Wiess College hosted Masks After Dark on Jan. 25, its inaugural new public, which debuted months after administration permanently canceled the Night of Decadence. NOD, Wiess’ themed underwear party, had run for five decades — and was so risqué, it allegedly garnered Playboy attention — before excessive drinking and hospitalizations drove the party to its early death in October 2023.
Isabelle Shen and Rocio Gras, Wiess’ socials vice presidents, said they learned of NOD’s cancellation along with the rest of the student body on June 5. After brainstorming new public themes and soliciting student input, “Masks After Dark” was announced in October as the college’s new party.
“[We were] a little surprised since we
hadn’t been told beforehand, but also a little worried, honestly,” Shen wrote in an email to the Thresher. “There was so much for us to put together now [that] we had to start from scratch.”
Wiess students voted on several possible themes, including options like Roaring ’20s, Aprés Ski-yee and Night at the Museum. After settling on a masquerade theme, Wiess socials opted to create the MAD acronym, loosely based on NOD’s tradition, Shen said.
MAD marks a change from other publics with a semi-formal dress code encouraged. Shen said that students did wear the suggested attire.
“We advertised MAD as a semiformal public … and [administration] specifically asked for us to emphasize that clothes are required, as they initially feared students would continue treating the public like NOD,” Shen wrote.
Even when we pushed hard for some aspects, such as it being inside, to remain the same, they were very firm and would not allow us to take charge of that.
Isabelle Shen WIESS SOCIAL VICE PRESIDENT
SA announces election timeline
‘Breath(e)’ brings climate conversations from California to the Gulf Coast
A 3D-printed sculpture of the Houston skyline is slowly being eaten away by plastic-consuming enzymes at the Moody Center for the Arts. The piece is part of the center’s newest exhibition, “Breathe(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice,” which opened Friday, Jan. 24.
“Breath(e)” is an interdisciplinary exploration of the climate crisis and environmental justice and features works by 14 artists globally.
The gradually disintegrating Houston skyline piece was created by artist Xin Lu, artist-in-residence at Rice’s Houston Asian American Archive, in collaboration with the George N. Phillips, Jr. lab at the BioScience Research Collaborative. It stands alongside other works, including painting, sculpture and video, according to Erin Rolfs, marketing and communications director at the Moody.
“This exhibition … extends the academic conversation about sustainability, which is a focus for so many disciplines at Rice, to include artists who explore the climate crisis and environmental justice,” Rolfs wrote in an email to the Thresher.
According to Rolfs, “Breath(e)” is a traveling exhibition that originated at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and has been reimagined to respond to the Gulf Coast region and the unique architecture of the Moody Center. The exhibit was organized by Alison Weaver, executive director at the Moody, and will be on view through May 10.
ABIGAIL CHIU THRESHER STAFF
SHREYA CHALLA SENIOR WRITER
BRYAN MENDOZA / THRESHER
Future of Rice research uncertain amid possible federal funding freeze
ABIGAIL CHIU THRESHER STAFF
The White House announced a pause on all federal grants and loans Jan. 27. The freeze was slated to go into effect Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. EST — just minutes before the clock hit, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, effective until Feb. 3.
The Office of Management and Budget issued a memorandum requiring that federal agencies must identify and review all federal financial assistance programs and halt those that do not align with the Trump administration’s stated agenda.
“Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all Federal financial assistance, and other relevant agency activities that may be implicated by the executive orders, including, but not limited to, financial assistance for foreign aid, nongovernmental organizations,
DEI, woke gender ideology and the green new deal,” the memo reads.
Rice University has received $1.9 billion in total federal awards, including $1.6 billion in federal grants, since 2002.
The university saw a record-high grant award total in 2023, receiving $121.8 million in federal grant funding. Rice also received $167 million and $155 million in 2024 and 2023 respectively from federal grants and contracts, according to their financial statements.
The National Science Foundation, which awarded the Rice-based Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Center $16.5 million and Rice’s OpenStax $90 million, canceled all of its grant review panels this week and froze its grant review process in response to the executive orders.
The impact on future funding is unclear as federal agencies pause
activities related to disbursing financial assistance, with over 2,000 agencies under review.
Pell Grants and federal direct student loans are not impacted by the executive order, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education later told the New York Times. Rice disbursed $152 million in grant and scholarship money to undergraduate students last year, said Paul Negrete, executive director of university financial aid services, in a Jan. 27 Senate meeting. Negrete was in attendance to deliver a presentation on Rice’s financial aid policies.
In a statement to the Thresher, Negrete later said “the Office of Management and Budget and U.S. Department of Education clarified Title IV federal student aid is not included in the temporary pause of federal financial assistance programs.
“In addition, the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs confirmed GI Bill payments are not included in the federal pause.”
The majority of Rice’s aid funding is raised internally, and only 5% comes from federal or state sources, Negrete said at the Jan. 27 Senate. Negrete also said Rice has a zero-loan policy, where any aid received from Rice will be made up of grant aid and institutional aid based on income level, not federal loans.
“Rice University is closely monitoring the temporary pause on federal financial assistance programs and assessing its potential impact on areas like research and student financial aid,” university spokesperson Chris Stipes wrote in a statement to the Thresher. “We are committed to providing our students, faculty and staff with the information and support they need as we better understand the impact of the pause.”
Nicole Waligora-Davis wants to ‘reach students where they are’ as new associate dean of humanities
THRESHER STAFF
The School of Humanities announced Nicole Waligora-Davis as the new associate dean of humanities Jan. 21. Waligora-Davis will replace Natasha Bowdoin as one of the associate deans, with the other being Fay Yarbrough.
WaligoraDavis said one of her goals was to increase the prominence of the humanities at Rice.
“We are a premier site for research and innovation, for curricular innovation, for experiential and engaged learning.
I see my job is one of heightening and underscoring the visibility of that active work that’s already happening and providing pathways to continue to expand that work and make it ever more accessible to more and more students on our campus,” Waligora-Davis said.
email to the Thresher. “Associate Dean Waligora-Davis has served as associate chair and director of graduate studies in the English department and has also served on university-level dean search committees and advisory committees. She brings exceptionally strong experience to the dean’s office.”
For Landry Wood, an English major who took Waligora-Davis’ Morrison and Faulkner seminar, the quality of her classes displayed her dedication to the topic.
I think having someone in the Dean’s office that is really good [not only] at bridging the gaps between faculty members and departments, but also with community partners is really ideal because you get deeper and richer resources and opportunities when you’re able to think outside of more mainstream channels.
Margarita Castromán Soto ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH
After coming to Rice in 2008 as a professor of English, Waligora-Davis helped to found the Center for African and African American Studies. She sits on the advisory board for the Center for Civic Leadership and teaches English classes with a focus on 19th and 20thcentury African American literature.
According to Dean of Humanities Kathleen Canning, the process of choosing the new associate dean took months to complete.
“The associate dean position is one for which the dean reviews tenured colleagues in the school and assesses the leadership experience of any faculty members who are under consideration,” Canning wrote in an
“She’s so passionate about the things that she sets out to do, and just how well prepared [she is],” Wood, a Hanszen College junior, said. “These were once a week, threehour classes, and pretty much down to the minute she was prepared, and filled the whole time with interesting, pertinent, well thought-out stuff, which is really impressive.”
Waligora-Davis also served as a faculty mentor to assistant professor Margarita Castromán Soto when she joined Rice as a junior faculty member in 2020. During this time, Castromán said that her time under Waligora-Davis’ wing was encouraging.
“She would go out of her way to make sure that I felt seen,” Castromán said.
“I was on maternity leave in the spring, and she came over with not just food, but with a present for the baby and a present for my six-year-old, so that my six-year-old wouldn’t feel awkward that the baby was getting all the attention. She’s just someone who really goes the extra mile.”
Castromán said Waligora-Davis’ ability to build connections with others
makes her a good fit for the associate dean role.
on a personal level with so many people. She does the same with community partnerships, and she’s worked with the Center for Civic Leadership, for example,” Castromán said.
WaligoraDavis emphasized the importance of making the humanities accessible to students.
“I think having someone in the Dean’s office that is really good [not only] at bridging the gaps between faculty members and departments, but also with community partners is really ideal because you get deeper and richer resources and opportunities when you’re able to think outside of more mainstream channels.”
I’m trying to use this time in these early weeks to get a sense of the range of activity that’s already occurring within the school, and how to leverage that activity that’s already occurring into ways that can increase its visibility and accessibility to students.
Nicole Waligora-Davis ASSOCIATE DEAN OF HUMANITIES
“I’m only two or three weeks in, and I’m trying to use this time in these early weeks to get a sense of the range of activity that’s already occurring within the school, and how to leverage that activity that’s already occurring into ways that can increase its visibility and accessibility to students,” Waligora-Davis said. “I’m invested in figuring out ways to reach students where they are.”
