An additional 100 students gained admission through the QuestBridge National College Match program, an uptick from last year's 77. While applications are on the rise, acceptance rates continue to decrease: The past two ED cycles saw 15.3% and 15.2% admission rates. Romero da Silva cited "many factors at play" for this drop, including higher applications, more QuestBridge admits and the upcoming ED II cycle.

This is the first year that Rice has included two rounds of early decision applications. ED II applicants will receive their results in Feb. 2025

Scott Chen, an admitted student from Walnut, Calif., said that he was especially drawn to Rice's "diverse community" that is both "diverse" and "tight-knit."

"I am looking forward to the residential college I get into, because it is such a unique social aspect of Rice that really not many colleges have," Chen said. Chen is part of the 49% of domestic non-Texan admitted students. The remaining 35% of the class is from Texas while 16% are international students.

Laylee Taghizadeh, an admitted student from Houston, also expressed excitement about the community.

"I took a campus tour of Rice over summer and I absolutely loved the community and culture I felt on campus and I knew that this was the school I wanted to go to," Taghizadeh said. "I am most looking forward to the relationships I will build with my peers in the residential college."

"I was on Facetime with my friend screensharing and had the portal up and running, refreshing it up until 8:59 a.m. and then it hit 9:00 a.m.," Taghizadeh said. "I refreshed it and it popped up, and I started shaking when I saw the update. I had a very emotional reaction then burst into my parents' room screaming 'I got into Rice!'"

Amiya Aggarwal, an admitted student from Scottsdale, Ariz., said that she looks forward to the collaborative community at Rice after attending a small and competitive high school.

"Beyond the academics at Rice and the programs being amazing for what I want to do, the biggest thing that appealed to me and drew me to Rice was the fact that everyone is collaborative and waiting for you to succeed," Aggarwal said. "Coming from a very cutthroat high school environment into such a welcoming and collaborative environment like Rice where I can completely be myself is so appealing to me."

"I honestly keep replaying the moment the whole entire day because it was such a surreal moment for me," Aggarwal said. "Everyone who knows me knows that I wanted to go to Rice. This is all I talked about for the past four years. Actually getting this moment felt like my whole entire dream, my whole entire life coming true."

A total of 1,898 students voted, amounting to a 39.7% voter turnout - just shy of the general February election's 42.1%, the highest turnout since 2018. Student Association president Jae Kim attributed high turnout to the "novelty" of an off-cycle election, and said the referenda tackled subjects important to student voters.

S.REF 01, which passed with 71.5% approval, places the RMC under no obligation to disclose its holdings. The results will be sent to university administrators as a gauge of student opinion, Kim said. Voting closed Dec. 11 at noon.

Following the results of the vote, Rice administration praised the SA for "fostering respectful campus debate," according to a statement from university spokesperson Chris Stipes. However, Stipes also said that the university's endowment is bound by legal agreements that prohibit Rice from disclosing its investments.

"To ensure the integrity and effectiveness of our investment strategies, operations and partnerships, we do not publicly disclose certain information about the endowment," Stipes wrote in a statement to the Thresher. "Many of the endowment's investment partnerships are governed by non-disclosure agreements which legally prohibit Rice Management Co.'s disclosure of holdings within these partnerships. Importantly, Rice complies with all investment-related disclosure requirements under applicable federal and state law."

If passed, the remaining proposals would have presented a series of opinions about the university's financial policies - including, but not limited to, urging Rice to divest its funding from pro-Israel companies and adopting a commitment to "anti-colonial scholarship."

The second, third and fourth referenda received 57.9%, 61.4% and again 61.4% approval, respectively.

They were passed by the SA senate on Oct. 28. Following a campaigning window, students began voting on Dec. 4.

Cole Holladay, a representative for Rice Students for Justice in Palestine, said the turnout and approval for the referenda was encouraging, despite their narrow failure.

"Despite the success of the referenda, we had hoped for greater support to pass Referenda 2-4, as we do not view their contents as radical," Holladay wrote in a message to the Thresher. "This is the nature of movement building: we embrace small wins along the way, knowing they will ultimately add up to victory."

This is the second SA attempt to address the Israel-Gaza war. Last semester, the Office of Access, Equity and Equal Opportunity ordered an indefinite halt on a resolution that proposed divesting SA-disbursed funds - including Blanket Tax money - from pro-Israel companies. The resolution was tabled due to a complaint alleging that the resolution was discriminatory; the complaint was eventually resolved with insufficient evidence to support wrongdoing.

[12/17/2024 5:49 p.m.] This article was updated to include comment from university spokesperson Chris Stipes and SJP representative Cole Holladay.

[12/12/2024 7:25 p.m.] This article was updated to include comment from Kim about voter turnout and S.REF 01.

Nineteen student organizations announced the formation of the Rice Coalition for Liberation in support of the referenda in an Instagram post Nov. 20. In a statement released by RCL, the coalition says it is committed to "collective liberation."

"We commit to being the conscience of this university, continually working toward a more equitable Rice," the statement reads.

The statement says that the RCL's first action is to support the SA referenda.

"An expression of popular student support demonstrates to the university administration that they are at odds with the will of its students," the statement reads.

