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NEWS 10/8/24 11:35pm

RUPD updates on recent campus crime

By Abigail Chiu

A single person is likely responsible for the rash of recent car burglaries in North and South Lot, according to Rice University Police Department Chief of Police Clemente Rodriguez in an email to the Thresher. The male suspect was identified with security cameras, but their identity could not be determined. No one has been arrested in connection to these burglaries, which occurred on Sept. 21 at 3 a.m. Students received a Rice Crime Alert email Sept. 22 informing them of the break-ins. The North Lot suspect had not been connected to the South Lot burglaries in the email.

NEWS 10/8/24 11:34pm

Rice introduces peer-led study program

By Aisha Khemani

Rice launched the Office of Academic Support for Undergraduate Students this semester, serving as a centralized office and drop-in study hub to academically support undergraduates. OASUS was created by the Task Force on Student Success, initiated by President Reggie DesRoches during his tenure as provost, to address gaps in educational experiences and outcomes, particularly for under-resourced students.

NEWS 10/8/24 11:33pm

SA Labor Commission proposes $15 student minimum wage

By Hongtao Hu

The Student Association’s Labor Commission advocated for a $15 minimum wage for student workers during a Student Association meeting Sept. 30, based on results from a student wage survey. Currently collecting signatures for a petition, the Labor Commission said that raising the minimum wage for student workers would reduce financial burdens for students. 

NEWS 10/8/24 10:26pm

Guess hoo’s back? Hoot food returns

By Dia Gupta

The Hoot reopened for the fall semester Monday, Sept. 23. It will now be open from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Thursdays.

NEWS 10/8/24 10:24pm

Samal presents stroke research

By Jeslyn Cho

In Bibek Samal’s junior year of high school, he competed in the Houston Regional Brain Bee,  a neuroscience competition at Rice. Five years later, Samal is now a senior at Rice presenting his research on subarachnoid hemorrhages to the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

NEWS 10/1/24 11:18pm

Rice launches 10-year strategic plan

By Viola Hsia

The university launched a new strategic plan that will develop investments in research and teaching over the next decade. The plan, titled “Momentous,” was announced at an Oct. 1 event. 

NEWS 10/1/24 11:18pm

Sophomores debut AI nutrition app Diagnos

By Abigail Chiu

Diagnos, an AI-backed nutrition-tracking app, launched in the Apple app store Sept. 24. The app, designed by Ifty Ahmed and Thun Silpsamrit, provides AI-based calorie and nutritional estimates based on users’ pictures of their food. The app also provides nutritional estimates of food on servery menus.

NEWS 10/1/24 10:49pm

Rice SJP critiques antisemitism training

By Maria Morkas

Administration, staff and faculty participated in a half-day antisemitism awareness training Sept. 13, sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The seminar was led by the Academic Engagement Network, a nonprofit organization that “mobilizes networks of university faculty and administrators to counter antisemitism [and] oppose the denigration of Jewish and Zionist identities,” according to its website.

NEWS 10/1/24 10:45pm

Fondren unveils fresh technology

By Sophie Garlick

Fondren Library revamped their ‘how-to’ Canvas module and website and soundproofed the audio and photography rooms after student suggestions. Smart locks and preferred name displays are currently under beta testing and could launch as early as January.

NEWS 10/1/24 10:44pm

Hidden in plain sight: New wasp species discovered on campus

By Hope Yang

A new wasp species, Chrysonotomyia susbelli, has been identified by a Rice research team in a ZooKeys research paper published Sept. 18, over two years since the discovery of the Valhalla wasp on campus. Chrysonotomyia susbelli is the 18th new species found on campus.

NEWS 9/25/24 12:25am

Lovett to permanently move into new building by fall 2026, adjacent to twelfth college

By Riya Misra

Lovett College will permanently move into one of the two new residential college buildings, President Reggie DesRoches said in a Sept. 18 email to campus. The buildings, initially intended to house new twelfth and thirteenth colleges, are projected to finish by fall 2026. Lovett will stand adjacent to the unnamed twelfth college, and there are currently no plans for the thirteenth.

NEWS 9/25/24 12:24am

Rice ranks No. 18 in U.S. News

By James Cancelarich and Riya Misra

Rice ranks No. 18 in the the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 national university rankings tied with Vanderbilt University and the University of Notre Dame. Rice has also placed No. 8, 9 and 29 in the Niche, Forbes and Wall Street Journal rankings, respectively.

NEWS 9/25/24 12:24am

Financial aid settlement form released

By Belinda Zhu

Claim forms for the class action financial aid “cartel” lawsuit Rice settled were released Sept. 13. The suit alleged that Rice and 16 other top universities “illegally conspired” to restrict financial aid. Students can submit a claim on the court-approved settlement website https://financialaidantitrustsettlement.com/submit-claim by the Dec. 17, 2024 deadline. 

NEWS 9/24/24 11:58pm

Students frustrated over limited parking access

By Aisha Khemani

Students with paid parking permits are expressing frustration over the difficulty of finding available spaces in West Lot. These concerns arrive after complaints in Nov. 2023 when the parking office oversold permits for North and South College Lots.

NEWS 9/24/24 11:54pm

Students given Grammarly AI as Honor Council adapts

By Charlie Cruz

Rice began offering Grammarly Premium access to all students. Initially made available to graduate students, the service is now available to the entire student body in line with the Honor Council’s 2023 decision to allow ChatGPT usage with proper citation and instructor permission.

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