HONGTAO HU
KATHERINE HUI / THRESHER
Rice climate scientists say more freezes to come
HOPE YANG THRESHER STAFF
Winter Storm Enzo, which brought snow to Houston and halted operations at Rice Tuesday Jan. 21, may suggest similar weather events to come in the future. As a result of climate change, students can expect warmer Decembers and sudden frigid weather, Office of Sustainability executive director Richard Johnson said.
“You get the prospect that Rice students will wear shorts and t-shirts more frequently in the winter, and, yet, have opportunities for a snowball fight on Founders Court,” Johnson, an environmental studies professor, wrote in an email to the Thresher.
Dining] didn’t salt, but they sanded the staircases around campus so people didn’t slip in that.”
DEXA body composition scans available at Rec
The Rice Recreation Center recently introduced Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry scans, which Anatolia Vick-Kregel, senior associate director of health and well-being at Rice, described as a cutting-edge method for body composition analysis. DEXA scans provide a detailed breakdown of muscle mass, body fat percentage and bone mineral density.
understanding of where I’m at,” Sundararajan, a Sid Richardson College junior, said. “It showed I had less fat than I expected, especially around my organs. That information is invaluable.”
The Rec also provides informational documents to help users interpret their results, a necessary shift after high demand made one-onone consultations unsustainable, according to Vick-Kregel.
Like Winter Storm Uri, which struck Houston in 2021, Winter Storm Enzo resulted from an arctic air mass traveling southward and interacting with lowpressure systems in the Gulf of Mexico. Increasing temperatures in the Arctic regions may worsen this phenomenon by weakening the polar jet stream, a band of fast-moving winds acting as a barrier to contain the air in the North Pole known as the polar vortex. With the jet stream weakened, frigid air could surge to lower latitudes, Johnson said.
Student Association Environmental Commission cochair Audrey Arroyave said that the storm was unexpected for students.
The Incident Management Team also wrapped pipes and helped gather food and supplies according to Beth Leaver, executive director of Housing and Dining.
“Our on-site first responder maintenance teams play a crucial role in mitigating immediate concerns and collaborating with the facilities team to ensure all buildings remain fully operational,” Leaver wrote in an email to the Thresher.
How do we help each other to weather such events?
Richard Johnson OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“I’m from the Houston area, so I grew up seeing … severe weather, and this was nothing like anything I’ve ever seen,” Arroyave, a Lovett College senior, said. “I think a lot of students kind of resonated with that because school was canceled so far ahead of time compared to previous years … Everyone was shocked by how serious this seems and how much snowfall we got.”
Houston’s infrastructure is not designed to support extreme weather events due to climate change, Johnson said.
“For many, Winter Storm Enzo was simply a fun snow day,” Johnson wrote. “Had we received several inches of ice instead of snow, the negative impacts would likely have been far greater, and we’d be thinking about what just happened in a different way.”
Rice Climate Association president Bryan Mendoza said there have been improvements since Winter Storm Uri in 2021, which caused power outages for 1.4 million people in the Houston area.
“I think [the storms] will get worse, but we are getting more resilient,” Mendoza, a Lovett senior, said. “I think Rice had a pretty good response … [Housing and
FROM FRONT PAGE MAD
DEBUTS
“The big changes to the public that most students didn’t like (completely different theme with completely different attire, date, outdoor public) were entirely [administration] and our magister’s decision, and we had no say in it. Even when we pushed hard for some aspects, such as it being inside, to remain the same, they were very firm and would not allow us to take charge of that.”
Bridget Gorman, dean of undergraduates, and Flavio Cunha, Wiess magister, did not provide comment in time for publication.
Students in attendance said they had mixed opinions on MAD, particularly about the newly-outdoors location change. Wiess sophomore Sergio Karam
Johnson said Rice has been investing in improving energy infrastructure to reduce the likelihood of power outages, and that social infrastructure is also important when facing climate change. “How do we help each other to weather such events?” Johnson wrote. “Especially those without a lot of resources … [who] suddenly have gone without power for an extended period and had to throw away their perishable food or had to live in a motel for a week, or worse still, if they don’t have a home to begin with?”
Mendoza said that the Rice campus and surrounding areas are relatively shielded from the effects of storms compared to underprivileged areas.
“In general, Rice and surrounding neighborhoods shouldn’t worry too much,” Mendoza said. “It’s more so lowerincome communities that should worry.”
Arroyave said Rice should take an assertive role in impacting energy policies that can influence climate change.
“I think Rice definitely has a big role in being a leading institution in Houston, and especially Houston being the energy capital and energy being a cause for [climate change],” Arroyave said. “There just needs to be more of a combined effort and with the support of [administration] as far as policies, as far as clean energy, as far as encouraging that and making that more public.”
said MAD was enjoyable, but couldn’t live up to NOD’s standards.
“It’s not as good as NOD, but I think given the circumstances, the social vice presidents did a great job. It couldn’t be as hyped up as NOD was, frankly,” Karam said. “The [vice presidents] put in a lot of work. This is a great party with what they were given.”
According to Vick-Kregel, these metrics can help individuals better understand their bodies and tailor fitness and nutrition strategies.
Anyone serious about fitness should do this.
KamRen Walls, a personal trainer at the Rec who used the scan, said he appreciated the actionable nature of the results.
Pranav Sundararajan
SID RICHARDSON COLLEGE JUNIOR
The initiative, launched Nov. 4, 2024, aims to make advanced health metrics widely accessible. Vick-Kregel said affordability was a driving force behind the program.
“We wanted to eliminate price as a barrier to this gold-standard tool,” VickKregel said. “Students, faculty and staff can access the scan for $30, which is significantly less than the $90 to $150 seen at other facilities.”
DEXA scans use low-dose X-rays to analyze an individual’s body composition. The scan provides measurements such as bone density, fat around organs and muscle mass and can guide users in creating personalized fitness and nutrition plans based on their unique metrics, Vick-Kregel said.
For fitness enthusiasts like Pranav Sundararajan, the scan offers clarity.
“I’m into bodybuilding, and this gave me a deeper
“It’s an eightpage report, but everything is easy to follow,” Walls, a Wiess College senior, said. “It breaks down body composition in a way that’s practical for setting health goals.”
Sundararajan said he would like to see room for further integration with other wellness initiatives.
“It would be great to see more structured packages that combine scans with personal training or nutrition counseling to create a more guided experience,” Sundararajan said.
Vick-Kregel noted that two of the Rec’s personal trainers are certified to administer DEXA scans and often discuss results with participants.
“The ultimate goal is to create new packages that tie DEXA results to services like personal training or nutrition consultations,” Vick-Kregel said. “This way, people aren’t left wondering, ‘I got a DEXA scan — now what?’”
Vick-Kregel recommends scheduling scans early in the morning on an empty stomach for optimal results. She also said the service is not limited to students: faculty, staff and even nonmembers of the Rice community can book scans, albeit at higher prices.
“I think it’s hard to throw an outdoor public because the space is so big, and it’s hard to make it as hype,” Lee said. “So it’s not Wiess’s fault, but it’s a little difficult to make the party fun. But they did a good job with the decorations, and I enjoyed the video of the Costco guys.”
It’s not as good as NOD, but I think given the circumstances, the social vice presidents did a great job. It couldn’t be as hyped up as NOD was, frankly.
Alexus Lee, a Will Rice College freshman, also said that the outdoor location made it difficult for MAD to keep the energy high.
Sergio Karam WIESS COLLEGE SOPHOMORE
Karlianna Kapche, a Duncan College freshman, said she appreciated the semi-formal theme but not the location.
“It was nice to have a more formal event, but maybe not outdoors,” Kapche said.
With over 200 scans conducted since the program’s launch, Vick-Kregel believes the DEXA scan initiative is only the beginning.
“This is part of a larger effort to integrate advanced health technology into Rice’s wellness ecosystem,” VickKregel said.
“Anyone serious about fitness should do this,” Sundararajan said. “It’s a checkpoint, a baseline. It shows where you are and where you can go.”
Other attendees like Matthew Edelstein, a Wiess senior, said that the party had a good turnout.
“I’m having such a good time. I think [attendance] is really good,” Edelstein said. “We voted for the theme. Even the people that don’t come out that often, they’re out tonight, and we are having fun.”
MAD drew negative comparisons to Martel’s Texas Party from Ava Yoder, a Duncan freshman.
“It’s giving Martel [Texas Party] in all the bad ways, unfortunately. But we’ve heard so much NOD lore and stories,” Yoder said. “In theory, [the theme] is good, but the masks are uncomfortable and inconvenient. I feel like it makes sense after the downfall of NOD for the first attempt to be not that great, but hopefully, it’ll be better in the future.”
