The new concept emphasizes convenience for students and faculty, said general manager Daniel Nossa. All menu items are available grab-and-go, purchasable with Tetra, and a self-checkout kiosk is available. In addition to food items - including gluten-free and vegan options, Nossa said. Local Foods offers coffee from local vendor Greenway Coffee Company, which also oversaw the now-closed Audrey's in McNair Hall.

"We're bringing Local Foods in, but we're also reinventing ourselves," Nossa said. "We'll try to get you in and out within a few minutes."

Local Foods' opening also accompanies changes to the interior space of Brochstein, including couch-style booth seating and a larger kitchen island.

Redesigning Brochstein's interior was necessary for the vendor to "execute more items," Nossa said, but also caused unforeseen delays to the re-opening timeline.

"We concluded that a full redesign of the Brochstein would better serve its role as a popular study and hangout spot for our students," Beth Leaver, executive director of Housing and Dining, wrote in an email to the Thresher. "We had planned a smaller renovation to minimize delays, but it became clear that a more comprehensive update was needed."

The pavilion's re-opening has also been received with boycott calls from Students for Justice in Palestine: "Genocide money comes to campus," Rice SJP wrote in a Nov. 18 Instagram post.

On Nov. 1, 2023, a group of Houston-based restaurants participated in a fundraiser for "relief efforts in Israel." Local Foods proprietor Benjy Leavit was among the participants, donating the day's full proceeds from two of the restaurants housed under his hospitality group.

Nossa declined to comment.

Benjamin Tijerina, a Wiess College junior, said that he thinks coffee options will be crucial for the new vendor.

"Primarily, students use this space as a coffee shop," Tijerina said. "I'm curious to see as [Local Foods] evolves, if people will want more coffee, or [if it will] focus on the food more."

Julia Zhu, a Sid Richardson College freshman, said that the price of menu items at Local Foods could be a potential concern for students.

"I think it's a lot pricier than other options on campus," Zhu said. "So if you're low on Tetra, you should not be coming here."

Sid Richardson junior Advika Rajeev said that adding couch seating in the lounge area will be beneficial for students working in the space.

"In the old design we only had four chairs," Rajeev said. "I like the fact that [the new seating] makes group projects a lot easier."

Nossa said that Local Foods proprietor Benjy Levit wanted to bring Local Foods to Rice as a member of the community.

"Levit grew up in this neighborhood," Nossa said. "He would ride bikes through here and always pass by Brochstein Pavilion, so we saw the opportunity in the vacancy. It's like, 'Why don't we expand our brand actually into Rice?'"

Gorman referenced recommendations from the Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee to restrict public party ticketing to venue capacity and require students to swipe in to cross-check their attendance with the ticket list, regardless of whether or not they have wristbands.

"There have been some observations shared that cross-checking student IDs with the ticket list has slowed down the lines," Gorman wrote in an email to the Thresher. "Nothing is being required currently, but we are reviewing and discussing possible ID card swipe options to speed up the attendee verification and long entrance lines at publics."

If implemented, publics will be held to strict capacity limits. Scanners would flash green or red to either admit or deny a student into the party, with crisis management personnel manning the entrance to "to troubleshoot any issues with the system," Gorman said.

Publics returned in the spring - albeit with tighter restrictions - after a months-long moratorium following last year's abrupt shutdown of Wiess College's Night of Decadence. As campus adjusts to a post-NOD era of social life, some have criticized the increasingly stringent capacity and ticketing policies.

Yuv Sachdeva, president of Jones College, said he felt public capacity decisions were unclear and unpredictable.

"To us, [capacity] seems like something that is determined almost arbitrarily, so we would appreciate more information on how that is calculated," Sachdeva, a senior, wrote in an email to the Thresher. "NetID swipe ticket systems may hurt this further, but should also add another layer of safety."

Jones socials coordinator Jacob Lowenstein said that the system would not be used at Jones Inferno, scheduled for this Saturday.

"We had a meeting three weeks out from our public, and [administration was] like, 'Hey, we have this new thing that we want y'all to test' … and then last week was their meeting where they really pushed it," Lowenstein, a senior, said. "They said that it will be mandatory by next year, whenever I push it."

Nathan Calzat, the chief justice at Martel College, said that college presidents and chief justices will be meeting with Student Activities in the future to determine more details about the new system.

"I know that it's an unpopular decision, and people don't like it. I think that in the grand scheme of things, it's not going to affect things too much," Calzat, a junior, said. "It will probably make it harder for students to use fake wristbands, and it will make it harder for students to trade their tickets with other students."

Administration has not yet banned ticket transfers or sales.

Calzat said that there were talks about implementing the system at the start of the semester for Martel's Texas Party.

"For Texas Party, we had to close the sundeck early because RUPD felt that there were too many people on the sundeck," Calzat said. "Who knows, maybe having a concrete number [of attendees] could have changed their mind, or maybe it would have made them make that decision earlier. It's hard to say, but at least it won't leave those things up to a matter of opinion."

Though it will not be used at Jones Inferno, Gorman said that the goal is to use the ID swiping system to reduce lines at future publics.

"The idea had been to test the new system at an event to help speed up lines. Plans to have staff present were to troubleshoot any issues with the system and determine if this was an effective option that could be shared," Gorman wrote. "The hope is to potentially test this process during an upcoming student event and if viable, eventually at a public party."