The coalition statement then expresses support for each of the referenda, including divestment from Israel-aligned companies and a focus on anti-colonial scholarship.

"Divesting from weapons manufacturers and companies profiting from the genocide in Gaza would be a form of resistance, undermining the economic and political structures supporting the apartheid state of Israel's actions and reducing the financial viability of its military operations," the statement reads.

"By establishing this scholarship, Rice can play a pivotal role in rebuilding Gaza's academic strength and supporting the global fight for justice," the statement reads. "This scholarship should be open to all victims of colonial violence, offering them the opportunity to pursue their education at Rice and contribute to reimagining a more equitable world."

Matti Haacke, a Rice Students for Justice in Palestine representative, said that SJP initiated the formation of the coalition but aims to work alongside all the involved parties in its mission for collective liberation.

"The coalition has collaborated on social media outreach, as well as highlighting collective messaging around the referendums at individual [organization] events, as well as mobilizing volunteers to table in support of the referendums," Haacke, a Sid Richardson College senior, wrote in a message to the Thresher.

Solomon Ni, president of the Rice Young Democratic Socialists, handed out pamphlets in Jones College that explained and voiced support for the referenda Dec. 2.

Ni said his organization signed on to the RCL letter because he identified with the goals of the referenda, especially anti-colonial scholarship, and that he wanted to support people in the Rice community. Ni said he supported the coalition through student outreach.

"We will do our best in terms of tabling and making sure that people know what is on their ballot and educating them about each and every referendum that is there," Ni, a Jones College senior, said.

Ni said that while the coalition initially formed to support the Students for Justice in Palestine, its plans extend beyond just the referenda.

"I think educational events are definitely in the cards, and I think that other ways that we can show our support is trying to get people to recognize the atrocities that are going on in Gaza," Ni said.

Reem Abbas and Saif Ganni, co-presidents of Rice Muslim Student Association, wrote in a message to the Thresher that the organization joined the RCL because it was their obligation to call out injustice.

"Joining the coalition … to the MSA … means following Islamic guidance to speak against oppression in all its forms. It means supporting students who are deeply affected by what's happening when the campus fails to acknowledge it or provide support for them," they wrote. "It means advocating for students' families overseas who are forced to endure that violent oppression every day without the same basic resources, rights and speech privileges that students have in the United States."

Rice Urban Agriculture is another organization that joined the coalition. Isabelle Chang, the president of the organization, said that her organization sent out a poll after an officer brought up RCL.

"We didn't see any reason not to join because ... I think, our mission aligns with SJPs," Chang, a McMurtry College senior, said. "At the garden, we focus a lot on inclusivity and gardening for everybody … and I think that's kind of what SJP is doing on a broader scale."

Chang said that while she personally supports that referenda, Rice Urban Agriculture views organizing to support the referenda as outside of the scope of the organization.

Oscar Vietor is the chair of the SA Labor Commission, one of the three SA commissions that joined RCL. Vietor said that although he was not familiar with the referenda, he supported scholarship by colonial victims.

"I think that students and laborers everywhere need to support one another, and being a coalition member is how the Labor Commission is showing that support," Vietor, a Wiess College sophomore, wrote in a message to the Thresher.

"We found out on Sunday morning that there was a significant water leak in the ceiling of Coffeehouse which drenched the space behind the bar," Lindsay wrote in an email to the Thresher. "We had to wait for everything to dry out to see which equipment was still working and for Facilities & Capital Planning to inspect the space before we'd be able to reopen."

Bijl-Spiro said Lindsay alerted Chaus management to the leak, and collectively decided to close the area for a few days to assess the damage.

MBA student Aryaman Agrawal said that he did not expect Chaus to be closed.

"[A manager] told me that they had closed and could not tell me the reason. They could not tell me when they would reopen, either, which was quite disappointing for me because this is the only place I usually get my coffee from."

Brown College junior Gabriel Ong also expressed disappointment.

"It is definitely a blow to the Rice campus community," Ong said. "I usually go study at Chaus after dinner, but now I have to go somewhere else which is a pain. It is also tough because other places like Local Foods and Dandelion Cafe have more expensive coffee."

Lindsay said that they are hoping to reopen by Thursday.

"Facilities were able to stop the leak on Sunday and then had their electricians, [and] plumbers out on Monday to assess the space," Lindsay wrote. "We've been working with OIT to repair the networking so that the credit card readers will work ... We are tentatively hoping to reopen on Thursday."

"I've always wanted to have a global impact in my future career, but it wasn't until very recently that I really came to understand the Rhodes Scholarship as a means of doing so," Kim, a Brown College senior, wrote in an email to the Thresher. "[It's] a bit crazy to me that there are students that come into college having this as a goal."

"I applied for the Rhodes Scholarship because I believe that you miss all the shots you don't take, but I'm still in disbelief about receiving it," Kim wrote. "When the judges first called my name as one of the two scholars [from District 8], I remember instinctively standing up in shock."

Kim worked with the Texas Consortium for the Non-Medical Drivers of Health to develop their online program index, a digital repository and resource list geared toward researchers and providers. Consortium researchers study conditions where people live and work that affect health risks and outcomes.

Jacquie Klotz, one of Kim's supervisors and program manager for the consortium, said that although Kim never mentioned the scholarship, she always knew he would do impressive things.

