Local Foods launches in newly renovated Brochstein space
Local Foods Market opened at Brochstein Pavilion Nov. 19, replacing comfort food concept Little Kitchen HTX. The opening, previously scheduled for the end of September, also features interior renovations to Brochstein. Local Foods is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
The new concept emphasizes convenience for students and faculty,
said general manager Daniel Nossa. All menu items are available grab-andgo, purchasable with Tetra, and a selfcheckout kiosk is available. In addition to food items — including gluten-free and vegan options, Nossa said. Local Foods offers coffee from local vendor Greenway Coffee Company, which also oversaw the now-closed Audrey’s in McNair Hall.
“We’re bringing Local Foods in, but we’re also reinventing ourselves,” Nossa said. “We’ll try to get you in and out within a few minutes.”
Scan, swipe — sorry
We’re bringing Local Foods in, but we’re also reinventing ourselves. We’ll try to get you in and out within a few minutes.
Daniel Nossa
LOCAL FOODS GENERAL MANAGER
LOCAL FOODS PAGE 2
Amid tightened publics restrictions, new policy proposes student ID scanning at party entrances
ABIGAIL CHIU THRESHER STAFF
Students may need to swipe their Rice IDs through scanners before entering future public parties, said dean of undergraduates Bridget Gorman. This possible policy change is not finalized, but in discussion among student activities and crisis management teams.
Gorman referenced recommendations from the Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee to restrict public party ticketing to venue capacity and require students to swipe in to cross-check their attendance with the ticket list, regardless of whether or not they have wristbands.
Nothing is being required currently, but we are reviewing and discussing possible ID card swipe options to speed up the attendee verification and long entrance lines at publics.
Bridget Gorman DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATES
“There have been some observations shared that crosschecking student IDs with the ticket
list has slowed down the lines,” Gorman wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Nothing is being required currently, but we are reviewing and discussing possible ID card swipe options to speed up the attendee verification and long entrance lines at publics.”
Kyle Henry brings Rice Cinema to the world stage
ARMAN SAXENA A&E EDITOR
Cannes, Sundance and South by Southwest. What do they have in common? They’re all world-renowned film festivals that have exhibited the works of alumnus Kyle Henry ’94.
Henry returned to Houston this year for the Houston Cinema Arts Festival where he screened his latest work “Time Passages,” a multimedia film chronicling Henry’s excavation of his family history while his mother battled health issues during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Time Passages” was also selected by the Chicago International Film Festival this year — another accolade for Henry who received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight selection for his
When you watch films from all over the world, you really get that full, deeper range of what humanity means writ large, and I wanted to live as fully as I possibly could. I thought I could do that by observing other people with my camera.
Kyle Henry ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF FILM PRODUCTION AT NORTHWESTERN
2005 feature “Room.”
Henry entered Rice as an aspiring premed student and said he didn’t initially see filmmaking in his future.
“I came into Rice expecting to be a biology major,” Henry said. “I took all the AP classes, and I quickly discovered — I think within my first semester — that that was not what I was interested in.”
Instead, it was history, sociology and film that captivated him.
The other major influence? The Rice Cinema.
The theater became a portal to new worlds, an experience that profoundly shaped his perspective, he said.
“In particular, I felt that watching films from all over the world at Rice Cinema opened up the world to me and also gave me a sense of humanity being really interconnected,” Henry said. “When you watch films from all over the world, you really get that full, deeper range of what humanity means writ large, and I wanted to live as fully as I possibly could. I thought I could do that by observing other people with my camera.”
Henry’s early influences at Rice included Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Lindsay Anderson’s “If…,” and John Frankenheimer’s “Seconds,” along with documentaries like “Harlan County, USA” and “Hearts and Minds.” He also drew inspiration from professor Brian Huberman, who helped Henry understand and later subvert the Western genre in his 1998
HOPE YANG THRESHER STAFF
KATHERINE CITINO / THRESHER Customers line up to order at fast-casual restaurant Local Foods. The Brochstein Pavillion location opened Nov. 19.
COURTESY KYLE HENRY
PAGE ID SCANNING
If implemented, publics will be held to strict capacity limits. Scanners would flash green or red to either admit or deny a student into the party, with crisis management personnel manning the entrance to “to troubleshoot any issues with the system,” Gorman said.
Publics returned in the spring — albeit with tighter restrictions — after a months-long moratorium following last year’s abrupt shutdown of Wiess College’s Night of Decadence. As campus adjusts to a post-NOD era of social life, some have criticized the increasingly stringent
capacity and ticketing policies.
Yuv Sachdeva, president of Jones College, said he felt public capacity decisions were unclear and unpredictable.
“To us, [capacity] seems like something that is determined almost arbitrarily, so we would appreciate more information on how that is calculated,” Sachdeva, a senior, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “NetID swipe ticket systems may hurt this further, but should also add another layer of safety.”
Jones
socials coordinator Jacob Lowenstein said that the system would not be used at Jones Inferno, scheduled for this Saturday.
“We had a meeting three weeks out from our public, and [administration was] like, ‘Hey, we have this new thing that we want y’all to test’ … and then last week was their meeting where they really pushed it,” Lowenstein, a senior, said.
“Genocide money comes to campus,”
“We’re bringing Local Foods in, but we’re also reinventing ourselves,” Nossa said. “We’ll try to get you in and out within a few minutes.”
Local Foods’ opening also accompanies changes to the interior space of Brochstein, including couchstyle booth seating and a larger kitchen island.
Redesigning Brochstein’s interior was necessary for the vendor to “execute more items,” Nossa said, but also caused unforeseen delays to the reopening timeline.
“We concluded that a full redesign of the Brochstein would better serve its role as a popular study and hangout spot for our students,” Beth Leaver, executive director of Housing and Dining, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “We had planned a smaller renovation to minimize delays, but it became clear that a more comprehensive update was needed.”
Rice SJP wrote in a Nov. 18 Instagram post.
On Nov. 1, 2023, a group of Houstonbased restaurants participated in a fundraiser for “relief efforts in Israel.”
Local Foods proprietor Benjy Leavit was among the participants, donating the day’s full proceeds from two of the restaurants housed under his hospitality group.
We concluded that a full redesign of the Brochstein would better serve its role as a popular study and hangout spot for our students. We had planned a smaller renovation to minimize delays, but it became clear that a more comprehensive update was needed.
Beth Leaver EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, HOUSING & DINING
The pavilion’s re-opening has also been received with boycott calls from Students for Justice in Palestine:
Nossa declined to comment.
Benjamin Tijerina, a Wiess College junior, said that he thinks coffee options will be crucial for the new vendor.
“Primarily, students use this space as a coffee shop,” Tijerina said. “I’m curious to see as [Local Foods] evolves, if people will want more coffee, or [if it will] focus on the food more.”
Julia Zhu, a Sid Richardson College freshman, said that the price of menu items at Local Foods could be a potential concern for students.
“I think it’s a lot pricier than other options on campus,” Zhu said. “So if you’re low on Tetra, you should not be coming here.”
things too much,” Calzat, a junior, said. “It will probably make it harder for students to use fake wristbands, and it will make it harder for students to trade their tickets with other students.”
Nothing is being required currently, but we are reviewing and discussing possible ID card swipe options to speed up the attendee verification and long entrance lines at publics.
Bridget Gorman DEAN OF UNDERGRADUATES
“They said that it will be mandatory by next year, whenever I push it.”
Nathan Calzat, the chief justice at Martel College, said that college presidents and chief justices will be meeting with Student Activities in the future to determine more details about the new system.
“I know that it’s an unpopular decision, and people don’t like it. I think that in the grand scheme of things, it’s not going to affect
Sid Richardson junior Advika Rajeev said that adding couch seating in the lounge area will be beneficial for students working in the space.
“In the old design we only had four chairs,” Rajeev said. “I like the fact that [the new seating] makes group projects a lot easier.”
Nossa said that Local Foods
Administration has not yet banned ticket transfers or sales.
Calzat said that there were talks about implementing the system at the start of the semester for Martel’s Texas Party.
“For Texas Party, we had to close the sundeck early because RUPD felt that there were too many people on the sundeck,” Calzat said. “Who knows, maybe having a concrete number [of attendees] could have changed their mind, or maybe it would have made them make that decision earlier. It’s hard to say, but at least it won’t leave those things up to a matter of opinion.”