CHARLIE CRUZ THRESHER STAFF
KONSTANTIN SAVVON / THRESHER
COURTESY KAMREN WALLS
The Student Association’s director of elections Natalie Wang announced the election timeline in a senate meeting this Monday. Campaigning begins on Feb. 12 and ends on Feb. 26, with the voting period open for a week afterwards. Election results will be announced March 6 around noon. Interested candidates can attend an
informational session Jan. 31 about petitions, which are due Feb. 5 at midnight.
Last year’s election received a voter turnout of 42.09%, nearly triple 2023’s turnout of 15.02%. Jae Kim was elected over Trevor Tobey for president, receiving 64% of first-place votes compared to Tobey’s 34.2%.
The ballot for this year contains races for the executive positions of president, internal vice president, external vice president, secretary and treasurer. In addition, four Honor Council positions from the sophomore to senior class, a total of 12, are up for election. Lastly, executive
Proposed amendments revamp constitution
JAMES CANCELARICH ASST. NEWS EDITOR
The Student Association Constitutional Revisions Committee announced four potential constitutional amendments at a Jan. 27 Senate meeting. The amendments include correcting typos, restructuring the blanket tax allocations process, clarifying election rules and potentially reshaping the power structure of the Senate.
In total, the current proposals encompass over 100 changes. These amendments will be presented on the spring ballot after discussion and editing by the Senate.
Also under consideration is an amendment to increase the blanket tax from $85 to $90 to account for inflation and a bylaw amendment to establish an academics commission. These amendments are not part of the CRC’s proposed changes.
Currently, Senate resolutions and amendments to bylaws require a twothirds majority of voting members of the Senate. The constitutional amendment reduces this to a simple majority but gives the SA president veto power, which can be overridden by a two-thirds Senate majority vote.
While the president does not vote on Senate legislation, the executive committee — consisting of four elected members — does vote. The amendments revoke this power but give the executive committee the power to set Senate agendas, a power previously reserved solely for the president. Under the amendments, the president would be able to break a tie within the Senate.
Some of the amendments check the power of the president, while others give new powers. SA Parliamentarian Trevor Tobey said that the amendments give more power to Senate voting members, while also allowing for greater collaboration between the executive committee and the legislature.
“We want there to be equitable representation from every residential college in the Senate, and that can’t happen when the executive committee is also voting,” Tobey said during the Senate meeting. “But we also empower the executive committee with the check on legislature with the veto power.”
Amendment number 2 also revises the impeachment process. The outcome of the initial process was bound by the decision of the University Court, while the proposed amendments require an additional two-thirds majority of Senate voting members to remove the accused if found to have committed an impeachable offense by the UCourt. Under the bylaws, blanket tax organizations’s leaders could be impeached. The amendment proposes that they be subject to the same impeachment process a member of the executive committee would undergo.
The proposed amendments also overhaul the blanket tax system. The proposed blanket tax committee removes two officers of blanket tax organizations
from the committee, replacing them with three student association senators, alongside the unchanged three student association members not holding leadership roles in blanket tax organizations. Instead of reviewing blanket tax proposals biennially, the amendment changes the review to an annual basis.
The changes, according to Tobey, eliminate any potential for a conflict of interest in the allocation of blanket tax funds.
“The idea behind getting rid of the blanket tax leaders on the committee is that it creates a clear conflict of interest when blanket tax leaders are making decisions on the committee, and obviously they don’t vote on their individual budgets, they recuse themselves, however, there’s a clear incentive for someone with whatever organization is, or at least the appearance of self interest there,” Tobey said.
The SA is funded by the blanket tax, but Tobey said that since Senate members are elected to their positions, and are part of a deliberative body, they would not have the same conflict of interest that blanket tax organization leaders could potentially have. The proposed amendment gives the Senate “ultimate authority” over the SA budget, the blanket tax and blanket tax organizations.
“The idea there is that the Student Association Senate has the final say on the finances and the budgets of allocating the blanket tax that we collect and give to blanket tax organizations,” Tobey said.
Another change in the proposed amendments would only allow elected senators to propose legislation to the SA, rather than any student association members, which currently include all undergraduate students. Tobey said the idea behind that change was not to disenfranchise members of the SA, but rather to limit potential legislation to items that at least one voting Senate member approves of.
One of the reasons for proposing the amendments, Tobey said, was to prevent UCourt investigations into the actions of the SA.
“After the UCourt case that overturned the newer constitution, there’s a lot of internal contradictions within not only the Constitution, but with the bylaws in the Constitution, and that makes it nearly impossible to govern other rules,” Tobey said. “We want clarity.”
Last year, a proposed amendment on the spring ballot was overturned after UCourt ruled that it was improperly represented on the ballot. Before that, UCourt ruled that a similar constitutional amendment was not ratified properly, not having achieved a 20% voter turnout, already after the SA had declared the amendment ratification successful.
“We want to be able to equitably apply the rules and procedures in the Constitution,” Tobey said. “That’s not possible when there’s in turn contradictions and problems with our processes and systems.”
positions of blanket tax organizations are on the ballot, including but not limited to the Rice Thresher’s Editor in Chief, Rice Program Council president and the University Court chair.
Also on the ballot will be a number of constitutional amendments, proposing, among other things, an increase in the blanket tax, a formation of an academics committee and sweeping revisions to the SA constitution.
Petitions to declare election candidacy are due to the RMC info desk Feb. 5, and campaign statements and pictures are due to Wang through the SA elections email.
On Feb. 10, Wang will be holding a candidate meeting for those who are running, to explain election regulations such as campaign financing.
Campaigns are expected to adhere to the same rules as last year’s special election, with the campaign season lasting two weeks from Feb. 12 at 7 a.m. to Feb. 26 at noon.
Students can find candidates’ statements and photos on the SA website when campaigning begins, and the Thresher will be hosting a Student Associate debate at Willy’s Pub during the two weeks of campaigning.
Rice Marriage Pact returns for third year
VIOLA HSIA ASST. NEWS EDITOR
This year’s iteration of the Rice Marriage Pact opened Wednesday, Jan. 22 via email. Matches will be released later this week, according to Allison He, Marriage Pact coordinator. The questionnaire closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday after a one-day extension due to a “lopsided” respondent pool that would leave 52 heterosexual men unmatched. According to He, 2217 students filled out the survey total.
He, a Hanszen College senior, said although the Marriage Pact coordinators were concerned the snow day and subsequent class cancellations would affect the number of participants, there were no issues with participation.
“I think if anything, people were participating in it, because it’s like, ‘What else are we gonna do?’” He said. “We’re always getting at least 50 percent of the student population, which is really good.”
According to Katie Lee, a Marriage Pact launch product manager, the two previous years of Rice Marriage Pact have increased familiarity with the survey and thus also increased turnout.
Lee’s role is to help introduce Marriage Pact to universities.
“This is just our third annual Marriage Pact so far,” Lee, McMurtry College senior, said.
were like, ‘Oh, is [the Marriage Pact] an extension?’” He said. “That’s why we pushed it earlier this year. We just wanted more people to have the opportunity to take it.”
Raven Shamoo, a Hanszen junior, said they appreciate the Marriage Pact giving them the ability to connect with others on campus.
We’re always getting at least 50 percent of the student population, which is really good.
Allison He
“We definitely have the advantage of people hearing about it from the previous two years that we’ve launched at Rice.”
MARRIAGE PACT COORDINATOR
Both He and Lee mentioned that this year was the first time the Marriage Pact did not launch simultaneously with Rice Program Council’s Crush Party — where students fill out a Google Form and are matched based on similarities in their answers – which typically happens around Valentine’s Day.
“Last year, we did it around the time of the RPC Crush Party, and [some] people
“A lot of the reason I do the Marriage Pact is just to meet new people, just to meet someone you might not get a chance to otherwise, either because they’re in a different major or a different residential college,” Shamoo said. “You might not cross each other’s paths unless you have this compatible person generator that’s like, ‘Hey, you two might get along.’”
Taylor Rosen, Hanszen ’24, said she met her current boyfriend through the Marriage Pact in 2023. She advises students to be honest when filling out the survey.
“It’s really easy when you fill [the survey] out, to fill it out how you wish you saw yourself,” Rosen said. “You should fill it out as you really are. You’re going to have a better chance of meeting someone who’s similar to you if you’re just honest about what you view yourself as.”
JENNIFER LIU / THRESHER
HONGTAO HU THRESHER STAFF
EDITORIAL
Proposed constitutional changes — or power grab?
Four months ago, the Student Association formed a special committee to review its constitution. Two days ago, members of the committee presented their findings, suggesting four major changes to functionally, they say, streamline the SA’s efficiency — granting them “ultimate authority” over Blanket Tax Organizations like student media and Rice Program Council, and eliminating BTO perspectives from the committee that disburses some $300,000 every year.
We read each proposed amendment, so you don’t have to. We’ll say what this looks like: a power grab.
