bird collisions, according to biologist Rafael Marcondes.
Review: ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ doesn’t quite resurrect the dead
feels too distracted by its own plotting and various characters to fully dive into its new visual accomplishments.
‘Alligator Bites Never Heal’ marks Doechii as the new queen of hip-hop
The self-proclaimed “new hip-hop Madonna” returns with a sonically diverse and beautiful mixtape; unfortunately, while she proves her talent, her path toward stardom remains unclear. Jaylah Ji’mya Hickmon, or Doechii, has been on the radar of hiphop critics since she joined Top Dawg Entertainment in 2021, thanks to her endless potential as a rapper. Oldheads have drawn comparisons to Missy Elliott, while younger fans see shades of Kendrick Lamar and SZA — her talent and versatility are undeniable. But what remains uncertain is her direction: Will she continue down the path of a TikTok hit-maker, or is she poised to leave behind a lasting hip-hop legacy? Her latest mixtape, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” brimming with introspective and radio-ready tracks, explores her identity as she grapples with her place in the industry.
most fascinating tracks on the project. This kind of innovation shows why Doechii is beloved by oldheads — she pushes hip-hop forward without losing its core.
On the self-assured track “PROFIT,” Doechii reflects on her success, weaving vulnerability with a newfound power. She acknowledges the struggles she faced early on, but now, with “six figures” and a firm grasp on her worth, she declares her loyalty to the “motherfuckin’ profit.” The track underscores her acceptance of fame’s commercial pressures, but not at the expense of her rebellious streak. Lines like “Fuck modest, fuck polished, fuck the politics” capture her defiant refusal to conform to industry standards. “NISSAN ALTIMA” takes that confidence to another level. Here, Doechii’s bravado is fully on display as she declares herself “the new hip-hop Madonna” and “the trap Grace Jones,” solidifying her ambition to become a fixture in the genre. Together, these tracks highlight her rise as a bold, boundary-pushing artist.
The legacy sequel has been a mainstay for Hollywood for almost 15 years (“Tron: Legacy,” anyone?), and it has proven to be a winning formula. Ever since the seventh “Star Wars” installment made a whopping $2 billion, every possible franchise has been resurrected from the dead to recapture profits.
Each new lega-sequel always inspires mixed emotions because of both the low-lows found within the subgenre (the “Indiana Jones” sequels) and the high-highs (the “Mad Max” sequels). But “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has a lot going for it that other lega-sequels do not.
Tim Burton, the director of the original “Beetlejuice” returns, giving the film the same creative engine that drove the original. Furthermore, the principal cast was almost entirely available — Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara are all back, reprising their iconic roles.
However, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” frequently felt unfocused, as the film bites off more than it can chew in an attempt to be a satisfying legacy sequel and an innovative horror picture.
This lack of focus is obvious when comparing “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” with the original film.
The ingenuity of the original “Beetlejuice” is how simple it is — two recently deceased ghosts want to get an obnoxious rich family out of their house and explore the surprisingly bureaucratic underworld to do so.
But “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is remarkably complex for a follow-up: the film follows Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) from the original, and explores her relationships with her estranged daughter, her deceased husband and her new fiancée. On top of that, the film also portrays Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) as a main character, conveying his relationship with his ghoulish ex-wife (Monica Bellucci). Each of these threads could be their own film in the same vein as the 1984 original, but instead, they are all woven together to a middling effect.
By attempting to balance so many different things, the film is forced to waste time on exposition instead of focusing on the film’s principal strength: its creativity.
The original “Beetlejuice” makes the basic premise an excuse to explore a visually inspired underworld, whereas “Beetlejuice
When the film is in the afterlife, it’s very fun — there are lots of great practical effects that feel refreshing against the CGI hellscape that dominates most other Hollywood films of the moment. But this part of the movie is fighting against the audience’s boredom created by the overstuffed and trope-y plot.