Though it will not be used at Jones Inferno, Gorman said that the goal is to use the ID swiping system to reduce lines at future publics.
“The idea had been to test the new system at an event to help speed up lines. Plans to have staff present were to troubleshoot any issues with the system and determine if this was an effective option that could be shared,” Gorman wrote. “The hope is to potentially test this process during an upcoming student event and if viable, eventually at a public party.”
proprietor Benjy Levit wanted to bring Local Foods to Rice as a member of the community.
“Levit grew up in this neighborhood,” Nossa said. “He would ride bikes through here and always pass by Brochstein Pavilion, so we saw the opportunity in the vacancy. It’s like, ‘Why don’t we expand our brand actually into Rice?’”
FROM FRONT
FROM FRONT PAGE LOCAL FOODS
KATHERINE CITINO / THRESHER Employees prepare grab-and-go lunches at Local Foods. The Brochstein Pavillion location soft-opened Nov. 19.
AMY CAO / THRESHER
Vaccine policy conference takes a shot at public health
dismiss and disregard and walk away from their medical training and science and profession.”
Energy summit talks the policy
behind power
JACK LEE FOR THE THRESHER
The 16th annual Rice Energy Finance Summit was held at Jones Business School Nov. 15. Speakers from the energy industry discussed topics including renewable energy, the Texas power grid and the future of energy policy under a second Trump administration.
The morning featured a keynote address with Doug Lawler, CEO of Continental Resources, a fossil fuel exploration company specializing in fracking. The afternoon keynote address was given by Michael Skelly, the founder of Grid United, a Houston energy company. Skelly discussed his efforts to connect Texas’ power grid to a larger U.S. power grid.
cautious about its existing limitations.
“One of the [positive] things about nuclear [power] is data centers, because data centers are this great point source of demand,” Tillery said. “That doesn’t necessarily speed up the problems that have historically affected nuclear [power].”
Skelly said he found it unlikely the burden of payment for incorporating high-consumption data centers into the grid would lie on the public.
“The way this seems to be headed, the new load will pay for it,” Skelly said. “Public utility commissioners will be like, ‘Last I checked, Jeff Bezos has billions, why should customers pay for this?’ … Maybe artificial intelligence is a public good, but I’m not sure the public is buying it.”
The 2024 Baker Institute Vaccine Policy Symposium convened Nov. 15, focusing on current vaccine policy research and strategies to combat vaccine skepticism in Texas. Vaccine hesitancy is on the rise, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a growing number of measles cases driven by declining vaccination rates among Americans.
This event was the second Vaccine Policy Symposium, with the first being held in fall 2022.
Kirstin Matthews, a fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute, said that the event was intended to encourage engagement with vaccine policy.
Experts on the panel differed on possible solutions for addressing vaccine hesitancy. Saad Omer, dean of the Peter O’Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said building trust in healthcare providers was a potential solution.
Vaccine disinformation and misinformation is almost completely partisan … So much so that even scientific physicians who have been elected to state house and state senate positions will dismiss and disregard and walk away from their medical training and science and profession.
Ann Johnson STATE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE FOR DISTRICT 134
“Previously, we conducted research and released it,” Matthews wrote in an email to the Thresher. “But we wanted to come together with others interested in vaccine policy to discuss the research instead of just publishing it. We also noticed that many of the people you would think would promote vaccine policies were no longer doing so, such as doctors and medical schools. This was our effort to draw attention to this important issue.”
Matthews opened the symposium by presenting her research on the voting patterns of legislators from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma who had health or biology backgrounds.
“Out of the more than 600 legislators, we found 33 that actually were having a biology background … what shocked us was that there were only nine of these legislators that we scored positively for voting for vaccine bills,” Matthews said in her speech. “Several health legislators from Texas, specifically, actually sponsored or co-signed bills that restricted access to vaccines.”
Ann Johnson, state representative for District 134 — which includes Rice — discussed the politicization of vaccine policy, drawing from her experience as a lawmaker.
“I am worried that we are getting to a point in politics where party is superseding the interest of public health and our medical community,” Johnson said in her speech. “Vaccine disinformation and misinformation is almost completely partisan … So much so that even scientific physicians who have been elected to state house and state senate positions will
“I’ve been pushing for the most trusted source of vaccine information, which is healthcare providers,” Omer said, referring to a study where he analyzed vaccine hesitancy in low and middleincome countries.
Michael Emerson, the Baker Institute’s Harry and Hazel Chavanne Fellow in Religion and Public Policy, said it was important to promote vaccines among prominent church leaders and influencers, as opposed to relying on healthcare providers. Emerson’s research focused on vaccine hesitancy in white evangelical communities.
“When we did the vaccines for Covid and tried to get people interested in taking them … we would have doctors and lab coats … that doesn’t work,” Emerson said in his speech. “What works in [evangelical] communities like this is you would have religious leaders saying, ‘We need the vaccine’, you would have Christian recording artists saying, ‘We need the vaccine’, you would have even have country singers saying, ‘We need the vaccine’. Those are the groups that this group will look up to and trust, not medical doctors, not government officials.”
Similarly, Johnson said inequitable access to healthcare made it difficult to rely on healthcare providers to remedy vaccine hesitancy in Texas.
“Remember that we have the highest rate of uninsured children in the nation,” Johnson said. “We do not have Medicaid expansion. So when you say your primary care physician is your most trusted source on vaccination, remember, most Texans don’t have one.”
Johnson highlighted the disparity between vaccine supporters and opponents in terms of political engagement.
“These [anti-vaxxers] are the folks that show up,” Johnson said. “I can’t tell you how they have the financial ability to park themselves in the Capitol on a daily basis to be there, but they do, and they are engaged … The problem is, there’s only one segment of voices that are really getting heard.”
Most of Texas’ cities are connected to a power grid independent from any other U.S. state. Skelly said the 2021 winter freeze, during which nearly 10 million people were left without power, drew mainstream attention to modernizing the state’s power grid.
“We knew the grid needed fixing, but not everyone did,” Skelly said. “We had a lot of trouble raising money. After the winter freeze … things began to change.”
Skelly said a power grid integrated with one of the national grids would be more broadly efficient than the current structure.
“We take a lot of inspiration from the connection of the European grids,” Skelly said. “If you look at connections between, say, Norway and Denmark, you get better reliability. You can incorporate more renewables. They’re very cost-efficient — they’ll pay for themselves.”
At various points, the panelists were asked about their thoughts on the incoming Trump administration’s impact on energy transition efforts and the Inflation Reduction Act supported by President Joe Biden, which provided significant provisions for clean energy investments. Vaden said he predicted the new administration would not cause a significant change.
“There’s a lot of renewable energy generation going on in states that voted for the new administration,” Vaden, the executive director of financial and capital markets at S&P Global and Rice MBA ’10, said. “I don’t think that’s all going to be unwound.
We knew the grid needed fixing, but not everyone did. We had a lot of trouble raising money.
After the winter freeze … things began to change.
Michael Skelly CO-FOUNDER AND CEO, GRID UNITED
Following Skelly’s address, a panel took place that featured Paul Goydan, Jeffrey Tillery and Hill Vaden. The panelists discussed their thoughts on the future of various green technologies.
Tillery, the chief operating officer at Veriten, an energy investment firm, said nuclear energy has generated great interest in recent years, while attention and investment towards hydrogen energy has stalled.
“The hype and excitement around [nuclear] is not keeping pace with its growth,” Tillery said. “Though it will still be a growth market for the coming years … where nuclear has swung in the [positive] direction the most in the past few years, hydrogen has gone the opposite direction.”
Regarding the impact of the artificial intelligence boom on the energy industry, Tillery said the interest in AI data centers might drive investment towards nuclear power, but
The [Inflation Reduction Act] is a statute. It’s hard to undo. Executive orders will be undone … but big picture, it’s not a big deal.”
In contrast, Goydan, a senior partner and managing director at Boston Consulting Group, said the Trump administration did have options available to them to limit the previous administration’s renewable energy policies.
