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OPINION 7/24/20 8:15pm

Turning off the NBA: taking a stand against human rights abuses in China

By Spencer Moffat

Earlier this month, an amalgamation of NBA players announced that they would be replacing the names on the back of their jerseys for the rest of this upcoming season with NBA-approved social justice-related phrases such as “equality” and “freedom.” These types of phrases should be foundational principles upon which we stand, but the NBA’s decision to let players put these phrases on the back of their jerseys leaves one asking: What about human rights violations in China? Will NBA players be allowed to put “I stand with the Uighurs” or “Free Hong Kong” on the back of their jerseys? The Chinese Communist party has carried out human rights abuses targeting many different minority groups in Xinjiang and has forced groups like the Uighurs, Kazakhs and others into internment camps, where they are perpetually surveilled while given little to no rights. 

OPINION 7/24/20 7:57pm

Letter to the Editor: Re-evaluate return to campus

By Moshe Vardi

During the past couple of weeks, Rice faculty have received various messages from Rice University administrators that explain in detail how Rice is working to provide a safe and effective learning environment for students in the fall semester. These plans are premised on the physical return to the campus of a significant majority of the undergraduate population. While I am grateful for the efforts of our colleagues in administration, I am also deeply concerned that these measures are not sufficient to provide the level of safety that Rice students and employees should be able to count on. In keeping with Rice’s long-standing commitment to life-safety and the well-being of the community, I feel compelled to convey my concerns.

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.

FEATURES 7/20/20 4:35pm

Remembering Rice: A Q+A with Andrew Maust

By Ella Feldman

“[Rice] was a very active community leader, a wealthy community leader who preserved and grew slavery in Houston. There’s no mincing words, it’s very clear that he did that,“ said Andrew Maust (Brown College ‘19), who wrote a research paper on William Marsh Rice’s involvement with slavery.

FEATURES 7/13/20 7:51pm

Two groups, Rice For Biden and Rice Against Biden, head into November with different priorities

By Kavya Sahni

Early last month, three Rice students launched Rice for Biden, a group supporting Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s campaign for president. Harry Golen, one of the creators of Rice for Biden, said that one of the organization’s posts on Facebook reached over 4,300 people within the first week, including Rice students, alumni and staff members. Not all responses were supportive, however. A few hours after Rice for Biden launched its social media pages, another page appeared on Instagram: Rice Against Biden (@riceagainstbiden). 

OPINION 7/13/20 2:40pm

Rice’s Title IX policy-making must be transparent and inclusive

By Alissa Kono , Krithika Shamanna , Sarah Park , Alyssa Cahoy , Emily Duffus and Aliza Brown

"We are deeply concerned about Rice’s current policy-writing process regarding the release of a new Title IX policy, due August 14. Based on our observations and concerns with the administration's response, we feel there are issues in the following areas: coronavirus accommodations, publication of data, transparency and equitable representation." 

NEWS 7/8/20 6:04am

Historians share perspectives on monuments and racism, following recent discussions about William Marsh Rice

By Ivanka Perez

"The model [for discussions] has long been [that] it's a small group, usually of men, but a small group has met behind closed doors and made these decisions. And I think what all of us in all of our different work have said over and over and over again is that this has to be a public conversation. All stakeholders need to be involved in these decision-making processes,“ Anne Twitty, panelist at Monday’s webinar, said.

FEATURES 7/6/20 12:52am

What has the Task Force on Slavery, Segregation and Racial Injustice been up to?

By Ella Feldman

Last month, a group of Black students published a list of demands for the administration to “address the systemic oppression and inequity that is embedded within Rice’s history by acknowledging and amplifying voices, experiences and communities that have historically been unheard.” One of the six demands is to remove Founder’s Memorial, the statue of William Marsh Rice found in the Academic Quad, on the basis of Rice’s enslavement of 15 people and involvement in the cotton trade. This demand received particular attention with “Down With Willy,” a student-led social media campaign to demand the administration remove the statue.

NEWS 7/1/20 4:24pm

Gorman announces in-depth fall semester plans

By Savannah Kuchar

Students returning to campus in the upcoming fall semester will have to adjust to a number of precautionary changes all subject to change, such as rearranged housing, bathroom schedules and mandated COVID-19 testing, implemented in efforts to protect against the spread of COVID-19, according to an email sent July 1 by Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman.

OPINION 6/29/20 4:48pm

Rice’s diversity education must include anti-racism

By Nicole Zhao

“To make a true difference in creating an equitable society, Rice’s course should educate students on the history and sociology of race as a construct, how systemic racism manifests in every facet of society and how to be anti-racist rather than simply not racist,“ writes Nicole Zhao (Brown ‘15). 

NEWS 6/24/20 11:46am

Students can take classes asynchronously, accommodations for high-risk students and staff

By Brian Lin

Rice made further announcements concerning fall semester at a faculty town hall on Tuesday, June 23 after initial decisions were announced on Thursday, June 18. Students cannot be required to attend a class synchronously during dual delivery, the Registrar’s Office will soon release updated schedules listing which courses are online-only and a form will soon be sent out asking students and staff if they are at a higher risk of severe illness, according to Christopher Johns-Krull, the chair of the Academic Restart Committee.

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