The morning featured a keynote address with Doug Lawler, CEO of Continental Resources, a fossil fuel exploration company specializing in fracking. The afternoon keynote address was given by Michael Skelly, the founder of Grid United, a Houston energy company. Skelly discussed his efforts to connect Texas' power grid to a larger U.S. power grid.

Most of Texas' cities are connected to a power grid independent from any other U.S. state. Skelly said the 2021 winter freeze, during which nearly 10 million people were left without power, drew mainstream attention to modernizing the state's power grid.

"We knew the grid needed fixing, but not everyone did," Skelly said. "We had a lot of trouble raising money. After the winter freeze … things began to change."

Skelly said a power grid integrated with one of the national grids would be more broadly efficient than the current structure.

"We take a lot of inspiration from the connection of the European grids," Skelly said. "If you look at connections between, say, Norway and Denmark, you get better reliability. You can incorporate more renewables. They're very cost-efficient - they'll pay for themselves."

Following Skelly's address, a panel took place that featured Paul Goydan, Jeffrey Tillery and Hill Vaden. The panelists discussed their thoughts on the future of various green technologies.

Tillery, the chief operating officer at Veriten, an energy investment firm, said nuclear energy has generated great interest in recent years, while attention and investment towards hydrogen energy has stalled.

"The hype and excitement around [nuclear] is not keeping pace with its growth," Tillery said. "Though it will still be a growth market for the coming years … where nuclear has swung in the [positive] direction the most in the past few years, hydrogen has gone the opposite direction."

Regarding the impact of the artificial intelligence boom on the energy industry, Tillery said the interest in AI data centers might drive investment towards nuclear power, but remained cautious about its existing limitations.

"One of the [positive] things about nuclear [power] is data centers, because data centers are this great point source of demand," Tillery said. "That doesn't necessarily speed up the problems that have historically affected nuclear [power]."

Skelly said he found it unlikely the burden of payment for incorporating high-consumption data centers into the grid would lie on the public.

"The way this seems to be headed, the new load will pay for it," Skelly said. "Public utility commissioners will be like, 'Last I checked, Jeff Bezos has billions, why should customers pay for this?' … Maybe artificial intelligence is a public good, but I'm not sure the public is buying it."

At various points, the panelists were asked about their thoughts on the incoming Trump administration's impact on energy transition efforts and the Inflation Reduction Act supported by President Joe Biden, which provided significant provisions for clean energy investments. Vaden said he predicted the new administration would not cause a significant change.

"There's a lot of renewable energy generation going on in states that voted for the new administration," Vaden, the executive director of financial and capital markets at S&P Global and Rice MBA '10, said. "I don't think that's all going to be unwound. The [Inflation Reduction Act] is a statute. It's hard to undo. Executive orders will be undone … but big picture, it's not a big deal."

In contrast, Goydan, a senior partner and managing director at Boston Consulting Group, said the Trump administration did have options available to them to limit the previous administration's renewable energy policies.

"[Biden administration energy policy] will be subjected to congressional tweaking," Goydan said. "The incoming administration does not have to change the laws, but they can destaff departments and nothing gets done for four years."

Skelly, who unsuccessfully ran for Texas' 7th congressional district as a Democrat in 2008, said he was uncertain about the future of energy policy under Trump but remained hopeful.

"Big picture, it's really hard to tell," Skelly said. "Some of these nominations are a real dare for the Senate … On a bad day, I'd say that would suggest they'll gut [the Biden administration's energy policy]. There's another school of thought, there's enough Republican support for the [Inflation Reduction Act] that they keep some of the stuff."

Agora

Agora is your signature late night cafe. The Greek coffeehouse and bar is located in Montrose and stays open until 2 a.m. every night. Its wooden interior and two floors promise a homey living room-like feel. Need a pick-me-up? Agora offers baked goods ranging from baklava and alfajores to vegan cinnamon rolls, as well as unique drinks like lavender matcha, pistachio lattes and Vietnamese iced coffee. The word agora means gathering place in Greek, which is fitting for the lively atmosphere at all hours. If you can secure a spot, it's the perfect place to chat, study or just enjoy the ambiance.

Black Hole Coffee House

If you're feeling creative, Black Hole is a great artsy spot in Houston. Complete with bright colors and disco balls, it's a perfect place to check out if you're feeling spaced out. It also offers unique drinks like the cajeta and maté lattes, and is open until 10 p.m. If you look closely, you might even spot a ktru poster adorning the back wall. While somewhat small in size, the cozy atmosphere of Black Hole will be sure to suck you in.

Eden Plant Co.

If you're a plant lover, Eden Plant Co. is the place for you. The cafe is practically covered in green; its interior is lined with pothos, monsteras and succulents. Continuing its green theme, the menu offers six different types of matcha as well as unique syrups like maple basil, golden milk and lavender bergamot. If you're not one for coffee or plants, the shop also puts on movies, workshops and yoga classes at Eden POST.

Luce Coffee Roasters

Luce, with multiple locations, is a nearby staple that opened in 2017 after its counterpart in South Korea. Though its Richmond Ave. location is small, it's a good homework spot or site for your next coffee run. If you prefer classics, try the hazelnut macchiato or iced honey vanilla latte. If you want to spice it up, order the strawberry ice tea or Black Island, a specialty drink with espresso, coconut and charcoal.