Ultimately, though, this conflict is not damning for the film, as Michael Keaton is as exhilarating as ever in the role of the sorta-titular Betelgeuse. His Looney-Tunes delivery and mannerisms make him a welcome presence on screen in the face of a rather lackluster plot, and his presence is what will likely win over much of the film’s audience. A beat hasn’t been missed since 1984, which is refreshing in a subgenre that often completely fails to recapture the original appeals of the revitalized IP.
But at the same time, Betelgeuse’s presence is another manifestation of the film’s overcrowded nature. The original “Beetlejuice” knows precisely when to use him for comic relief, whereas this film needs to make the character a complete co-star. Rather than starting small and expanding, the film feels the need for everything to be explained and everyone to be characterized. Keaton’s performance feels a lot less electrifying when it is constantly happening — once you get the idea, you are forced to look past the raw creativity and into the unoriginal plotting.
The philosophy that drives this overuse is also present in the other returning characters — Catherine O’Hara and Winona Ryder give good performances and feel like the original characters, but many of the subtle jabs from the original film have been replaced with absurdity, making these characters feel like parodies rather than continuations.
There’s enough shining through for me to half-recommend “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” — the creativity is delightful, the performances are good and it’s generally a fun time at the movies, something that cannot be said for many lega-sequels. But the film completely ignores the structure of the original in favor of something grander, which makes it feel distracted by tropes rather than ingenious. Thankfully, the film does not take itself seriously, which makes everything a lot more fun, but once you understand the film’s tricks, there isn’t all that much to take away.
The mixtape opens with “STANKA POOH,” a track that immediately immerses us in Doechii’s internal conflict and sets the tone for the entire project. Through vivid, personal storytelling, she wrestles with her desire to craft a lasting legacy, all while balancing the pressures of mainstream fame with the fear of becoming “just another Black Lives Mattered.” This duality underscores her quest for authenticity and direction in a music industry that often commodifies identity. Yet despite these tensions, Doechii’s lyrical sharpness and clever wordplay shine, showcasing her ability to create captivating, catchy songs that engage listeners.
As the album progresses, Doechii’s internal struggle deepens, leading to some of the mixtape’s most powerful moments. A standout track, “DENIAL IS A RIVER” displays her vulnerability and inventiveness as she uses beatboxing-like rhythms to represent her anxiety attacks. It’s a creative, rhythmic manifestation of her mental state, blending artistry and emotion in a way that feels both innovative and deeply personal. Even more impressive is her ability to embody two distinct characters in conversation, offering a window into her psyche through a playful yet reflective dialogue. The contrast between the grounded, rational voice and her spiraling thoughts adds complexity, making this one of the
Unfortunately, while Doechii’s talents and message are undeniable, the project fails to showcase her potential fully. Throughout the mixtape, there’s a sense that she’s holding back, as if she hasn’t yet fully tapped into the raw energy and innovation she hints at. While many of the beats in the project lean into a funky, experimental sound, she doesn’t always use them to her full advantage. Some tracks feel like filler rather than essential contributions to the overarching narrative. With 19 songs on the album, the experience can feel overextended, and the album would have benefited from a more concise and focused selection of tracks that could more clearly convey her message.
At times, this lack of focus diminishes the impact of her storytelling, leaving the listener wishing for more sharpness and cohesion. If the album had been condensed and honed in on her most powerful moments, it could have delivered a more resonant and memorable statement about who Doechii is as an artist and where she’s headed. Despite this, the mixtape still highlights her vast potential — leaving listeners excited for what she could achieve with more refined production and tighter artistic direction. I do not doubt that Doechii will cement her place in hip-hop in a few years, where she will reign as the Queen of her era.
Beetlejuice”
JAY COLLURA FILM COLUMNIST
CHARLIE CRUZ THRESHER STAFF
Top Track: ‘DENIAL IS A RIVER’
WARNER BROS.
The best (and worst) video games to play before midterm season
Ever sit through a boring lecture and wish you could be doing something that brings you immense joy and a rush of dopamine instead? The next time you find yourself in this scenario, try playing one of these video games that the gamers here at the Thresher have hand-picked. After hours of grueling research, Diet Mountain Dew and financial ruin, we have scientifically identified the optimal video games for you to waste away on as we approach Sept. 12, National Video Game Day. Also, we included horrible video games. Because, what if, actually, you don’t deserve that dopamine hit?
“Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree”
The expansion to FromSoftware’s critically and universally acclaimed “Elden Ring” was largely well-received. The DLC offers a significant amount of added content while maintaining a reasonable price tag ($40). The boss fights are challenging and will push gamers to their absolute mental limits. Although some may complain that Shadow of the Erdtree puts the “souls” into “souls-like” a little too hard, we have a straightforward refutation prepared — get good.
Hint: Promised Consort Radahn is weak to Holy Damage in his first phase.
“EA Sports College Football 25” Frat bros and middle-aged men unite — after 11 long years, college football video games are back. The latest EA Sports College Football has reinvigorated the college football fanbase by providing
amazing animation, an expanded playbook and a wide variety of game modes. Are the off-the-field related activities or team-building experience perfect? No, far from it. But is this what college football fans were looking for? It seems so.
Hint: Don’t try to fill the kicking power bar — the hit on directional accuracy is massive.
“Black Myth: Wukong”
Game of the Year material, hands down. A riveting story, combined with stellar visuals and challenging gameplay make “Black Myth: Wukong” one of the greatest action games in recent memory. Throughout your journey as a monkey warrior, be prepared to learn new strategies and use all the gameplay mechanics available to you. One thing is certain — you cannot spam click your way through this game, and you won’t want to. Time to go monkey mode. Hint: Some items found on the map can cancel out boss gimmicks entirely. Use a guide.
“Concord”
This game was on life support as soon as it left the birth canal. And then, two weeks later, the hospital blew up. But not in a cool, “The Dark Knight” type of way. More like, someone put metal in the microwave, and the kitchen fire got out of control. The gameplay is far inferior to most hero-shooter competitors in an already over-saturated market. This pile of steaming junk somehow took eight years to build. It’s like they hired the people building the academic quad. A developer out there already wasted $200
million on this game; don’t waste $40. Play Overwatch instead, or better yet, touch grass.
“Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League”
Have you ever been so disappointed in someone that you can’t even gather the energy to be mad? Personally, I waited a long time for another addition to Rocksteady’s Arkhamverse, and let me tell you, what an absolutely pathetic, pitiful and wretched excuse for a video game. The plot centers on killing the brainwashed Justice League as a bunch of ragtag criminals with guns. Yeah, too bad no one in Metropolis just thought of shooting Superman. Could have saved the city billions in property damage and insurance premiums. The plot, gameplay and mechanics all suck. Play tic-tac-toe instead; it’s probably more engaging.
“Roblox (Dress To Impress)”
Let’s make this clear: Here at the Thresher, we primarily hire based on ability to serve (and write, sort of). So we have a deep-seated appreciation and reverence for fashion. This absolute stinker of a game, however, makes a mockery of what it means to dress well. First of all, the fact that thumb-sucking, infantile seven-year-olds get to pass judgment on our choice of clothing is a joke. Half of all Rice students don’t have clothes for Associate’s Nights — why should we listen to you? Being hot is an art form, and the game’s limited options, unnecessary time pressure and inability to ignore other people’s opinions contribute to the defilement of that art.
Congratulations to the annual Greene Prize Winners!
The Greene Prize is awarded to undergraduate students for outstanding projects completed in Environmental Studies courses, and to a graduate student for an outstanding dissertation or publication. The prize is highly competitive and comes with financial prizes of $500 for undergraduate students and $1000 for the graduate student winners. The awardees are:
FROM FRONT PAGE DO HO SUH
The immersive display of “The Bridge Project” also included video installations detailing the bridge design process and stopmotion sets — rigged with cameras, lights and open laptops alongside the felted wool miniatures.
Moody Gallery guide Shem Brown explained how these set pieces were one part of the most recent addition to “The Bridge Project.”
