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NEWS 12/3/24 11:40pm

Chaus closes due to water leak, ‘tentatively hoping’ to reopen Dec. 5

Rice Coffeehouse is closed indefinitely due to water leaks in the building that occurred over Thanksgiving break. Chaus announced its closure in a Dec. 1 Instagram post, citing “unseen circumstances.” Although no official date has been announced, Chaus is aiming for a Dec. 5 reopening, said both Alysa Bijl-Spiro, Chaus’ general manager, and Caitlin Lindsay, Director of Student Center Operations.



A&E 12/3/24 11:40pm

Amy Hobby: from Rice to Oscar nominee

Before its permanent closure in 2021, the Rice Media Center was home to film students at Rice. One particular alumna, Academy Award-nominated producer Amy Hobby ’87, has been one of the most notable people to come out of Rice’s film department, having worked alongside Tim Burton, David Lynch and Steven Soderbergh throughout her three-decade career.



NEWS 12/3/24 11:39pm

Rice launches partnerships with Indian universities

Thirty members of Rice leadership and faculty convened in Bengaluru, India Nov. 18 to launch Rice Global India, an initiative to bolster Rice’s network of academic collaboration abroad. According to Caroline Levander, Rice’s vice president for global affairs, the trip was the largest international delegation in the history of the university.


NEWS 11/19/24 11:27pm

Local Foods launches in newly renovated Brochstein space

Local Foods Market opened at Brochstein Pavilion Nov. 19, replacing comfort food concept Little Kitchen HTX. The opening, previously scheduled for the end of September, also features interior renovations to Brochstein. Local Foods is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.


NEWS 11/19/24 11:27pm

Scan, swipe — sorry

Students may need to swipe their Rice IDs through scanners before entering future public parties, said dean of undergraduates Bridget Gorman. This possible policy change is not finalized, but in discussion among student activities and crisis management teams.


NEWS 11/19/24 11:26pm

Energy summit talks the policy behind power

The 16th annual Rice Energy Finance Summit was held at Jones Business School Nov. 15. Speakers from the energy industry discussed topics including renewable energy, the Texas power grid and the future of energy policy under a second Trump administration.




NEWS 11/19/24 11:24pm

Lovett College could become overflow housing

Students were asked about their willingness to live in the current Lovett College building if housing is unavailable in their college in the recent Survey of All Students. This question comes soon after news of Lovett’s relocation to one of the newly built residential colleges in fall 2026.


NEWS 11/12/24 10:31pm

‘No ballot, no vote’

Brad Joiner has requested three mail-in ballots from his home state of Georgia — one for the 2022 midterm elections, another for a runoff that same year and one for the 2024 presidential election.



NEWS 11/12/24 10:30pm

SA referenda scheduled for December vote

Campaigning for the four Student Association referenda, targeting divestment and investment transparency, will begin Nov. 20. The voting period will begin Dec. 4 and end Dec. 11 at noon, with the results published Dec. 12. 



NEWS 11/12/24 10:29pm

Gun violence advocacy group Team ENOUGH starts chapter

Students walking between the Rice Memorial Center and McNair Hall may notice a collection of t-shirts on poles, labeled with names and phone numbers. The shirts were placed by a new Rice chapter of the national organization Team ENOUGH, a gun violence advocacy group started by Jasir Rahman and Abigail Zimmerman. 


A&E 11/12/24 10:29pm

Artsy courses offered this spring semester

Another course registration period has come upon us, but no worries: To help you consider your options, the Thresher has compiled a list of new, unique courses offered this spring semester. 


NEWS 11/5/24 11:40pm

First-ever election block party draws crowds

A line stretched across the academic quad this Election Day. In contrast to previous years, however, the line was not for voting at the Sewall Hall polling location — it was for the first-ever election block party hosted by the Center for Civic Engagement.  The event aimed to encourage student voting and engagement in politics, complete with a bouncy castle, free food and a DJ.



NEWS 11/5/24 11:40pm

Waits drop after morning voters crowd Sewall polling place

On Tuesday, 1,094 voters flocked to Rice’s Welcome Center to cast their ballots in the presidential, state and local elections. Wait times climbed to an hour shortly after the polling center’s doors opened at 7 a.m., with many hoping to beat the crowds during Rice’s first-ever non-instructional Election Day. The lines calmed down around noon, when students began congregating in the academic quad for the election block party.