Tout Suite

Tout Suite, located in downtown Houston, is the perfect cross between bakery and cafe, modern and classic. Its wooden elements and warm lighting are inviting, and it always has a good playlist on. If you're looking for a spot to eat all day, Tout Suite is it. It promises plenty of seating and has breakfast, lunch and snack options, from bakery goods like macarons and strawberries and cream croissants to açai and chicken and waffles, as well as interesting drink combinations like strawberry butterfly tea lemonade and turmeric lemonade.

La La Land Kind Cafe

Unlike the movie, the store La La Land ensures that you'll walk out smiling. The shop prides itself on spreading kindness, and its yellow color theme and heart-shaped straws are sure to lift your spirits. And if you're a fan of matcha, it's definitely worth visiting - the menu features matcha drinks like the strawberry fields and lavender bloom lattes. If you're not a fan, you can also opt for a pumpkin spice chai, french toast latte or mango passionfruit cooler.

Hayon, recently named AAC Swimmer of the Week, provided insight into the demanding nature of the team's current training.

"We're definitely in the thick of a lot of really hard training," Hayon said. "Right now, it's more about executing races well and staying consistent rather than hitting our best times. We're pushing through, knowing that our peak is yet to come."

Hayon, who has qualified for the NCAA Championships three times but has yet to make a final, has set high personal and team goals for her final season.

"The big personal goal for me is to make a final at NCAA Championships," Hayon said. "I've been close for the past three years, and it's time to take that next step. For the team, winning a conference championship is huge for us. We know it's within reach, but it's going to require everyone stepping up."

Head coach Seth Huston said that the team is aiming to improve both physically and mentally, changing how they approach competition. One of the significant adjustments has been the introduction of detailed meet scripting, which helps athletes plan their race-day routines.

"We're spending a lot of time on planning everything out, from race-day nutrition to mental preparation," Huston said. "The idea is to be prepared for anything so that on race day, the athletes are ready to execute rather than react. Competing is stressful enough, so having a plan makes a huge difference."

The team's younger members have also played a crucial role in the season's development, Huston said.

"Our freshmen have meshed very well with the team," Huston said. "They bring a great competitive spirit and are already contributing at a high level. It's not easy for newcomers to step into that environment, but they've done so impressively."

Hayon echoed this, and said the freshmen have brought a boost in energy and competition.

"Training with them has been really motivating," Hayon said. "We're all really pushing each other, which is exactly what we need. It's exciting to have younger swimmers who are eager to race and compete at a high level."

Accountability has become a cornerstone of the team's culture this year, a shift that both Hayon and Huston said was essential.

"We've made it a priority to support each other while also making sure everyone is meeting our standards," Hayon said. "It's about being honest and upfront when things need to be addressed, but it comes from a place of wanting to see each other succeed."

The upcoming midseason meet will be a crucial test for the Owls, according to Huston.

"It's a great evaluation tool," Huston said. "We'll see how we manage a multi-day competition and what adjustments we need to make before conference. The good thing is, we have time-December, January and most of February-to refine and get better."

The addition of a diving team this year also brings new opportunities and challenges.

"Having divers on the team for the first time will change how we compete at the conference level," Hayon said. "It's an exciting new dynamic, and I'm looking forward to seeing how they contribute to our overall success. If we stay resilient, competitive and focused, I believe we can accomplish something great."

The Owls are gearing up to compete at the Phill Hansel Invitational, hosted by the University of Houston, from Nov. 20 to 22.

According to Lovett President Andrew Kim, the question on the SAS was not a surprise for students.

"Many students remember how Old Sid became overflow housing and expected a similar outcome for Lovett," Kim, a senior, wrote in an email to the Thresher.

Editor's Note: Andrew Kim is the Thresher's Backpage editor.

Ayush Suresh, Lovett's internal vice president, said that housing was one use for the current building considered by administration and Lovett's government.

"We've had discussions with admin about what the future of Lovett is going to be. There were a bunch of ideas that were thrown out about what might happen, and this was just one amongst them," Suresh, a junior, said.

In a survey conducted by Lovett leadership following the news of the relocation, Suresh said many students - especially freshman and sophomores - were excited about the change in facilities.

"It's recognized generally that the facilities need an upgrade, and people are willing to start that process," Suresh said.

According to Kim, the current building would be repainted, but no large architectural or facility improvements are currently being discussed.

Regarding current conversations at Lovett, Kim said the focus is on ensuring Lovett's culture is preserved at the new building through interior design.

"The conversation on Lovetteers' minds is focused on earnestly maximizing students' agency about what our new building's interior will look like such that even if we move out of the current Toaster, we can feel eager to move into a 'New Toaster,'" Kim wrote. "In the likely case that students will get to live in the current Toaster as overflow housing in the future, I believe it should be offered fairly to equalize the proportional availability of on-campus housing across the residential colleges."

Suresh said the news of the college's move was bittersweet, with many recognizing the need for change while older Lovett students and alumni lamented the loss of the building.

"We're already noticing a lot of alumni sentiment and even current upperclassmen sentiment about this being the final few years," Suresh said. "I think we're going to see a lot of the past of Lovett and the present of Lovett trying to collect its history and where we are right now as a culture and preserve it."