We wonder what “ultimate authority” entails — at the Jan. 27 Senate, the committee (CRC, we guess — because nothing streamlines efficiency like another acronym) representatives said this means that the Senate would get final approval over the budgets for any and all BTOs.
But there is something more insidious here, too. At Senate, the CRC representatives discussed budgets, but didn’t clarify what “ultimate authority” over BTOs could look like. Will SA members have final say over the music played at ktru’s radio shows? Over the brand of condoms distributed at the Rice Women’s Resource Center? Over Beer Bike races, which demand endless months of extensive planning? Will we be impeached for writing this editorial?
We don’t know. That worries us. BTO leaders are elected by the student body to lead their respective groups — to keep the radio broadcasting, the newspaper
EDITORIAL CARTOON
printing, the health resources available, the traditions alive. Frankly, we don’t trust the SA to wield “ultimate authority” over these jobs.
Will SA members have final say over the music played at ktru’s radio shows? Over the brand of condoms distributed at the Rice Women’s Resource Center? ... Will we be impeached for writing this editorial?
Another constitutional change would remove the two BTO leaders from the committee that oversees the spending of Blanket Tax’s some $300,000. The Thresher has traditionally been represented on that committee.
At Senate, the CRC representatives called BTO presence a “conflict of interest.” Leaders are not permitted to vote on the budget of their own organizations, and any increased budget requests are thoroughly scrutinized, but we’re not surprised that the amendment didn’t seem to reflect this knowledge. According to minutes from every Blanket Tax Committee meeting since September, one of the CRC representatives — also the current parliamentarian, a non-voting member — has only attended once.
The new Blanket Tax Committee would only reflect the Student Association’s interests, without input from any other organization. We believe the federal government has a term for what this structure lacks: checks and balances.
We recognize the proposed addition of non-BTO students might mitigate this one-sidedness — though these members would be appointed by the SA president, we should add — but it’s not enough.
The SA and non-BTO members don’t know, for example, how much it costs to print a weekly newspaper or to secure the necessary food, drink, tents and supplies for Beer Bike.
The Thresher reports on the actions of the Senate and the Editorial Board endorses candidates in elections. If no one from the Thresher, or from any BTO, serves on the committee, who stops SA members from hypothetically slashing newspaper funds if we published a critical story? What if the committee is overseen by a treasurer — or president — we didn’t endorse in the election?
There’s more, too, that concerns us. Our first draft of this editorial was 900 words. We believe requiring SA voting members to sponsor any new legislation would discourage students from presenting new policies, and we don’t see the purpose in revoking the executive committee’s voting rights.
But we’ll circle back to the start, and pose a question to our readers. If the SA had “ultimate authority” over the Thresher, would you trust us?
We wouldn’t.
EDITORIAL STAFF
NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER
Food for thought: Introducing college Food Ambassadors
If you have ever seen — and then promptly ignored — the QR codes posted around the Rice serveries that invite students to leave feedback, the purpose of the Food Ambassador program should be clear to you. While the QR code signs may fade to the back of one’s subconscious, a familiar face might have more success.
Kyle Hardwick, senior executive chef and Beth Leaver, executive director of housing and dining, launched the food ambassadors program.
“In the fall of 2022, I was a guest speaker for HEAL 498: Special Topics
in Health Sciences (Public Health Nutrition), taught by Cassandra Diep, PhD,” Hardwick wrote in an email to the Thresher. “One group presentation discussed ways to engage the student population more through a food [representatives] program to better understand the student population and their food choices and preferences. This made me wonder how we could help build a stronger food rep-type program, and if that group of students could work with Housing & Dining directly.”
The ambassadors are overseen by Faith Richards, the assistant director of communications and marketing for H&D, and Clare Rezentes, the team’s registered dietitian. They, along with
executive dining staff, meet with the Food Ambassadors bi-weekly. During the meetings, they hear student feedback, discuss concerns and propose additions to the food offerings at Rice.
Richards said that this work is close to her heart due to her personal connection to dietary needs.
“As someone with celiac disease, I understand firsthand the challenges that come with navigating dining options with allergies or dietary needs,” Richards wrote in an email to the Thresher. “This work gives me the opportunity to connect with students who face similar challenges to me and ensure they have the best dining experience possible at Rice.”
Others in the program share Richards’
passion and motivation. During the Winter Storm Enzo, when Chef Hardwick put out a call for help, several ambassadors showed up to lend a hand in the serveries.
There are two food ambassadors from each college, in addition to representatives from the graduate student and off-campus populations.
Supplemental ambassadors who speak for other groups, such as studentathletes, are also a part of the team.
Though Olivia Seo, a Brown College food ambassador, has been involved since the beginning, she said the ambassadors are only getting started. The biggest issue
This work gives me the opportunity to connect with students who face similar challenges to me and ensure they have the best dining experience possible at Rice.
Faith Richards
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING FOR H&D
on the table currently is evaluating the new pilot dining schedule, according to Seo, a sophomore, but anticipating the future of a program based on flexibly responding to student preference and feedback is difficult.
“Moving forward, our goals are always going to be evolving to fit the needs of the student population. So I can’t really say what it’s gonna look like in the future,” Seo said. “We really just want students to have their best experience meal-wise, and I think we’re gonna do a lot of things just to go towards that goal.”
Cracking the hack: Rice alum wins RP2350 Hacking Challenge
Identify vulnerabilities, test strategies and defeat the enemy: to the right minds, hacking is much like winning a battle. Duncan College alumnus Aedan Cullen recently made waves in the cybersecurity and hardware engineering communities by hacking one of Raspberry Pi’s most secure microcontrollers, earning a $20,000 prize in the process. Cullen’s achievement was unveiled at the RP2350 Hacking Challenge hosted by Raspberry Pi and Hextree.
The challenge tasked participants with uncovering a hidden secret embedded within the RP2350 chip, a microcontroller boasting Raspberry Pi’s most advanced security features. Cullen’s process began with combing through the RP2350’s technical documentation in search of overlooked vulnerabilities.
He identified the chip’s one-time programmable memory as a weak point and hypothesized that a power supply fault could force the chip to boot in an insecure state. After meticulous testing, he successfully exploited the vulnerability, bypassing the chip’s defenses to unlock its secret.
“The RP2350 was designed with cutting-edge safeguards, but this challenge proved there’s always room to learn from creative approaches,” Cullen said. “I saw this as a fun opportunity to test unconventional ideas.”
Reflecting on the foundation of his skills, Cullen pointed to his time at Rice.
“Classes like [COMP 526]: High Performance Computer Architecture and [ELEC 522]: Advanced VLSI Design taught me to understand digital systems deeply, and I applied that knowledge here,” Cullen said. “The collaborative and exploratory culture at Rice gave me the tools to tackle challenges like this.”
Joseph Cavallaro, professor of electrical and computer engineering, taught Cullen in the computer architecture courses. Cavallaro praised Cullen’s creativity and technical skills, calling him a standout student.
“I’m not surprised he was able to identify and exploit such a complex vulnerability,” Cavallaro said.
Cullen said his undergraduate experience was shaped by his participation in capture-the-flag cybersecurity competitions and handson projects at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen.
“I still miss working on projects late at night in the [OEDK],” Cullen said. “That environment fostered the curiosity and problem-solving skills I needed to succeed in this challenge.”
While praising Rice’s project-based learning opportunities, Walsh said there was a need for more resources dedicated to security-specific challenges.
“Programs like [Vertically Integrated Projects] are great for hands-on
COURTESY AEDAN
Alumnus Aedan Cullen recently earned $20,000 for hacking a Raspberry Pi microcontroller.
exploration, but there’s room to expand resources for hardware security,” Cullen said.
Cullen, now an engineer at Apple, hopes his accomplishment inspires current Rice students to take risks and pursue challenges that excite them.
“You don’t have to know everything to succeed — you just need curiosity and the drive to try new ideas,” Cullen said. “Focus on what excites you, and the rest will follow.”
AMELIA DAVIS THRESHER STAFF
CHARLIE CRUZ THRESHER STAFF
HAI-VAN HOANG / THRESHER
CULLEN
Vending Machine
Fruit Ninja or Instagram, for example
Nightstand light
Expression of disgust
Riverbed sediment
“Build it somewhere else!” acronym
Rookie, slangily
Fortune-teller
“...and a partridge in _ ____ tree!”
Cease
Hiking playlist featuring Eminem, The Cranberries, and the Peanuts soundtrack, perhaps Garlicky sauces
Deadlocked
“__ __ expert, but it seems to me...”
Reprimand
“You’re not you when you’re hungry” candy
“It’s a yes __ __ question.”
Bamboo lover
Doja Cat hit “Get Into It (___)”
Slushy brand
Richard?
