Vote yes on U-court amendment to ensure a sound judicial system
The SA election does not simply concern elected positions; there is also an important amendment that Rice students can vote on. One of these concerns the University Court requirements for office. As the rules currently stand, a U-Court judge can also sit on a college court. This inherently creates conflict of interests if U-Court heard a case from college court on its appellate jurisdiction, especially if the student
holds a position of leadership on one of the two levels. It would be comparable to a United States Supreme Court judge sitting on a state's bench, something that would be completely unthinkable. This amendment alleviates these sorts of conflicts of interests. Rice is privileged to have a student-run court system but we must acknowledge
that undergraduates are also capable of the same biases as anyone
else. The Thresher heartily endorses this amendment to make our judicial system more fair.
More from The Rice Thresher
Fairness means saying yes to students — not just to budgets
Every year, the Blanket Tax Committee faces tough questions: How should we prioritize funding and ensure every student dollar goes toward something meaningful?
What it’s like to be undocumented at Rice
I’m scared and don’t know how to stop being scared. For years, the fear of deportation loomed over every moment of my life. I developed a phobia of police officers — just seeing one made my stomach turn. The thought of someone discovering my undocumented status was enough to send me into a spiral of anxiety. Even now, despite having legal protections, those fears persist, reminding me that freedom is fragile.
Rice should commit to protecting its international students
Last week’s news that five international students – three current students and two recent alumni – have suddenly lost their visas should alarm anyone who values this campus’s global community. The federal government’s “Catch and Revoke” program has already revoked the visas of hundreds of students from universities across the country, raising widespread fears about the stability of international study in the U.S.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.