Women's Basketball vs. University of Houston

Nov. 14 - Rice 60, Houston 48

Men's Cross Country at NCAA South Central Regional

Nov. 15 - 289 points (11th of 32)

Women's Cross Country at NCAA South Central Regional

Nov. 15 - 252 points (8th of 33)

Women's Volleyball vs. University of Memphis

Nov. 15 - Rice 3, Memphis 0

Men's Basketball vs. Northwestern State University

Nov. 16 - Rice 77, NSU 75 (OT)

Women's Volleyball at University of North Texas

Nov. 17 - Rice 2, UNT 3

Women's Basketball vs. Sam Houston State University

Nov. 17 - Rice 65, Sam Houston 60

What's next from Nov. 20 to 26

Men's Tennis at NCAA Individual Championships

Nov. 19-24 - Away in Waco, Texas

Women's Tennis at NCAA Individual Championships

Nov. 19-24 - Away in Waco, Texas

Women's Swimming & Diving at University of Houston

Nov. 20-22 - Away in Houston, Texas

Women's Basketball at Gonzaga University

Nov. 21, 8 p.m. - Away on ESPN+

Women's Volleyball vs. University of North Texas (AAC Quarterfinal)

Nov. 22, 1:30 p.m. - Home (neutral site) on ESPN+

Men's Basketball at Houston Christian University

Nov. 22, 7 p.m. - Away on ESPN+

Football at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Nov. 23, 1 p.m. - Away on ESPN+

Men's Cross Country at NCAA Championships

Nov. 24 - Away in Madison, Wisconsin

Women's Cross Country at NCAA Championships

Nov. 24 - Away in Madison, Wisconsin

Basketball booster and alum Randy Block '94 has promised $10,000 to each college with a shooter who makes a blindfolded shot from the opposite free-throw line along with $500 to the college with the most students in attendance, the loudest college and each college shooter that makes a halfcourt shot.

Block is offering these prizes in an effort to break the student attendance record in Tudor Fieldhouse.

In an email to the Thresher, Block laid out exactly how this money will be distributed:

"$500 to the college with the most students in attendance!"

"$500 to the college that is the loudest and rowdiest!"

"$500 to each college whose Shooter makes a half-court shot!"

"$10,000 to each college whose Shooter makes a blindfolded shot from the opposite free throw line!"

Any of these prizes would give colleges the opportunity to invest in a number of resources and activities. According to Baker College President Lynn-Chi Nguyen, on top of funding new traditions for Bakerites, they would use this money to support future sports attendance.

"Since the fund is coming from an athletic event, I would encourage that a portion of the funds are used to support our student-athletes, such as finding ways to encourage Bakerites to attend more athletic events," Nguyen said.

In preparation for the Jan. 14 game, colleges will choose a shooter for both the half-court shot and the blindfolded, 75-foot shot from the opposite free-throw line. At Will Rice College, the selection process will be just as competitive as the real competition.

"[We'd do a] battle royale," Felipe Lerner, the Will Rice College president, said.

The 75-foot shot would be the seventh longest in NBA history.

While it may be very difficult, Block would have to pay out $116,500 if every college manages to make this shot along with the halfcourt shot, a number which Block explained he'd "absolutely" give up.

Regardless of the outcome, Block said that he hopes this challenge can pack Tudor Fieldhouse and encourage students to show out to the game as a united front, creating a special environment for the men's basketball team.

"In Rice's history, this type of big cash has never been offered for a college challenge at a sporting event," Block said. "Let's pack Tudor and see if a student can take $10,000 from me to support their college!"

Drawing inspiration from her previous role at Washington State University, Vila prepares chant sheets for the student section for every game. Each sheet lists Rice-specific cheers for the students to yell out during the game to support the Owls and heckle the opponents.

"The purpose of the sheets is to amplify the energy the students already bring to the game," Vila said. We want to hype them up more and get them more into the mood.

On the other side of the sheet, Vila reports the rosters for both teams, making it easier for fans to identify and support players. Alternatively, students can use the opposing team's roster to distract them.

The flyers mostly build on pre-existing chants and cheers that Rice has used for decades, but Vila said she also utilizes the collaborative environment of the marketing office to write the flyers.

"My boss, our marketing assistant and I come up with new chants ourselves," Vila said. "We have [student] interns that come into the office, and they'll do the bottom section of the sheet that talks about the opposing team."

In addition to laying down the flyers on the seats in the student section, Vila has begun to put newspapers out - but not for actual reading. When Vila was in high school, she said, two rival schools would bring newspapers to their basketball games.

"During visiting lineups, they would hold them up and read them just to kind of play on the theme of hating the other opponent," Vila said.

Vila's final project to date uses memes to distract the opposing team. She mounted big cutout photos of characters and celebrities from popular culture for students to wave. As an opponent steps to the free-throw line to take a shot, students can yell and shake the cutouts to capture the player's attention, so that they miss the shot, benefitting the Rice team.

Vila has also started playing memes on the scoreboard. Even though the player's back is to the screen, they can see the reflection of the meme directly on the backboard.

Abigail Zimmerman said though she was confused at first, ultimately she enjoyed the new memes. Zimmerman attended the men's basketball game Nov. 16 against Northwestern State University and the women's basketball game Nov. 17 against Sam Houston State University.

"I thought that it was goofy," Zimmerman, a Sid Richardson College junior, said. "At first I thought it was just one meme, not multiple. I appreciate the whimsical spirit it brought to the game."

Vila said she noticed the positive student reaction to her efforts.

"The students definitely get into it," Villa said. "When I look over from my table, I see everyone pointing at the video board, holding the memes up or starting their own chant that's not even on the sheet. It lets me know that it's working and that the atmosphere is enjoyable for them."

