Opinion

Juandrew's parting words: Journalism, truth-seeking is crucial to building a better Rice

Investigating and combating rumors is part of the Thresher’s job, but also an effort every student should contribute to. 

​Response to Anson Fung: No reconsideration necessary, Rice stands with Dreamers

It is impossible for a university’s policies to align with every individual’s beliefs. But if we truly desire to uphold our university’s mission statement, it is crucial that we embrace every Rice student, documented or not, as integral and valuable to the Rice experience. 

Response to Anson Fung: Rice should stand against divisiveness

Fung’s argument is an interesting enough intellectual exercise if you’re bored while sitting in Monday morning traffic, but I entirely disagree with the premise that the public positions taken by the administration on political issues like DACA “call into question Rice’s commitment to diversity of learning and discovery.” 

​O-Week Discussions on LGBTQ Inclusivity Need Re-Examination

Changing our language may be difficult at first. But we pride ourselves on our culture of care; this means we need to be active about supporting and caring for all of our students. 

Response to Anson Fung: Rice must stand by all its students and support DACA

When President Leebron and Dean Hutchinson spoke in favor of protections for Dreamers, they were fulfilling a responsibility to ensure that all members of our community feel safe inside the hedges. 

Editorial: CTIS changes indicate continued progress

We hope the administration will continue to listen to student feedback and be open to discussion, as it did this year with the CTIS student working group. CTIS is a milestone in Rice’s initiative to better the well-being of students on campus, and it is encouraging to witness the progress being made.

Editorial: Increase in IM sports fees introduced too late for engaged student input and voter turnout

The Rice University student body will vote on a proposed increase in intramural sports fees this week (p.

​Administration must reconsider public political stances as representatives of the Rice community

It is my hope that President Leebron and Dean Hutchinson reconsider and reverse their official stance on proposed DACA legislation. My issue with the situation is not the DACA executive order itself, but rather that the university is taking an official position on political issues. 

​Per Owlstra ad Astra: Why Rice Should Choose Space

It's time for renewed investment to make good on Rice’s astronomical legacy. 

​Intramural Sports: A Mainstay of the Rice Community

Intramural sports are not only one of the most popular extracurriculars on campus according to the Surveys of All Students, but they are also integral to our community.

​Not our cup of tea: Consent merits more complex discussions during O-Week

Everyone remembers the “tea video” from O-Week. Everyone remembers the feeling of absurdity it invoked. Why do we not refer to it as the “consent video”? 

McMurtry is in tents

Tell me what it really means to be South Asian

I grew up surrounded by Indians who would automatically speak to me in Hindi. Why was I expected to know Hindi? I felt immense guilt and would apologetically explain that I speak Tamil, a South Indian language. 

Bitcoin: The Next Frontier for Accessibility at Rice

Rice should extend our definition of accessibility to include the most marginalized populations on the planet: those outside the jurisdictions of stable governments and without access to reliable fiat currency. We can do this by ushering a new form of payment through the Sallyport: bitcoin.

​New dean has potential to be a voice for students

The dean of undergraduates is the primary administrator with the ability to be a voice for the student body. Gorman should actively work with and listen to students rather than act unilaterally as an administrator. 

#notourpeersbike

Editorial: Better financial aid vital to a diverse student body

Rice currently does not conduct need-blind admission for international students, which sets it apart from other prestigious schools that lead in financial aid — and not in a good way. 

From the editor’s desk: Pit safety should be priority for next Beer Bike

Beer Bike is an inherently risky activity that we should constantly strive to make safer. The steps taken by the campuswide Beer Bike coordinators to improve biker certification were much needed in limiting the risk that is ever-present when a pack of 12 bikers takes sharp turns around a track at high speeds.

​Low Income Deniability: Rice must stop taking advantage of international students

Rice cannot claim that it “fosters diversity” if 11.5 percent of its students are denied equal opportunity based on citizenship alone. 

​Not My Beer Bike

I love how much Rice loves Beer Bike. I love the way we call it “Christmas," the platoons of people filling water balloons and building floats, the punning and planning around selecting themes and T-shirt designs.