"I've rarely handed things to him that don't get better after he's worked with them. So on top of being intellectually curious, he's very driven and very passionate about the work he does," Klotz said. "I had no doubts about Jae doing something that would have a major impact. I'm very happy and proud of him for taking that to the Rhodes Scholarship because it's just the first step on his journey."

Kim currently serves as the president of the Student Association and has previously served as president of Brown College.

Sara Davidson, current Brown president, worked under Kim as Brown's internal vice president last year. She said she has seen him grow and embrace his ability to make an impact.

"I've seen Jae go through many shades of hair. I've seen him when he was green. I've seen him blonde. I've seen him now with his ombré thing we've got going on," Davidson, a senior, said. "I've seen him be unafraid to take on new challenges and even say that he wants to do something unconventional. He knows that Rice has built him up to have those resources, and also to be excited for the unconventional because it's going to lead him to something that he's going to love."

At Oxford, Kim plans to pursue dual Master of Science degrees in environmental change and management and evidence-based social intervention and policy evaluation.

"Beyond academics, I hope to build valuable connections during my time at Oxford that would allow me to pursue effective collaborations on climate [and] health issues in a future career," Kim wrote. "Although the work that I want to do has not changed pre- [and] post-Rhodes Scholar, the scope and scale at which I am able to visualize myself having this impact has shifted greatly."

Kim said he plans to pursue an MD and a master's in public health after returning to the United States and ultimately a career as a climate health advocate.

"I want to develop and advocate for climate policy that preserves human health at the local, national and global levels," Kim wrote. "I will work with local communities to mitigate the very real human cost of climate change, campaign for social interventions and policy changes at the national level and build coalitions for the global stage. My mission is to bring to the world's attention how human health and the health of the planet are inextricably connected."

During her time at Rice, the Media Center hosted film screenings and talks from directors such as Richard Lester, Bruce Bailey and Stan Brakhage. Hobby said her time in the Media Center was full of freedom due to the film program's intimacy.

"[There were] so few students, so I could be in the projection booth and there was informality about it that made it feel like you were in this club," Hobby said in an interview with the Thresher. "I just looked around and saw stuff in the world and went out and filmed stuff."

At Rice, Hobby started to make films of her own, creating documentary and experimental films with topics ranging from alligator hunting to primal scream therapy centers. Hobby cited Rice's associate professor of film Brian Huberman as a major part of her experience, and said that her learning experiences with Huberman were responsible for her love of documentary and experimental film.

"He was shooting a film about the Alamo," Hobby said. "I was pretty good at shooting as a pretty good camera person, so I got to go with him one time and shoot for him … I loved it in every way."

Since her time at Rice, Hobby has produced critically acclaimed films like "Secretary," "Hamlet" and "What Happened, Miss Simone?" for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.

Hobby recently came to Houston for the Houston Cinema Arts Festival to screen her recently produced film, "Dory Previn: On My Way to Where," featured in this year's SXSW Film Festival lineup. "Dory Previn: On My Way to Where" follows songwriter Dory Previn and her career writing songs for Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland while dealing with mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia. Since its release, it has been praised for its insight into the musical mind of Previn during her career through archival footage. Hobby said that the process of making the film was complex, but ultimately fulfilling.

"I knew it was going to be super, super hard to get the money and make the film because it's not well known," Hobby said. "We didn't quite know how much archival there was, but [the directors] had shown me some of the footage … and it was amazing, amazing archival footage."

In addition to her more technical work, Hobby also co-founded Distribution Advocates with Karen Chien in late 2019, an organization promoting independent filmmakers from underrepresented backgrounds. She described their mission as similar to being "a medical advocate in a hospital system."

"If someone's sick in a complicated way, they assign you this advocate that helps you navigate doctors and nurses and systems and funding and all of that," Hobby said. "The system was all so problematic, that the information, in a way, wasn't sinking in … people just didn't even know what to do with the information."

Since the creation of Distribution Advocates, Hobby and Chan have created a podcast, "Distribution Advocates Presents," that breaks down the truth behind many elements of the film industry from film festivals to distribution.

Even though she says that life as a filmmaker without major studio backing is difficult, Hobby remains optimistic about the state of independent film.

"I'm an eternal sort of cautiously optimistic person," Hobby said. "There's also a lot of new platforms coming up that will be good tools for finding audiences and reaching audiences."

Abell joins Rice after seven seasons at Davidson College, a Division I Football Championship Subdivision school in North Carolina. He became the winningest coach in Davidson's history, going 47-28 overall and 35-18 in the Pioneer Football League. He won two PFL Coach of the Year awards, captured two PFL championship titles and led the Wildcats to three FCS playoff appearances.

During Abell's introductory press conference, McClelland said that he spoke with over 30 candidates possessing both NFL and NCAA coaching experience before narrowing down the pool to nearly one dozen. He met with Abell for roughly four hours Nov. 24 and found that the 54-year-old possessed all the qualities he sought in Rice's next head coach.

"During our time with Coach Abell, it became evident to me that he was not only the right coach, but he was the right person to lead our program," McClelland said.

