U.S. Senate flags $9 million of Rice research grants as ‘neo-Marxist,’ ‘woke nonsense’
RIYA MISRA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
$9 million of Rice’s funding from the National Science Foundation has been identified by the U.S. Senate as “woke DEI grants” that promote “neo-Marxist class warfare propaganda.”
The Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, released a database Feb. 11 that identified some $2 billion in “woke DEI” funding — over 3,400 grants — from research institutions and universities across the country. In a press release, the committee characterized these grants as “radical left woke nonsense” that has “poisoned research efforts, eroded confidence in the scientific community, and fueled division among Americans.”
Rice accounts for 17 of those NSF grants, spanning research in chemical bioengineering, behavioral sciences, materials research and civil manufacturing. The NSF is an independent federal agency that supports non-medical research in science, engineering and technology.
The NSF disburses millions of dollars in grant money to Rice every year, funding initiatives like the Rice Emerging Scholars Program, a mentorship program for firstgeneration, low-income students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics. RESP received a five-year, $2.5 million NSF grant in 2024, and is included in Cruz’s database of “woke nonsense.”
“I don’t agree with the rhetoric at all,” said Mikeal Graham, who was a RESP Fellow in 2022. “They use those words to scare people who don’t know what they mean.”
Graham, a McMurtry College sophomore, said RESP extended a support system, offered programming for higher-level STEM classes and provided a stipend that allowed him to purchase a laptop.
“I don’t think I would be able to stay at Rice if I hadn’t gone through RESP,” Graham said. “RESP was one of the ways in which we were able to really level the playing field.”
Donald Trump’s second presidency is off to an unprecedented start, with over 60 executive orders signed as of Feb. 12. Students shared their opinions, thoughts and worries about the new policies in action.
Foreign policy and immigration
Sammi Frey, co-president of Rice Young Democrats, said she’s disappointed by
Rice testifies for lawsuit against ‘devastating’ federal funding cuts
Rice joined 70 other universities supporting a lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health, which may reduce research funding by billions of dollars. A Feb. 7 NIH memo announced a drastic cut to indirect costs, which covers overhead for research institutions; including funding for lab spaces, water and power bills and paying subcontractors, according to testimony from Provost Amy Dittmar.
The NIH’s guidance would limit an institution’s indirect cost rate to 15%. Rice’s is currently 56%, according to a Feb. 11 campus message from Rice president Reginald DesRoches. Such a funding slash, he wrote, would impact the “essential expenses” that fund Rice’s “successful research on potential treatments for cancer, diabetes, dementia and a host of other serious health care challenges.” In an interview with TIME Magazine, neuroscience professor Richard Huganir called the potential NIH cuts “the apocalypse of American science.”
Rice could lose up to $4 million in research funding due to cuts to National Institutes of Health grants, according to analysis by the New York Times. On Feb. 7, the NIH proposed a drastic slash of funding for indirect costs, which include administrative and lab upkeep. The proposal was blocked by a federal court Feb. 11.
Less than a month after the Trump administration took power, universities and research institutions across the country have grappled
with the government’s sweeping efforts to lower federal spending — between NIH funding cuts, the U.S. Senate’s flagging of “woke DEI” research grants, to the Department of Government Efficiency’s attempts to salvage $55 billion federal dollars. Rice, which offered testimony for a lawsuit contesting NIH cuts, received over $24 million in federal NIH funding from the NIH during the 2024 fiscal year, according to public data.
Trump’s ‘America First’ approach to foreign policy, which has included withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords, halting global health funding and pushing for economic self-sufficiency.
A social policy analysis major, Frey said her career goals have also changed since Trump’s inauguration.
“In cutting all foreign aid, he’s essentially saying that the United States does not want to be a part of helping the world,” said
NOA BERZ ASST. FEATURES EDITOR
ABBY PEREZ / THRESHER
SAAHITHI
Gabrielle Mellor, a senior at Louisiana State University, participated in a psychology research fellowship at Rice last summer — a program that’s also on Cruz’s list of grants. Mellor, who plans to pursue a Ph.D., said Rice’s program also offered help planning graduate school applications.
“It was a really pivotal time for my undergraduate research career,” Mellor said. “I find it really disappointing that these kinds of opportunities are potentially going to be defunded for students … I think it’s pretty uninformed.”
One project, which received $168,000 from the NSF, researches spin dynamics in two-dimensional magnets. Cruz’s list
Another funding freeze could have serious consequences for research at Rice, said Baker Institute health policy senior fellow Elena Marks.
“The NIH are the largest single source of health-related research funding in the U.S.,” Marks wrote in an email to the Thresher. “If [its] funding is diminished, our world-class researchers will lose ground.”
However, there is still some confusion as to what is being legislatively implemented, Marks said. The White House proposed, then rescinded an earlier federal funding freeze after a federal judge blocked it.
flagged the grant for “social justice.”
Of Rice’s 17 research grants on Cruz’s list, 11 contained language about recruiting traditionally underrepresented minorities. One flagged project researches patterns in stochastic, or random, systems — common in machine learning fields — and included support for “outreach activities that aim at increasing interest in science among under-represented groups.”
“Since women, people of color and students from low-income and/or rural areas factually compose the majority of the United States population, we have to understand this [database] as an intervention staged on behalf of a minority population,” Dominic Boyer, an anthropology professor at Rice, wrote in
an email to the Thresher. Two of Boyer’s grants were included in Cruz’s database.
“Why this minority population feels that they are justified in diminishing the relevance of the majority interests of U.S. society is a question all of us should be asking,” he continued.
If anything, what I think this list suggests is an effort to politicize research that did not seek to politicize itself.
Boyer’s two projects both research the environment, focusing on energy politics and flood infrastructure in coastal urban areas.
Dominic Boyer
ANTHROPOLOGY PROFESSOR
“We’ve come to the point where
and an unelected advisor take action that is unconstitutional and contravenes Congressional authority, but so far, that hasn’t happened.”
Aparna Jotwani, an assistant professor at the Baylor College of Medicine, said that the funding freeze is closely linked with the still-active executive order pausing federal hiring.
Some of the changes Trump and Musk have tried to make, they’ve undone themselves, [and] some are being halted by courts. I expect to see Congress take action when the president and an unelected advisor take action that is unconstitutional and contravenes Congressional authority, but so far, that hasn’t happened.
“Some of the changes Trump and Musk have tried to make, they’ve undone themselves, [and] some are being halted by courts,” Marks said. “I expect to see Congress take action when the president
Elena Marks BAKER INSTITUTE HEALTH POLICY SENIOR FELLOW
“Hiring abruptly halted, and a lot of effort has had to go on to actually extend offers,” Jotwani said. “We are hopeful for the future, but we have already seen positions affected.”
Biosciences major Ian Chen, who hopes to pursue health research, expressed concern about his undergraduate and postgraduate plans.
“I’m worried that the summer internship program opportunity from the NIH, like many others, will disappear because there won’t be funding to take on and train interns, even if they do find the exemption to hire us,” Chen said.
Training - individual $472,653
grounding research in climate science is being demonized by some in the Republican party as [a] form of propaganda,” Boyer said. “It seems to me this list is intended as an intimidation and perhaps blacklisting tactic, designed to scare researchers away from working on problems that Cruz and his colleagues find insignificant. If anything, what I think this list suggests is an effort to politicize research that did not seek to politicize itself.”
Other $656,636 Other research-related $952,573 Research centers $1,300,000
Research project grants $21,195,369
The federal lawsuit, filed in the Massachusetts district court, alleges that the NIH funding reduction violates Congress’s “express demand” and unlawfully undermines federal separation of powers. Plaintiffs allege the new policy would be a “disaster to science” with “immediate and devastating effects,” and was issued in “flagrant disregard of the reliance interests [the NIH] aims to protect.”
The lawsuit is led by the Association of American Universities, the American Council on Education and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, with a dozen other research universities — including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University — signing on as coplaintiffs. Rice did not join the lawsuit as a plaintiff, but has submitted Dittmar’s statement as sworn testimony. A hearing will occur Feb. 21, after a federal judge in Boston temporarily halted the NIH’s order.
“Rice is not a plaintiff in in its own right, but as an AAU member, it will have its interests represented by the AAU, and will be entitled to any remedies the
AAU obtains in the lawsuit,” Omar Syed, Rice’s chief counsel, wrote in an email to the Thresher.