Rice Rally co-president Hannah Wixom said she thinks students are excited to get involved in new ways at the games.

"It helps everyone be on the same page with cheers and traditions," Wixom, a Sid Richardson junior, said.

Vila said that the students already do a great job building enthusiasm for the game and uplifting the players, but believes there is always room to make it even better.

"My goal is to amplify the experience for students that already has been established at Rice," Vila said.

Henry returned to Houston this year for the Houston Cinema Arts Festival where he screened his latest work "Time Passages," a multimedia film chronicling Henry's excavation of his family history while his mother battled health issues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Time Passages" was also selected by the Chicago International Film Festival this year - another accolade for Henry who received a Film Independent Spirit Award nomination and a Cannes' Directors' Fortnight selection for his 2005 feature "Room."

Henry entered Rice as an aspiring pre-med student and said he didn't initially see filmmaking in his future.

"I came into Rice expecting to be a biology major," Henry said. "I took all the AP classes, and I quickly discovered - I think within my first semester - that that was not what I was interested in."

Instead, it was history, sociology and film that captivated him.

The other major influence? The Rice Cinema.

The theater became a portal to new worlds, an experience that profoundly shaped his perspective, he said.

"In particular, I felt that watching films from all over the world at Rice Cinema opened up the world to me and also gave me a sense of humanity being really interconnected," Henry said. "When you watch films from all over the world, you really get that full, deeper range of what humanity means writ large, and I wanted to live as fully as I possibly could. I thought I could do that by observing other people with my camera."

Henry's early influences at Rice included Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey," Lindsay Anderson's "If…," and John Frankenheimer's "Seconds," along with documentaries like "Harlan County, USA" and "Hearts and Minds." He also drew inspiration from professor Brian Huberman, who helped Henry understand and later subvert the Western genre in his 1998 documentary "American Cowboy."

"I used some of the framing, some of the composition somebody like a classical Western filmmaker like John Ford would use to film this cowboy," Henry said. "The only difference was this cowboy was gay … in some ways, Brian gave me the tools to subvert the Western genre by first helping me really understand what the Western genre did."

These films helped solidify Henry's passion for storytelling, especially his career-long interest in telling stories about marginalized people and communities.

"There was also a traveling show of films from NewFest in New York that was LGBTQ films, and it was the first time that that showcase traveled," Henry said. "There was no LGBTQ film festival here in Houston, and those films coming here and being shown on Rice campus were really radical in the early '90s. That opened up a whole world for me as a gay man, realizing that there were people like me all over the world too."

Henry's first foray into filmmaking came through Rice classes, particularly those taught by Huberman, who is still teaching at Rice today.

"There were so few film students, I think I was one of five or six," Henry said. "It was kind of like you run the place, you had the key, you could get in any time. So many times I was there at the Rice Media Center until 2, 3, 4 in the morning, working on my films."

Henry credits this freedom for fostering his work.

"The freedom that I had here gave me a tenacity and perseverance, and maybe my work is idiosyncratic because I go about it my way and not an institutional way," Henry said.

Beyond the classroom, Henry, a Baker College graduate, found inspiration in Rice's extracurricular theater scene. He wrote plays, produced readers' theater, and participated in productions with the Rice Players and Baker Shakespeare.

"The freedom you have at Rice to kind of do anything - find money, be able to put on a show, and do it all extracurricular - gave me a ton of freedom," Henry said. "Beyond the classes, which were incredible, it was the freedom to create these co-curricular projects that was really instrumental in giving me my tenacity and DIY spirit."

For Henry, storytelling remains about transformation - observing people going through crises, changes, and growth.

"Is it worth watching? To me, human beings going through crises, going through transformation, are still really important for us, as other human beings, to watch," Henry said.

Henry's journey from biology hopeful to acclaimed filmmaker may have been unexpected, but it was forged through a willingness to explore, take risks, and tell the stories that spoke to him.

"I will continue to make work until I no longer can that continues to feel personal and I feel can transform me," Henry said. "I hope that anyone who makes art approaches it for that reason because no audience, no critic, no rejection can then stop you from making your work, because then you know you're making it mostly for yourself."

"Boys Go to Jupiter"

Watching "Boys Go to Jupiter" was the happiest I have been watching a movie all year. Animator Julian Glander's debut feature follows Billy 5000, a high-schooler on winter break as he hustles to save up $5,000 to become fully independent. The film is an animated hang-out with a cast of increasingly quirky characters that all contribute to the film's ruminations on friendship, hustle culture and doing what you love. The script feels incredibly informed by internet humor in a way that isn't obnoxious but rather endearing, creating a sequence of jokes, songs and characters that are just fun to be around. This is all bolstered by an all-star cast of alternative comedians who understand their assignments perfectly, including current SNL cast member Sarah Sherman and former SNL writer Julio Torres.

The animation is also surreal and stilted in a beautiful, indie-video-game-esque way. By using doughy character designs and an isometric perspective, the viewer can soak in the vibes of the film. The result is a movie that might not be for everyone but a delight for those who are keyed into the film's influences.

- Jay Collura

"La Cocina"

A lot is going on in "La Cocina", Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios's fourth feature film. Ruizpalacios's latest is set at "The Grill", a Times Square tourist trap restaurant, and depicts a day in the kitchen, exploring workers' struggles and identities. Across its 139-minute running time, the film comments on the immigrant experience in America, class, consumerism and masculinity.