Prior to Abell's arrival at Davidson in 2018, the Wildcats had six consecutive seasons with two or fewer victories and went winless in conference play in four of the previous five years. He immediately brought a winning culture back to the program, going 6-5 in 2018 and delivering a winning record in each of his seven seasons as Davidson's head coach.

"[Abell] has had an immediate impact on every program he has coached and is passionate about developing winners on and off the field," McClelland said.

Abell's Wildcats ranked first in rushing offense among all FCS teams during six of his seven years. This season, they rank second, averaging 58.2 carries, 315.5 rushing yards and 3.4 rushing touchdowns per game.

"In just seven years, Scott transformed the [Davidson] football program, doing so with the highest standards of excellence both on and off the field," Davidson director of athletics Chris Clunie said in a statement.

Abell will fill the vacancy left by Mike Bloomgren, who was fired Oct. 27 during his seventh season as the team's head coach. Bloomgren had never led the program to a winning record. His best finish came in 2023 when Rice went 6-6 and lost their bowl game to Texas State University.

After Bloomgren's firing, the Owls went 2-2 under the leadership of interim head coach Pete Alamar. Rice finished 4-8 overall (3-5 in AAC), missing a bowl game for the first time since 2022.

Hiring Abell is Rice's second major coaching shakeup since McClelland took over the athletic department in 2023. Last March, he fired men's basketball head coach Scott Pera and replaced him with Rob Lanier, whom Southern Methodist University had recently dismissed.

Abell will be tasked with getting the Owls back to their first winning season since 2013, along with leading a national player recruitment process and ensuring his roster maintains Rice's high academic standards. He said that his staff will place a heavy emphasis on recruiting high school talent within the state.

"As we begin to build for the future of Rice football, there will be no more important mark than the great state of Texas and its high school football programs," Abell said. "Texas has the very best when it comes to high school football, its staffs and its development of scholar-athletes."

Abell said that he spent extensive time recruiting Texas football players when he was the head coach at Washington and Lee University and Davidson, so he has familiarity with the state.

Abell flew home to spend time with his family for Thanksgiving, then returned to Houston to watch Rice defeat the University of South Florida Saturday. He assumed his post as head coach Monday, already preparing for the 2025 season.

"I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named the next head football coach at Rice University," Abell said. "I cannot imagine a more ideal time or fit for myself, my family and the future of Rice football. Today begins the journey, as we pursue championships."

Rice's presence in India is not new, according to President Reggie DesRoches. DesRoches said that Rice Global India formalizes a sentiment for cooperation with India that has been in the works for decades.

"This country of nearly 1.5 billion people represents a dynamic and rapidly growing landscape of entrepreneurial and strategic opportunities," DesRoches wrote in an email to the Thresher. "With its burgeoning economy, diverse talent pool and vibrant innovation ecosystem, India will play a pivotal role in our global strategy."

Aside from hiring staff in India and organizing legal matters, Levander said that one of the most important considerations in preparing for Rice Global India was finding a location to call home. After a multi-city tour of India last November, Rice administration agreed to establish their center of operations in Bengaluru due to shared prominence and research priorities.

"My work is to identify institutions that are like Rice: high-caliber, highly research [oriented], rigorous and selective," Levander said. "And amongst those, [I] see where we have possibility for faculty collaboration. Because if you get faculty working together, the rest tends to follow."

Rice has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Science Bengaluru, two of the country's most prestigious educational institutions. According to DesRoches, Rice hopes to offer unique opportunities for students through these partnerships.

"Through these joint education programs, internships and collaborative research projects, students from both countries will gain valuable international exposure, furthering their academic and professional development," DesRoches wrote.

Levander also said that Rice aims to prioritize India as a pool of academic talent, especially at the graduate level. As a part of the program, the university plans to offer merit-based Rice Excellence scholarships to Indian students.

"We will be focusing on growing awareness of Rice as an academic brand in India. We want to be known in India, and right now, we're largely not," Levander said.

Lovett College freshman Vinati Pillutla said that she is interested in the personal and professional opportunities at Rice Global India.

"Apart from the fact that I have family there, I think that India is quickly becoming the center of research and innovation, especially in the biotechnology field, which is what I'm interested in pursuing," Pillutla said. "I've always been in the American schooling system, and I'm interested in exploring the school systems of other countries as well."

Rice has already started to take steps in further enhancing its presence in India, DesRoches wrote. In addition to its partnerships with IIT Kanpur and IISc Bengaluru, the university recently entered similar agreements for academic collaboration with IIT-Madras and the India-based Amity Education Group, a worldwide organization of 25 schools and 11 universities with over 175,000 students.

India's rapid advancement in the technology and education sectors make the country a significant part of Rice's ultimate vision for worldwide interconnection, according to DesRoches.

"Together, we are creating a global network that empowers students, researchers and industry leaders alike, fostering solutions that resonate on a worldwide scale," DesRoches wrote.

For exam prep and organizing - multicolored highlighters or pens

A good set of colorful pens or highlighters can prove invaluable for organizing notes and annotating readings. Paper Source in Rice Village offers a wide variety of stationery, while Amazon provides deals that can be delivered to your dorm or doorstep. If you're purchasing these for a specific person, make sure they use paper rather than an iPad for their classwork, so your gift will be appreciated.