“[The Moody Center] is actually copremiering the short film along with a gallery in Seoul, which is Suh’s hometown,” Brown, a Wiess College sophomore, said.
Weaver commented on how the short film embodies another mode of speculative play for Suh.
“He’s really building a sense of home, asking ‘what are all the factors that inform that?’ It’s food, it’s architecture, it’s meaningful objects,” Weaver said. “So we’re sharing all of those things [in the exhibit]. We’re sharing the diner where someone traveling across the bridge might find a lovely meal.”
Erazo voiced appreciation for the Moody Center, crediting Sabrina Talghader, Wanqi Yuan and Natalie Pellette, the Rice engineering alumni involved in “The Bridge Project”.
“Seeing the final product exhibited at the Moody was incredibly inspiring,” Erazo said. “I was very proud of our students when I saw the results of the project showcased together with the rest of [Suh’s] outstanding models.”
Throughout its run, “In Process” will invite further collaboration from the Houston community.
“Visitors will be invited to help create a piece called ‘Artland’ using non-toxic, air dry clay,” Brown said. “In all other contexts, [Suh’s] work is shown as finished products for museums, but here, he’s inviting us to be a close part of the process.
Moody Student Collaborative president Ashley Zhang hopes that the interactivity of “Artland,” the exhibition’s doodle wall for visitors to draw their own homes, and the student reception encourages Rice student activity around the Moody.
“What I love most about the Moody is its interdisciplinary focus,” Zhang, a McMurtry College sophomore, said. “Rice is known to be a very STEM-oriented school, however, engaging with art is important for cultivating a different set of skills and gaining a broader perspective on the world … I myself am a biosciences major, and yet I am able to still enjoy and make connections with the art on display at the Moody.”
The collaboration facilitated by the Moody exhibit also contributes to a global call-andresponse, from the concurrent exhibition in Seoul to Suh’s forthcoming retrospective at the art gallery Tate Modern in London.
Weaver said that Suh intentionally engages with notions of home and place through these exhibitions.
“That’s indicative of the way [Suh] thinks about the world, that things are happening in many places. We travel between the places, and we bring something with us that’s important from each of those,” Weaver said. “It’s a truly beautiful gesture of care and of intimacy, and paying attention to every detail.”
Ithzel Rubio and Wed Timraz for “What’s your BP(A)?: An Analysis of Polycarbonate Plastic Laws in the 21st Century” (Undergraduate)
Sharon Quinn for “Bayou-diversity at Risk Invasive
Species in Houston: An Examination of Invasive Plant Species” (Undergraduate)
Liufei Zhu for “Forest and City: An Investigation of the California Fire Regime from the 1850s to the 1900s” (Undergraduate)
Bryson Kisner for “The Bordering of Nation-States and the Dismantling of Indigenous Nations 1834–1839” (Graduate Student, History)
HAMZA SAEED THRESHER STAFF
NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER
FROM FRONT PAGE FOOTBALL
TSU went three-and-out on their next drive, and their ensuing punt was blocked by redshirt freshman defensive back AJ Stephens. Armed with favorable field position, the Owls drove down the field and once again added seven points, this time courtesy of a four-yard pass from junior quarterback E.J. Warner to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Braylen Walker.
Walker made an adjustment while facing heavy coverage in order to haul in the touchdown pass.
“We’re seeing the best we’ve ever had of Braylen in terms of his attention to detail and the game plan, but that kid’s got some unique ability and we’ve got to continue to use it,” Bloomgren said while also crediting Warner for placing the football into a small window.
Rice forced another TSU punt and, within one play, struck for a 34-yard touchdown pass from Warner to graduate wide receiver Matt Sykes. Less than one minute later, Flowers intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown. This was Rice’s first interception return touchdown since Sept. 10, 2022, against McNeese State University.
On the next drive, senior wide receiver Kobie Campbell set up Rice in scoring position with a 40-yard carry. Connors, lined up at fullback, bounced outside for a five-yard touchdown. The Owls tacked on three more points off the leg of Gota and went into halftime with a 38-0 lead.