According to Dittmar’s testimony, Rice received $43.1 million in total NIH funding, with $9.3 million allocated for indirect costs. This year, Rice is expected to receive $20.5 million in NIH funding, with $11.6 million — over 50% — allocated for indirect costs.
“Rice elected to support the lawsuit to ensure that its research community would continue to receive the support legally due to it by the federal government. Rice did so by providing a lengthy, detailed, and sworn declaration from Provost Amy Dittmar,” Syed wrote in an email to the Thresher. “That declaration helps the court more fully understand the adverse
consequences that medical and health research can suffer when negotiated contract payments are withheld from researchers without notice.”
In her testimony, Dittmar described the proposed cut as having both immediate impacts, and longer term impacts that are “cumulative and cascading.”
Rice elected to support the lawsuit to ensure that its research community would continue to receive the support legally due to it by the federal government.
Omar Syed UNIVERSITY GENERAL COUNSEL
Threatened medical research initiatives include technologies for early cancer detection, cell therapy to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome and a genomeediting strategy to treat sickle cell disease, Dittmar said.
Beyond halting existing research, Dittmar said lack of funding could cause safety concerns.
“Reductions may cause safety issues from lack of staff and security, threats to
research security and national security because of increased data access and theft by malicious actors, and the inability to restart research studies even if funding were restored,” Dittmar said.
Beyond Rice, Dittmar also said that cutting current research could threaten the country.
“Slowdowns or halts in research by Rice and other American universities will allow competitor nations that are maintaining their investments in research to surpass the United States on this front, threatening both our Nation’s national security and its economic dominance,” Dittmar wrote in her testimony.
Currently, the Office of Research Development advises researchers to continue working on their projects unless notified by the Office of Sponsored Research, according to their website.
However, the office also advises researchers to “closely monitor obligated budget balances to avoid deficits while awaiting future obligations,” and that “anticipated funding is subject to availability and should not be considered guaranteed.”
FROM FRONT PAGE ‘WOKE DEI’
FROM FRONT PAGE NIH LAWSUIT
FROM FRONT PAGE FUNDING FREEZE
ALICE SUN / THRESHER
Breakdown of Rice funding from NIH 2024
Student Association ballot nearly complete
JAMES CANCELARICH ASST. NEWS EDITOR
The Student Association Senate voted to put five constitutional amendments on the spring elections ballot and rejected Rice PRIDE and Rice Apps’ requests to be blanket tax organizations. While the ballot will not be voted on until Feb. 24, the SA has nearly finalized what will be voted on by the general student body in the upcoming election.
Executive elections
Trevor Tobey is running unopposed for president after a defeat to current SA President Jae Kim in last year’s election. The Hanszen College junior is the current SA Parliamentarian, who spearheaded the proposal of the first four constitutional amendments. Duncan College junior Callum Flemister is conducting a write-in campaign.
The race for External Vice President is contested between Lajward Zahra, a McMurtry College sophomore, and Mahtab B. Dastur, a Duncan College sophomore.
The Internal Vice President race is contested between Sohani Sandhu, a McMurtry junior, and Ananya A. Nair, a McMurtry freshman.
Blanket Tax Organizations
Blanket Tax Organizations are funded by an $85 fee included in student tuition, which
is distributed by the SA. Organizations seeking BTO status are given blanket tax status through the student body vote. However, Senate voted against putting blanket tax status requests by Rice Apps and Rice PRIDE on the ballot, so neither will receive BTO status.
PRIDE requested BTO status because their funding from the DEI fund was reduced, according to the blanket tax access report.
According to SA Treasurer Thomas Ngo, PRIDE’s funding was cut by about $4,000. Ngo estimated that PRIDE spent around $3,500 in fiscal year 2023, $9,500 in fiscal year 2024 and has spent $5,000 to date in the current fiscal year.
In order to receive BTO status, an organization must demonstrate a strong financial need, according to the blanket tax access report.
According to SA President Jae Kim, PRIDE was invited to speak at the Feb. 10 senate meeting. No representative of PRIDE was present during that meeting.
Rice Apps was also rejected after debate about what blanket tax funds would be used for within their organization. While Rice Apps does some work exclusively for the Rice community, such as the Rice Carpool rideshare planning app, much of their work is done for nonprofit organizations outside of Rice.
Representatives for Rice Apps said at the Feb. 10 senate meeting that all blanket tax
Rice Dems, Rep. Ann Johnson
discuss state politics
said she was impressed by Johnson’s approach to Democratic policies in Texas.
funds would be exclusively used for Ricespecific projects, but concerns were raised about how this would be enforced. Senate members also raised concerns about the exclusivity of Rice Apps, which requires an application process to join, when BTOs are meant to benefit the entirety of the Rice student body.
The SA is also planning to remove the BTO status of Rice Student Volunteer Programs due to consistent inactivity, according to Kim. Kim said that the organization was poorly managed and the current leadership of RSVP agreed to dissolve the organization.
The funds currently allocated to RSVP out of the blanket tax — some $8,700 last fiscal year, according to Ngo — would instead fund service events, which Kim said is in alignment with RSVP’s original intentions as a BTO.
Constitutional amendments
Constitutional amendments require a simple majority of the student body’s approval. Four of the amendments, proposed by the Constitutional Revisions Committee, would constitute broad and sweeping changes to the structure and functioning of the SA.
The first amendment corrects typos and grammatical errors and renames some of the commissions within the SA.
The second amendment largely reshapes the power structure of the executive branch.
It removes the voting power of executive members, excluding the president who does not have a vote except for tie-breakers. This power is replaced with the ability of the executive branch to set the agenda collectively, a power that was previously reserved for the president.
Amendment two also reduces the threshold to pass resolutions from two-thirds of Senate voting members to a simple majority. The president is then granted veto power, which can be overridden by a two-thirds vote by the Senate.
Amendment three reshapes the organization of the Blanket Tax Committee, which oversees the funding of organizations by student tuition money. The two BTO officers on the committee, who historically have been leadership members from the Thresher and the Rice Program Council, would be removed, and the funds would be distributed by a committee of three SA senators and the unchanged three members of the student body.
The fourth amendment clarifies some election rules and removes the power of the Election Committee to remove candidates who have already assumed office if they are found to be in violation of election rules.
Amendment five, proposed by SA Treasurer Thomas Ngo, would increase the blanket tax from $85 to $90 to account for inflation.
Federal hiring freeze may jeopardize internships, jobs
The Rice Young Democrats hosted Texas Representative Ann Johnson for a dinner and discussion Feb. 7. Johnson, who represents the area surrounding Rice in District 134, spoke with undergraduate students about policy issues including reproductive rights, criminal justice, climate change and Texas political culture.
The discussion with Johnson focused on how the Democratic Party could rally grassroots support and mobilize voters to change the partisan dynamic in both Washington and Austin. Johnson said the Rice Democrats’ efforts in the presidential election — door-to-door campaigning and engaging with voters on and off campus — were strong steps toward achieving these goals. She also discussed the difficulties of legislating as a member of the minority party, since the Texas House is currently split between 62 Democrats and 88 Republicans.
“If you don’t want them winning, you have to take away their majority,” Johnson said during the event.
Bela Jotwani, a member of the Rice Young Democrats, said that the event, which had about fifteen attendees, was approachable.
“I thought it was really nice that it was a little bit more personal, especially more than her giving a speech,” said Jotwani, a McMurtry College freshman.
Jotwani said she appreciated the opportunity to meet Johnson, with whom she was familiar with from the news and social media. Jotwani also
“I grew up in Houston, and I think that a lot of issues that Democrats fight for here are different. It’s different from being a Democrat in California,” Jotwani said.
Rice Young Democrats co-president Benjamin Kagan said that the idea for the event came from Johnson’s work with POLI 224: How to Run for Office. Johnson previously spoke during a class session.
“She was such a dynamic speaker, and she was so engaging and helpful for our learning journey,” Kagan, a Baker College freshman, said. “I thought it would be a really great thing to bring her to campus because she’s one of these people where when you hear them speak, you’re energized and you just want to go out and make change.”
Sammi Frey, Kagan’s co-president, said that she appreciated Johnson’s position on hot-button issues.