Clean with a cloth
Not trans or enby
Largest Greek island
Fan publication
Pepsi competitor
Get rid of
King prawn Muppet
Not real
Decipher
Sports drink invented at a Florida university
Ellipse
Attain
Chemical suffixes
Viscount’s superior
Uses a keyboard
____ Lisa
Hero in “The Matrix”
Throw with enthusiastic force
Institution that
Floods, fires, famous figures: a pint-sized history of Pub
SOPHIE GARLICK THRESHER STAFF
If the Rice Memorial Center walls could talk, they’d probably ask for a drink. Because let’s face it, since its construction, The Pub at Rice has seen some wild nights.
Wayne Hale ’76 told the Thresher that Steve Golvatch, the student behind the idea, began plans for Pub after receiving permission from Rice’s former president Norman Hackerman.
“I think that Steve Golvach gets most of the credit for actually getting the pub in operation. He was elected SA president in ’7475 largely because of his efforts for the pub,” Hale said. “Remember, in those days the legal drinking age was 18, so almost all Rice students could participate.”
Preparations for what was then called Willy’s Pub’s opening included a capital outlay exceeding $22,000, a search for those interested in bartending or managing and a public request for name suggestions.
An April 1975 edition of the Thresher describes Pub’s opening night – complete with wine, wine coolers and five kinds of beer.
“Willy’s Pub, the new undergraduate bar/ lounge in the basement of the RMC, will open this Friday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Beer is $1.75 by the pitcher and 40 cents by the mug,” the article reads.
However, Willy’s Pub wasn’t immune to the woes of Houston weather. A July 1976 edition of the Thresher describes how torrential rain brought flooding. Students at the time began to call the bar “Willy’s Sub.”
“[The waters] backed up in a basement room to at least six and a half feet before bursting through the plaster wall located in [Pub] beside the trophy case,” the article reads.
Phillip Walters ’76 recounted the festivities that followed in comments on a recent Facebook post.
“There was the First Unbelievable Celebration of Knee-deep Water and Disaster Spectacular party after The Pub reopened after the June 1976 flood,” Walters, a former bartender, said.
Not only chance weather, but chance encounters took place at Pub. Pete Cramer ’80 described his meet-cute in a comment.
“I met my wife in Willy’s. She was the blind
date from [the University of Texas at Austin] my friends tried to fix me up with. I said no, but we all ended up going out to dinner at Birraporetti’s,” Cramer said. “The two of us closed down the pub, and I learned later she asked one of her friends to ‘disappear’ everyone else. That was 45 years ago.”
Walters recounted his own surprise guest experience.
“There was the time Tina and I opened the pub as a place for Garrick Utley, Carol Simpson, Irving R. Levine (all national NBC News) and Ray Miller (Local Channel 2 news director) to hang out and have beer and some snacks between a couple of on-campus gigs,” Walters said. “The ‘not suitable for prime time TV’ jokes were flowing as readily as the beer.”
Walter Underwood ’81 even shared in a comment that he met the former United States Secretary of State.
“Henry Kissinger came to speak at Rice and came down to the Pub. I was working at the Thresher, so I went down and took photos while he was there,” Underwood said. “When I went back up to the Thresher office, I discovered that I had not loaded any film into the camera. I think that was the only time I did that.”
Willy’s Pub opens to a packed crowd who mills about, complaining, ‘Pub isn’t good tonight,’ but never actually leaves.
Alex Weinheimer RICE UNIVERSITY ‘13
In 1983, the impact of raising the drinking age was a hot topic. According to a January 1983 edition of the Thresher, Michael Trachtenburg ’83 submitted a resolution to the Senate, arguing against raising the drinking age.
“The resolution cites the effect on campus institutions such as Willy’s Pub and oncampus social life in general as reasons why the legal age should not be raised to 21,” Trachtenburg wrote.
Pub suffered reduced profit due to the eventual legal changes as well as a decline in beer sales, according to Kevin Gass ’89.
“I worked with Dr. Akers, then VP of Administration, to lower the pub’s ‘shared costs’ from the university, which covered about 45% of the total deficit. We also closed the pub on the least attended/ most money-losing night,” Gass, former Student Association president and a member of the Pub Executive Board, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “That erased the remainder of the deficit and got the pub to break even.”
A decade later, not having seen the last of Houston weather, a fire (literally) roasted Pub in 1995. Bob Sanborn, the former associate dean for student affairs, said the fire caused more than $2 million in damage in an April 1995 edition of the Thresher.
“Everything in the Pub was gone. The only things we were able to save were the taps and the Pub sign,” Sanborn said.
Charles Klein ’97 commented that the fire investigation was unexpected and limited the time they had to work on the first issue of the Thresher after the annual change in leadership.
A 1975 blueprint shows the then-RMC’s layout. Since its opening night, the Pub has welcomed students and strangers alike in the basement of the the Rice Memorial Center.
“It was a Thresher production night, and we had to let the [campus police] into the building to respond,” Klein said. “It was rough (we all were arson suspects) but a triumphant first issue of our editorship.”
In 2001, the pub experimented with different events like an alcohol-free night according to Corey Devine, in a February 2001 edition of the Thresher.
“It’s really a mix between the casual atmosphere of the Pub on a Thursday and the fun of dancing at a club on a Friday,” Devine wrote.
The ripple of enthusiasm for Pub amongst students was felt even into the 21st century as pub-goers’ palpable energy. Alex Weinheimer ’13, an editor for the Thresher, described the crowd in an October 2011 edition.
“Willy’s Pub opened to a packed crowd who milled about, complaining, ‘Pub isn’t good tonight,’ but never actually leaves,” Weinheimer wrote.
Nick Shannin ’91, noted the thread of consistency weaving Pub’s years together.
“To this day, some 34 years post Rice, Thursday Night is Pub Night. TGs were on Fridays, yes, but the party always starts on Thursday!”
COURTESY JOHN GLADU
Kirra Phillips, head gallery guide at the Moody, said that the exhibition’s opening reception Friday, Jan. 24, had over 800 visitors, an increase from the last gallery opening with 500 visitors. The Moody Student Collaborative also hosted a student opening reception Saturday, Jan. 25, featuring live music by student band Igneous Bliss and hands-on activities including succulent planting and pot decorating.
“We’ve been getting more people
coming into the Moody ever since we’ve been doing more social media outreach,” Phillips, a Martel College junior, said.
Phillips said she enjoyed seeing many different artistic styles and topics come together with a common theme in “Breath(e)”.
“The idea behind the exhibit and the name was … breath as an act of both resistance and sustenance,” Phillips said. “The exhibit was made with the events of 2020 in mind, thinking about … face masks [during the pandemic] and
also the murder of George Floyd, where breathing is a critical act of social change and reform.”
The works on display present diverse perspectives on the climate crisis, exploring alternative futures, marginalized voices and creative approaches to sustainability, wrote Rolfs. “Breath(e)” offers students the chance to engage with these topics in ways that transcend traditional academic disciplines.
“While [many students] realize the urgency around this topic, some may not know that there is value in experiencing how artists present alternative futures,
alternate perspectives or different modes of learning,” Rolfs wrote. “These experiences can help shape how students approach this challenge as they pursue an education in STEM or the humanities.”
According to Rolfs, the enzymes developed for Xin Lu’s work exemplify such an intersection between science and the arts.
“This research has real-world applications, but the artistic presentation allows all of us to work it into our imaginations of … a more sustainable future,” Rolfs wrote.
Review: Han Kang’s ‘We Do Not Part’ won’t leave you
HUGO
GERBICH-PAIS SENIOR WRITER
Kyungha has nothing left to live for, until she is tasked with saving the life of her friend’s bird. What follows is a haunting exploration of the burden of remembrance
and historical violence. Originally published in Korean in 2021, “We Do Not Part,” translated into English by e. yaewon and Paige Aniyah Morris, was released Jan. 21. It left me breathless; Kang’s latest novel still sits heavy on my chest and haunts my thoughts. In “We Do Not Part,” Han Kang proves why she was the worthy recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature.
“We Do Not Part” has a deceptively simple beginning. Kyungha, the novel’s narrator, receives a call from a friend, Inseon, summoning her to a Seoul-area hospital. A recovering documentary filmmaker who lives on Jeju Island, Inseon now dedicates herself to carpentry after a severe accident. She was transported off the island to Seoul, and after summoning Kyungsha to the hospital with a cryptic text, Inseon asks her to travel to Jeju, some 450 kilometers away, to look after her pet bird. What follows is as indescribable as it is inexplicable.
The novel highlights various massacres that took place during and after the Jeju uprising, specifically the Bodo League Massacres and the Gyeongsan Cobalt Mine Massacre. By placing her readers amongst characters struggling with the responsibility
of remembering the massacred, Kang’s writing exemplifies why it is so important to investigate our past.