Rice picked up right where it left off in the second half as Connors took the opening carry 71 yards for his third touchdown of the day. He finished with
nine carries for 113 yards on the ground and an additional four catches for 34 yards through the air.
Gota added a field goal on the next offensive drive, and the Owls got the ball back following an interception by redshirt junior safety Marcus Williams. With a 48-0 lead, Rice began pulling its starters to preserve their health and give valuable opportunities to some of the depth players.
Freshman quarterback Drew Devillier took over the offense from Warner and led three scoring drives while draining the clock. Rice and TSU also agreed to a shortened 12-minute fourth quarter.
Freshman running back Taji Atkins capitalized on his chances to touch the football, breaking free for 91 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Graduate running back Coleman Bennett added a rushing score of his own from 22 yards out.
It appeared Rice might pull off its first defensive shutout since a 20-0 win over #15 Marshall in 2020, but TSU moved down the field and found the end zone with 14 seconds remaining.
Despite the last-second blemish, Rice took pride in its biggest victory in over a century.
“You want the shutout, but at the end of the day, we won the game,” Flowers said.
Rice’s defense delivered four sacks and 11 tackles for loss in the win. Their offense converted 24 first downs compared to TSU’s nine. Most glaring of all was the total offense battle, with Rice tallying 533 yards to TSU’s 87.
Even after defeating TSU, the Owls won’t ignore some of the mistakes that
need to be addressed.
“That was by no means a flawless game,” Flowers said, emphasizing the Owls’ need to build on the positives from Saturday. “There’s stuff that we’re going to find when we watch the film that we need to correct.”
Now 1-1 on the year, the Owls will turn around and prepare for next Saturday’s Bayou Bucket at the University of Houston. Rice won last year’s crosstown showdown in thrilling fashion with a 4341 home victory in double overtime. The
EDITORIAL CARTOON
Owls haven’t won back-to-back matchups against Houston since 2000-01.
The Bayou Bucket series returns to TDECU Stadium with the Cougars still looking for their first victory of 2024 under new head coach Willie Fritz. The matchup kicks off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
“This is an opportunity for us to go out there and earn this Bayou Bucket for the second year in a row,” Bloomgren said. “That’s a big deal. I know this team is going to be excited for this next week. This is going to make us hungrier than ever.”
“Let him have his moment” HONG LIN TSAI / THRESHER
Racing toward innovation: Veloci Running takes off
ANA RIVERA THRESHER STAFF
Tyler Strothman’s passion for running began with a one-mile race in fifth grade. The event set the foundation for a lifelong connection to the sport; he hasn’t stopped running since. Rather than competition or personal records, a sense of camaraderie and connection led him to run at the Division I level, he said.
“It wasn’t just about winning,” Strothman, a Duncan College senior, said. “It was about feeling part of something bigger.”
As his love for running grew, so did his desire to combine it with entrepreneurship. Recognizing an opportunity to tackle common challenges faced by runners, Strothman, a sports management major, decided to launch his own company — Veloci Running.
Founding Veloci Running was a way for Strothman to stay connected to the
running community while addressing a personal issue he had encountered — persistent foot pain caused by narrow toe boxes in traditional running shoes.
“It got to the point where every step hurt, and I was close to giving up running altogether,” Strothman said.
Veloci began to take shape in December of last year, driven by Strothman’s desire to solve this problem for himself and other runners.
“I scoured the internet for a shoe that provided both comfort and performance but couldn’t find anything,” Strothman said. “That’s when I realized there was a real need for something new.”
Using his experience as both a runner and someone who had worked in running specialty stores, Strothman began sketching ideas for a shoe that addressed common pain points, particularly around toe box width and heel drop.
“I was shocked to hear that this type of shoe didn’t already exist,” said Garrett
French ’24, Strothman’s classmate and friend. “Tyler had been dealing with foot pain for years, and Veloci was the solution to his problem. He identified a gap and went through the entire design and manufacturing process to create something runners truly need.”
Strothman’s entrepreneurial spirit, on the other hand, traces back to his childhood love of building Legos.
