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NEWS 3/4/25 11:24pm

Admin agrees to $10 min. wage

By Hongtao Hu

The Student Association’s Labor Commission received a verbal commitment from Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman Feb. 10 to raise the student minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 an hour. This change will be applied in July 2025 for the start of the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

NEWS 2/27/25 11:18am

SA voting delayed one day after ballot errors

By James Cancelarich

The Student Association election ballot was recalled just an hour after it went live, after voters found errors in the ballot’s language. At the end of the ballot, voters were presented with five different constitutional amendments, which proposed varying changes — ranging from grammatical fixes to raising the Blanket Tax. The ballot only allowed students one vote instead of five individual ones, presenting the amendments as a bundle.

NEWS 2/26/25 12:06am

SA candidates debate Blanket Tax, DEI

By Noa Berz

Candidates for Student Association president, internal vice president and external vice president took to Pub’s stage Feb. 24 to answer questions about their candidacy and the future of the SA. They debated topics like SA efficacy, budget concerns and national politics.

NEWS 2/26/25 12:05am

Dastur runs for EVP uncontested after Zahra withdraws from race

By Abigail Chiu

Mahtab Dastur, a current Duncan College New Student Representative, is campaigning for External Vice President uncontested. She was previously running against McMurtry College sophomore Lajward Zahra, who announced her withdrawal from the race, citing “unforeseen personal circumstances,” at the Student Association debate Feb. 24. At the debate, Zahra endorsed Dastur for the role.

NEWS 2/18/25 11:00pm

Rice testifies for lawsuit against ‘devastating’ federal funding cuts

By James Cancelarich

Rice joined 70 other universities supporting a lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health, which may reduce research funding by billions of dollars. A Feb. 7 NIH memo announced a drastic cut to indirect costs, which covers overhead for research institutions; including funding for lab spaces, water and power bills and paying subcontractors, according to testimony from Provost Amy Ditmtar.

NEWS 2/18/25 10:58pm

Federal grant cuts jeopardize $4 million of research funding

By Saahithi Sreekantham

Rice could lose up to $4 million in research funding due to cuts to National Institutes of Health grants, according to analysis by the New York Times. On Feb. 7, the NIH proposed a drastic slash of funding for indirect costs, which include administrative and lab upkeep. The proposal was blocked by a federal court Feb. 11. 

FEATURES 2/18/25 10:57pm

Students react to Trump’s second term

By Noa Berz

Donald Trump’s second presidency is off to an unprecedented start, with over 60 executive orders signed as of Feb. 12. Students shared their opinions, thoughts and worries about the new policies in action. 

NEWS 2/18/25 10:57pm

6% of students admitted in first-ever ED II round

By Abigail Chiu

Rice’s inaugural round of Early Decision II saw a single-digit acceptance rate, admitting only 6% of its 2,513 applicants on Feb. 7, said Yvonne Romero, vice president for enrollment. A total of 36,749 people applied to Rice this admissions cycle, including applicants across the ED I, ED II, regular decision and QuestBridge National College Match programs.

NEWS 2/4/25 11:25pm

Federal immigration policies draw ire, conversation

By Noa Berz

Thousands of Houstonians marched down Sunset Blvd. on Sunday to protest President Donald Trump’s new immigration policies. Students like Rocio Vides, the daughter of two Salvadoran immigrants, joined the protesters in marching for immigration rights.

NEWS 2/4/25 11:24pm

Student Judicial Programs investigates snow day antics

By Charlie Cruz

Rice students climbed onto the roof of Lovett Hall Jan. 21 during a snowball fight in the academic quad. The Rice University Police Department received a call about students on the roof, which prompted officers to respond and direct students to leave. Student Judicial Programs is still investigating the situation.  

A&E 2/4/25 11:23pm

Student-run “Sleepy Cyborg” brings abstract art to life

By Kristal Hanson

Tucked away in the basement of Sewall Hall is a small 10-by-12-foot gallery, with an extension in the sculpture courtyard nicknamed “the pit.” “Sleepy Cyborg,” a gallery initially started in 2009 under the name “Matchbox,” is run entirely by students, allowing student artists to experiment, curate and showcase their work outside of more formal programs.

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