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NEWS 9/15/20 7:22pm

Rice music thrives in the face of adversity

By Keegan Leibrock

The Shepherd School of Music has conducted classes this semester both in-person and remote despite challenges regarding proximity, airflow, and, in the case of wind instruments, the spread of saliva particles. Consistent and exhaustive COVID-19 precautionary measures, specifically designed to restrict the spread of particles while playing instruments, have been enacted to make in-person music classes possible, according to Rice’s Director of Bands Chuck Throckmorton. 

NEWS 9/8/20 10:27pm

CARES Act Phase 2 payments yet to be completed

By Talha Arif

Rice received $3.4 million in funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act this past summer and completed the first phase of payments in June, while the second phase of payments has not occurred yet. 

NEWS 9/8/20 10:26pm

Reckling Park to be on-campus polling location for 2020 election

By Bonnie Zhao

Rice’s Reckling Park will be the on-campus polling location for both early voting and election day this year, according to Lila Greiner, the media relations director of Rice Young Democrats. Harris County officials moved Rice’s polling location off-campus in February due to accessibility concerns for non-Rice voters.

NEWS 9/3/20 1:43am

Administration shares logistics on plans for remainder of fall semester

By Talha Arif

The Faculty Senate met yesterday to discuss Rice University’s plans for the remainder of the fall semester and potential responses to COVID-19 case increases. The meeting follows the passing of a recent resolution expressing faculty disappointment with the Rice administration, due to implicit pressure on faculty to return in-person to campus.

NEWS 9/1/20 9:53pm

Clubs adapt structures to fit COVID rules, include remote students

By Alizay Azeem

The Rice University Student Center held its annual Fall Student Activities Fair on August 29 through an online event platform called Hopin. According to event details on OwlNest, over 150 student organizations participated in the virtual club fair. Many of these organizations have adapted club structures to better cater to COVID-19 guidelines and remote students. 

NEWS 9/1/20 8:55pm

COVID Court sees six reports in first week

By Hajera Naveed

With the semester starting amidst a pandemic, one way that Rice plans to regulate student behavior and ensure adherence to this year’s new Culture of Care agreement is through the new COVID Community Court. The Court handles all low level infractions on campus such as mask wearing and social distancing. 

NEWS 9/1/20 7:38pm

Students say admin unprepared for return to campus in petition

By Ivanka Perez

A student-written petition expressing concerns about the administration's handling of fall semester has reached 442 signatures at the time of print. Students shared dissatisfactions with the administration ranging from those listed in the petition — servery food and a new "medical hold" health status — to concerns about contact tracing.

NEWS 9/1/20 7:34pm

SRBs prepare to reopen with CDC guidelines in mind

By Rynd Morgan

The three official student-run businesses on campus, Rice Coffeehouse, The Hoot and Rice Bikes, all expect to reopen in September after submitting return to campus plans to Rice’s Crisis Management Team, according to the businesses’ respective Facebook pages. The student-owned business East-West Tea will not open in the fall, and Willy’s Pub, which is student staffed, cannot open until statewide restrictions on bars reopening are lifted.

NEWS 8/26/20 11:52pm

Rice braces for Hurricane Laura

By Savannah Kuchar

All campus operations including in-person and remote classes were cancelled from 5 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday in anticipation for Hurricane Laura, according to an email sent to the Rice community Tuesday night, from Chair of the Crisis Management Advisory Committee Kevin Kirby. Students living on campus are also required to shelter in place from Wednesday 10 p.m. until sunrise Thursday, according to an additional email sent Wednesday at 7 p.m.

NEWS 8/25/20 9:37pm

Student leaders adapt O-Week to COVID-19 precautions

By Savannah Kuchar and Rynd Morgan

Orientation Week is a decades-old event at Rice, with traditions that have largely remained untouched. This year, coordinators have had to modify or cut out many traditional O-Week events to comply with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and university guidelines in light of the pandemic, resulting in a unique experience for the incoming class of new students. 

NEWS 8/25/20 9:31pm

Rice welcomes class of 2024 in-person and online

By Rynd Morgan

Rice’s office of admission saw a greater enrollment of both freshman students and transfer students than last year, with just under 1,000 new students enrolling in total, according to Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne Romero da Silva.  

NEWS 8/25/20 9:25pm

Sidizens maintain culture beyond building

By Kelly Liao

Students from Sid Richardson College who originally planned to live on campus this year, including many new students, have been reassigned to Martel, McMurtry, Duncan and Wiess Colleges based on their preference after Sid Richardson College was converted to isolation housing for on-campus students who test positive for COVID-19. 

NEWS 7/23/20 11:03am

Midtown Fiesta by Innovation District closes, drawing attention to food inaccessibility in the area

By Rynd Morgan

The Fiesta Mart in Midtown at 4200 San Jacinto St., which was leased from Rice University and is across the street from the currently under construction Ion building, closed on July 10. The store serviced both Midtown and Third Ward residents and the closure has drawn attention to the issue of food access in the Third Ward, which is classified as a food desert.

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