The movie begins by introducing Estela, an immigrant who begins to work at the "The Grill" after receiving a recommendation from another chef, Pedro. As Estela gets her bearings, the film shifts to explore the relationship between Pedro and Julia, a member of the waitstaff, as they are suspected of taking money from one of the restaurant's registers the night before.

At its best, "La Cocina" is a very sharp critique that uses cinematic intensity to its advantage - there is an incredibly impressive long take near the midpoint of the film that does just this. However, "La Cocina" seems to have bitten off a little more than it can chew, as not all of its threads feel complete. Certain scenes and ideas definitely feel overcooked and add little.

Regardless, the overall effectiveness of the story is not lost - "La Cocina" is generally enthralling and poignant, and definitely worth watching. If you missed it at the festival, the film will be screening on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

-Jay Collura

"Me"

Austin-based filmmaker Don Hertzfeldt has one of the most immediately recognizable styles in animation - he makes incredibly sad movies about stick figures. This juxtaposition between Hertzfeldt's hilariously unrealistic style and the supremely existential human stories that he tackles makes his work sublime, heady and hysterical.

"Me" continues the thematic threads Hertzfeldt has woven throughout his career, with his new pseudo-musical short taking aim at the pandemic, narcissism and obsession. It follows a man who invents a machine that allows people to talk to their future selves, enabling everyone to ignore the injustice surrounding them.

A straight line can be drawn from the film's events to real life, but Hertzfeldt's use of music, color and imagery make it feel impactful and innovative. It forces the audience to reflect on their COVID experience and the dangers of living outside the current moment. The breezy 22-minute runtime makes it an incredibly easy piece to recommend, though I recommend familiarizing yourself with some of Hertzfeldt's other work available on YouTube before approaching this.

- Jay Collura

"On Becoming a Guinea Fowl"

The latest feature from Zambian-born filmmaker Rungano Nyoni (of the BAFTA-winning "I Am Not a Witch"), "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" earned Nyoni the Best Director award from Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival, the first of many accolades the writer-director has collected for her work on this film.

"On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" follows Shula, who stumbles on the dead body of her uncle. As funerary events unfold and the family comes together, secrets and tensions boil to the surface, culminating in unexpected ways.

In this deeply unique feature, Nyoni uses black comedy and surrealist elements to excavate family trauma and Zambian middle-class realities through a firmly feminist lens. Model, philanthropist and entrepreneur Susan Chardy is fantastic in her first credited acting role, anchoring the film with heart, humor and justifiable rage. If you are part of an immigrant family, you may relate to the specifics of the dynamics, tensions and ideologies here - for better or worse.

- Arman Saxena

"The Royal Tenenbaums"

"The Royal Tenenbaums" doesn't actually take place during Thanksgiving, but it is one of the best movies about family, which I think is the most important part of the holiday. Each scene in Wes Anderson's masterwork depicts how our expectations of each other shape and change who we become and how we, as people, must reconcile with that. While not always a feel-good movie, its authenticity and humor make it easy to see yourself on the screen. It reminds you why family is essential, which can be easy to lose sight of when Thanksgiving gets hectic.

- Jay Collura

"Spider-Man"

Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" set a lot of precedent for the superhero genre, but I can't think of a contemporary that uses any holiday quite like this. Drawing on the very real feelings of stress that can dominate Thanksgiving, Raimi creates a hilariously tense depiction of the holiday in which Peter Parker a) is found out by the Green Goblin, b) deals with the fact his crush is dating his best friend, and c) has to eat what appears to be a pretty lackluster dinner spread prepared by Aunt May. Always be thankful you don't have to deal with all that on Thanksgiving.

- Jay Collura

"Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Wes Anderson's "Fantastic Mr. Fox," the movie adaptation of the classic childhood book by Roald Dahl, is a beautiful stop-motion film perfect for fall. Using vivid autumn imagery, charming woodland creatures and sequences of perilous poultry heists, Anderson tells the story of Mr. Fox and his family as they narrowly avoid death at the hands of farmers Boggis, Bunce and Bean. Ultimately, Mr. Fox discovers the importance of community, selflessness and making sacrifices for the ones we love. And, of course, what Thanksgiving is truly about - "We'll eat tonight, and we'll eat together."

- Caleb Lin

"A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving"

Through a simple but charming story, Charlie Brown and his friends teach us the true meaning of Thanksgiving as he hosts a last-minute dinner. With a calming fall soundtrack, a distinct lack of adults and a quick resolution, Charlie Brown encourages everyone to remember why we enjoy this holiday. While only 25 minutes, "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" is a part of many people's Thanksgiving traditions for a reason. If you're looking to get into the Thanksgiving spirit, grab a piece of toast, jelly beans, pretzel sticks and popcorn, and take a few minutes to enjoy this classic.

- Angelica Hernandez

"Planes, Trains, & Automobiles"

John Hughes' "Planes, Trains, & Automobiles" is the quintessential Thanksgiving movie, capturing the chaos and comedy of the holiday season. Starring Steve Martin and John Candy, this film follows the misadventures of Neal Page and Del Griffith as they try to get home in time for Thanksgiving dinner. Their journey is filled with mishaps, misunderstandings and moments of genuine connection, reminding the audience of the importance of patience, kindness and humor during the holiday season - as difficult as they may be to muster when cooped up with your loved ones for a week. This film argues that, despite the chaos, Thanksgiving is a tender time of coming together.