To unwind after submitting a project - tea

While coffee and energy drinks are useful for getting your energy levels up to push through your final projects, tea can help you reduce your heart rate and calm down. To elevate your gift beyond something available in the servery, choose from recognized brands like Harney and Sons or pair it with a cute mug and some honey. If you're purchasing loose-leaf tea, make sure to include an infuser with it - it'll be an awkward situation if your giftee has tea but no way to steep it.

For keeping track of tasks and deadlines - desktop whiteboard

If you're having trouble keeping track of all of the assignments you have to submit before going home for winter break, a desktop whiteboard can be helpful. It's easy to add and remove items as tasks are created and completed, and it'll stay within your line of sight so you can remember what you have to get done. Some models stand up on the desk like a picture frame, while other styles are designed to lay on the tabletop. If you've got a few dollars left in your budget after getting the board itself - they range from around $15 to $20 - consider picking up a dry-erase marker set as well.

To take your mind off of class - a creative craft kit

Engaging with hand-crafting hobbies can help to give your brain a break. Craft kits come in all kinds and price points, ranging from simple paint-by-numbers sets to more involved fiber crafts. If your gift exchange has a higher price limit, Woobles offers crochet kits with detailed instructions starting at $30, with each kit producing an adorable little plush upon completion.

Editor's note: This article has been cut for print. Read the full article at ricethresher.org

For a little reward after finishing a final - themed sticker set

If your giftee has a certain interest, consider getting them some stickers that match their passion. Redbubble is a good place to find creative stickers and offers several different finishes and sizes with a starting price of around $3 per sticker.

And when all else fails - go with a gift card

While a gift card isn't the most creative present, it's undeniably a useful one. While it's not the best for a Secret Santa situation, since it may indicate a lack of thought put into one's gift, it's a safe bet for a White Elephant, where more specific items might not be useful for everyone. Choose Target or Amazon for a general audience, or select a specific shop or restaurant if you know what your recipient or recipients would enjoy.

Happy holidays and gleeful gifting!

Women's Basketball vs. Brigham Young University

Nov. 28 - Rice 51, BYU 63

Women's Basketball vs. University of Vermont

Nov. 29 - Rice 79, UVM 57

Men's Basketball vs. Hofstra University

Nov. 29 - Rice 63, Hofstra 68 (OT)

Football vs. University of South Florida

Nov. 30 - Rice 35, USF 28

Men's Basketball vs. Arkansas State University

Nov. 30 - Rice 75, Arkansas State 67

Men's Basketball vs. Iona University

Dec. 1 - Rice 70, Iona 66

What's next from Dec. 4 to 10

Women's Basketball vs. Utah Tech University

Dec. 4, 7 p.m. - Home on ESPN+

Women's Basketball at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Dec. 7, 2 p.m. - Away on ESPN+

Men's Basketball at Texas State University

Dec. 8, 2 p.m. - Away on ESPN+

Rice finished 6-6 last year and 5-7 the year before, reaching a bowl game both years. Despite that pattern, Rice won fewer games this season than in previous seasons. The program limped to a 2-6 start and fired head coach Mike Bloomgren before the end of the season.

Amidst the losing season, though, Rice produced standout players and moments that the Thresher highlights in this article.

Most Valuable Player: Dean Connors

To nobody's surprise, Connors was the best player at Rice this fall. He led all FBS running backs in targets and receptions while finishing third in receiving yards. In addition to being a talented pass-catcher, he ran the ball quite well, adding 780 yards on the ground. He finished his senior season with 1,265 scrimmage yards and 11 touchdowns, leading the Owls in both categories. Connors is a strong candidate to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft or signed as an undrafted free agent.

Co-Offensive Players of the Year: E.J. Warner and Matt Sykes

Warner and Sykes both made major contributions this year. Warner battled through some mid-season blips to deliver 898 passing yards and six touchdowns over his final three games, with some credit being given to his newfound health and reinforced offensive line. Meanwhile, Sykes essentially filled the Luke McCaffrey role, leading the team with 65 catches, 782 receiving yards and five touchdowns while making numerous show-stopping catches. Previously, the graduate receiver hadn't recorded more than six receptions or 86 yards in a single season.

Defensive Player of the Year: Gabe Taylor

Taylor has been a success story at Rice, blossoming into a core defender and leader on the team. He made plays all over the field this season, registering three sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, seven passes defended and 56 tackles. Fellow senior Josh Pearcy was also considered given his proficiency on the defensive line, but Taylor's 89.5 Pro Football Focus defense grade, at 32nd among over 5,000 Division I defenders, was impossible to ignore.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Quinton Jackson

Jackson was Rice's primary kick returner and often got the green light to take the ball out of the end zone. He finished the 2024 campaign with 22 returns for 589 yards, with his highlight of the year being a 100-yard kick return touchdown against the University of Connecticut. This was the Owls' first kick return touchdown in 12 years and their longest return ever. Jackson was named AAC Special Teams Player of the Week Oct. 28.

Freshman of the Year: Joseph Mutombo

Mutombo is a redshirt freshman who appeared in just one game before suffering an injury in 2023. He bounced back during his first full season this year, registering 11 tackles (three for loss), two sacks, one interception and one forced fumble. His 73.5 PFF defense grade ranked sixth among all Rice players. His best game came Sept. 28 when he earned more snaps along an injury-riddled defensive line and ultimately finished with a 90.3 PFF defense grade, ranking 17th among more than 2,500 qualified defenders in Division I.

