Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916

Friday, April 18, 2025 — Houston, TX

News

NEWS 2/16/16 11:31pm

EVP candidates present initiatives, goals

By Andrew Ligeralde

The candidates for SA external vice president debated and presented their platforms on Friday night before the SA presidential debate in the McMurtry commons.

NEWS 2/16/16 11:29pm

Students analyze primary elections

By Elana Margosis

Voters in Iowa and New Hampshire cast their votes for Democratic and Republican nominees earlier this month, and Rice students were paying attention.

NEWS 2/16/16 11:27pm

RPC presidency contested by EVP, socials co-chair

By Drew Keller

Rice Program Council external vice president Jodie Nghiem and co-chair of RPC’s socials committee Iman Khan are running for the position of next year’s RPC president. This is the second campaign for RPC president for Nghiem, a McMurtry College junior.

NEWS 2/16/16 8:19pm

Unopposed secretary candidate Sonal Pai hopes to expand SA awareness, promote wellbeing campaign

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

Unopposed candidate for secretary Sonal Pai hopes to serve as a moderate voice in SA Executive meetings and increase awareness of the SA's function on campus.

NEWS 2/15/16 9:30am

As unopposed SA Treasurer candidate, Maurice Frediere aims to increase efficiency and transparency

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

As an unopposed candidate running for the position of treasurer, Maurice Frediere hopes to use the role to streamline the process of club funding. He wants to consolidate clubs with similar goals to ensure that funding for student organizations is used efficiently.

NEWS 2/15/16 9:23am

EVP candidate Hannah Todd plans to mentor senators, continue addressing meal plans

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

Hannah Todd, who currently serves as a New Student Representative in the SA, says her experiences with working with H&D and working under the EVP give her the ability to harness the potential of the SA to create change.

NEWS 2/15/16 9:21am

Unopposed IVP candidate Komal Luthra plans academic, leadership initiatives

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

Komal Luthra’s platform features a strong academic focus. As current chair of the Academic Committee, she has focused on getting students more involved inside and outside the classroom. She described two of the committee’s goals: encouraging communication between students and professors outside of class time and eventually creating a used book exchange event to supplement online postings through Facebook groups.

NEWS 2/15/16 9:13am

EVP candidate Brianna Singh advocates for more approachable Senators, off-campus outreach

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

According to Brianna Singh’s platform, people are only as good as the community they live in, and she believes she can make the Rice community better as External Vice President. She served as a Hanszen College NSR and was Environmental Committee Co-Chair her freshman year. Currently, she serves as the SA Secretary.

NEWS 2/15/16 9:08am

Justin Onwenu aims to improve communication, resolve student concerns as EVP

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

As a candidate for Student Association External Vice President, Justin Onwenu’s platform focuses on a broad range of issues. In his campaign platform, Onwenu said as EVP he hopes to expand the use of tetra and give student more options with the meal plan, to establish greater lines of communication between students and the Honor Council and Student Judicial Programs, to increase the ability of students to give academic input through faculty advisory boards and to promote environmental sustainability.

NEWS 2/10/16 11:45pm

Joan Liu desires stronger student engagement, better understanding of administrative policies

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

As an active member of the Student Association since her freshman year, current External Vice President Joan Liu, a Jones College junior, wants to expand her role in the SA to the presidency.

NEWS 2/10/16 11:45pm

Griffin Thomas focuses on underrepresented groups, says he won't 'shy away from fights'

By Abigail Panitz and Claire Weddle

Current Lovett College President Griffin Thomas, a junior, is trying to shift his focus from running a college to campus-wide government, a return to the Student Association after a stint as a New Student Representative freshman year.

NEWS 2/10/16 6:43pm

BTC recommends Catalyst to SA for student funding

By Anita Alem

The Student Association General Election ballot proposals this year include amendments to the SA Constitution related to blanket tax as well as amendments to the University Court Constitution. The blanket tax-related amendments to the SA Constitution will revamp the process of funding for subsidiary organizations and oversight.

NEWS 2/10/16 6:43pm

RVP to potentially lose student funding

By Anita Alem

The Blanket Tax Committee recommended that Rice Video Productions’ blanket tax subsidiary status be removed at the Student Association Senate meeting on Feb.

NEWS 2/10/16 6:43pm

UT system, A&M look to Houston for expansion possibilities

By Drew Keller

Both Texas A&M University and the University of Texas are considering plans to create new facilities in Houston, according to public statements by A&M President Michael Young and UT Chancellor William McRaven.

NEWS 2/10/16 6:41pm

Kinder Institute receives $7 million grant to fund research, outreach

By Andrew Ligeralde

The Baker Institute for Public Policy was ranked among the top 5 university affiliated think tanks in the world, according to the 2015 Global Go To Think Tank Index Report released by the University of Pennsylvania.

NEWS 2/10/16 6:40pm

Construction begins on first design space open to all students

By Susan Wen

The McMurtry Innovation and Creativity Kitchen has broken ground on construction, according to Eli Wilson, a McMurtry College senior.

NEWS 2/9/16 10:45pm

SRB leaders chart new courses for coming year

By Aparna Narendrula

Click on the thumbnail image to read interviews

NEWS 2/2/16 9:19pm

Boniuk Council promotes World Hijab Day

By Elana Margosis

The Rice Muslim Student Association and the Boniuk Council held a series of World Hijab Day events on Sunday and Monday, and encouraged female students to wear the hijab in solidarity with Muslim women who choose wear the hijab.

NEWS 2/2/16 9:14pm

Scholars discuss politics in black churches

By Anita Alem

Is it justified to spend millions of dollars on a church serving primarily black neighborhoods when the congregants themselves may be of low-income backgrounds?

NEWS 2/2/16 9:13pm

Critical Thinking in Sexuality Task Force releases website, video series

By Drew Keller

Rice University’s Critical Thinking in Sexuality Task Force launched a new website, Facebook page and video series this week as part of their effort to garner support and student input for a new mandatory course educating incoming students about healthy sexuality. The task force, which was created by the Student Association Senate in November with a mandate to develop a proposal for the course, is working to gain the Rice community’s backing, according to task force member Angela Masciale, who also serves as president of Hanszen College.