“She is standing strong on topics like reproductive justice, climate change, education policy and things like that in a time where everything is up in the air,” Frey, a Hanszen College sophomore, said. “We are having things get overturned and shut down at an unprecedented rate. Having a sense of security is really, really important and that’s why we brought her.”
Students also had the opportunity to speak to Johnson one on one.
“We were thrilled with the way that the event went,” Kagan said. “We really appreciated Representative Johnson’s willingness to have an open and honest conversation with students about the state of things and her willingness to call out some of the things that she thinks we’re doing well, as well as talk about the things that we need to improve here in Texas.”
In one of his first major executive actions following his inauguration, President Donald Trump ordered a freeze on hiring federal civilian employees across the executive branch. The directive, applicable as of noon Jan. 20, states that no vacant federal civilian position may be filled and no new position may be created.
According to the memorandum, the director of the Office of Management and Budget will develop a plan within 90 days to reduce the size of the federal government’s workforce through “efficiency improvements and attrition.” Federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Health and Human Services, have reportedly cut internships already.
Breezy Landman, an undergraduate program administrator in the School of Social Sciences, said that many students at Rice pursue internships in policy, public service and research, areas that the freeze could directly impact.
“I certainly think it is possible that there is going to be more competition for internships that are really similar to federal internships,” Landman said. “Private sector and nonprofit organizations might see an uptick in applications just because there are fewer federal internships available, making it harder for students to earn positions.”
With the current political climate, there’s this uncertainty about what our country is going to look like in the near future.
“We have a lot of students really interested in policy and lawmaking, and with the current political climate, there’s this uncertainty about what our country is going to look like in the near future,” Landman said.
Breezy Landman SOCIAL SCIENCES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
She said that government organizations like the Center for Disease Control have already canceled some of their internship programs.
“Any public institution receiving federal support is likely to feel the effects of this freeze,” Landman said. “It’s unfortunate because these are important areas of work.”
Landman also said that the freeze may increase competition for nongovernment internships.
For many Rice students, the effects of the freeze are already hitting close to home.
Lily Hestjean, a Jones College freshman studying ecology and evolutionary biology, applied to her first-choice internship associated with the United States Department of Agriculture. Like many others, the internship was revoked due to the freeze.
“It’s really important students find internships with the government and create connections with the jobs they might look for in the future. I want to do something in sustainable agriculture, but I can’t just build a farm without the resources, connections, and research,” Hestjean said. “I’m already really passionate about this issue since it’s hitting close to home. Science is my future.”
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SIMON LETON FOR THE THRESHER
AMY CAO / THRESHER
COURTESY BENJAMIN KAGAN Students met Feb. 7 to talk politics with Texas Representative Ann Johnson.
Startup incubator unveiled in Ion District
The Rice Nexus in the Ion building was opened to the public Feb. 14. The Nexus will assist selected faculty, student and alumni startups with office space and industry mentorship, free of charge.
In a speech by Sanjoy Paul, the executive director of the Rice Nexus, he said the 10,000-square-foot business space provides strong industry and government partnerships to drive innovation, as well as an artificial intelligence ecosystem to transform Houston’s industries.
“If you have a startup, you have to scale, you have to really go commercialize,” Paul said in an interview with the Thresher. “We connect you with all the venture capital. We connect you with potential customers, without which you are not going to succeed. We connect you with the government, where the grants are.”
Paul also said involvement from Rice undergraduates could launch a cycle of innovation.
“If you’re a Rice student, one of the ways that many people get engaged is as interns to many of the startups,” Paul said. “There’s already Rice startups, so [students] can get engaged as interns, and eventually they might get absorbed in the company, and in the process of being an intern there, they might come up with new ideas which could spawn new companies.”
Nafisa Istami, the innovation manager at the Rice Office of Innovation,
said that the Nexus aims to connect Rice’s strong research program to the commercial sphere.
“The goal of the space is to provide a launchpad for Rice startups to come out of once they’ve left the hedges, if you will,” Istami said. “So we have a lot of companies that are leaving Rice that are still young, maybe 12 to 18 months out from a licensing event or from a corporation. We are utilizing Nexus as an incubation acceleration space to cowork out of.”
Istami said that the Nexus, in partnership with Rice Innovation, also funds venture commercialization through the One Small Step and One
When we were students, they added their entrepreneurship minor in my junior year, by then, it was kind of late. And so having Rice as a starter space was what we really wanted as an undergrad.
Benjamin Chao RICE UNIVERSITY ’23
Virani School celebrates namesake donors
VIOLA HSIA ASST. NEWS EDITOR
The Jones Business School held a celebration for the donation establishing the Virani Undergraduate School of Business Feb. 13th. The celebration was held in the Jamail Plaza outside of the Jones School building and is the first official celebration of the Virani School of Business since its official naming last fall.
marks a transformative moment for Rice University and the Jones Graduate School of Business,” DesRoches wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Their visionary gift ensures that our business education continues to thrive, shaping the future of leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.
We knew if we were going to make an investment on students, this is where we need to do it because this is where the world changers will come from.
“It was a great night of celebration for the Virani family’s gift,” said Peter Rodriguez, dean of the Jones Graduate School of Business. “[The Virani family] was able to bring lots of family members and close friends to Rice to celebrate this moment, along with a good contingent of Rice leaders and some faculty and some students too. It couldn’t have been better.”
Asha Virani BUSINESS SCHOOL
DONOR
The event began with remarks from Rodriguez, followed by a speech by President Reggie DesRoches.
“The generosity of the Virani Family
With the launch of the Virani Undergraduate School of Business, we are building on a strong foundation and preparing the next generation of business leaders to drive impact in Houston and beyond.”
The event ended with remarks from businessman and donor Farid Virani and undergraduate business major Caroline Mazur-Sarocka.
Rodriguez said it was important for the business school to officially celebrate the Virani family’s gift.
“We had the announcement only in the fall, and we always wanted a celebration,” Rodriguez said. “We just had the announcement before the family really wanted a chance to be able to gather their
friends, cousins, business associates, and so we needed to put that at some point in the future.”
Clark said the event was a great way to commemorate the undergraduate business major, which first launched in 2021.
“This is something that the university and the undergrads were craving, for a long time, to have an undergrad business school that they could call home,” Clark said. “[The event] was touching, warm and just the feeling of creating something that students could feel was their place.”
Mazur-Sarocka, a Sid Richardson College senior, also spoke about the importance of a formal school for the undergraduate business major.
“I think a lot of students for the past couple of years have been unsure whether we’re part of the Jones school, whether we’re not, but especially as we all got into industry in Houston, all over the country and all over the world, being able to hone in on what our business program is and have a name to represent
Giant Leap grants.
“A lot of our researchers are very interested in that space, but there is a funding gap in between, and so [the] One Small Step grant is aimed to address that gap, and focuses on companies that are spinning out from tenure-track faculty research labs,” Istami said.
In a presentation by Paul, the Rice Nexus also has a special AI focus in the Rice AI Venture Accelerator, which aims to identify and support AI startups to solve industry problems.
For alumni Benjamin Chao ’23 and Praneel Joshi ’23, the Rice Nexus provides a potential space for their AI startup, called focai.
“Previously, as a student, I was also looking for startup opportunities, but [Rice] didn’t really have anything involved at the time,” Chao said. “When we were students, they added their entrepreneurship minor in my junior year, by then, it was kind of late. And so having Rice as a starter space was what we really wanted as an undergrad.”
Joshi said funding was particularly important for the pair’s next startup, TokenStream.
“Funding is the most critical thing for a startup, so when you’re not funded and you’re trying to do something innovative and new, you’re just burning cash. You’re hoping that things will work out,” Joshi said. “Eventually you need to either start generating your own cash flow, which we’re trying to do, but it wouldn’t hurt to be able to get funding by the Nexus fund — which is now open to alumni.”
that will be really exciting,” Mazur-Sarocka said. “I can’t wait to go off to work postgrad and be able to share that I’m from the Virani School of Business.”
Rice alumna and philanthropist Asha Virani said the significance of the event aligned with the family’s purpose behind giving the gift.
“Personally for us, it was an opportunity that just felt so authentic to who we are and also recognizing Rice’s excellence and its students,” Virani said. “We knew if we’re going to make an investment on students, this is where we need to do it because this is where the world changers will come from.”