“[Biden administration energy policy] will be subjected to congressional tweaking,” Goydan said. “The incoming administration does not have to change the laws, but they can destaff departments and nothing gets done for four years.”
Skelly, who unsuccessfully ran for Texas’ 7th congressional district as a Democrat in 2008, said he was uncertain about the future of energy policy under Trump but remained hopeful.
“Big picture, it’s really hard to tell,” Skelly said. “Some of these nominations are a real dare for the Senate … On a bad day, I’d say that would suggest they’ll gut [the Biden administration’s energy policy]. There’s another school of thought, there’s enough Republican support for the [Inflation Reduction Act] that they keep some of the stuff.”
TANYA RICHARDS FOR THE THRESHER
COURTESY MICHAEL STRAVATO
Attendees at the Nov. 15 symposium listen to a panel on vaccine policy. Speakers included healthcare professionals and politicians.
COURTESY ELIZABETH ZOOK
Mike Skelly (left) and Hillary Holmes (right), partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, discuss renewable energy and the Texas power grid at the Rice Energy Finance Summit.
Lovett College could become
overflow housing
PRASI DESAI SENIOR WRITER
Students were asked about their willingness to live in the current Lovett College building if housing is unavailable in their college in the recent Survey of All Students. This question comes soon after news of Lovett’s relocation to one of the newly built residential colleges in fall 2026.
According to Lovett President Andrew Kim, the question on the SAS was not a surprise for students.
“Many students remember how Old Sid became overflow housing and expected a similar outcome for Lovett,” Kim, a senior, wrote in an email to the Thresher.
Editor’s Note: Andrew Kim is the Thresher’s Backpage editor.
Ayush Suresh, Lovett’s internal vice president, said that housing was one use for the current building considered by administration and Lovett’s government.
“We’ve had discussions with admin about what the future of Lovett is going to be. There were a bunch of ideas that were thrown out about what might happen, and this was just one amongst them,” Suresh, a junior, said.
In a survey conducted by Lovett leadership following the news of the relocation, Suresh said many students
— especially freshman and sophomores — were excited about the change in facilities.
“It’s recognized generally that the facilities need an upgrade, and people are willing to start that process,” Suresh said.
According to Kim, the current building would be repainted, but no large architectural or facility improvements are currently being discussed.
Regarding current conversations at Lovett, Kim said the focus is on ensuring Lovett’s culture is preserved at the new building through interior design.
“The conversation on Lovetteers’ minds is focused on earnestly maximizing students’ agency about what our new building’s interior will look like such that even if we move out of the current Toaster, we can feel eager to move into a ‘New Toaster,’” Kim wrote. “In the likely case that students will get to live in the current Toaster as overflow housing in the future, I believe it should be offered fairly to equalize the proportional availability of on-campus housing across the residential colleges.”
Suresh said the news of the college’s move was bittersweet, with many recognizing the need for change while older Lovett students and alumni lamented the loss of the building.
“We’re already noticing a lot of alumni sentiment and even current upperclassmen sentiment about this being the final few years,” Suresh said.
“I think we’re going to see a lot of the past of Lovett and the present of Lovett trying to collect its history and where we are right now as a culture and preserve it.”
SA bill introduced to extend undocumented student task force
BELINDA ZHU ASST. NEWS EDITOR
Paula Gamino and Dayanh Rubio Gomez, co-chairs of the undocumented student task force, introduced a bill to extend the undocumented students task force to advocate for improved support services Nov. 18.
The bill asks the Student Association to “continue to advocate for, improve and implement support services for undocumented students at Rice University.” It also states that the task force is able to access SA funding “as needed.”
According to Rubio Gomez, the task force was founded in 2017 but stopped having as much momentum around 2019, and she is hoping to bring the momentum back.
Rubio Gomez said that the current political climate makes the task force critical.
“We’re a task force and not a club is because we wanted to do our best to protect members’ membership statuses,” Rubio Gomez said. “That way, we don’t have an official list of who’s in our club because people are insecure and scared of us sharing their citizenship status. Another reason we’re a task force is because in the past we’ve had access to SA funding like the Treasury. That has been super vital to the task force and it’s how we get people to come to us.”
I didn’t even know there was a task force until the end of my sophomore year, which really speaks to the lack of centralized support for undocumented students. Now, with DACA in courts again and Trump being elected as president, it is especially important for Rice to invest funds to protect and support undocumented students.
Dayanh Rubio Gomez UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT TASK FORCE CO-CHAIR
“I didn’t even know there was a task force until the end of my sophomore year, which really speaks to the lack of centralized support for undocumented students,” Rubio Gomez, a Martel College senior, said in an interview with the Thresher. “Now, with DACA in courts again and Trump being elected as president, it is especially important for Rice to invest funds to protect and support undocumented students.”
Rubio Gomez explained that being a task force rather than a club helps to protect members.
Rubio Gomez said that the funding will allow them to continue to host events like in the past.
“Last year, we hosted free legal consultations with a law firm in Houston. Many students, including myself, actually were able to get a free legal consultation and figure out pathways and citizenship,”
Rubio Gomez said. “It was really helpful and we want to keep it a yearly thing with the task force.”
Gamino said the increased support will allow the task force to accomplish more goals.
“I am most excited for more visibility of the task force, having more students getting involved and the opportunity to collaborate with more student organizations,” Gamino said in an interview with the Thresher.
The bill is currently pending and will be voted on during the next senate meeting Nov. 25.
WILLIAM LIU / THRESHER
EDITORIAL
Keep administrative hands off public parties
Emergency Management is hoping to implement a new system that has students swipe their IDs when entering public parties to cross-check their name with a pre-registered list. This idea is being touted as an effort to reduce check-in time and lines at publics. The thing is – we are tired. After bans on events, APAC and dramatic changes in party requirements, we want hands off the public party.
Administration has ordered change after change to Rice’s long-held public party traditions in the name of safety and organization, and we have complied. Socials heads have gone from coordinating music and leading college decorating efforts to being embroiled in meetings with administration on space limits. Restrictions on attendance were first introduced during COVID-19, and today, with the pandemic behind us, we are still morosely clicking into Google Forms in hopes of getting that one coveted ticket – that is, if the form doesn’t crash.
We’re not even sure what prompted this response. The issue during NOD was clearly Rice’s alcohol culture, not the number of students in attendance. In fact, Wiess College’s socials were
careful with managing capacity and having support on standby. If students want to party, they will party. If students
Restrictions on attendance were first introduced during COVID-19, and today, with the pandemic behind us, we are still morosely clicking into Google Forms in hopes of getting that one coveted ticket — that is, if the form doesn’t crash.
can’t get tickets to safe, on-campus events, they will just plan private or offcampus events. Without the safety net of caregivers and Rice EMS, the very newsmaking hospitalizations administration is worried about could increase.
The response among college presidents and social heads is largely that the restriction will make it more difficult to sell
or trade tickets. Though we have criticized ticket scalping in the past, we can’t think of a recent public where that’s been a problem. And trading tickets is completely reasonable — the same number of students will be in the space regardless of who those students are.
Jones College socials heads were offered the system for their Saturday public, Jones Inferno, but opted not to use it. The fact that colleges have been declining the offer for months is indicative of how badly students don’t want administration to interfere with party culture. We already work incredibly hard on planning a party that is fun, within budget and honors their college’s culture and traditions. Butting in just weeks before, with Rice’s already numerous event registration requirements, is disrespectful of our time.
College parties are supposed to be packed. They’re sweaty and loud. We understand that we can’t have the reckless, hard to control parties of the past, but today’s restrictions feel like they’re overstepping in the name of our safety. While requiring caregivers and hiring RUPD is fair, restricting attendance is against the very fiber of Rice’s inclusive culture.
Students of conscience should boycott Local Foods
Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors.
Local Foods has served, for many years, as a casual Houston restaurant option for Houston residents, including Rice students. Folks on campus will notice that this option has become more proximate, as a Local Foods location claims space on campus in the Brochstein Pavilion.
In late October last year, after nearly a month of escalating genocidal violence perpetrated by the Israeli settler colonial regime with U.S. collaboration, several Houstonian restaurant owners fundraised for “relief efforts in Israel.” However, the
donations went partially to Israeli Defense Forces soldiers carrying out the expanding Israeli decimation of Gaza. Among the participating restaurants, Local Foods owner Benjy Levit donated the full proceeds of the day from two of his restaurants.