Transfer of the Year: Chad Lindberg

Lindberg, a transfer from the University of Georgia, made his presence felt on the offensive line, providing key protection for Warner and Connors in a year where good blocking proved hard to come by. Lindberg led all Owls with an 84.0 PFF pass-blocking grade, and he was also their most versatile player in the trenches, logging 245 snaps at left tackle and 377 snaps at left guard. Charlie Looes, a defensive line transfer from Dartmouth College, deserves an honorable mention for his five sacks, which tied for the team lead.

Game of the Year: 24-10 win over Navy (Nov. 2)

The rain-soaked Owls waited out more than five hours of weather delays to upset a 6-1 Navy program at home. Connors scored a pair of touchdowns and interim head coach Pete Alamar earned his first career NCAA victory as the clock approached midnight at Rice Stadium. The win briefly kept Rice's bowl game aspirations alive.

Play of the Year: Matt Sykes's game-winning touchdown (Oct. 12)

Rice stayed neck and neck with the University of Texas at San Antonio at home, trailing by four points with less than 20 seconds to play. A costly penalty moved the Owls outside the red zone, but Warner brought Rice to the 18-yard line before throwing a strike to Sykes. The graduate receiver adjusted to catch the deflected pass while diving near the back of the end zone. The reception, which was featured on SportsCenter's Top 10 Plays segment, gave Rice a 29-27 victory.

Kevin Dwan, Rice deputy athletic director, said the partnership began last year and has been successful so far.

"Porsche has been a great new partner of ours early on," Dwan said. "I think we're very aligned with their brand, what they're looking to accomplish from a marketing standpoint and what we could offer."

Dwan said Porsche River Oaks initially approached Rice about a partnership. While the agreement is relatively standard, the Porsche name and service have been a part of many promotional events and content for Rice.

"Obviously, it's a luxury brand, an exciting brand, very visual," Dwan said. "We've got cars out [at] pretty much every football game. Outside of our hospitality area, there's at least one Porsche parked."

Football players posed with Porsche cars to reveal their "City Connect" alternate uniforms this season, while women's basketball head coach Lindsay Edmonds posed with a vehicle for Instagram. These posts are just the beginning of what promotional partnerships could accomplish, according to Dwan.

"As our creators are thinking about ways to stay relevant and ways to stand out and do something different, [the Porsche cars were] just one idea that came up, and we were able to make it happen because we have the partnership," Dwan said.

On top of promotion, this partnership also includes incentives for the Rice community at Porsche River Oaks. Leah Webb, the brand manager at Porsche River Oaks, said that these include merchandise giveaways, raffles at sporting events, happy hours at The Podium bar next to the dealership and even purchase deals on a case-by-case basis.

Dwan said these types of incentives are common in Athletics' partnership agreements and benefit both fans and the athletic department by showing the impact they can have on driving business to the partners. He also said that partnerships of this caliber can help attract other businesses to Rice.

"Anytime you have a successful partnership that both we in the athletics department feel good about and our partners feel good about that, word can spread," Dwan said.

Ultimately, Dwan said he hopes this partnership can continue to grow and expand to include even more support for Rice student-athletes.

"The Porsche deal is not a [Name, Image and Likeness] deal right now, [but] we definitely see some potential there in the future," Dwan said. "It's a great way to showcase how much engagement we got with these creative assets that our student-athletes are a part of. Let's expand on that, so both growing the Porsche relationship, but also going out to new companies and potential partners who are interested in NIL or using student-athletes in their marketing strategies."

Around the beginning of the semester, I found myself writing about legacy sequels, so it feels fitting, and somewhat indicative of Hollywood's stagnation, to end the semester doing the same. "Gladiator II" is a direct continuation of the Best Picture award-winning "Gladiator", with director Ridley Scott returning to his acclaimed film with an almost entirely new cast of characters.

Returning to a franchise 24 years after the fact usually leads to a movie fully indebted to the original, but Scott's latest thankfully avoids playing the nostalgia card too many times. Regardless, "Gladiator II" faces the same challenge as all other legasequels do -- justifying its existence beyond nostalgia and proving it has a story worth telling.

"Gladiator II" follows Hanno (Paul Mescal), a soldier living in the African kingdom of Numidia with his wife. After years of peace, Numidia is attacked by the Roman army under the command of General Acacius (Pedro Pascal). This attack leads to Hanno's capture, and as the film progresses, he slowly ascends from prisoner to gladiator.

Does that sound familiar? If you've seen the original "Gladiator", the answer to that question is a resounding yes. If anything, a comparison between the original film's synopsis and the one I just provided reveals the key issue with "Gladiator II" -- the script is thin and unsurprising. Unlike in the original "Gladiator", our protagonist is not betrayed in dramatic fashion, but instead thrust into action simply because his wife, who we knew for maybe a couple of minutes, died.

"Gladiator" was certainly not the most original story, but it had enough going on to stay interesting. "Gladiator II" feels even more contrived, as if it was written by collaging parts of every historical epic and fantasy film that everyone has seen before.