6% of students admitted in first-ever ED II round
ABIGAIL CHIU THRESHER STAFF
Rice’s inaugural round of Early Decision II saw a single-digit acceptance rate, admitting only 6% of its 2,513 applicants on Feb. 7, said Yvonne Romero, vice president for enrollment.
A total of 36,749 people applied to Rice this admissions cycle, including applicants across the ED I, ED II, regular decision and QuestBridge National College Match programs. This year’s applicant pool is 13% larger than last year’s 32,000.
“We are delighted by the continued
interest in Rice from applicants around the world,” Romero wrote in an email to the Thresher.
The class of 2029 has already welcomed 491 students from the ED I and QuestBridge cycles, the former of which saw a 13.2% acceptance rate.
The class of 2028 accepted 7.5% of 32,459 applicants
in its regular decision round last year, marking the third year of record-low acceptance rates.
The most important thing that we will do in the next 10 years is to bring the most talented students, faculty and staff to us.
Reggie DesRoches
UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT
As applicant pools continue to grow, Rice’s acceptance rates have steadily declined over the years, first dipping into the singledigits in 2019.
This year’s admissions cycle caps off the
end of a five-year plan, announced in 2021, to expand Rice’s undergraduate population by 20% to 4,800. As of fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment was 4,776, and a twelfth new residential college will soon join campus.
“The most important thing that we will do in the next 10 years is to bring the most talented students, faculty and staff to us,” President Reggie DesRoches said in his Oct. 1 presentation of the 10-year plan. “We have ambitions to grow the university more than we’ve ever grown before, and more than any of our peers.”
HONGTAO HU THRESHER STAFF
HONGTAO HU / THRESHER
Rice administration celebrated the grand opening of the Nexus, a resource and workspace for startups in the Rice community.
COURTESY GUSTAVO RASKOSKY
Student Association needs to self-reflect
Once again, Student Association elections season is upon us (are you as thrilled as we are?) and 40% of the seats are empty.
Not unopposed. Empty. Nobody is running for treasurer or secretary.
The SA should self-reflect on why participation is low, why enthusiasm is lackluster and why, simply put, nobody seems keen on joining them.
Perhaps it’s because of growing apathy, or the widespread impression that the SA accomplishes little. This sentiment is far from new, and is probably something we argue every year, like clockwork.
But it’s particularly unsettling now, just weeks after the SA announced an apparent push for increased authority — a power grab, we previously said — through its slate of constitutional amendments.
The proposals, among other things, grant the SA “ultimate authority” over Blanket Tax Organizations and remove BTO representation on the committee
responsible for disbursing some $300,000.
The apparent logic for these changes: the SA, as an elected body, is entitled to “ultimate authority.”
But is the SA, particularly the executive committee, truly an elected body? It can’t even find enough people willing to run.
Before it doubles down on sweeping constitutional powers, maybe the SA should reflect on why it can’t fill its own ranks. None of last year’s SA executive board have come back to run for something new.
The student body widely accepts that the SA is ineffectual, stagnant and not worth the headache.
Many students who care about effecting change pour their energy into their residential colleges or extracurricular clubs — leading committees, planning campus traditions and participating in Orientation Week — instead of joining the SA.
If the SA wants to change that dynamic, it needs to make itself relevant, transparent and welcoming.
Participation in SA elections has been dismal for years, with voter turnout below 50% since 2018. Elections are chronically uncontested, leaving “winners” who didn’t campaign or who faced little to no opposition. That’s hardly a mandate from the student body.
The SA cannot clamor for more power while it still struggles to fill its most critical positions. Before the attempting to tighten its grip on other organizations, it should look within — focus on strengthening the SA internally, building trust and proving that it matters.
Before it doubles down on sweeping constitutional powers, maybe the SA should reflect on why it can’t fill its own ranks. CORRECTIONS
said Frey, a Hanszen College sophomore. “I was interested in a career in the Foreign Service, and now having to represent Trump overseas … [that] is not realistic.”
Rice University College Republicans president Kyle Szekeres also said he found the new Trump administration’s stance on certain issues problematic, including global health funding cuts and the president’s recent promise to take over Gaza, but said his new policies are generally encouraging.
“It’s a lot like chemotherapy,” said Szekeres, a Jones College junior. “You kill a lot of the bad stuff, but obviously some good stuff gets killed along with that.”
Szekeres said he hopes Trump continues to follow through on the migration and economic policies, including lowering inflation rates, that he promised during his campaign.
a 1977 executive order that bound the Council on Environmental Quality, a branch of the White House in charge of federal environmental policy, to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which sets environmental standards for federal activities.
Trump has cited economic growth as justification for his new environmental policies, but both Frey and Ramirez said these changes make them worried for the country’s future and for global consequences.
“It’s not worth it if you are destroying the planet on the other side,” Ramirez said. “That enhancement to the economy might just last for three years, and the counter effects might be catastrophic.”
“All of those actions are going to cause climate change to completely accelerate in its timeline, and that’s going to blow up the world,” Frey said. “If we run out of water, there’s no way to survive.”
It’s a lot like chemotherapy. You kill a lot of the bad stuff, but obviously some good stuff gets killed along with that.
Kyle
price of selected household items over time.
Frey said the inflation flare showed her that Trump does not have America’s best interest at heart. Sid Richardson College sophomore Reid Groomes said he agreed, and that Trump’s proposed tariffs may jeopardize the U.S. on a global scale.
“I’m just waiting to see that moment where [Trump proponents] realize they’re not going to get any of the things they were promised,” Frey said.
“What I’m most worried for is that, to show his power, [Trump] really does follow through on a lot of the tariff stuff,” said Groomes, a self-professed longtime Democrat. “That kind of weakens America’s role as the global hegemon, and then also hurts us economically.”
Federal governance
Rudin said he favors Trump’s unconventional structural changes to the government. Specifically, he said he supports Trump’s efforts to expand the scope of executive power as well as the administration’s hostility towards federal regulations.
“I appreciate that Trump is using his mandate to exercise more control over the federal bureaucracy than has traditionally been done in America,” Rudin said.
“It’s been revealed just how broadreaching federal funding is,” Rudin continued. “That seems to me that the federal government has really gone beyond what it was intended to do.”
Sophia Lannie said that Trump’s governance displays a shocking disregard for the constitutional backbone of the American government.
“I’m just hoping this country doesn’t fall apart,” said Lannie, a Sid Richardson College sophomore. “America was built on the concept that there would be freedom and liberty for all, and the way he’s acting right now, he is trying to take away people’s freedoms.”
DEI and social policy
Trump has made efforts to reaffirm the interest-driven approach to social policy established during his first term, including a statement affirming his anti-abortion stance and an executive order prohibiting transgender women from competing in female sports.
Szekeres said communities affected by Trump’s policies will inevitably have concerns about his changes, but that the U.S. is ultimately moving towards a more just future. For instance, Szekeres said he supports restrictions on gender-affirming care for people under the age of 19.
“I don’t think there should be any form of medical intervention on children,” Szekeres said. “Anyone who’s worried about that supports a bad system.”
In addition to her role at RYD, Frey is the Hanszen College liaison at the Rice Women’s Resource Center, which provides students with reproductive healthcare products like Plan B pills and contraceptives. Frey said Trump’s stance on reproductive rights makes her work at RWRC feel more urgent.
“Those [resources] are crucial to maintaining not only people’s actual health … but also to protect people’s mental health,” Frey said. “This is a really scary time, when those rights are getting taken away.”
“I hope he focuses on deporting illegal immigrants who, beyond the crime of coming into the country illegally, have committed other crimes,” Szekeres said. “After the first couple weeks here, I hope he focuses more on economic issues.”
RUCR member Max Rudin said he was happy with the regulatory decrease in environmental legislation.
Szekeres
RICE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE REPUBLICANS PRESIDENT
Ph.D. student Braulio Ramirez said he agrees with Frey’s negative evaluation of the ‘America First’ message. He said he dislikes Trump’s new approach to immigration policy, and that his attempt to end birthright citizenship shows a disregard for human welfare.
“I think it’s heartbreaking,” said Ramirez, an international student from Mexico. “They have children who were born here, and now they’re trying to strip away the rights of being citizens.”
Environment and economy
In addition to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords, Trump has passed executive orders that revoked electric vehicle production goals, pushed to increase fossil fuel reliance and canceled
“I do not appreciate the regulatory environment, and this massive amount of control and influence that the federal government has over our everyday lives,” said Rudin, a Brown College junior.
