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NEWS 10/27/20 10:44pm

Prominent Rice Donor Charged in Multi-Billion Dollar Tax Fraud Case

By Keegan Leibrock and Skye Fredericks

Robert T. Brockman, the namesake behind two campus buildings and an overseer for the Jones Graduate School of Business, has been charged with hiding $2 billion in income in the largest tax evasion case in U.S. history, purchasing $30 million in luxury vacation properties along with a yacht. The news came in a press release on Oct. 15 from the U.S. Department of Justice, just one day before Brockman’s first official court hearing.

NEWS 10/27/20 10:27pm

Maskless visitors roam campus despite RUPD enforcement

By Morike Ayodeji

This semester, non-Rice personnel and visitors have come to campus for several reasons varying from exercise to photoshoots, and students have noticed that these visitors are frequently maskless. Rice University Police Department is still enforcing the mask policy as it was originally announced, according to RUPD Chief Clemente Rodriguez.  

NEWS 10/20/20 10:28pm

COVID-19 shifts student sex patterns, sexual health resources remain

By Hajera Naveed

In light of the pandemic, campus organizations are trying to balance providing open access to sexual health resources while simultaneously not encouraging unsafe COVID practices. While some students have stated they are choosing to change their sexual behavior to accommodate safety regulations, others voiced their choice to remain sexually active.  

NEWS 10/20/20 9:14pm

Several Rice groups denounce proposal to change VISA rules

By Brian Lin

The Student Association and the Office of International Students and Scholars plan on commenting in opposition to a Department of Homeland Security proposal to remove “Duration of Status,” a move that would make it more difficult for students on visas to extend their stay in the country, according to Adria Baker, the executive director of the OISS. 

NEWS 10/13/20 11:16pm

Former Rice professor awarded Nobel Prize in Physics

By Savannah Kuchar

Mathematician Roger Penrose recently became one of three recipients for the Nobel Prize in Physics, for his work on the subject of black holes. Though Penrose is currently a professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of Oxford, he was also a professor of mathematics at Rice from 1983 to 1987. 

NEWS 10/13/20 11:00pm

“Down With Willy” sit-ins expand to broader movement with Lovett Hall and residential college projections

By Talha Arif

The sit-ins to remove William Marsh Rice’s statue from the Founder’s Memorial expanded to include projections of messages onto Lovett Hall on Oct. 5, which prompted Rice University Police Department to respond and shut down the display. The sit-ins have continued for over 40 days, with 14 people attending Monday’s sit-in and two additional students on Zoom. 

NEWS 10/13/20 8:29pm

Early voting starts today

By Rynd Morgan

Early voting starts on Oct. 13 in Harris County and will continue through Oct. 30. Those who are registered to vote in Harris County, including students who have registered to vote with their on-campus address, can vote at any election day polling location starting today. Rice Stadium will be Rice’s on-campus polling location for both early voting and on Election Day. Voting booths will be set up inside Gate One, on the Greenbriar Lot side of the stadium near University Boulevard.

NEWS 10/7/20 7:01pm

Baker 13 tradition continues through a pandemic

By Morike Ayodeji

The Baker 13 tradition is continuing this semester amidst a pandemic, however the run looks a little different this year to ensure it follows COVID-19 health guidelines, according to Baker 13 co-captain Michael Price. Safety measures include mandatory masks, distancing between runners and collecting the names of runners for contact tracing, Price said. 

NEWS 10/6/20 10:56pm

Anonymous discussion app Librex sparks conversation and controversy

By Ariana Moshiri

Librex, an anonymous discussion app for college students, expanded to Rice University in August after becoming popular at Ivy League schools. Approximately 700 Rice students are currently signed up, according to Ryan Schiller, founder of Librex. While the app provides a platform for a large variety of conversations, it has been facing criticism by some Rice students for the users who are expressing slurs and offensive language without accountability or consequences.  

NEWS 10/6/20 10:39pm

Culture of Care FAQ updated to include clarifications on amnesty, other general policies

By Sumin Yoon

The FAQ section of the Culture of Care agreement was updated in September to include further clarifications on student life, including enforcement and student travel policies. The first version of this document was released to all returning students on July 1 to inform them about the Culture of Care and how it will function in residential colleges, dining and social events. 

NEWS 10/6/20 10:35pm

Alcohol will be permitted at collegewide outdoor events

By Keegan Leibrock

After weeks of campus being fully dry, Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman sent out an email on Sept. 17 outlining plans to allow for “public events with alcohol” on Rice’s campus. The email, which was sent to various residential college student leaders, presents the guidelines and considerations for colleges to host events with alcohol, including the necessity for a dry, alcohol-free college event before hosting events serving alcohol. According to college chief justices, this decision may be the first step toward an eventual wet campus. 

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