That being said, the film is still entertaining, if a bit dull and predictable. The principal cast is excellent and makes the material bearable. Paul Mescal has very little to work with but conveys a certain naïveté that separates his performance from Russell Crowe's magnetic work in the original. Pedro Pascal also does a good job of humanizing a character that could come off as cartoonishly evil, though his character is given little to do.

The stand-out, however, is Denzel Washington, who plays Danno's gladiatorial sponsor. Washington immediately commands every room he is in, and it's clear that he is having fun playing a scheming Roman nobleman. His character hits all the same archetypal notes you'd predict (see Littlefinger from "Game of Thrones"), but his charisma overwhelmed my cynicism.

Outside of the performances, the action sequences are also solid. The choreography is strong, and the set pieces are creative. This film certainly takes a bigger approach than the original, utilizing the new filmmaking technology that has been developed over the last 24 years to create more fantastical moments.

However, this bolder approach makes the film feel too unrealistic. I do not care if the film is historically accurate (and neither does Scott), but the use of visual effects betrays the grittiness of the original film.

"Gladiator" feels real because it is real - there was no way to digitally cheat the Roman Colosseum arena in 2000. "Gladiator II" feels fake because it is fake - the scenes are more creative, but the actors often feel like they aren't in the same room as each other.

This, alongside the flimsy script, makes "Gladiator II" feel lazy. Sure, I was entertained, but not as much as I should have been given the stellar cast. Ridley Scott's recent output has been a mixed bag (though "The Last Duel" is worth a watch), and "Gladiator II" continues this trend. His ability to direct actors is still all there, but I wish he put more attention into polishing both the scripts he chooses and the visuals he employs. At the moment, however, what audiences are left with is a serviceable film, but one that also exists in the shadow of something greater.

France's submission for the 2025 Academy Awards will likely be the country's thirty-ninth film nominated in Best International Feature. Currently on Netflix, Jacques Audiard's "Emilia Perez" follows an overworked lawyer in Mexico who helps a trans cartel boss leave her life of crime and start anew.

This comedic crime-thriller-musical continues Audiard's penchant for telling stories of minority groups, such as in his previous films "A Prophet" and "Dheepan". But unlike those humanist films that intensely honed in on their central characters, "Emilia Perez" falls flat, speeding through character dimensions and motivation for the sake of gaudy musical numbers and a race to the finish line of its 132-minute runtime.

Zoe Saldana plays Rita, the underappreciated lawyer at the center of the film who struggles towards upward mobility. Even with a script that doesn't give her much to work with, Saldana is quite good, anchoring the film's charm, heart and passion. Rita is hired by the notorious cartel boss Manitas del Monte, played by Karla Sofia Gascon, who will likely become the first openly trans performer to be nominated for Best Actress for her work in the film.

When she transitions, she takes the name Emilia Perez and starts an organization with Rita to help victims of the cartel war. However, Emilia isn't able to transition to her new life easily and when people from her past enter the picture, things take a turn for the worse. The film's plot puts Perez through the ringer, and Gascon plays her character's guilt, regret and pain with precision and ease.

Selena Gomez plays Perez's ex-wife Jessi. While Saldana and Gascon aren't given much to work with in terms of script and character, Gomez is given peanuts. Still, she chews the scenery with confidence, so it isn't much of a surprise that all three of these women won Best Actress from the jury when the film screened at the Cannes Film Festival back in May.

However, outside of the performances, the rest of the film leaves much to be desired. For a film as flashy and stylized as this, one would think that it would be nice to look at - one would be wrong. Outside of some nighttime shots with ghostly chiaroscuro, much of this film just looks either gaudy or plain boring.

Additionally, the film's editing - for which it won Best Editing at the European Film Awards - is feverish for the sake of being feverish and disorients more than it exhilarates. And with technical aspects like these, the audience will share the film's desire to get to the end credits as quickly as possible.

But over all else, the film's gestures at social commentary may be its worst crime.

On the surface, Emilia Perez seems as though it will tackle pressing topics like the sociopolitical climate of Mexico, the trans experience and issues of race and power. Yet, none of these topics are given the space they deserve. At best, they are glossed over with superficial references; at worst, they are presented in a way that feels ignorant and careless, reducing complex lived experiences to mere bullet points in a flashy narrative.

The film presents the cartel backdrop as an exotic spectacle rather than engaging with the systemic forces behind it, and it treats the trans experience as a plot twist rather than an authentic exploration of identity. Its hollow gestures at deeper meaning ultimately feel exploitative, highlighting the limitations of a filmmaker more interested in sensationalism than genuine storytelling.

In the end, Emilia Perez is a misfire. Despite the critical acclaim it received at Cannes - with an eleven-minute standing ovation that seems more a measure of Hollywood virtue signaling than a reflection of the film's substance - Jacques Audiard's latest work fails to live up to its aspirations. It's a film that lacks both the heart and the nuance required to tell its story with care or resonance.

It instead trades depth for spectacle, leaving behind a narrative that's more interested in the aesthetics of transformation than the genuine emotional journeys of its characters. The performances from Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon and Selena Gomez are commendable and breathe whatever life exists into this gaudy spectacle, but ultimately, they cannot save a film that feels so fundamentally hollow.