Szekeres said he hopes Trump’s environmental plan will strengthen the economy. A chemical and biomolecular engineering major at Rice, he said a federal emphasis on fossil fuel may also increase job prospects.
“Even if I don’t work in oil and gas directly, other chemical engineers will work in there,” Szekeres said. “So there’ll be more job opportunities … in those other industries. That’ll hopefully bring down energy prices, and then therefore help reduce the rate of inflation.”
Despite promises to lower prices with his policies, environmental and otherwise, Trump has faced an increase in inflation rates since the start of his second term, according to the consumer price index, which tracks the
In addition to his policy changes, Trump has sought to drastically decrease government costs with his Department of Government Efficiency initiative, an advisory body officially unaffiliated with the federal government. Efficiency efforts have led to high-volume firings, an unprecedented emergency declaration and the involvement of Elon Musk and his non-governmental employees in federal dealings.
Szekeres said he sees Musk as a welcome addition to federal governance, despite differences in policy stance.
“There are a few policy things that he pushes that I don’t necessarily agree with, like the H-1B [visas],” Szekeres said.
Trump also signed a series of executive orders ending diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public and private institutions in favor of eligibility-based opportunities.
Szekeres said DEI programs may offer unfair advantages and that he appreciates Trump’s merit-based approach.
I’m just waiting to see that moment where [Trump voters] realize they’re not going to get any of the things they were promised.
Sammi
Frey
RICE YOUNG DEMOCRATS COPRESIDENT
“He’s in the wrong on that issue.”
“Overall, I think it’s probably a net good,” Szekeres continued. “It depends on the day.”
Recently, Musk has occupied a controversial presence in the U.S. political sphere. Frey said she sides with Musk’s detractors.
“Elon Musk was not an elected official,” Frey said. “The power that Elon Musk is wielding right now is not deserved, and he is one of the people who is making the most detrimental changes to the world.”
“The loss of equality sounds like oppression to those who were advantaged by the previous system,” he said.
Lannie, on the other hand, said some of Trump’s new social policies are in violation of basic human rights.
“I don’t know why we are trying to take away programs that offer opportunities to everyone,” Lannie said.
Rudin said he remains confident in the president’s ability to do right by the American people, despite his recall of DEI and other social services.
“Every government should be striving to represent the interests of its own people,” Rudin said. “I think that Trump is bringing that back.”
MARTIN XIE / THRESHER
FROM FRONT PAGE STUDENTS REACT
Flower Girls
LILIE’s annual venture
challenge takes flight
HUGO GERBICH PAIS SENIOR WRITER
At the Liu Idea Lab for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, pipettes and petri dishes are swapped for market research and poster presentations for pitches. The lab’s work this academic year culminates at the Napier Rice Launch Challenge Championship hosted in the RMC Grand Hall on April 22, said executive director Kyle Judah.
“This is how we end the year with a bang, it ties the whole year together,” Judah said.
The championship is the third and final round of LILIE’s annual venture competition for Rice undergraduate and graduate students and offers over $100,000 in prize money. First and second-place winners will receive $50,000 and $25,000 respectively in equity-free funding and several prizes under $5,000 are also available.
Judah said pitches will be scored by industry leaders, and LILIE staff are
available to help teams review their feedback and results.
“We try to pick judges who have the personal lived experience to make some of these judgement calls,” Judah said.
Previous judges for the championship have included the head of product at WhatsApp, vice president of design at Figma and Houston corporate leaders.
Venture teams must be Rice studentled, have less than five members and have already taken steps to realize their ideas. Any group who meets these conditions can enter the competition and will pitch to a panel of judges on Zoom.
“We’re not doing any filtering at the front end. If you’re brave enough to apply, then you should get the experience of learning by doing,” Judah said.
For Pranai Reddy, this low barrier to entry and learning potential is one of the best parts of the competition. Two years ago, Reddy entered the NRLC with a venture focused on improving access to campus events. This year, Reddy is entering with a prosthetic device startup.
“Just throw yourself in the deep end, and regardless of what happens you’ll come out learning a lot and learning is more valuable than anything else at this stage of life,” said Reddy, a Brown College senior.
Judah said he specifically recommends that freshman and sophomore students enter the competition.
“It’s almost more valuable for underclassmen because they have more opportunities to keep coming back [and refining their pitch],” Judah said.
Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. To read more, visit ricethresher.org.
____ Croft: Tomb Raider
Alternative to records
One way to run
Beyond canon
Walking pace Rihanna, to fans
Not fluff?
Beatles song “Back in the ____”
President Barbie actress Rae Commotion
Chiefs’
LANG / THRESHER
‘¡Ritmo!’ 2025 brings art, soul and celebration to campus
CHARLIE CRUZ THRESHER STAFF
The Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice hosted its annual ¡Ritmo! showcase Feb. 3, filling the Grand Hall with music, dance, poetry and Latine culture. This year’s event, themed “Arte y Alma (Art and Soul),” brought students together by highlighting the connection between artistic expression and cultural identity.
HACER President Camila DeAlba said, ¡Ritmo! went beyond a showcase to demonstrate resilience and pride.
“With everything happening in the world today, it’s important for Latine students to have a space where they feel seen and celebrated,” said DeAlba, a Jones College senior. “Art, music and dance are powerful ways to express who we are, and that’s what we wanted to highlight this year.”
The event featured a mix of performances and storytelling, blending traditional and contemporary Latine art forms. Attendees watched dance routines, a mariachi performance, spoken word pieces and, for the first time, a documentary series highlighting the experiences of Hispanic and Latine staff at Rice.
bringing a part of Venezuelan culture to Rice was really special.”
Nancy Martinez, a member of the Mariachi Luna Llena group, said the energy in the room was electric.
“Mariachi is about passion, about spirit,” Martinez, a Jones College sophomore, said. “We play songs that people love, and when they start singing along or shouting for more, it feels incredible.”
Attendees danced along to performances, creating an atmosphere of joy and connection, according to Martinez.
“I love that ¡Ritmo! isn’t just about watching performances — it’s about experiencing the culture firsthand,” Firas Elkaissi, a Will Rice College senior, said. “The moment people got up to dance, it felt like a real fiesta.”
Art, music and dance are powerful ways to express who we are, and that’s what we wanted to highlight this year.
Camila DeAlba JONES
The theme Arte y Alma was incorporated into many aspects of the event, from the visual art displays to the fashion showcase featuring traditional Latine attire. DeAlba said these additions were meant to elevate ¡Ritmo! beyond a performance and into a full cultural experience.
COLLEGE SENIOR
For many performers, ¡Ritmo! was a chance to connect with their roots and share a cultural connection with the Rice community.
“I grew up listening to this music, but I never really performed it anymore,” Maria Contreras, a Hanszen College junior, said. “Getting up on stage and
“This year, we wanted to go bigger and create something that really honored all the different aspects of our culture,” DeAlba said. “Whether through dance, music or visual art, we wanted people to see how creativity and identity are deeply linked.”
A day before the showcase, the event organizers realized their stage was too small for the performances. Members of the Hispanic community called friends, family and local contacts to secure a new stage in time for the event.
“We had to find a whole new stage the night before,” Melissa Mar, a Duncan College senior and the cultural events chair, said. “It was a scramble, but it just shows how strong our community is. We asked around, called people who might know someone, and by the next morning, we had a new stage that actually fit our performers.”
The showcase also introduced a new documentary segment, spotlighting Hispanic and Latine staff at Rice, including faculty members and Housing and Dining workers.
Mar said it was important to give visibility to those whose contributions to the university often go unrecognized.
“We wanted to tell their stories because they’re a part of our community too,” Mar said. “Seeing the audience cheer for them, recognizing them on screen — it was a really emotional moment.”
As ¡Ritmo! came to a close, performers and attendees reflected on the event as a space for joy, unity and cultural pride.
“I think this was one of the best ¡Ritmo! showcases we’ve ever had,” Mar said. “People felt engaged, the performances
were incredible and, at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about — bringing people together through our culture.”
For Daniel Plascencia and Lizeth Mendoza who performed together for the first time, the experience was something they’ll never forget.
“I feel like this is going to go down in the history books as one of the best performances ever,” Plascencia, a Will Rice College senior, said. “Because we were in it, obviously.”
Mendoza agreed, saying the experience gave her a new perspective.