This comes after a year of genocide and a year of pointed outward apathy from Rice administration — including a refusal to recognize the scholasticide and to respond seriously to harassment from Zionist students and faculty. In addition, internal suppression of solidarity work for Palestinian liberation through refusal to allow using microphones at vigils and other restrictive protest policies in response to last semester’s legal Liberated Zone, the explicit integration of Zionist-aligned Local Foods is an insult to affected communities on campus.
Particularly affected are Arab, Muslim and Palestinian students, many of whom
continue to check on their families back home as the unimaginable violence — that Levit’s proceeds support — continues.
Editor’s Note: This guest opinion has been cut off for print. Read the full article at ricethresher.org.
Matti Haacke
SID RICHARDSON COLLEGE SENIOR
Jorge Zazueta ECONOMICS PH.D. STUDENT
Insurance options for Ph.D. students are overpriced and insufficient
Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors. Doctoral students at Rice are given insufficient health insurance options especially compared to institutions with graduate student unions. Aetna’s graduate student health insurance plan leaves students with significant costs compared to the minimum annual stipend. Additionally, the available Aetna plan offers insufficient benefits when compared both to medical insurance plans at peer institutions and to the non-subsidized Wellfleet plan – Rice’s alternative option for international students.
The university provides a subsidy to cover the Aetna premium which costs $3,448 annually per insured person for each policyholding graduate student, spouse and up to 2 children. This plan covers medical and basic vision insurance but does not cover dental insurance, which has to be purchased at an additional cost.
With the subsidy, single Ph.D. students pay $620 for annual coverage for themselves under Aetna and $2,586 each for their spouse and up to two children. This means a Ph.D. student with a family could pay up to $8,378 per year — 25% of the minimum annual stipend of $34,000 and 29% of the after-tax minimum stipend amount.
Compared to other institutions, this presents an enormous cost. For example, at Johns Hopkins – as per the most recent contract between the graduate student workers’ union and the university – premiums for Ph.D. student and family coverage are paid entirely by the university, including
medical, dental and vision insurance. Other universities like Columbia and Duke and NYU also offer full or discounted coverage of premiums for doctoral students.
Editor’s Note: This guest opinion has been cut off for print. Read the full article at ricethresher.org.
Anton Dolmatov PHILOSOPHY PH.D. STUDENT
Erica Augenstein HISTORY PH.D. STUDENT
Editorial
Phone: (713) 348 - 4801
thresher@rice.edu
Nets Katz on skipping grades and solving problems
Despite his parents’ anger, Katz’s placement introduced him to an ambitious math teacher — one who led him to graduate from Rice at 17 and complete a Ph.D. at 20.
“[The teacher] had a large collection of workbooks,” Katz, the W. L. Moody Professor of Mathematics, said. “I went through the entire elementary school curriculum in a year.”
Other teachers began to notice. In fourth grade, a high school teacher who coached the math team contacted him.
through school.
“I competed in the lowest grade level that I could, which was ninth grade,” Katz said. “When they discovered I was [younger], I was disqualified. But when my school heard, I got a battlefield promotion … to ninth grade.”
After finishing high school in Grand Prairie, Texas, Katz graduated from Rice with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Despite being younger than his peers, Katz enjoyed his experience.
“I found the town where I [grew] up not so intellectually stimulating,” Katz said. “But at Rice, I looked up to my peers. They were people I wanted to talk to. It was exciting.”
Katz graduated from Rice in three years and then received a Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Pennsylvania. Afterward, he began teaching undergraduate mathematics and working on various research projects, specializing in analysis and combinatorics.
Erdős posed the question, aiming to find the minimum number of distinct distances possible between a set number of points in a plane. Almost 70 years later, Katz and Guth proved a solution.
While teaching calculus at the California Institute of Technology, he wrote a book, Calculus for Cranks, which emphasizes practical applications of calculus for scientists and engineers. Katz said the ideas behind his research flow through his classes.
“I want [students] to think analytically,” Katz said. “I present them with a problem, and what [I] want them to do is think about the sources of errors and … break them out and separate them through different techniques.”
After teaching at California Institute of Technology as the IBM Professor of Mathematics, Katz returned to Rice and joined the department of mathematics in 2023.
Nets Katz has always liked numbers. As a child, he played with numbers in his head and quickly learned to add and multiply. Katz’s elementary school grouped students in classes based on test scores. However, Katz didn’t land on the top track.
“[The math coach] said, ‘I’ve got to have this kid,’” Katz said. “He worked out an arrangement where I would do an independent study in math … at the high school and hoped I would start going to contests.”
Katz’s parents were skeptical about math contests, so he didn’t try one until sizth grade. Ultimately, the competitions were the catalyst that moved him quickly
“I’m interested in problems that can be approached with bare hands — problems that have to do with counting things, but where one doesn’t necessarily need exact answers, where it’s alright to have estimates,” Katz said.
In 2015, Katz won the Clay Research Award with Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Larry Guth for their solution to the Erdős distinct distances problem. In 1946, mathematician Paul
Yitang Chen, a student in Katz’s MATH 221 class, said he is a helpful professor.
“Though his course is challenging, it is helpful to my math skills,” Chen, a Wiess College freshman, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “I have gone to his office hours [to ask about] some theorems I did not understand ... and he explained them in detail.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. To read more, visit ricethresher.org.
A historical hangover: Rating past party themes
SOPHIE GARLICK THRESHER STAFF
Prepare to be horrified, amused and maybe a little concerned as Rice’s most cringe-worthy party themes are revisited. The past remains littered with themes tried and failed, yet necessary for the birth of the parties Rice now enjoys.
8. Hanszen’s Mardi Gras Party
Dating all the way back to February 1970, Hanszen College’s first Mardi Gras party [in the Grand Hall] featured a costume contest with cash prizes and a rock band. In 2003, the party was relocated to their commons.
Ryan Gately, editor-in-chief of the Thresher at the time, said he enjoyed the party in a February 2012 edition of the Thresher.
“The stripper poles and cages made me feel at home,” Gately said.
The theme continued to capture the hearts of students until attendance became an issue and Hanszen decided to revamp their public with an all-new theme in 2019: “Lights Out.”
Hanszen College proved that while some things might be bigger in Texas, they aren’t necessarily better — Mardi Gras is best left to Louisiana.
7. Sid Schoolgirls
Sid Richardson College’s “Schoolgirls” party was first hosted in March 2010. According to a March 2010 edition of the Thresher, the party included, “hot [DJs] … free food and drinks, and of course, schoolgirl’s favorite’s, stripper poles.”
Encouraged to dress on theme, some students found discomfort in the party’s demeaning perspective towards women.
Lauren Schmidt, Sid Richardson’s president at the time, said that the party’s
theme change to the future “Sidstock” was inevitable.
“Since [the party’s] conception, every year Sidizens have come forward and either talked to [resident associates] or masters about how the theme makes them feel,” Schmidt, a junior at Sid Richardson, said in a November 2015 edition of the Thresher.
So, with no tenure track to speak of, the party soon found itself fired from campus. This did not stop an unregistered Sid Seventh party “Lads in Plaids” from taking place on January 28, 2016, drawing inspiration from its predecessor.
Embarrassingly lacking in creativity and wildly unpopular, both “Sid Schoolgirls” and “Lads in Plaids” take whatever fun was left of school right out.
6. Sidstock
Sid Richardson’s subsequent dissolution of “Sid School Girls” led to the albeit better, but still lacking, theme of Sidstock in 2015. If the name can’t be trusted, the public likely follows suit. Etymology and inspiration from Woodstock — a music festival and reference unbeknownst to most — was neither creative nor clear.
Akeem Ogunkeye attended both parties and said that the party quality remained unchanged in a March 2015 edition of the Thresher.
“It was generally the same this year as
it was last year,” Ogunkeye, a then Jones College sophomore, said. “At the time I hadn’t even thought about [the theme], but if anyone complained, I would understand why it was changed. I’m okay with it.”
Finding Sidstock not memorable enough to leave a lasting impression, Sid Richardson College began hosting Sid ’80s.
