Editorials

Consider ethics while designing AI major

From a little-known concept among researchers to generating summaries with every Google search, artificial intelligence’s accessibility has skyrocketed over the past decade. However, its innovation comes at a cost. Training ChatGPT-3 was estimated to generate 552 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, more than the emissions of 559 flights from London to New York. Artificial intelligence can also steal from artists and reproduce racist biases from its data sets.

Dining schedule changes increase meal accessibility and convenience

Is giving up weekday breakfast at South and North serveries worth it for an omelette bar and cinnamon rolls? We think so. Even if the new dining schedule is confusing, the changes are a good step towards more food availability on campus, and are a heartening indicator of departments considering student feedback.

Prioritize functionality, student needs in tech upgrades

Between ESTHER, Degree Works and Navigate, students have a plethora of technological platforms for everything from viewing financial aid to keeping track of graduation requirements. Despite being necessary for students, these platforms often are visually clunky, redundant or just don’t work.

LPAP courses need wide-ranging change

Picture this: You’re a senior. After four years of churning out every major requirement and elective known to man, you’re ready to graduate. You eagerly submit your spring semester courses in Esther (who asked for a redesign, by the way?), only to be stopped in your tracks by the last, looming task on your plate: the LPAP.

Students should weigh in on divestment, investment transparency referenda

On Monday, the Senate passed four referenda calling for Rice to divest, be transparent with their investment holdings, condemn “ongoing genocide and scholasticide” and support “anti-colonial scholarship.” These proposals will now go to an undergraduate-wide student body vote as early as next month.

Public party dress codes are doomed to fail

Stay engaged as you cast your vote — both locally and nationally

Monday, Oct. 7 was the last day to register to vote in Texas. Now that you’ve (hopefully) taken that step, we encourage you to  research your candidates ahead of early voting, which kicks off Oct. 21. 

Innovation is good, responsible innovation is great

Those sitting in their college commons last Tuesday may have watched between two and twenty minutes of an ad promoting the student-developed food-tracking app Diagnos. We’re glad Diagnos provides that nutritional data — absent from servery menus —  for free. However, we encourage the developers of Diagnos and other app developers, especially those that involve artificial intelligence, to address ethical concerns and user-test these apps prior to launch. 

Career expo needs more careers

Of the 116 recruiters advertised for the Fall 2024 Career & Internship Expo, 11 are related to the humanities and social sciences. That’s 9% — yes, some of us can do math.

It’s okay to not be ‘busy’ all the time

It’s a busy time of year, we know. The career fair is around the corner, summer program applications are opening up and midterm season is upon us. With the looming threat of multiple exams and essays, prioritize yourself.

New demonstration and poster policies seem targeted, lack student input

Rice recently updated its policies on campus demonstration and postering — changes include new restrictions on campus protests and increased vigilance about signage, to name a few.  Students need to be informed about these changes. We worry they weren’t.

Expand affordable and accessible coffee options

Dear Little Kitchen: it’s only been a week, but we already miss you. Please take us back — this new relationship isn’t working for us. 

Expand affordable and accessible coffee options

Dear Little Kitchen: it’s only been a week, but we already miss you. Please take us back — this new relationship isn’t working for us. 

Amplifying resources during a time of loss

We don’t know what to say, and quite frankly, we don’t know what you all want to hear.

Take time for yourself during the summer

The academic year’s close means this issue will be our last until the fall semester, which gave us some time to reflect on what our editorial for our last issue should look like. 

Overly stringent public capacity limits harm Rice traditions

At 7 a.m. sharp on Beer Bike morning, students gathered in a line (if one can call it that) stretching nearly to McMurtry College  commons, in hopes of attending Martel College’s iconic morning party. Upon entry, students would discover that the historically packed public boasted the attendance of, well, a large FITQ.

Honor Council’s new confidentiality policy is misguided

At 10:02 a.m. on March 27, students across campus received an email with the subject: “Honor Council Confidential Accusations.” Students — many of us included — feared the worst upon seeing an Honor Council email in their inbox. 

Practice safe drinking post-Prohibition

Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman finally released the long-awaited Alcohol Policy Advisory Committee’s recommendations regarding the alcohol policy on March 22. We have to be honest — it could have been much worse.  

What we want to see from Jae Kim’s presidency

Jae Kim has assumed the role of Student Association president, having led his first Senate meeting Monday night. We hope that Kim will foster serious deliberation within the SA and make meaningful change through concrete initiatives. Here are the changes that we want Kim and the new SA cohort to focus on during the 2024–25 term.

The constitutional challenge is right — and new SA leaders must learn its lessons

When the former Student Association president introduced a new constitution in April 2023, the Senate was ready. The document passed the deliberative body with just one no vote, then received 55% approval in a 48-hour special election with barely 10% turnout.