Given the Academy's tendency to reward surface-level prestige over true substance, it's not hard to imagine Emilia Perez on its way to Oscar glory - but it would be a victory that underscores just how far we still have to go in telling authentic stories about marginalized lives.

Pub Night happens every Thursday and features a different theme each week. Pub at Rice manager Maya Gerke said she sees Pub as the perfect place to dance and "goof off" with friends. Along with its "clubby" vibe, the weekly themes add a fun and distinctive touch to the whole experience.

"These themes are just a fun way to get dressed up with your friends. I have so many pictures throughout the years of my friends and I dressing up in wacky outfits for Pub and it's always been a great time," Gerke, a Jones College senior, said.

However, the weekly themes do not seem to have much impact on Pub turnout. With the demanding schedules Rice students often juggle throughout the year, many decide whether or not to attend Pub Night based on their availability rather than the theme, Gerke said.

"It's not necessarily a theme that's unpopular or disliked. It's more so what midterms people have," Gerke said. "If there's a Pub Night before a Physics midterm or [General Chemistry] midterm, it's not going to get turnout, and we know that. I can't say [the theme] necessarily fully influences attendance".

Students are also meticulous about which themes they choose. According to three-time Beer Bike Coordinator Luisa Tolda, the themes not only need to be enticing but also practical, she said.

"We're trying to be more intentional about the themes we choose in the sense of having events that are related to the theme but also having decorations that are related to the theme," Tolda, a Jones College senior, said.

Not only are themes chosen based on practicality, but Beer Bike Coordinators prioritize how students will interact with the themes. They focus on choosing themes that feel relevant and exciting to encourage student participation in the events, Tolda said.

"We just make sure that we're not repeating the theme, [and] that the theme is relevant", Tolda said. "We always try to think [if the theme will] be interesting and relevant in six months."

Jacey Denny, a College Night committee member at Lovett College, says the process of selecting a theme is quite simple. The committee sends a survey for students to post submissions, the committee compiles a list of their favorite submissions and then they send out a final survey to vote on their favorite theme. The selected theme is usually a pop culture reference, he said.

"Typically it's pop culture, although not exclusively. A lot of the time it'll be some sort of movie classic or pop musician or genre," Denny, a Lovett College junior, said.

Valuing student input is also key for more relaxed events like FITQs, according to Martel Spirits heads Tony Balderaz and Ethan Bull. Valdez said that fun FITQ themes, such as Latin or Renaissance, help boost residential college culture and participation in events.

"Sometimes the theme is [featuring a committee] or spotlighting a certain Martelian," Valdez, a Martel College senior, said. "Other times we wanna choose a theme that we think will excite Martelians and increase the turnout."

Even though events like FITQs are designed to be more laid-back, they still play a meaningful role in showcasing residential college culture and the broader Rice community, according to the Martel College seniors. Balderaz and Bull believe that highlighting specific groups or individuals through themes fosters an environment where student voices are heard and appreciated.

"It creates an environment where we have a more connected community … more inclusive," Bull, a Martel College senior, said. "Those are two things that we value in the Spirits community."

1. Attend a mega-church christmas extravaganza

Regardless of your religious beliefs, when in Texas, one should attend a mega-church Christmas extravaganza. Perhaps as ingrained in Texas culture as barbeque and the first amendment, the Houston area features several mega-churches, who celebrate the christmas spirit with opulent performances. ​​Champion Forest Baptist Church's Christmas Spectacular last year featured live elephants, and you can buy tickets for this year's performance for as little as 12 dollars.

2. Go to the theater

From November 15th to December 29th, the Alley Theatre is running a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". Dickens' novella is widely credited with popularizing many of the Christmas traditions we enjoy today. The story isn't just a shallow feel-good Christmas story; instead it asks its readers to interrogate how we treat those less fortunate than ourselves and what redemption looks like. This is a perfect activity for those of us who want to celebrate Christmas at the theater, but are tired of blasé performances of the Nutcracker.

3. Christmas shop and drink beer

American Field's holiday market pop-up will be coming to Houston on December 14-15. The event will feature a plethora of independent brands, curated by American Field with their intentional and authentic character. It would be remiss to not add that the event is being hosted at St Arnold's Brewery, allowing you to eat and drink before, during and after getting your holiday gifts.

4. Coca-cola Christmas experience

Nothing says Christmas like Coca-Cola. Located at the Memorial City Mall, the Coca Cola Classic Christmas experience features light sculptures, snow slides and even ice skating. Its convenient location also means that you can get your Christmas shopping done at the mall, or take advantage of the Christmas market also located within the experience.

5. Candlelight Carols and Tours

If you enjoyed the Texas Renaissance Festival, you may enjoy this annual event offered by the Historical Society of Sam Houston Park. Through Candlelight, tour three historic houses located in the park, and interact with era-accurate reenactors, all while listening to Christmas carols sung by the Houston Boys Choir. Your $20 ticket also includes cookies and hot chocolate.

6. Ice skating at the galleria

Last, but certainly not least, is a trip to the Galleria ice rink. If you can put aside the questionable environmental impact of running an ice rink in the middle of a mall, in a city not known for its cold weather, go for it. The vibes don't give Christmas per se, but at least you can get some Christmas shopping done.