5. Baker Christmas
Baker College hosted its first Christmasthemed public in 2016, registering itself as a public but limiting attendance to Bakerites only.
A September 2016 edition of the Thresher said the original plan was to throw a Baker-only event on the fourth floor. However, this plan was not accepted, so it was re-registered hours before the party as a campus-wide event, though only Baker students were in attendance.
In 2018, Baker Christmas was officially registered as a public event, paving the path for students and criticism alike, as the entire campus was invited to celebrate in September.
Simona Matovic, in an edition of the Backpage in September 2018 of the Thresher, gave her final thoughts on the party.
“On behalf of every South College resident taking this big loss, I’d like to wish Baker a merry power outage, from the bottom of my heart,” Matovic said.
Eventually, the decision to privatize Baker Christmas came in September 2023 after slanderous feedback on Fizz, according to Piper Winn, a former social committee head, in a September 2023 edition of the Thresher.
“The app was pretty much [nonBakerites] complaining about the music, the space being too big and empty, little things like that,” Winn said. “We did everything within our power to have it run smoothly, but there’s certain aspects that we didn’t have any ability to change.”
However, with the theme still not as bad as the previous parties, the public finds itself moving up in the ranks compared to the Thresher’s March 2023 article ranking Rice Publics where Baker found itself in an unfortunate dead last.
4. Lovett’s Night of the Macabre Casino Party
With first mentions of the public in April 1990, Lovett College’s Casino Night party withstood the test of time until 2012.
In 2011, with a theme that fell flat among students, the party saw its initial decline.
“Not many students were expected to attend due to the shitty Edgar Allan Poe theme,” according to a February 2011 edition of the Thresher.
In an attempt to regain face, a September 2011 edition of the Thresher reported, “Its extraterrestrial-themed party definitely left much costume potential to those with creativity and time. Unfortunately, most Rice undergrads lack both of these elements, and the result was a party riddled with the most terrestrial of clothing.”
The combination of close quarters and Lovett’s toaster-esque structural design left little room for air.
As Ryan Gupta, opinion editor at the time, stated in the same edition, “Too hot to handle. Literally.”
Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. To read more, visit ricethresher.org.
PHOEBE SCHOCKET / THRESHER
VIVIAN LANG / THRESHER
WILL PATEL FOR THE THRESHER
I’m Feelin’ 22
___ Arbor, Michigan Day after Wed. Tough guys, in hip-hop slang Flavortown mayor Fieri Sarcastic laugh sound Opposite of friend “___ ____ fits all” New Deal Pres. Door decor
Own up to Lyric “Meet me in the pouring ____” Covered with suds White _____ National Park Lyric “You are the best thing that’s ever been ____”
Anesthetized
Egypt’s official language Pirate’s leg Sideways pass “___ we there yet?”
Pres. Lincoln
Id counterpart
Opposite of peace
Texter’s “are you busy right now?”
Coordinating change: former and future coordinators on O-Week
After her Orientation Week experience, Alessa Elkareh knew she wanted to advise. However, when she told her friends, she was met with doubt.
“I really loved O-Week when I did it … And obviously I was going to apply to advise,” Elkareh said. “As I was applying, I was talking to one of my friends … and one of them was like, ‘Why would you do that?’ That conversation really opened my eyes to see that O-Week when I was a freshman catered to an outgoing person with a very high social battery and did not really consider other types of personalities.”
Elkareh said that this very gap inspired her to become one of Baker College’s 2024 O-Week coordinators.
“O-Week was so great for me and the college transition was something I was really scared for … I wouldn’t change a thing about what happened to me during these college years because it’s been so transformative,” Elkareh, a Baker College junior, said. “And realizing that not everyone felt the same way, I wanted everyone to feel that way.”
Francesca Nemati, McMurtry College’s 2024 O-Week coordinator, also said she took pride in being able to make changes to O-Week traditions.
“At McMurtry, we have this McScottish dancing that we do during O-Week. In the past it’s been on Zoom, but it’s no fun to dance on Zoom,” Nemati, a McMurtry College junior, said. “This year, we got actual real life instructors. That was something I pushed for and something that we were able to do. I was really happy about that. ”
Editor’s Note: Nemati is the Rice Thresher’s Photo Editor.
Cory Voskanian said he considered applying to coordinate so he could implement changes to Martel College’s O-Week next year.
“I really enjoyed O-Week, but I also saw a lot of change that could be added, and I really wanted to be able to work with it and support it next year,” Voskanian, a Martel College freshman, said.
Despite his initial excitement, Voskanian said he was unable to apply because of his plans to study abroad.
“June 7 is the move-in date on campus,
but the latest you can be here is June 14, when they begin having in-person meetings,” Voskanian said. “And while a lot of it can be done over Google Drive, there’s a lot of in-person bonding that happens on campus … With study abroad, I just really had to prioritize which one I wanted to do.”
Another applicant, Logan Betkey, said she also felt the time commitment required could pose a challenge.
“For me particularly, there’s nervousness around balancing being a [coordinator] with being a student-athlete. It’s definitely going to be a challenge, but it’s something I’m really passionate about,” Betkey, a Martel sophomore and member of the swimming and diving team, said.
Barakat Ibrahim, the current student director for O-Week and former Wiess College O-Week coordinator, said that the summer time commitment for coordinating is a challenge for many students.
“You’re giving up a summer, so first of all, you have to be privileged to do so … I understand how privileged I am … I didn’t have to spend my summer with a full-time job or taking care of my family,” Ibrahim, a senior, said. “For some majors, having an internship is really necessary to succeed. And if you’re restricted to having that internship in Houston, you may not have as many opportunities.”
There’s a lot of work that goes into it, so it scares a lot of people away from applying. So for some colleges, if they get three applicants ... that’s just who they’re going to have to take.
Aidan Silva MARTEL O-WEEK COORDINATOR, ‘25
Elkareh agreed that internships and the job’s pay are barriers to coordinating.
“[Coordinating] is a big job — it takes up a lot of your time and the pay that you get is something we’re grateful for for sure,” Elkareh said. “But if you were to do the math to see per-hour pay that that
“A long time ___, in a galaxy far, far away...”
Convent resident Bill ___ the Science Guy
Number of days in April
Lyric
gets you, it’s like, cents. For a lot of majors, especially in a school like Rice, where people feel like they have to be ahead all the time, not doing something productive with your summer is something people worry about.”
Because of these limitations, some colleges only receive a few applications for coordinators. Aidan Silva, a Duncan College junior, said he coordinated at Martel College for this very reason.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it, so it scares a lot of people away from applying. So for some colleges, if they get three applicants and only three, that’s just who they’re going to have to take,” Silva said.
Silva said the college culture is also a factor in the number of people applying.
“Martel is one of the quieter colleges,” Silva said. “There’s a strong culture, but it’s not a loud culture as opposed to Sid that’s pretty spirited. They’re loud. They have tons of traditions and I think having that loud-spirited community kind of plays into it as well.”
Silva said that despite being from Duncan, he felt welcomed as a coordinator at Martel.
“I think by the time it got to the summer, or even in adviser training, it really didn’t even feel like I was from a different college anymore,” Silva said. “I just felt so involved. At that point, there
wasn’t anything keeping me from being any different.”
Elkareh said that being a co-coordinator also added to the sense of community she felt.
“I was really excited to work in a team, but I didn’t realize how much bonding we would have through all these things,” Elkareh said. “And how much fun we had doing rooming. We were all in a study room in Kraft with whiteboards filled with students’ names and descriptions … and we’re trying to match people up and joking around and also getting to know each other really well.”
Being a coordinator and working with others also taught Elkareh about herself, she said.
“I think that they knew better when I needed to take a break than I did and vice versa, being able to say ‘Hey, you seem stressed like right now,’ … So like being surrounded by them, I learned about myself as well through that,” Elkareh said.
Despite the high commitment and challenges that come with being an O-Week coordinator, students shared that they are very passionate about the job.
Betkey, who submitted her application last Friday, said she is looking forward to the role if she gets it.
Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. To read more, visit ricethresher.org.
COURTESY ZEISHA BENNETT Baker, McMurtry and Duncan College coordinators pose in front of the Sallyport during O-Week 2024.