- Arman Saxena

Top Track: "Heavy"

With the release of his self-titled album "Shawn," Shawn Mendes proves that men with abs can sing folk. The album, Mendes' fifth, represents a marked shift from his previous work and is well worth a listen. To sell his more mature sound, he's grown out stubble this time, though the shirt has stayed off (thankfully).

In a quiet and confessional voice, Mendes opens the album in a fitting way, singing: "Sorry, gotta do it, gotta let you down /Cause I don't really know who I am right now." His disillusionment and emptiness is reflected in the song's simplicity - plain acoustic guitar and honest lyrics which make clear how he feels.

Mendes isn't finding himself in this album. Instead he muses on the consequences of stepping away - from amorous entanglements and professional responsibilities - in order to find himself. He still doesn't really know who he is, and this album is, in many ways, a celebration of this uncertainty. He interrogates his past, harnessing a folkier sound popularized by the likes of Noah Kahan, Hozier and Zach Bryan.

This new sound is epitomized by the album's second song, and the first single off the album: "Why Why Why." The folksy acoustic guitar, simple drum beat and yearning twang in his voice gives the song an infectious quality. In typical Mendes fashion, the lyrics are vulnerable and direct, singing in the bridge "I thought he was about to be a father, shook me to the core, I'm still a kid." The song climaxes with a rich harmony and big sound, as Mendes displays his vocal control to express his frustration at the fact that "everything goes round and round and round."

In "Nobody Knows," Mendes infuses his folkier sound with soul, as he tries to ascertain "where the love goes". The result is lustful and elongated phrases sung over choir-like background vocals, coupled with beautiful acoustic guitar riffs which remind us of his new sound. Mendes' musical exploration continues in "Isn't That Enough." The song is heavily influenced by country music, and I found that his nasal tone and the unignorable presence of the mandolin made the song a skip.

"Heavy" is the album's best song. In it, an exasperated Mendes declares that he's finally rewady to listen and let himself be helped. The song features a strong downbeat, percussive guitar and shakers which keeps the song aurally interesting. In the chorus, Mendes reaches into his upper register effortlessly and the gospel choir backing vocals give it an ethereal quality.

"Heart of Gold" is also exquisite, though it has a more conventional pop sound than the rest of the album. About the death of his childhood friend, Mendes' delicate and breathy singing contrasts nicely with the fast-tempo acoustic guitar and drums at the song's core. While the lyrics are sorrowful, the upbeat and catchy rhythm brings a joyfulness to the song, rendering it a fitting celebration of his friends' life.

Suffice to say that Mendes can play the acoustic guitar - it's the star of the show in "The Mountain" and "Rollin' Right Along." In both songs, Mendes pairs acoustic guitar with conversational and understated singing. They're very pleasant to listen to, but I didn't find them particularly memorable, except for one lyric. In "The Mountain," Mendes acknowledges the speculation around his sexuality that has followed him since he first posted on YouTube, telling us that "you can say I like girls or boys, whatever fits your mold." However you interpret this line, it's clear that Shawn Mendes doesn't care - concluding the song with "I've never been better, so call it what you want."

The album concludes with a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"; it's a perfect song to highlight his voice. The song finishes with a series of "hallelujahs" sung over each other and elided together. To end the album in such a celestial way is fitting; as listeners, we are left confused but also at peace - much like Mendes himself.

The Fall Chamber Music Festival, first held in 2005, allows students to perform in chamber music groups. Chamber music is a form of small ensemble performance performed without a director, usually featuring a variation of a piano and string instruments. The nine-concert event took place over three days.

According to violinist Will Joseloff, performers worked through a demanding schedule and received coaching from professors in preparation for the festival. Chamber music performances are required for music students, as well as orchestra and solo work.

"We worked really hard … there's four movements in the piece, and we just worked on it slow at first, then we came up with musical ideas, and then we performed it a few times in preparation for the concert," Joseloff, a Sid Richardson College junior, said.

Joseloff said his group rehearsed for hours every week, in addition to one-hour coaching sessions with professors. Prestin Kim, a cellist, said he felt the coaching was crucial for the success of the performances.

"Coaching was helpful because, besides the usual fine-tuning and technical things, Professor [Desmond] Hoebig gave us a lot of inspiration for unique musical ideas and phrases," Kim, a Lovett College freshman, said.

In addition to the coaching, Joseloff said that the collaborative nature of the chamber music also challenged the students to perform in different ways.

"Chamber music is different than solo performances because you have to collaborate with different people and you have to listen to other people's ideas. Solo performance, you can kind of do whatever you want," Joseloff said. "It's a very collaborative experience."

Students performed 12 different composers and music across multiple centuries, blending a variety of musical ideas and eras in each concert. The performances began with Schubert: String Quintet in C Major (D. 956), and ended with Dvořák: Quartet No. 11 in C Major. Audience members said they appreciated the high-level chamber repertoire.

"I was blown away by how beautiful the performances were tonight … how intentional each player was on stage and how engaged they were with each other," said Miyabi Henriksen, a McMurtry College junior.

"The performance was beautiful," said Minji Kim, a Wiess College freshman. "The balance between the instruments was so clear.

"All of the expressivity was so beautiful, and everything matched very well."