Kyungha, the main protagonist, wrote a book some years ago on massacres during the Korean War, and the images of the dead she uncovered still haunt her dreams, while Inseon’s deceased mother survived the massacres. Both protagonists are haunted by what they have learned and struggle to live in a world they can only see as tainted by the blood spilled years ago.
Violence permeates these communities and every page of this novel. Not only does Kang bring to the surface the historical violence experienced by Koreans during this time, but also the violence that is created when these histories are obfuscated and ignored.
The novel is divided into three parts. In Part I: “The Bird,” Kyungha travels to Jeju, arriving in a snowstorm and almost losing her life as she journeys to Inseon’s remote village. This section is also the most easily understood. That is not to say that it is boring or straightforward, but we are orientated, and trust Kyungha’s experience of reality. This feeling of clarity does not
last, however, because Part II and Part III will have you doubting everything you previously read.
In Part II and Part III, titled “Night” and “Flame” respectively, Kyungsha enters a dream-like state, where the gap between reality, memory and the past disappears. Insheon appears, healed – or was she never sick? Or maybe Kyungha is still delirious, stuck in the snow?
Kang effortlessly transitions between m mory, delusion and reality as Kyungha and Inseon struggle with the responsibility of carrying these memories. As they spend time together in Inseon’s cottage, they are confronted by memories — of daring escapes, blood-filled beaches and the bones of thousands — immortalized in victim testimony, government documents and photographs.
However, these images are not presented for shock value, nor do they feel voyeuristic. By offering us the perspective of someone researching and remembering them, the victims themselves are not erased or exploited through fictionalization. This article has been cut off for print. Read more at ricethresher.org
Review: ‘Eusexua’ is a pulsing, supernatural rave
“Eusexua” isn’t just an album title; it’s a state of being.
More specifically, according to FKA twigs in an interview with The Standard, “Eusexua” is “that moment of nothingness just before a big surge of inspiration or creativity or passion. I describe it as a moment before an orgasm.”
Listening to the project, the verb “surge” feels apt. On “Eusexua,” FKA twigs incorporates crescendos and kickbeats, drum kits and bass guitar, all alongside her distinctive dreamy and haunting soprano. Her vocals push forward and pull back, are spliced and modulated, as she explores a new musical direction within songs and throughout the entire album.
“Eusexua” begins with the title track. Quick circling beats facilitate a feeling of anxiety, which is at tension with twigs’ slow singing, “King-sized, I’m vertical sunrised / Like flying capsized / Free, I see you are Eusexua.” The song seems to hurtle towards the alien unknown, as twigs says, “Do you feel alone? You’re not alone.” The bass thumping, you can imagine cool bright lights flashing in time with the beat.
“Girl Feels Good” is reminiscent of pop songs from the 1990s or early 2000s, with a warbly bounce, light laser noises and Madonna vocals gone digital, while “Perfect Stranger” fast forwards in tempo and time, more rooted in 2020s recession
pop or hyperpop. In “Perfect Stranger,” twigs reflects on the emotional safety of being with someone unknown; we are protected from disappointment.
Lyrically minimal, “Drums of Death” features scratchy snares and voices that cut in and out, chopped into bits. The song feels like it’s in glitch, as twigs tells us to “crash the system.”
Synthy and made for the dance floor, twigs shows off the versatility of her singing in “Room of Fools.” She almost growls in the chorus, only to transition into yodels reminiscent of Kate Bush as the song winds down to bring the listener into the next song “Sticky,” as well as the slower second half of the album.
“Sticky” features gentle piano notes and crying buzzes. Twigs pulls back the curtain. In the lyrics, she confesses her challenges with opening up and her simultaneous desire to be known. In the latter half of the song, voices overlay and the sound breaks down into electronic noise.
“Keep It, Hold It” starts choir-like and orchestral, with plucked strings, harp strokes and chiming bells. The breathy refrain of “What do I got to do? / And what have I got to say?” acts as a mantra, convincing twigs and the listener to “Keep on walking, just keep it and hold it.” The song, like with “Sticky,” changes tune, or
more specifically beat, mid-way through and becomes a high-tempo dance track. This sonic switch works well, a testament to the production and twigs’ artistic vision.
“Childlike Things” stands out on “Eusexua” as different from the rest with its glittery, bubblegummy, high-energy sound and North West feature. In some ways, the song acts as a palette cleanser. In others, it feels almost out of place between “Keep It, Hold It” and the following song “Striptease.” Almost.
Voices spliced together become the melodic instrumentals in “Striptease.” Twigs is in control (“Watch me flow”), but lost in movement. The Kate Bush-style runs make a return over a percolating beat. Chaos and control meet flawlessly.
If “Sticky” wrestles with desire, vulnerability, and how much to reveal, FKA twigs asks to hide from it all in “24hr dog.” With the lyrics “Please don’t call my name / When I submit to you this way,” in “24hr dog,” submission is liberation and a way to forget oneself.
In the final song, the bittersweet ballad “Wanderlust,” identity and the self are centered again. Twigs lets us know, “I’ll be in my head if you need me / Right there if you need me.” With electric guitar and fluttery modulated vocals, the song feels like the conclusion of a movie that ended too soon.
Musically and emotionally dense, each song on “Eusexua” takes on a life of its own, jumping between tempos, sounds and beats, remixes and vocal styles. The album paints an image of a sweaty dance floor, where you can be whoever you want with whoever you want, losing yourself in the whirl of a trembling dance floor, DJ sets and a sweaty crowd for worse or for better.
“Album’s way too long though,” twigs says on the closing track “Wanderlust,” as if she knows that the only thing that could make this album better is more.
FROM FRONT PAGE MOODY
Top Track: ‘Striptease’
EMELIA GAUCH SENIOR WRITER
ATLANTIC RECORDS
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE
Lavina Kalwani entwines sustainability, fashion
in 2021.
In May 2023, a Berkeley Law School sticker adorned Lavina Kalwani’s laptop; she had been accepted and was set to attend in the fall. Four months later, Kalwani found herself on a completely different path: weaving together entrepreneurship and sustainable fashion while pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Rice.
Kalwani said her primary concern is the aount of fabric that ends up in landfills, as a result of a fast-paced clothing industry. Reema Textiles, her small-scale business initiative, aims to take fabric that would have gone to waste and repurpose it for designers to purchase and use.
Kalwani developed Reema at the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, but she is no stranger to Rice — she completed her undergraduate education in neuroscience and sociology
COURTESY AVA BERGEN
“Advocacy was a big part of my undergrad experience,” Kalwani said. “Post-grad, I worked for a couple different public defenders’ offices, [I was] full-on ready to go to law school. But the closer I got to law school, the more this idea of being an attorney just didn’t feel right … Within a couple of weeks, I withdrew my admission, I found out about the Rice MBA program and decided to apply.”
After Kalwani’s undergraduate studies, she worked part-time at a small apparel business. That job, she said, opened her eyes to other career possibilities she might find more fulfilling than law.
“I was gaining this new realization,” Kalwani said. “The fact that you can have a career, something apparel-related in business … Which had always felt so out of reach for me.”
Following her enrollment at the Jones Graduate School of Business, Kalwani began to develop her vision of her own
business — to reduce fabric waste at the forefront of her mind. She did her research, going to markets and asking shop owners questions: What does their waste stream look like? How is donated clothing sorted into ‘recyclable’ and ‘landfill-bound’? What textiles can’t be reused?
“I was really obsessed with this problem,” Kalwani said. “That was my mission.”
Alongside fellow MBA student Ahmad Tipu, Kalwina piloted Reema, and began taking on paying customers.
“We realized the way we could do it was to take larger pieces of clothing that are easier to upcycle … or fabrics, things like bedsheets, and then re-sort them so it’s easier for designers and creatives to find what they’re looking for,” Kalwani said. “In that way [it] served as a ‘used fabric store’.”
However, a year into her MBA, an opportunity to gain experience working in the venture capital field led Kalwani to put Reema on pause. Although she was momentarily unable to continue leading a small business, Kalwani still felt the urge to keep the project alive.
“This was the first time that I had a moment where I was able to blend fashion and art and business, and I never even thought that was possible for me before so I really wanted to continue that,” Kalwani said. “How can I continue to be more creative in my everyday [and] continue to engage with the textile and design world?”
Kalwani’s solution was to prompt community engagement with Reema, through artistic expression. She tried her hand at design alongside co-designer Poppy Han, creating clothing from her upcycled fabrics, which she then debuted at Austin’s Slow Fashion Festival in October 2024.
“Debuting that was super cool … having models that were wearing my
designs down the runway,” Kalwani said. “That was something I never would have imagined two years ago.”
Following the show, Kalwani continued to search for other ways to continue her engagement with fashion and business while balancing her other responsibilities. She decided to launch a magazine associated with Reema – dubbed “Liquid Lace” – and solicit a broad range of creative submissions, from poetry to textile art.