LILY HARVEY THRESHER STAFF
A latte love: Sip on these Houston brews
fitting for the lively atmosphere at all hours. If you can secure a spot, it’s the perfect place to chat, study or just enjoy the ambiance.
monsteras and succulents. Continuing its green theme, the menu offers six different types of matcha as well as unique syrups like maple basil, golden milk and lavender bergamot. If you’re not one for coffee or plants, the shop also puts on movies, workshops and yoga classes at Eden POST.
Luce Coffee Roasters
Luce, with multiple locations, is a nearby staple that opened in 2017 after its counterpart in South Korea. Though its Richmond Ave. location is small, it’s a good homework spot or site for your next coffee run. If you prefer classics, try the hazelnut macchiato or iced honey vanilla latte. If you want to spice it up, order the strawberry ice tea or Black Island, a specialty drink with espresso, coconut and charcoal.
Tout Suite
Looking to escape campus to study for finals? In search of a caffeine
these local Houston spots.
Agora Agora is your signature late night cafe. The Greek coffeehouse and bar is located in Montrose and stays open until 2 a.m. every night. Its wooden interior and two floors promise a homey living room-like feel. Need a pick-me-up? Agora offers baked goods ranging from baklava and alfajores to vegan cinnamon rolls, as well as unique drinks like lavender matcha, pistachio lattes and Vietnamese iced coffee. The word agora means gathering place in Greek, which is
Black Hole Coffee House
If you’re feeling creative, Black Hole is a great artsy spot in Houston. Complete with bright colors and disco balls, it’s a perfect place to check out if you’re feeling spaced out. It also offers unique drinks like the cajeta and maté lattes, and is open until 10 p.m. If you look closely, you might even spot a ktru poster adorning the back wall. While somewhat small in size, the cozy atmosphere of Black Hole will be sure to suck you in.
Eden Plant Co.
If you’re a plant lover, Eden Plant Co. is the place for you. The cafe is practically covered in green; its interior is lined with pothos,
Tout Suite, located in downtown Houston, is the perfect cross between bakery and cafe, modern and classic. Its wooden elements and warm lighting are inviting, and it always has a good playlist on. If you’re looking for a spot to eat all day, Tout Suite is it. It promises plenty of seating and has breakfast, lunch and snack options, from bakery goods like macarons and strawberries and cream croissants to açai and chicken and waffles, as well as interesting drink combinations like strawberry butterfly tea lemonade and turmeric lemonade.
La La Land Kind Cafe
Unlike the movie, the store La La Land ensures that you’ll walk out smiling. The shop prides itself on spreading kindness, and its yellow color theme and heart-shaped straws are sure to lift your spirits. And if you’re a fan of matcha, it’s definitely worth visiting — the menu features matcha drinks like the strawberry fields and lavender bloom lattes. If you’re not a fan, you can also opt for a pumpkin spice chai, french toast latte or mango passionfruit cooler.
Fall Chamber Music Festival shines
Serenades and sonatas rang through the hall as the Shepherd School of Music hosted its annual Fall Chamber Music Festival this past weekend. Students took the stage in small groups, performing on clarinet, piano and more.
The Fall Chamber Music Festival, first held in 2005, allows students to perform in chamber music groups. Chamber music is a form of small ensemble performance performed without a director, usually featuring a variation of a piano and string instruments. The nine-concert event took place over three days.
According to violinist Will Joseloff, performers worked through a demanding schedule and received coaching from professors in preparation for the festival. Chamber music performances are required for music students, as well as orchestra and solo work.
“We worked really hard … there’s four movements in the piece, and we just worked on it slow at first, then we came up with musical ideas, and then we performed it a few times in preparation for the concert,” Joseloff, a Sid Richardson College junior, said.
Joseloff said his group rehearsed for hours every week, in addition to one-hour coaching sessions with professors. Prestin Kim, a cellist, said he felt the coaching was crucial for the success of the performances.
“Coaching was helpful because,
besides the usual fine-tuning and technical things, Professor [Desmond] Hoebig gave us a lot of inspiration for unique musical ideas and phrases,” Kim, a Lovett College freshman, said.
In addition to the coaching, Joseloff said that the collaborative nature of the chamber music also challenged the students to perform in different ways.
“Chamber music is different than solo performances because you have to collaborate with different people and you have to listen to other people’s ideas. Solo performance, you can kind of do whatever you want,” Joseloff said. “It’s a very collaborative experience.”
Students performed 12 different composers and music across multiple centuries, blending a variety of musical
Shepherd School students perform at this year’s Fall Chamber Music Festival. The festival took place Nov. 15 to 17.
ideas and eras in each concert. The performances began with Schubert: String Quintet in C Major (D. 956), and ended with Dvořák: Quartet No. 11 in C Major. Audience members said they appreciated the highlevel chamber repertoire.
“I was blown away by how beautiful the performances were tonight … how intentional each player was on stage and how engaged they were with each other,” said Miyabi Henriksen, a McMurtry College junior.
“The performance was beautiful,” said Minji Kim, a Wiess College freshman. “The balance between the instruments was so clear.
“All of the expressivity was so beautiful, and everything matched very well.”
“I used some of the framing, some of the composition somebody like a classical Western filmmaker like John Ford would use to film this cowboy,” Henry said. “The only difference was this cowboy was gay … in some ways, Brian gave me the tools to subvert the Western genre by first helping me really understand what the Western genre did.”
These films helped solidify Henry’s passion for storytelling, especially his career-long interest in telling stories about marginalized people and communities.
“There was also a traveling show of films from NewFest in New York that was LGBTQ films, and it was the first time that that showcase traveled,” Henry said. “There was no LGBTQ film festival here in Houston, and those films coming here and being shown on Rice campus were really radical in the early ’90s. That opened up a whole world for me as a gay man, realizing that there were people like me all over the world too.”
Henry’s first foray into filmmaking came through Rice classes, particularly those taught by Huberman, who is still teaching at Rice today.
“There were so few film students, I think I was one of five or six,” Henry said. “It was kind of like you run the place, you had the key, you could get in any time. So many times I was there at the Rice Media Center until 2, 3, 4 in the morning, working on my films.”
Henry credits this freedom for fostering his work.
“The freedom that I had here gave me a tenacity and perseverance, and maybe my work is idiosyncratic because I go about it my way and not an institutional way,” Henry said.
Beyond the classroom, Henry, a Baker College graduate, found inspiration in Rice’s extracurricular theater scene. He wrote plays, produced readers’ theater, and participated in productions with the Rice Players and Baker Shakespeare.
“The freedom you have at Rice to kind of do anything — find money, be able to put on a show, and do it all extracurricular — gave me a ton of freedom,” Henry said. “Beyond the classes, which were incredible, it was the freedom to create these co-curricular projects that was really instrumental in giving me my tenacity and DIY spirit.”
For Henry, storytelling remains about transformation — observing people going through crises, changes, and growth.
“Is it worth watching? To me, human beings going through crises, going through transformation, are still really important for us, as other human beings, to watch,” Henry said.
Henry’s journey from biology hopeful to acclaimed filmmaker may have been unexpected, but it was forged through a willingness to explore, take risks, and tell the stories that spoke to him.
“I will continue to make work until I no longer can that continues to feel personal and I feel can transform me,” Henry said. “I hope that anyone who makes art approaches it for that reason because no audience, no critic, no rejection can then stop you from making your work, because then you know you’re making it mostly for yourself.”
FROM FRONT PAGE HENRY
boost, sweet treat or cozy fall vibes? Has your Tetra hit zero? Check out
LILY HARVEY THRESHER STAFF
ANGELICA HERNANDEZ THRESHER STAFF
SOLOMON NI / THRESHER
MARTIN XIE / THRESHER
Review: On ‘Shawn,’ Mendes is worth getting lost with
HUGO GERBICH PAIS SENIOR WRITER
With the release of his self-titled album “Shawn,” Shawn Mendes proves that men with abs can sing folk. The album, Mendes’ fifth, represents a marked shift from his previous work and is well worth a listen. To sell his more mature sound, he’s grown out stubble this time, though the shirt has stayed off (thankfully).