“When I was a kid, I loved figuring out how small pieces fit together to create something significant,” Strothman said. “That same mindset carried over into Veloci Running.”
store owners.
“I’ve witnessed him at run clubs, giving his pitch many times,” French said. “He’s super welcoming, pulling people into conversations and making them smile. He gets everyone excited about the shoes.”
After months of pitching, Strothman secured partnerships with retailers at 15 different locations and began taking preorders for Veloci shoes about two months ago.
I scoured the internet for a shoe that provided both comfort and performance but couldn’t find anything. That’s when I realized there was a real need for something new.
Tyler Strothman FOUNDER OF VELOCI RUNNING
The creation of Veloci was a deliberate, step-by-step process, much like his approach to building as a child. However, building a business from scratch wasn’t easy, Strothman said. He had to juggle multiple roles — researcher, designer, marketer and salesperson — while refining his product.
“I spent months reaching out to stores, refining the design and figuring out how to get it manufactured,” Strothman said. “Every day was a grind, but it was worth it because I knew this shoe could really help people.”
Attending run clubs across Houston, Strothman formed meaningful connections with fellow runners, gathering insights that helped shape Veloci’s evolution. He then expanded his outreach, traveling across Texas and neighboring states to pitch his product to
“Getting that first store order was a significant milestone,” Strothman said. “It was a relief to know that people actually wanted the product I had worked so hard to create.”
Andrew Abikhaled ’22, a former Rice track and field captain, also witnessed Strothman’s entrepreneurial journey. He recalled hearing about Strothman’s entrepreneurial ambitions during their runs together.
“We’d go on runs, and [Strothman] would talk for an hour straight about this idea,” Abikhaled said. “He was frustrated after applying to internships at different shoe companies — Adidas, Brooks, Hoka — and getting turned down. Eventually, he decided, ‘I see a problem, and I’m going to solve it myself.”
As he continues to build his brand, Strothman said he remains committed to creating a brand deeply connected to the running community.
“Running gave me a sense of belonging,” Strothman said. “With Veloci, I want to give that feeling back to others.”
COURTESY TYLER STROTHMAN Strothman poses with two different colored Veloci shoes.
‘Perfect for Rice’: Former players remember baseball coach
KATHLEEN ORTIZ SPORTS EDITOR
During Wayne Graham’s very first team meeting in the spring of 1993, he told players that Rice was going to win a national baseball championship. Anyone who didn’t believe him should leave, he said.
Rice’s baseball program had never won a conference championship, let alone a national one, before Graham arrived. A decade later, he followed through on his promise.
Graham, the legendary coach who died last week at the age of 88, took over as the head coach of Rice baseball in 1992.
After his twenty-sixth and final season at Rice in 2018, Graham had coached the Owls to 23 consecutive NCAA appearances. He also led the team to the College World Series seven times, winning the national championship in 2003 against Stanford University.
“What [Graham] was able to do really is remarkable,” said Lance Berkman, who was on the Rice baseball team from ‘95-’97 before being drafted by the Houston Astros.
he the greatest coach in Rice history, he was the greatest coach in the history of college baseball. His accomplishments at Rice with limited resources are far superior than [those of] any other coach in college baseball.”
What Berkman remembers most fondly about Graham, though, was the way he would shake a player’s hand after they hit a home run. Berkman compared it to getting a compliment from his own father.
“It didn’t come very much, but you knew that when you shook his hand coming around third after you hit a home run it was like ‘job well done,’” Berkman said. “I think that connection was really something that I’ll always remember.”
Berkman also said that Graham was tough to play for, but ultimately made players better. Former Rice baseball player and a cocaptain of the 2003 team, Chris Kolkhorst, echoed Berkman’s sentiments in an interview with the Thresher in 2023.
Coach Graham willed Rice to feats that nobody else thought were possible. He taught us willpower and instilled the mindset of a champion .