“I have this habit where whenever I want to do something I bring other people along with me,” Kalwani said. “The response that I got was amazing … It’s a collection of really diverse types of art … that all have this thread of fashion and textiles underlying it.”
Liquid Lace has completed its first round of submissions, Kalwani said, and she is beginning to sort through them now, with a tentative first issue slated for March. Seeing the diversity and quantity of the submissions has been very fulfilling, according to Kalwani.
“I’ve had teachers submit, I’ve had people in their fifties, I’ve had people doing MFA programs,” Kalwani said. “That was really special to me … It makes me feel like there’s only going to be more momentum moving forward.”
When it comes to the future of Reema, Kalwani said she would be interested in picking up the textile company again, after developing her career more. Her biggest takeaways from the project, however, are the values and objectives at Reema’s core.
“I can’t say that I’m going to pursue this exact idea in the exact same way,” Kalwani said. “But do I think that we need people in that space to address overconsumption and waste from the fashion world? Absolutely, and I want to be one of those people.”
Review: Mangold’s Bob Dylan remains ‘A Complete Unknown’
The Academy Awards revealed their nominations Jan. 23, and to the surprise of many, James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic walked away with eight. Titled “A Complete Unknown,” the film follows Dylan’s meteoric rise in the 1960s folk scene, culminating in his now-famous transition to electric guitars. Despite the nods from the Academy, Mangold’s film delivers a story that is more style than substance, never fully illuminating the genius behind the shades.
From its opening moments, “A Complete Unknown” hastily checks off major milestones in Dylan’s early career. Dylan (Timothée Chalamet) arrives in New York with little more than a guitar, soon visiting an ailing Woody Guthrie (Scoot McNairy) in the Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital. Virtually the next scene, he’s taken under the wing of Pete Seeger (Edward Norton) and introduced onstage at the Gaslight, where he meets
Joan Baez (Monica Barbaro) and manager Albert Grossman (Dan Fogler).
By the time we meet Sylvie Russo (Elle Fanning) — the film’s fictional stand-in for Dylan’s girlfriend Suze Rotolo — “A Complete Unknown” has covered so much ground that it’s already leaping forward to the mid-’60s with Dylan bursting into his apartment, “Like a Rolling Stone” inexplicably rolling off his tongue.
These legendary moments would feel momentous if they weren’t so rushed, crammed into 140 minutes that play like a greatest hits montage and gloss over Dylan’s inner life and motivations. There was ample opportunity in the first third of the film to provide more insight into who this “complete unknown” really was, but instead, we’re given Wikipedia paragraphs.
While the film never attempts to sanitize Dylan’s infamous prickliness — he’s curt, cryptic and often just an outright jerk — it also doesn’t delve deeper than those traits. Where Todd Haynes’s “I’m Not There” circled Dylan’s elusiveness with six different portrayals, Mangold’s approach keeps Dylan as a static, enigmatic figure orbiting around an ever-spinning carousel of notable events.
Timothée Chalamet’s performance is sure to spark debate: when he’s in performance mode, singing Dylan’s classics live on set, he’s thoroughly engaging — even electrifying. But in dialogue scenes, he leans heavily into Dylan’s idiosyncratic cadence, a choice that vacillates between oddly compelling and distractingly caricatured. He’s incredibly effective at Dylan’s aloof cruelty, yet the film never expands his Dylan beyond the “complete unknown” mystique.
Monica Barbaro’s Joan Baez, meanwhile, receives the film’s most disappointing treatment. Her radical folk artistry and outspoken civil rights activism are minimized, leaving us with a one-note depiction of jealousy and artistic inferiority. A withering insult from Dylan about her songs being “like an oil painting in the dentist’s office” sums up how the film frames Baez: second-best and forever overshadowed.
In reality, Baez was a major figure in the civil rights movement, yet “A Complete Unknown” sanitizes the turbulent politics of the era into a single image of Dylan singing at a protest march. The snub is glaring, especially considering Baez’s far deeper involvement in those struggles. However, Barbaro is fantastic as Baez, imbuing her with fiery defiance in the face of Dylan’s arrogance. Still, a character as remarkable as Baez deserves the same treatment for her artistry and activism and not just her interactions with a male peer.
On a technical level, however, there’s much to admire. Phedon Papamichael’s cinematography vividly recreates the Greenwich Village folk scene, employing deep-focus lenses and dusty color palettes that make every street corner and coffee house feel lived-in. Rather than resembling a polished, high-budget re-creation of the 1960s, the sets look as if they’ve been pulled straight from the era, capturing the scrappy energy and cramped intimacy of a burgeoning music revolution.
Still, this aura of authenticity can be undermined by the film’s more contrived moments — none more so than the scene where Dylan spontaneously conjures “Like a Rolling Stone,” seemingly in one lightning-strike burst of divine inspiration. This scene feels like a cinematic contrivance, sapping away the
raw wonder and reducing a legendary moment in music history to a mere Hollywood flourish.
Despite these issues, there is power in the film’s culminating performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. The chaos of Dylan’s electric set — booing fans, a tense Seeger looking on nervously and a loaded Johnny Cash (Boyd Holbrook) egging Dylan into full rock-star rebellion — showcases Mangold’s knack for frenetic, immersive storytelling.
In this sequence, the film captures something vital: the cultural divide that sprang up the moment Dylan plugged in, fracturing the folk scene and sparking a conversation about evolving artistry. It’s a flash of what “A Complete Unknown” could have been with more focus and less box-checking. Ultimately, what Mangold’s biopic does best is evoke a moody, immersive atmosphere. For fans of Bob Dylan’s music, this writer counted among them, the performance scenes provide genuine thrills — each chord a reminder of why Dylan’s work still resonates today.
But beyond the showstopping visuals and the committed cast, the film struggles to illuminate Dylan’s soul, or even fully reckon with the collective spirit of the 1960s that shaped him. Like the title suggests, “A Complete Unknown” is content to leave Dylan’s interiority unexplored. That’s not inherently a flaw — Dylan, after all, has spent a lifetime cultivating enigma.
Yet in sidelining the contributions of women like Joan Baez and brushing aside the era’s radical politics, the film robs its story of the depth that made Dylan’s artistry so provocative in the first place. Instead, we get a swirling collage of iconic moments, set to a timeless soundtrack, that never quite converges into a satisfying portrait.
ARMAN SAXENA A&E EDITOR
JULIANA LIGHTSEY A&E EDITOR
Basketball game marks first-ever Rice Athletics Spanish broadcast
“Coach Kreider was the driving force behind this initiative, and his vision and support were key to making it happen,” Romero said.
Rice took a historic step by launching its first-ever Spanish-language broadcast for the men’s basketball game against Tulane University Jan. 25. This milestone event, held as part of ‘Latin Day,’ marked an effort to engage Houston’s Spanishspeaking community and make Rice Athletics more accessible.
The idea for the broadcast emerged from a conversation between associate head coach Chris Kreider and Larissa Romero Valenzuela, who works at Rice’s Office of International Students and Scholars, Kreider said.
Kreider lived in Colombia between the ages of 8 to 13, where he said he fell in love with the food, language and culture. He even majored in Spanish, and was a Spanish teacher prior to becoming a collegiate basketball coach.
After learning about Kreider’s background, Romero Valenzuela introduced Kreider to her husband Francisco Romero, who hosts the Spanish-language broadcast for the Houston Astros and had contributed to the Spanish-language broadcast for the University of Arizona basketball program.
“I knew he had experience, and he was passionate about it, and I thought it was a really good idea, so the three of us over lunch just talked about what we could do for Latin night,” Kreider said. “And [Romero] volunteered his services there to do that, and it just kind of sprung from that. I’m so grateful that he volunteered his time to do it because I think it’s really cool.”
Recognizing an opportunity to enhance inclusivity, Kreider and Romero Valenzuela helped lay the foundation for the initiative. With the support of Jennifer Greene, Rice Athletics marketing director, the project quickly gained momentum and became a reality, Francisco Romero said.
Romero led the broadcast doing playby-play, bringing over two decades of industry experience to the booth. For him, the opportunity to broadcast in Spanish was deeply personal.
“As a bilingual and bicultural broadcaster, it’s an honor to see Rice University recognize and celebrate the Hispanic community,” Romero said. “This initiative is about making sports more accessible and embracing the cultural diversity of our city.”
Romero’s passion for both broadcasting and cultural representation fueled his commitment to the project. He said that he hopes this broadcast catalyzes future initiatives aimed at reaching a wider audience.
“My hope is that this initiative paves the way for more Spanish-language broadcasts, stronger social media engagement and increased outreach to Houston’s Spanishspeaking residents and Rice students,” he said.
As the first Spanish-language broadcaster for Rice Athletics, Romero embraced the historical significance of the occasion.
“This is more than just a game; it’s a statement about inclusivity and expanding the reach of collegiate sports,” Romero said.