“It’s one thing to be in the audience, but being part of the show makes you appreciate the energy in the room in a totally different way,” Mendoza, a Martel senior, said.
Looking forward, HACER hopes to continue expanding ¡Ritmo! by fostering more cross-cultural collaborations and growing its impact on campus, according to DeAlba.
“This event gets bigger every year,” DeAlba said. “We’re already thinking about how we can make it even more inclusive and immersive next time.”
Review: ‘Brave New World’ is the Marvel universe at its worst
With each passing year, I have begun to question my undying allegiance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I have seen every single film in theaters since 2011’s “Thor”; I was there at opening night for “Infinity War,” and inevitably, I will be seated front and center for, at the very least, “Fantastic Four” later this year.
However, the chokehold Disney’s flagship franchise has had on me over the years has loosened - it no longer dominates every single conversation I have, I am no longer speculating about the next villains and I have managed only to watch one of the 9,000 Disney+ shows that have been released over the last four years.
At the same time, escaping from the depths of YouTube theories and Reddit
speculation has been bittersweet. There is a reason why I jumped in the pit in the first place.
MCU movies, even when they aren’t very good, tend to emphasize quality. The highs are wonderful action-adventure movies filled with legitimate comic-book charm, and the lows tend to be boring but solid in their craft. This consistency made the MCU work when so many other extended universes failed.
This is why “Captain America: Brave New World” is baffling. In the MCU’s time of need, in a franchise floundering about in the shadow of the emphatic conclusion that was “Endgame,” “Brave New World” has failed to deliver this bare minimum implied by the Marvel Studios label.
It feels like a manifestation of my own waning interest in the series. It gave me a glimpse into the minds of the critics who have been skeptical of the franchise since it began.
I knew I was in for a rough time almost immediately. The introductory action sequence that all Marvel movies have tells you almost everything you need to know about the film. Clunky, cliched dialogue is exchanged haphazardly, and exposition is thrown at you almost immediately.
This kind of opening is nothing new to comic book movie fans, but the way the actors are delivering these lines quickly keys
the audience into the fact that this movie will not be very good.
The script’s immediate shoddiness is also complemented by absolutely awful CGI. Captain America’s initial fight looks like a cutscene from a video game that has awkwardly been superimposed into a real location. It’s visually distracting in a way that eliminates any goodwill that the choreography may build.
As the film continues, neither of these core issues gets any better. The script is laughably on the nose and the performances are awkward. An indiscriminate application of bad CGI may be to blame for this latter issue.
Oftentimes, characters talk to each other against backgrounds that are entirely computer-animated, giving the impression that nobody was ever in the same room as each other, and the whole film was made on a single soundstage.
All of this could be forgiven if the story was interesting, which, to a certain extent, it is.
The film is about the new Captain America (formerly The Falcon, Anthony Mackie) solving a conspiracy surrounding the new president, Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford). This political intrigue is the film’s strong suit, a choice cribbed from arguably the best MCU movie, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier.”
Using that film’s core skeleton to structure the plot is a smart decision, and in a vacuum, each beat of the story was intriguing and kept me watching.
But the issue is nothing is given the space to develop meaningfully. Things just happen without any sense of pace or reason. Characters are not given the space to develop, cool moments never take the time to develop suspense, and by the end of the film I was left wondering why it had to exist in the first place.
This all is particularly frustrating because there is potential somewhere in the film. Intriguing internal conflicts for the two leads, Mackie and Ford, are vaguely gestured at, and the film attempts to have an inspired aesthetic that goes beyond the usual Marvel browns and greys.
But all the film grain can’t save bad computer effects, and being inspired by political thrillers doesn’t make a broken script interesting.
I pity “Brave New World” because it’s clear something went wrong. Mackie and Ford are doing their best in a bad situation, and the film’s failure in fidelity speaks to a clearly troubled production.
There’s a good movie somewhere buried within this one, but it’s hard not to rip into something that fails to deliver on its franchise’s signature promise. I hope “Brave New World” is taken as a lesson, a moment of clarity that enables a course correction away back toward the solid foundation that the franchise was built on.
KONSTANTIN SAVVON / THRESHER Performers took the stage to celebrate Latine culture at HACER’s Ritmo showcase on Feb. 8.
MARVEL STUDIOS
JAY COLLURA FILM COLUMNIST
Spotlighting Black media
ARMAN SAXENA A&E EDITOR
This month is Black History Month — so what better time to engage with media highlighting members of the Black community in the United States and around the world? Here are some incredible works by Black artists that illustrate a small sliver of the diversity of the Black experience.
“Coin Coin Chapter One: Gens du Couleur Libres” by Matana Roberts
Avant-garde composer and saxophonist Matana Roberts launched their Coin Coin series with a deeply personal and political work. Referencing the term “free people of color” in French, Roberts delves into family history, ancestral memory and the intertwined cultures of New Orleans. This experimental jazz record seamlessly weaves spoken word, dissonant improvisation and historical texts.
It’s a distinct listening experience that captures the spirit of resilience and innovation within Black communities — perfect for those who want a musical journey that goes beyond simple melodies and into the very foundation of Black American heritage.
“The Nickel Boys” by Colson Whitehead and “Nickel Boys” (2024)
Inspired by the real-life Dozier School for Boys in Florida, Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows two Black teens who are sent to a juvenile reform school in the Jim Crow South. Intimate and heart-wrenching, it paints a picture of institutional racism and the scars it leaves behind.
Whitehead’s masterful storytelling ensures this short but powerful read lingers long after you finish the last page. It’s a testament to the hidden histories of Black Americans that demand both recognition and redress. Ramell Ross’ 2024 film adaptation “Nickel Boys” is a masterpiece in and of itself, employing intimate first-person POV camerawork to tell a human story of defiance, brotherhood, and perseverance.
“Felix Ever After” by Kacen Callender
If you’re craving a contemporary YA novel that examines the intersection of race, sexuality and gender identity, Kacen Callender has you covered. Felix Ever After follows the journey of a Black trans teen grappling with questions of identity, friendship and first love.
Despite the transphobia Felix faces, the novel is infused with optimism, reminding readers that everyone deserves a happily ever after — especially those whose stories have been sidelined. It’s a poignant addition to the growing canon of diverse young adult literature, reflecting the multifaceted nature of Black life and love.
“Sambizanga” (1972)
A groundbreaking figure in African cinema, Sarah Maldoror brought the Angolan War of Independence to the screen in “Sambizanga.” The film follows a young Angolan woman’s quest to find her imprisoned husband, set against the backdrop of an anti-colonial uprising.
With its focus on everyday people confronting the brutality of Portuguese rule, “Sambizanga” offers a powerful depiction of resistance and the price of liberation. Maldoror’s film not only champions a feminist perspective, but also stands as an enduring testament to the global fight for Black self-determination.
“The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin
James Baldwin remains one of the most essential voices on race in America, and “The Fire Next Time” is often held up as his seminal work. Published in 1963, the book (often considered a single extended essay) shares Baldwin’s reflections on racial injustice, religion and the power structures shaping Black life.
Its title references a spiritual that warns of a cleansing fire — a fitting symbol for Baldwin’s urgent call for justice. Nearly sixty years on, his words remain strikingly relevant, offering a blueprint for a deeper understanding of racism’s psychological toll and how to counter it with empathy and love.
“Unknown Soldier” by Fela Kuti
Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti was a pioneer of Afrobeat and an uncompromising critic of political corruption. Unknown Soldier, released in 1979, was Kuti’s response to the Nigerian military’s brutal attack on his commune. It’s simultaneously a tribute to his mother, who was killed in the attack.
The record fuses propulsive rhythms with fierce denunciations of oppression, illustrating how music can be both a rallying cry and a historical document. If you’re looking to explore the ways Black artists around the globe have used their art to resist colonialism and systemic violence, look no further than this Afrobeat classic.
“Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” (2021)
Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Summer of Soul highlights rediscovered footage from the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, where legends like Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder and Sly & The Family Stone graced the stage.
Often called the “Black Woodstock,” this festival was overshadowed by the era’s political climate, and subsequently forgotten. The documentary corrects that historical oversight, showcasing a vibrant celebration of Black art, community and resilience. It’s an absolute must-watch for anyone interested in the cultural pulse of the late ’60s.