Paul Doyle FORMER RICE BASEBALL PLAYER
“To me, he is in the pantheon of top five college baseball coaches of all time. You got Rod Dedeaux, and you got Skip Bertman, you got Augie Garrido and to me, Wayne Graham is right there with all those guys in terms of what he was able to accomplish as a coach.”
Graham died on the night of Sept. 3, 2024 in Austin, Texas, according to Rice Athletics.
“I am deeply sorry to hear about the passing of a man who had a significant impact on my life,” Rice baseball coach José Cruz Jr. said in a statement to Rice Athletics. “His encouragement to push us beyond any and all limits has been a valuable lesson that I carry with me and strive to apply as I follow in his footsteps.”
Cruz played for Graham from 1992 to 1995, where he broke the school record for runs batted in and was a member of the first Rice baseball team, along with Berkman, to compete in the NCAA Tournament in 1995. In that same year, Cruz was drafted by the Seattle Mariners as the third overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
“The example of being committed to greatness no matter what others thought was possible was evident here at Rice, and [Graham’s] accomplishments here are and will always be a source of joy for all Owls,” Cruz said. “He will always be celebrated, remembered and missed.”
Berkman and former Rice baseball player Paul Doyle also emphasized that Graham was able to coach Rice baseball beyond expectations.
“Coach Graham willed Rice to feats that nobody else thought were possible,” Doyle said. “He taught us willpower and instilled the mindset of a champion. Not only was
Scores & what’s
next
ANDERSEN PICKARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Scores from Sept. 4 to Sept. 10
Women’s Volleyball vs. University of South Alabama
Sept. 5 - Rice 3, USA 0
Women’s Soccer vs. University of Louisiana Lafayette
Sept. 5 - Rice 2, ULL 2
Women’s Volleyball vs. University of Nevada Las Vegas
Sept. 7 - Rice 3, UNLV 1
Football vs. Texas Southern University
Sept. 7 - Rice 69, TSU 7
Men’s Golf at Argent Financial Classic
Sept. 8-10 - 3rd place
Women’s Soccer vs. Sam Houston State University
Sept. 8 - Rice 1, SHSU 0
What’s next from Sept. 11 to Sept. 17
Women’s Soccer vs. University of Tulsa
Sept. 12, 6:05 p.m. - Home on ESPN+
Men’s and Women’s Cross Country
Sept. 13, 5:30 p.m. - Home for Rice Invitational
Men’s Tennis at Texas A&M Corpus Christi Invitational
Sept. 13-15 - Away at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Women’s Volleyball at #11 Creighton
Sept. 14, 11 a.m. - Away on ESPN+
Men’s Football at Bayou Bucket Classic (University of Houston)
Sept. 14, 7 p.m. - Away on ESPN+
Women’s Volleyball at University of Northern Iowa
Sept. 15, 10 a.m. - Away on ESPN+
Men’s Golf at Ram Masters Invitational
Sept. 17-18 - Away at Colorado State University
“[He was] amazing,” Kolkhorst said. “He was firm but fair. Once you realized that he only got on the guys he cared about and he was trying to make you better, then you understood him.”
Prior to Rice,
Graham coached at San Jacinto College for 10 years. There, he won five national championships and was named the national junior college coach of the year five times and the top Texas junior college coach six times.
At San Jacinto, Graham coached seventime Cy Young winner Roger Clemens, who described Graham as one of the “Best of the Best” on X, formerly known as Twitter, on the morning of Sept. 4.
“Great coach, but far better teacher of the game,” Clemens said. “Gave us young men life lessons to carry with us forever. I will miss Coach, and his funny stories we had together over the years.”
Graham has been inducted into the Rice Athletics Hall of Fame, Conference USA Hall of Fame, College Baseball Hall of Fame, Junior College Hall of Fame, Texas Baseball Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
“He will be missed, but his legend will never die,” Doyle said. “What he instilled in his players and coaches will live forever and will be passed down for generations to come. I had the benefit of playing for Coach and coaching with him. He was a savant, a true genius.”
Many will remember Graham as the first coach to bring Rice a national championship, and Berkman described Graham as a perfect fit for Rice.