In a quiet and confessional voice, Mendes opens the album in a fitting way, singing: “Sorry, gotta do it, gotta let you down /Cause I don’t really know who I am right now.” His disillusionment and emptiness is reflected in the song’s simplicity — plain acoustic guitar and honest lyrics which make clear how he feels.
Mendes isn’t finding himself in this album. Instead he muses on the consequences of stepping away — from amorous entanglements and professional responsibilities — in order to find himself. He still doesn’t really know who he is, and this album is, in many ways, a celebration of this uncertainty. He interrogates his past, harnessing a folkier sound popularized by the likes of Noah Kahan, Hozier and Zach Bryan.
This new sound is epitomized by the album’s second song, and the first single off the album: “Why Why Why.” The folksy acoustic guitar, simple drum beat and yearning twang in his voice gives the song an infectious quality. In typical Mendes fashion, the lyrics are vulnerable and direct, singing in the bridge “I thought he was about to be a father, shook me to the core, I’m still a kid.” The song climaxes with a rich harmony and big sound, as Mendes displays his vocal control to express his
frustration at the fact that “everything goes round and round and round.”
In “Nobody Knows,” Mendes infuses his folkier sound with soul, as he tries to ascertain “where the love goes”. The result is lustful and elongated phrases sung over choir-like background vocals, coupled with beautiful acoustic guitar riffs which remind us of his new sound. Mendes’ musical exploration continues in “Isn’t That Enough.” The song is heavily influenced by country music, and I found that his nasal tone and the unignorable presence of the mandolin made the song a skip.
“Heavy” is the album’s best song. In it, an exasperated Mendes declares that he’s finally rewady to listen and let himself be helped. The song features a strong downbeat, percussive guitar and shakers which keeps the song aurally interesting. In the chorus, Mendes reaches into his upper register effortlessly and the gospel choir backing vocals give it an ethereal quality.
“Heart of Gold” is also exquisite, though it has a more conventional pop sound than the rest of the album.
About the death of his childhood friend, Mendes’ delicate and breathy singing contrasts nicely with the fast-tempo acoustic guitar and drums at the song’s core. While the lyrics are sorrowful, the upbeat and catchy rhythm brings a joyfulness to the song, rendering it a fitting celebration of his friends’ life.
Suffice to say that Mendes can play the acoustic guitar — it’s the star of the show in “The Mountain” and “Rollin’ Right Along.” In both songs, Mendes pairs acoustic guitar with conversational and understated singing. They’re very pleasant to listen to, but I didn’t find them particularly memorable, except for one lyric. In “The Mountain,” Mendes acknowledges the
speculation around his sexuality that has followed him since he first posted on YouTube, telling us that “you can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold.” However you interpret this line, it’s clear that Shawn Mendes doesn’t care — concluding the song with “I’ve never been better, so call it what you want.”
The album concludes with a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”; it’s a perfect song to highlight his voice. The song finishes with a series of “hallelujahs” sung over each other and elided together. To end the album in such a celestial way is fitting; as listeners, we are left confused but also at peace — much like Mendes himself.
Flicks to enjoy with friends and family this Thanksgiving
Many film fans discuss their favorite Christmas movies, Valentine’s Day movies and even Election Day movies, but Thanksgiving cinema is too often forgotten. Here at the Thresher, we want to acknowledge some of the best movies to see while enjoying a potluck, cooking for a Friendsgiving or spending a warm moment with loved ones this Thanksgiving break.
“The Royal Tenenbaums”
“The Royal Tenenbaums” doesn’t actually take place during Thanksgiving, but it is one of the best movies about family, which I think is the most important part of the holiday. Each scene in Wes Anderson’s masterwork depicts how our expectations of each other shape and change who we become and how we, as people, must reconcile with that. While not always a feel-good movie, its
authenticity and humor make it easy to see yourself on the screen. It reminds you why family is essential, which can be easy to lose sight of when Thanksgiving gets hectic.
— Jay Collura
“Spider-Man”
Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” set a lot of precedent for the superhero genre, but I can’t think of a contemporary that uses any holiday quite like this. Drawing on the very real feelings of stress that can dominate Thanksgiving, Raimi creates a hilariously tense depiction of the holiday in which Peter Parker a) is found out by the Green Goblin, b) deals with the fact his crush is dating his best friend, and c) has to eat what appears to be a pretty lackluster dinner spread prepared by Aunt May. Always be thankful you don’t have to deal with all that on Thanksgiving.
— Jay Collura
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
— Caleb Lin
Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox,” the movie adaptation of the classic childhood book by Roald Dahl, is a beautiful stop-motion film perfect for fall. Using vivid autumn imagery, charming woodland creatures and sequences of perilous poultry heists, Anderson tells the story of Mr. Fox and his family as they narrowly avoid death at the hands of farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean. Ultimately, Mr. Fox discovers the importance of community, selflessness and making sacrifices for the ones we love. And, of course, what Thanksgiving is truly about — “We’ll eat tonight, and we’ll eat together.”
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”
Through a simple but charming story, Charlie Brown and his friends teach us the true meaning of Thanksgiving as he hosts a last-minute dinner. With a calming fall soundtrack, a distinct lack of adults and a quick resolution, Charlie Brown encourages everyone to remember why we enjoy this holiday. While only 25 minutes, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” is a part of many people’s Thanksgiving traditions for a reason. If you’re looking to get into the Thanksgiving spirit, grab a piece of toast, jelly beans, pretzel sticks and popcorn, and take a few minutes to enjoy this classic.
— Angelica Hernandez
“Planes, Trains, & Automobiles”
John Hughes’ “Planes, Trains, & Automobiles” is the quintessential Thanksgiving movie, capturing the chaos and comedy of the holiday season. Starring Steve Martin and John Candy, this film follows the misadventures of Neal Page and Del Griffith as they try to get home in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Their journey is filled with mishaps, misunderstandings and moments of genuine connection, reminding the audience of the importance of patience, kindness and humor during the holiday season — as difficult as they may be to muster when cooped up with your loved ones for a week. This film argues that, despite the chaos, Thanksgiving is a tender time of coming together.
— Arman Saxena
ASHLEY ZHANG / THRESHER
Top Track: ‘Heavy’
ISLAND RECORDS
Owls prepare for midseason meet with championship mindset
ANA RIVERA THRESHER STAFF
As the swim team reaches the midpoint of their season, the Owls are focused on refining their approach, embracing a culture of accountability and pushing themselves to excel at the AAC Championships and NCAA competitions, according to senior swimmer Arielle Hayon.
Hayon, recently named AAC Swimmer of the Week, provided insight into the demanding nature of the team’s current training.
“We’re definitely in the thick of a lot of really hard training,” Hayon said. “Right now, it’s more about executing races well and staying consistent rather than hitting our best times. We’re pushing through, knowing that our peak is yet to come.”
going to require everyone stepping up.”
Head coach Seth Huston said that the team is aiming to improve both physically and mentally, changing how they approach competition. One of the significant adjustments has been the introduction of detailed meet scripting, which helps athletes plan their race-day routines.
“We’re spending a lot of time on planning everything out, from race-day nutrition to mental preparation,” Huston said. “The idea is to be prepared for anything so that on race day, the athletes are ready to execute rather than react. Competing is stressful enough, so having a plan makes a huge difference.”
The big personal goal for me is to make a final at NCAA Championships. For the team, winning a conference championship is huge for us. We know it’s within reach, but it’s going to require everyone stepping up.
Arielle Hayon SENIOR SWIMMER
Hayon, who has qualified for the NCAA Championships three times but has yet to make a final, has set high personal and team goals for her final season.
“The big personal goal for me is to make a final at NCAA Championships,” Hayon said. “I’ve been close for the past three years, and it’s time to take that next step. For the team, winning a conference championship is huge for us. We know it’s within reach, but it’s
The team’s younger members have also played a crucial role in the season’s development, Huston said.
“Our freshmen have meshed very well with the team,” Huston said. “They bring a great competitive spirit and are already contributing at a high level. It’s not easy for newcomers to step into that environment, but they’ve done so impressively.”
Hayon echoed this, and said the freshmen have brought a boost in energy and competition.
“Training with them has been really motivating,” Hayon said. “We’re all really
pushing each other, which is exactly what we need. It’s exciting to have younger swimmers who are eager to race and compete at a high level.”