Joining Romero in the broadcast booth was color analyst Juan Alaniz, doing the commentary and analysis. With his extensive basketball knowledge, Alaniz provided in-depth perspectives that Romero said enriched the broadcast.
“Having Juan alongside me was invaluable,” Romero said. “His expertise elevated the discussion and provided insightful perspectives for our audience.”
Romero said that the reaction to the broadcast was overwhelmingly positive
and Kreider said it was an event he was proud to be a part of.
“I sent the link to my parents and friends in Colombia, basketball coaches in Colombia that I’ve gotten to know and I think it’s really cool being a part of the first time ever,” Kreider said. “It’s really awesome.”
Additionally, the event featured a performance by the Folklorico Dancers from Eastwood Academy High School and a giveaway of loteria card keepsakes as a part of the theme.
Romero extended his gratitude to everyone involved in making the broadcast possible.
“This was a collaborative effort that wouldn’t have been successful without the dedication of Rice Athletics, the marketing and communications teams and OISS,” he said.
Looking ahead, he said that Spanishlanguage coverage should extend beyond basketball.
“Football and baseball, in particular, hold strong appeal within the Hispanic community, making them prime candidates for expanded Spanishlanguage coverage,” Romero said.
When asked which sport he would most like to broadcast next, Romero had an immediate answer: baseball.
As the Spanish-language broadcaster for the Houston Astros, he sees a clear connection between Rice Baseball and Houston’s baseball culture.
“With José Cruz Jr. leading Rice Baseball and his father, José Cruz Sr., being an icon in the sport, broadcasting baseball in Spanish would be incredibly meaningful,” Romero said.
He said he envisions a future where Spanish-language broadcasting becomes a staple at Rice, strengthening the university’s commitment to diversity and cultural outreach.
“Every step we take brings us closer to a more inclusive sports culture,” Romero said. “And I believe Rice is moving in the right direction.”
Sports Mini #10
Scam online
Regions Christian and Iann
Summer hours in H-Town DOWN
What people shouldn’t give out to people who 1-Down, Abbr.
ANA RIVERA THRESHER STAFF
/ THRESHER
Meeting Petro Kuzmenok
KATHLEEN ORTIZ SPORTS EDITOR
Petro Kuzmenok, a Sid Richardson College sophomore, competes for the tennis team. He is majoring in mathematical economic analysis.
Rice Thresher: When did you start playing tennis, and how did you get into it?
Petro Kuzmenok: I started playing tennis when I was 5 years old. My mom played tennis as a kid, and she thought I would enjoy tennis like she did, so she signed me up for lessons to try it. I’ve loved tennis ever since.
RT: Describe one of your earliest tennis memories.
PK: One of my earliest memories of tennis is back when I lived in Ukraine. I was practicing against a wall when I was 5 or 6 with a coach, and I hit the ball too high, accidentally hitting it over the entire wall. I was told there was a zoo somewhere behind the wall, so I thought I hit some animal with the ball and would be in trouble.
RT: Did tennis always come naturally to you?
PK: The physical elements of the sport came pretty naturally to me. I had good hand-eye coordination and was pretty fast, which helped a lot. Also, I was very competitive, so I would work hard to improve and stay super focused in practice and matches. However, mentally, it was quite difficult for me to stay relaxed when playing tournaments, and I would often get really upset with myself or nervous, which would make me play a lot worse at certain key moments. I’ve gotten a lot better at managing my nerves and being more positive on the court, but I can always get better.
RT: When did you know you wanted to continue playing in college?
PK: I think I always knew that I wanted to play in college, as I loved playing tennis and competing, and I wanted to keep improving my game. College tennis is an ideal environment for this since you’re practicing so often, you’re surrounded by knowledgeable coaches who can help you and you have your teammates to practice with every day. It’s a great opportunity to improve, but it is also an opportunity to be in an electric, competitive environment, and this is a lot of fun.
RT: Why did you choose Rice University?
PK: Balancing classes and sports can be a challenge, as we miss class quite often when we travel for matches, especially in the spring season. For this reason, I try to take most of my harder classes in the fall, when we travel less and miss school less and have a bit of a lighter schedule in the spring.
RT: Who has been most supportive of you while chasing your goals in your sport here? In what ways have they helped you?
PK: I think my teammates and friends have been the most supportive of my tennis during my time at Rice. Our teammates always push each other to be better and to work hard, which helps to create a community in which hard work and discipline are essential. I am motivated by their commitment to our team and also work harder as a result. Also, my friends here at Rice have been very supportive of my tennis, they always ask how our team is doing and show a lot of interest in our success which means a lot to me. I feel really grateful to have them in my life.
RT: What has been your favorite memory of playing tennis at Rice?
PK: My favorite memory of playing tennis at Rice is last spring when we were playing the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Half of our team was sick, and we were trying to grind through and still try to win. It was tied 3-3, and I was the last match still playing. Despite being sick, I was still able to clinch the match to win 4-3 and the whole team swarmed me when I won. It was a moment I’ll never forget.
RT: What are your goals for this season?
PK: My goals for this season are primarily to improve my game as best as I can. Also to work on positive body language when things aren’t going my way so that I can reset during a match. I don’t want to set goals for stats or for winning because if I start to focus on my record and the numbers, then I will inevitably start to get nervous in matches since I’m not focused on having fun and improving, and instead focused only on winning.
I chose Rice for a variety of reasons, the main ones being that Rice is amazing academically, and I felt like I would really fit in with the team dynamic that was in place. Our coaches are very understanding and supportive of the players, which is extremely important.
Petro Kuzmenok SOPHOMORE TENNIS PLAYER
PK: I chose Rice for a variety of reasons, the main ones being that Rice is amazing academically, and I felt like I would really fit in with the team dynamic that was in place. Our coaches are very understanding and supportive of the players, which is extremely important. They truly care for us, which makes the college tennis experience a thousand times more enjoyable and, in my opinion, productive. Many schools kind of just use the players until they’re injured and run down, as they don’t really care for their well-being in the long run. They often also try to micromanage the players’ game which can be difficult to deal with. This is not the case at Rice, and I am enjoying my time here a lot.
RT: How do you balance your classes with tennis?
Scores & what’s next
ANDERSEN PICKARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Scores from Jan. 22 to 28
Women’s Basketball at University of Alabama Birmingham
Jan. 22 - Rice 56, UAB 63 (OT)
Women’s Tennis vs. Lamar University
Jan. 23 - Rice 7, Lamar 0
Men’s Tennis at #1 University of Texas
Jan. 25 - Rice 0, Texas 4
Men’s Basketball vs. Tulane University
Jan. 25 - Rice 71, Tulane 82
Women’s Basketball at University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Jan. 25 - Rice 84, Charlotte 60
Women’s Tennis vs. University of the Incarnate Word
Jan. 25 - Rice 7, Incarnate Word 0
Men’s Tennis at University of Arkansas
Jan. 26 - Rice 2, Arkansas 4
RT: What do you do when you aren’t playing your sport?
PK: When I’m not playing my sport, I like to hang out with my teammates and friends from Sid Richardson. Our team is very close, so we spend a lot of time together outside of tennis, doing things like playing video games or just hanging out and talking. I’m not much of a party guy, so I don’t necessarily go out as much as other people would, but I still like to spend time with friends in a more relaxed setting.
RT: What is something that most people don’t know about you?
PK: I think most people don’t know that I can get pretty nervous on the court or in general. People tell me I always look very relaxed when I’m playing and just in general, and look like nothing really bothers me. That’s just kind of my personality, I feel like I always look super calm, but I tend to get nervous or anxious quite a bit whether it be in a match, if I have a test coming up or something like that. I guess I’m good at hiding it.
What’s next from Jan. 29 to Feb. 4
Women’s Basketball vs. University of Tulsa
Jan. 29, 7 p.m. - Home on ESPN+
Women’s Tennis vs. University of Arizona
Jan. 31, 12 p.m. - Home
Women’s Swimming & Diving at University of Houston
Jan. 31, 2 p.m. - Away at Houston
Men’s Track & Field at Robert Platt Invitational
Jan. 31-Feb. 1 - Away at Houston
Women’s Track & Field at Robert Platt Invitational
Jan. 31-Feb. 1 - Away at Houston
Women’s Swimming & Diving at Sterkel Classic
Feb. 1 - Away in Austin, Texas
Women’s Basketball at Florida Atlantic University
Feb. 1, noon - Away on ESPN+
Women’s Tennis vs. Texas Christian University
Feb. 1, noon - Home
Men’s Basketball vs. #19 University of Memphis
Feb. 2, 2 p.m. - Home on ESPN+
Men’s Tennis at Baylor University
Feb. 2, 5 p.m. - Away in Waco, Texas
COURTESY PETRO KUZMENOK
Sophomore tennis player Petro Kuzmenok competes in a tennis match at Rice University.
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