Spring Archi Market blooms
Candy hearts, pastel crafts and the hum of excited chatter transformed Anderson Hall into a makeshift bazaar Feb. 10 for the 12th iteration of Archi Market, a studentrun market where vendors sold items: hand-beaded jewelry to homemade iced coffee in celebration of Valentine’s Day.
Some students were selling or visiting the market for the first time, intrigued by the people and noise coming from one corner of the academic quad, or interested in sharing their small business with their peers.
Sid Richardson College freshman Catherine Cheng, a first time as a vendor, sold beaded flowers in glass vases.
“I started because I liked crafting,” Cheng said. “I realized that I’ve been to Archi Market as a customer, [and] I could sell my things here.”
Katherine Shi and Victoria Liu, Duncan College sophomores, were also first-time vendors. They sold handmade crochet flowers, coasters and amigurumis — small stuffed animals.
“We’re just so excited that we can sell our goods at school,” Shi said.
Other students, like Eduardo Pereya, attended the market for the first time.
“I really enjoyed it,” Pereya, a Brown College freshman, said. “I actually wasn’t expecting there to be so many cool, handmade things. It’s just really fun to see the creativity of other students.”
Other students were more experienced with Archi Market, having been both customers and vendors over their years at Rice. For example, Hong Ling Tsai sold stickers featuring Sammy the Owl at Archi Market.
“I think this is my fifth Archi-Market so
far after one of my best friends introduced me to the market, [and] I thought I should follow her,” Tsai, a junior at Brown, said. “30 designs later, I’m still here … There are so many people who give you support and want to show support for the arts.”
According to organizer Emma Liu, Archi Market is held once or twice a semester by some architecture students who are members of the Rice Architecture Society.
“We use Archi Market as an opportunity to fundraise for food for [architecture students] to have late at night to eat,” Liu, a Baker College sophomore, said. “We also want to increase the architecture school’s presence in the community … seeing that it is pretty separate from the rest of Rice.”
Organizer Kirstie Qian, a Hanszen College sophomore, said that the market allows students to showcase their artwork with the rest of the university and sell things they might not have the chance to otherwise.
“I’ve done Archi Market two times before, and I’ve loved it,” said Amara Anyanwu, a Duncan senior who sold mini plantsattended the market. “I’ve always loved taking care of plants and giving plants as gifts to my friends, and I thought that this is a great opportunity to share that love with the Rice campus.” Editor’s Note: Kirstie Qian is the Thresher’s sports designer. Beyond handmade crafts, many students also sold food and drinks. Ivan Diaz, a Lovett College freshman, sold acai bowls, and Ruby Bixby, a Duncan sophomore, sold iced coffee with Sarah Yesnowitz, also a Duncan sophomore.
“We love the experience of going to coffee shops together, so we decided we would bring our own coffee creation to Archi Market,” Bixby said.
This article has been cut off for print. Read more at ricethresher.org.
ANGELICA HERNANDEZ THRESHER STAFF
NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER
Communications veteran Chuck Pool powers Rice sports
ANDERSEN PICKARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
In an office nestled near the elevator on the ground floor of Tudor Fieldhouse, Chuck Pool taps away at his keyboard, vowing to answer a few more emails before fielding questions from the Thresher. This is standard practice for Pool. The assistant athletic director and head of athletic communications has seemingly put Rice’s interests ahead of his own for decades.
Pool was born in Virginia, but as the son of a naval aviator, said he relocated often. His childhood included stops in the Philippines, Hawaii and Midway Island, a coral atoll with 2.4 square miles of land in the Pacific Ocean. He found himself paying more attention to sports than the average fan because of how far he lived from the contiguous United States, he said.
Playing baseball and swimming gave Pool his sports fix on military bases, and by high school, he added basketball, football and wrestling to his repertoire. Pool lived on the mainland by then, and he became interested in journalism.
“I was part of a wave of kids enrolling in journalism schools,” Pool said. “Everyone wanted to be an investigative reporter, wanted to be this, wanted to be that. I just wanted to be a sports writer.”
Pool attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he played football and dabbled in journalism as a history major. However, upon losing interest in covering non-sports topics, such as government, he joined Nebraska’s sports information department as an intern.
“Being that I had been such a raging fan, I felt like I was stealing money,” Pool said. “I was excited that I got to file mugshot slides of football players – 120 sets of individual shots and we had to do them in team sets to mail out. I was just happy collating those.”
Pool’s time in the sports information department coincided with a historic run for Nebraska that included a Heisman Trophy, two Rotary Lombardi Awards and 10 Consensus All-American selections in football. Upon graduation, he took a job with the Houston Astros, noting that his only connection to the position was its proximity to family in Louisiana.
“[The Astros] were supposed to lose 100 games, move to Washington,” Pool said. “At the end of the year, we were one game away from the World Series.”
Pool met his wife Laura in Houston
A week in the life of Chuck Pool (football season edition):
Satuday 8 a.m. – Arrive at stadium.
Pregame – Set up internal public address script, send out a gameday email to the press.
11:55 a.m. – Find press box seat with the rest of his staff.
Noon – Kickoff.
Midgame – Monitor plays and information while handling requests from media.
3 p.m. – Join the team on the field to get ready for postgame operations, such as media availability with the head coach and at least two players.
4 p.m. – Introduce the head coach and players available to speak with media.
and, after five years with the Astros, was hired as the first public relations director of the Miami Marlins upon their founding in 1991. He came back to Houston near the turn of the century, serving a brief second stint with the Astros before starting his own PR business. The endeavor created more time for his family, but it wasn’t a long-term solution for Pool, who said he dreamed of returning to college sports.
“Working [for] myself is fun, but I’m not exactly making a ton of money, and I’ve got an idiot for a boss,” Pool said, adding that he never felt like he was the entrepreneurial type.
In 2006, Rice had an opening for a sports information director. With his family settled down in Houston, Pool said he jumped at the opportunity, saying that positions in college sports with adequate pay in your hometown don’t come around often, especially for someone 15 years removed from working in an NCAA program.
Pool was offered the position and started just nine days before the Bayou Bucket against the University of Houston.
“That was like jumping on a treadmill set at 20 miles an hour with no handrails,” Pool said.
He said the Owls’ 2006 football season –just like the 1986 Astros’ season – is further proof that teams have unexpected success whenever he takes a new job. Rice went 7-6 after finishing 1-10 the year earlier, making its first bowl game in 45 years.
Despite being thrown several curveballs in his first year on South Main, Pool knew he had found the right job after an interaction with linebacker Brian Raines, a standout defender who led Conference USA in tackles and forced fumbles in 2006. Amidst a quick start to the season, Pool said he had trouble recognizing certain players in the locker room. Raines came to his rescue.
“He just smiled at me and said, ‘Who do you need?’” Pool said. “Right away I went, ‘Well, okay, that’s a good sign.’”
Now in his sixties, Pool has come a long way since his initial struggle to match names with faces. He is now the Owls’ goto resource for Rice Athletics information, keeping tabs on storylines, statistics, records and much more for all athletic programs on campus. He oversees a small staff handling communications for all Rice sports, and Pool himself is the primary contact for baseball and football.
Pool highlights the proactiveness of
5 p.m. – Convene with coaching staff to prepare for submitting the head coach’s vote for the Coaches Poll.
Evening – Return home and immediately begin preparing for the next week. Work on game notes.
Sunday – Continue to work on game notes. Spend time with family while delving into stats, storylines and other information.
Monday – Organize notes for the next week. Assist with weekly head coach radio show.
Tuesday – Organize midweek press conference.
Rest of week – Production meetings with ESPN+, figure out announcers for the upcoming game and more.
his current staff, which is something he said he didn’t see at Nebraska or in Major League Baseball. One of his primary tasks is connecting the press with players or coaches, and he takes proactive measures by offering the media an angle to frame their stories. More often than not, potential storylines fall apart and Pool’s work becomes all for naught. However, when the stars align, he’s responsible for coordinating a quality story that Rice fans enjoy.
No two days as sports information director look the same, so Pool said he’s learned to adapt in his role while continuing to support Rice Athletics staff, coaches and players.
“Every day starts off with a little checklist, and then the checklist usually gets demolished within the first 20 minutes by all the things that come in, the brushfires, and you’re just kind of winging it the best you can,” Pool said.
every call he gets, but when the phone is constantly ringing with questions –like last fall, when football fired Mike Bloomgren and hired Scott Abell within one month – he says he gives preference to the media members he trusts to “not put [a story] out ahead of time.” This allows him and his staff to coordinate the best time for making pertinent announcements.