Accountability has become a cornerstone of the team’s culture this year, a shift that both Hayon and Huston said was essential.
“We’ve made it a priority to support each other while also making sure everyone is meeting our standards,” Hayon said. “It’s about being honest and upfront when things need to be addressed, but it comes from a place of wanting to see each other succeed.”
The upcoming midseason meet will be a crucial test for the Owls, according to Huston.
“It’s a great evaluation tool,” Huston said. “We’ll see how we manage a multiday competition and what adjustments
we need to make before conference. The good thing is, we have time—December, January and most of February—to refine and get better.”
The addition of a diving team this year also brings new opportunities and challenges.
“Having divers on the team for the first time will change how we compete at the conference level,” Hayon said. “It’s an exciting new dynamic, and I’m looking forward to seeing how they contribute to our overall success. If we stay resilient, competitive and focused, I believe we can accomplish something great.”
The Owls are gearing up to compete at the Phill Hansel Invitational, hosted by the University of Houston, from Nov. 20 to 22.
Sports Mini #6
KAIRI MANO / THRESHER
Arielle Hayon swims Oct. 11 at the Rice Fall Splash. Hayon has qualified for the NCAA Championships the past three years.
KAIRI MANO / THRESHER
Junior Lily Cramer swims the breastsroke at the Rice Fall Splash Oct. 11.
KAIRI MANO / THRESHER
The swim and dive team cheers on the pool deck during the Rice Fall Splash Oct. 11.
Booster offers $10,000 to break attendance record
ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
On the second day of the 2025 spring semester, Jan. 14, Rice men’s basketball will play their first home game of the semester against the University of Texas at San Antonio. As with most athletics events, there will be prizes given out to entice student attendance, but this time around it is a little different.
Basketball booster and alum Randy Block ’94 has promised $10,000 to each college with a shooter who makes a blindfolded shot from the opposite freethrow line along with $500 to the college with the most students in attendance, the loudest college and each college shooter that makes a halfcourt shot.
Block is offering these prizes in an effort to break the student attendance record in Tudor Fieldhouse.
In an email to the Thresher, Block laid out exactly how this money will be distributed:
Nguyen, on top of funding new traditions for Bakerites, they would use this money to support future sports attendance.
“Since the fund is coming from an athletic event, I would encourage that a portion of the funds are used to support our student-athletes, such as finding ways to encourage Bakerites to attend more athletic events,” Nguyen said.
In preparation for the Jan. 14 game, colleges will choose a shooter for both the half-court shot and the blindfolded, 75-foot shot from the opposite free-throw line. At Will Rice College, the selection process will be just as competitive as the real competition.
“[We’d do a] battle royale,” Felipe Lerner, the Will Rice College president, said.
The 75-foot shot would be the seventh longest in NBA history.
Let’s pack Tudor and see if a student can take $10,000 from me to support their college!
Randy Block BOOSTER ALUM ‘94
“$500 to the college with the most students in attendance!”
“$500 to the college that is the loudest and rowdiest!”
“$500 to each college whose Shooter makes a half-court shot!”
“$10,000 to each college whose Shooter makes a blindfolded shot from the opposite free throw line!”
Any of these prizes would give colleges the opportunity to invest in a number of resources and activities. According to Baker College President Lynn-Chi
While it may be very difficult, Block would have to pay out $116,500 if every college manages to make this shot along with the halfcourt shot, a number which Block explained he’d “absolutely” give up.
Regardless of the outcome, Block said that he hopes this challenge can pack Tudor Fieldhouse and encourage students to show out to the game as a united front, creating a special environment for the men’s basketball team.
“In Rice’s history, this type of big cash has never been offered for a college challenge at a sporting event,” Block said. “Let’s pack Tudor and see if a student can take $10,000 from me to support their college!”
Putting the 75-foot shot into perspective:
Steph Curry’s longest shot was 62 feet
The WNBA 3-point line distance is 22 feet, 1.75 inches
The NBA 3-point line distance is 23 feet, 9 inches
Caitlin Clark’s avg. distance of made three-pointers in the 2024 season is 28 feet, 1.1 inches
75 feet is equal to the wingspan of approximately 16 great horned owls
Payton Pritchard’s buzzer beater in the 2024 NBA Finals was 48.96 feet
Jonathan Edwards’ triple jump world record is 60 feet
Almost 11 Shaquille O’Neal’s stacked on top of each other
The length of a soccer penalty box is 54 feet
What can a college do with $10k?
Everyone in the college gets $25, assuming 400 students in the college
10 people get $1,000
20 Meta VR headsets
A 2014 Chevrolet camaro LT Coupe 2D for $7,800 on Facebook Marketplace
400 potatoes with the college president’s face on them
2,500 matcha lattes from Chaus
2,857 blueberry muffins from Chaus
0.11 of a Bitcoin as of today
1 Bitcoin on Nov. 2021
New props amplify energy
As the basketball season begins, fans may find the student section filled with new chants, signs and a larger-than-life foam cutout of Shrek’s face. Megan Vila, assistant director of marketing for Rice Athletics, has developed new props to raise school spirit and increase the energy at games, she said.
Drawing inspiration from her previous role at Washington State University, Vila prepares chant sheets for the student section for every game. Each sheet lists Rice-specific cheers for the students to yell out during the game to support the Owls and heckle the opponents.
“The purpose of the sheets is to amplify the energy the students already bring to the game,” Vila said. We want to hype them up more and get them more into the mood.
On the other side of the sheet, Vila reports the rosters for both teams, making it easier for fans to identify and support players. Alternatively, students can use the opposing team’s roster to distract them.
The flyers mostly build on pre-existing chants and cheers that Rice has used for decades, but Vila said she also utilizes the collaborative environment of the marketing office to write the flyers.
“My boss, our marketing assistant and I come up with new chants ourselves,” Vila said. “We have [student] interns that come into the office, and they’ll do the bottom section of the sheet that talks about the opposing team.”
In addition to laying down the flyers on the seats in the student section, Vila has begun to put newspapers out — but not for actual reading. When Vila was in high school, she said, two rival schools would bring newspapers to their basketball games.
“During visiting lineups, they would hold them up and read them just to kind of play on the theme of hating the other opponent,” Vila said.
Vila’s final project to date uses memes to distract the opposing team. She mounted big cutout photos of characters and celebrities from popular culture for students to wave. As an opponent steps to the free-throw line to take a shot, students can yell and shake the cutouts to capture the player’s attention, so that they miss the shot, benefitting the Rice team.
Vila has also started playing memes on the scoreboard. Even though the player’s back is to the screen, they can see the reflection of the meme directly on the backboard.
Abigail Zimmerman said though she was confused at first, ultimately she enjoyed the new memes. Zimmerman attended the men’s basketball game Nov. 16 against Northwestern State University and the women’s basketball game Nov. 17 against Sam Houston State University.
“I thought that it was goofy,” Zimmerman, a Sid Richardson College junior, said. “At first I thought it was just one meme, not multiple. I appreciate the whimsical spirit it brought to the game.”
Vila said she noticed the positive student reaction to her efforts.
“The students definitely get into it,” Villa said. “When I look over from my table, I see everyone pointing at the video board, holding the memes up or starting their own chant that’s not even on the sheet. It lets me know that it’s working and that the atmosphere is enjoyable for them.”
Rice Rally co-president Hannah Wixom said she thinks students are excited to get involved in new ways at the games.
“It helps everyone be on the same page with cheers and traditions,” Wixom, a Sid Richardson junior, said.
Vila said that the students already do a great job building enthusiasm for the game and uplifting the players, but believes there is always room to make it even better.
“My goal is to amplify the experience for students that already has been established at Rice,” Vila said.
EDITORIAL CARTOON
“I definitely can make this shot.”
HONG LIN TSAI / THRESHER
DIEGO PALOS RODRIGUEZ
EVIE VU THRESHER STAFF
CAYDEN CHEN / THRESHER Rice students cheer on the women’s basketball team in their victory against the University of Houston Nov. 14.
November 20, 2024
Find groups of four items that share something in common. Each puzzle has exactly one solution. Watch out for words that seem to belong to multiple categories! Answers are printed at the bottom of the page.