“On the exterior, you wouldn’t think ‘hey, this is a Rice kind of guy,’ but he understood the value of education,” Berkman said, “He was unbelievably smart, much smarter than I think people want to give him credit for being.
I just feel like he was the perfect guy for Rice University and his legacy will be winning.”
Owls in the NFL
Eight former Rice Owls participated in NFL training camps this summer, including wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, who was drafted by the Washington Commanders in April 2024. However, only five of these players remained on NFL rosters when Week 1 games kicked off last week.
Myles Adams, Defensive End
Currently: Seattle Seahawks
Week 1 stats: Did not play (coach’s decision) Played for Rice 2016-20
Chris Boswell, Kicker
Currently: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 1 stats: 6/6 field goals (tied franchise record)
First Steelers player with 3+ 50-yd FGs in one game Played for Rice 2009-13
Jack Fox, Punter
Currently: Detroit Lions
Week 1 stats: 4 punts, 230 net yds Played for Rice 2015-18
Nick Leverett, Center
Currently: New England Patriots
Week 1 stats: Played 4 snaps on special teams Played for Rice 2019
Luke McCaffrey, Wide Receiver
Currently: Washington Commanders
Week 1 stats: 3 rec, 18 yds (NFL debut)
Played for Rice 2021-23
THRESHER ARCHIVE
Wayne Graham coaches during the 2018 season.
ANDERSEN PICKARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
SCREW-YER-ROOMMATE
An HBO Max Special HOUSTON, WE’VE GOT A MATCH!
Coming to you from the minds of Kitchen Nightmares and Dr. Pimple Popper is Screw-Yer-Roommate – the next SMASH hit in reality TV! Hot off the wild streets of Houston, TX, watch these Rice University students scramble in their yearly dating ritual to find The One. Join special host Matt Rife as we follow three matches on their dates in Rice Village, running the gauntlet for true love – will they survive?
Emmaleigh spent her summer voluntouring in South Africa and running her nonprofit to support the irradiated kittens in Fukushima, Japan. Josh is fiscally conservative, socially liberal, and believes Rice should donate its endowment to anti-poverty charities. Together, this potential power couple is just about ready to save the starving children of the world.
Will Maisie Rose stun in her sunflower one piece at the sexy swimsuit photoshoot challenge at the Rec?
MEET THE CAST
Over dinner at Coppa Osteria, Liam reveals he didn’t care for Troy’s avantgarde claymation piece on veganism in 1970s Communist Azerbaijan, causing Troy to splash rosé all over Liam’s vintage Carhartt overalls.
Maisie Rose (Will Rice ‘28, SWGS/SOCI) & Carson (MBA ‘26)
For Maisie Rose and Carson, age is just a number! Freshman Maisie Rose is still finding her footing on campus, but she plans to volunteer at the Rice Women’s Resource Center and run fundraisers for the Baylor Teen Health Clinic. Carson is a graduate of Notre Dame University and recent summer analyst at Northrop Grumman, where he learned much about different IPA formulations at TopGolf. Do opposites really attract?
DEI win! Meet Troy and Liam, two Wiess juniors with a tumultuous romantic history. After their fated dance floor makeout at Pub their freshman year, the two have had a “Girl, so confusing”-esque on-again, off-again flirtatious friendship. Troy, a Moody staffer and KTRU DJ, is hoping to finally make something work, but Liam, KOC at Chaus, is skeptical if love is possible after that time Troy allegedly swiped his Tito’s handle during his NOD pregame.
In a Screw-Yer-Roommate first, Emmaleigh and Josh dress as Pocahontas and John Smith for their costume to acknowledge that Rice occupies the land of the Karankawa, Akokisa, Atakapa, and Caddo tribes.
Carson’s eyes stray to Emmaleigh at the drama-laden Screw-Yer-Roommate Perch after-party — will Maisie Rose be left heartbroken?
Andrew Kim, Will Howley, Charlie Maxson, and Max Scholl and designed by Lauren Yu. For