Local Foods has served, for many years, as a casual Houston restaurant option for Houston residents, including Rice students. Folks on campus will notice that this option has become more proximate, as a Local Foods location claims space on campus in the Brochstein Pavilion.

In late October last year, after nearly a month of escalating genocidal violence perpetrated by the Israeli settler colonial regime with U.S. collaboration, several Houstonian restaurant owners fundraised for "relief efforts in Israel." However, the donations went partially to Israeli Defense Forces soldiers carrying out the expanding Israeli decimation of Gaza. Among the participating restaurants, Local Foods owner Benjy Levit donated the full proceeds of the day from two of his restaurants.

This comes after a year of genocide and a year of pointed outward apathy from Rice administration - including a refusal to recognize the scholasticide and to respond seriously to harassment from Zionist students and faculty. In addition, internal suppression of solidarity work for Palestinian liberation through refusal to allow using microphones at vigils and other restrictive protest policies in response to last semester's legal Liberated Zone, the explicit integration of Zionist-aligned Local Foods is an insult to affected communities on campus.

Particularly affected are Arab, Muslim and Palestinian students, many of whom continue to check on their families back home as the unimaginable violence - that Levit's proceeds support - continues.

Consent and support for genocidal violence are constructed at every level of society - achieved through the media's dehumanization of Palestinians from the highest levels of American governance, and through the normalization of pro-occupation sentiment in society by way of grassroots-esque campaigns such as Levit's. It is our responsibility to contest this construction at every level that is accessible to us. An easy one is refusing to patron the on-campus Local Foods.

Under the guise of neutrality, university leaderships across the U.S. have crushed student solidarity movements with Palestine to maintain Zionist environments on campus. Though it would seem that this partnership with Local Foods is accidental, in reality, it reflects a political environment fostered by the school's administration. On several occasions, top university administrators have called meetings with Students for Justice in Palestine organizers to "dialogue" towards a better campus environment - meetings that have been accompanied by zero public condemnations of the genocide and scholasticide in Gaza, for the record.

In one meeting at the beginning of this semester, President DesRoches, Provost Dittmar and several other administrators asked for concrete suggestions for changes on campus. SJP organizers specifically asked that Local Foods not be brought to campus due to the Zionist politics of its owner. When this was mentioned directly to Rice's top brass, it was followed by a flurry of seemingly-concerned jottings on each of their respective notepads. However, these concerns were not, ultimately, heeded by Rice administrators.

Students, staff and faculty of Rice University have a moral obligation to refuse support of Local Foods, and to condemn the decision to bring this Zionist-aligned entity onto campus.

Instead, get your coffee from Chaus, and demand better options from the university that continues to make a mockery of the concerns of grieving students.

Doctoral students at Rice are given insufficient health insurance options especially compared to institutions with graduate student unions. Aetna's graduate student health insurance plan leaves students with significant costs compared to the minimum annual stipend. Additionally, the available Aetna plan offers insufficient benefits when compared both to medical insurance plans at peer institutions and to the non-subsidized Wellfleet plan - Rice's alternative option for international students.

The university provides a subsidy to cover the Aetna premium which costs $3,448 annually per insured person for each policy-holding graduate student, spouse and up to 2 children. This plan covers medical and basic vision insurance but does not cover dental insurance, which has to be purchased at an additional cost.

With the subsidy, single Ph.D. students pay $620 for annual coverage for themselves under Aetna and $2,586 each for their spouse and up to two children. This means a Ph.D. student with a family could pay up to $8,378 per year - 25% of the minimum annual stipend of $34,000 and 29% of the after-tax minimum stipend amount.

Compared to other institutions, this presents an enormous cost. For example, at Johns Hopkins - as per the most recent contract between the graduate student workers' union and the university - premiums for Ph.D. student and family coverage are paid entirely by the university, including medical, dental and vision insurance. Other universities like Columbia and Duke and NYU also offer full or discounted coverage of premiums for doctoral students.

On top of the cost of premiums, Aetna offers poor coverage compared to Wellfleet - an alternative student health insurance plan for international Ph.D. students that is not subsidized by Rice. The available Aetna plan has an out-of-pocket maximum of $6,500 for an individual and $13,000 for a family with in-network providers compared to $2,500 for an individual and $5,000 for a family under Wellfleet. Under the Aetna plan, a student with dependent family members could face costs amounting to almost 40% of their annual stipend (almost 45% after tax) in the event of a serious medical emergency. The Aetna plan also has higher co-insurance costs for routine medical care, and its premium is almost double that of Wellfleet - though because Rice refuses to subsidize the premium for this plan, Ph.D. students are disincentivized from enrolling.

Ph.D. students have little to no influence on the administration's decisions surrounding student health insurance. The two graduate students who sit on the Health Insurance Committee do not have a vote. While they can present findings from the Graduate Student Association survey on student satisfaction with insurance, university administration has not introduced a more affordable plan.

Furthermore, despite more affordable co-insurance costs and lower premiums, the administration expressed a desire to eliminate the Wellfleet option altogether in the future.

A key difference between Rice and its peer institutions is the presence of a graduate student union, seen at Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Duke, among other institutions. Research shows that doctoral students represented by unions see dramatically reduced costs to health insurance and better coverage.

As shown across the country, the surest way forward is to begin to realize the power of our collective voice as graduate student workers and organize. Ph.D. students should get involved with efforts such as the Rice Grad Campaign to begin organizing unions on our own campus, and they can start by checking out its Instagram page.