Every day starts off with a little checklist, and then the checklist usually gets demolished within the first 20 minutes ... and you’re just kind of winging it the best you can.
Chuck Pool HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS FOR RICE ATHLETICS
Pool reflects on the 2006 season when he worked tirelessly to get big names in sports media to talk about Jarett Dillard. Pool wanted to build hype for the Rice wide receiver amidst his campaign for the Biletnikoff Award.
He generated similar buzz for Rice football in 2015 when running back Luke Turner delivered an emotional statement singing head coach David Bailiff’s praises. A teary Turner thanked Bailiff for his only Division I offer, which allowed him to play collegiate football while receiving a quality education. Pool uploaded the video to YouTube before sending it to ESPN reporter Tom Rinaldi on a whim.
“I said, ‘I don’t know if you can do anything with this, but this is unbelievable,’” Pool said. “[Rinaldi] texted me about two days later and said, ‘We want to come out and talk to [Turner]. It’s a great story with 500,000 hits.’ So they did that story and we’re on GameDay a week after the season ended. Lee Corso and [everyone else] is tearing up, and you’re like, ‘Wow.’”
Pool, who won’t even guess how many hours he works in a week, also attends practice, coordinates media availability and updates his notes repeatedly. And he does it while overseeing a hardworking staff to ensure that all sports are treated equally and given fair coverage, even those that aren’t currently in-season.
With many responsibilities and loads of information, Pool is a popular person in athletics circles. He eventually returns
Trust is important to Pool, and not only when working with the media. Whenever a new coach is hired, Pool said he prioritizes developing a rapport and trust with them. He quickly formed that relationship with baseball head coach Jose Cruz Jr., perhaps thanks to Pool’s connection with Jose Cruz Sr. from their shared stints with the Astros. He’s had similar experiences with football head coaches Bailiff, Bloomgren and Abell.
“With Coach Bailiff and Coach Bloomgren, there were moments where it was bumpy patches along the way, but you’re just trying to get used to each other and work through them,” Pool said, adding that Abell has been great so far, too.
There was once a time when Pool led the communications efforts for men’s and women’s tennis, swimming, baseball and football simultaneously. He remembers one Friday evening when he was livetweeting tennis conference championships while scoring a baseball game.
“My wife says I’m a stress addict and says I’m really unhappy when I don’t have 15 things banging in my head at the same time because then I start bugging her,” Pool said.
When asked about the next chapter of his life, Pool avoids the word “retirement.” He fears that leaving his work behind could lead to a sedentary lifestyle that he wants to avoid. But he also knows his time at Rice isn’t unlimited, citing his age, the ever-evolving nature of the position and a growing shift toward enamoring a younger audience with newer forms of media. He also has two grandchildren now, ages 6 and 8, whom he enjoys watching play youth sports.
Pool, who measures success in the amount of publicity that Rice receives and says he would never promote himself over the team, questioned the Thresher’s request to interview him for this story. He expressed doubt about whether a Chuck Pool feature was worth writing. However, as he knows, the press doesn’t always choose to report on the story he suggests.
COURTESY CHUCK POOL
Chuck Pool (left), Peter Gammons (right) and Doug Rader (middle) talk prior to a game while Pool was working as the Marlins’ public relations director.
Can’t call it a comeback: MBB continues to lose close games
ANDERSEN PICKARD ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
Rice men’s basketball lost another conference matchup Saturday, falling 81-78 to Tulane University on the road. The Owls won their first two conference games after AAC competition began Jan. 1, but they’re 1-10 in the 11 games since then.
Rice has consistently been unable to win close games. Whether they kept the score close for all 40 minutes or sparked hope by shrinking their deficit in the second half, the Owls have repeatedly found themselves on the losing side of competitive contests.
To their credit, when Rice does clinch an occasional conference victory, they do it with ease, taking down Tulsa University by six points, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte by 13 and East Carolina University by 13. Their conference victories come by an average margin of 10.7 points.
Rice’s margin of victory is not far off from the University of Memphis. The Tigers, ranked 22nd in the country and first in the conference, have an average AAC margin of victory of 11.1 points. Plus, that number is skewed by a pair of 20-plus-point wins.
However, victories have been few and far between for the Owls under first-year head coach Rob Lanier, and the losses continue to pile up – often in close, nailbiting fashion.
Eight of Rice’s 10 conference losses this season have been by six points or less – and five have been by just three points or less. On average, the Owls lose conference matchups by just 5.7 points.
In their three conference wins totaling 120 minutes of regulation, Rice has led the opponent for 91 minutes and 38 seconds, or 76.4% of the time. They’ve trailed for only 20 minutes and 17 seconds, or 16.9%.
In their 10 conference losses totaling 400 minutes, Rice has still managed to lead for 122 minutes and 57 seconds, or 30.7%. They’ve trailed for 256 minutes and 18 seconds, or 64.1%.
Furthermore, Rice is 2-4 in games when they led at halftime and 1-6 in games when they trailed at halftime.
For most of their conference schedule, the Owls have displayed a pattern of leading in losses at a much larger rate than trailing in wins, and vice versa.
Inflating these numbers most was
Rice’s Jan. 19 loss to Florida Atlantic University, 75-73. In this battle of the Owls, Rice led for 35 minutes and 44 seconds.
However, FAU tied the game with a late two-pointer, then pulled ahead by making a pair of free throws with two seconds left. Despite leading for just 34 seconds, FAU pulled off the win and gave Rice yet another close conference loss.
In total this season, the Owls have trailed 53.2% of the time, led for 41.3%, and tied for the remaining 5.5%. For a team that is just 3-10 and ranks secondto-last in its conference, these aren’t astonishingly poor numbers. So why has Rice struggled to come out on top?
A common theme for Rice this season has been a failure to capitalize on opportunities at the foul line.
The Owls have attempted the secondmost free throws in the AAC, but they’ve converted these shots at 69.5 % clip, which is the conference’s third-lowest mark.
As time winds down in regulation and teams get on the bonus, Rice hasn’t been able to capitalize on late-game scoring chances from the foul line.
After a Feb. 11 loss to the University of North Texas, head coach Rob Lanier said, “I can’t make the free throws go in for them. We’ve got to make those.”
Rice has endured similar struggles on two-point shots, converting these just 47 percent of the time, which ranks thirdto-last in the AAC. Meanwhile, they’re committing the third-most fouls per game while taking the second-fewest fouls per game.
Struggling to score from inside the arc, failing to capitalize during trips to the free-throw line and giving other teams plentiful opportunities to sink their foul shots has created a perfect storm that keeps the Owls competitive for most of the game, only to lose in the final minutes.
Nevertheless, Lanier has repeatedly emphasized confidence in the Owls to remain an aggressive, unified team that could improve its record with better lategame performances down the stretch.
“If we continue to play the way we’re playing, it’s just about learning how to finish the games and come out on top,” Lanier said after the UNT loss. “There is a trajectory there that is pleasing.”
Junior guard Jacob Dar agreed with his coach’s assessment.
“We’ve just got to learn how to finish games,” Dar said. “Like, we’re in the game, we play hard the whole time. We’ve just got to come together at the end and execute.”
Correcting these issues won’t be easy, though. Rice’s next opponent is the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers, who lead the conference in two-pointers made, rank third in percentage of free throws made and have held opponents to a modest 51.5% two-point field goal rate.
After that, Rice will get a chance to turn things around against Tulsa University. The Golden Hurricane has handed out the conference’s thirdmost personal fouls, fifthmost two-pointers made and the highest free-throw rate.
The Owls close out the month of February against No. 22 Memphis before finishing the regular season against a pair of sub-0.500 teams, Wichita State University and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
Sports Mini #12
Repeated phrase
Like contestants on RuPaul’s show Martial art
Number of players on a football field, per team Instance, in France Hunk of gum
CAYDEN CHEN / THRESHER
Junior forward Andrew Akuchie shields the ball from a University of North Texas player during the Feb. 11 loss to UNT.
The Backpage is the satire section of the Thresher, written this week by Andrew Kim, Will Howley, Charlie Maxson, and Max Scholl and designed by Lauren Yu. For questions
