Special Projects

Review: “Nickel Boys” is an intimate and potent masterpiece

Oscar season might have crowned Brady Corbet as the new “great American director” for his ambitiously sprawling “The Brutalist,” but with Nickel Boys — his adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel — RaMell Ross stuns us all, staking a bold claim as a visionary, essential voice in American filmmaking. 

Oscar snubs and surprises

On Jan. 23, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominations for their annual much-anticipated Academy Awards. Like every year, this slate of nominees was full of snubs and surprises; here are some that the Thresher believed were especially notable.

MFAH’s art-inspired fashion show lights up the runway

Asian art and contemporary fashion collided at the 2025 Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Fashion Fusion show Jan. 30, drawing both admiration and critique from event attendees.

Chinese Student Association celebrates Year of the Snake

Lions, dragons and K-pop dances, oh my! The Rice Chinese Students Association held its annual Lunar New Year Gala Feb. 1, ringing in the Year of the Snake with performances, food and vibrant cultural festivities. 

Owls on the run: Rice’s Houston Marathon history

Since 1972, runners have laced up to take on the Houston Marathon in the brisk chill of a January morning. Among them ran Rice students, faculty and alumni weaving their own history into the race one stride at a time. 

Dancing with the Owls

It can feel hard to fit in exercise as a student outside of joining an intramural sports team or running Baker 13 in an effort to recoup some high-school sprinter glory. However, though the dance community at Rice may be subtle, its offerings are vast and diverse. 

Help undocumented students close to home

President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders increasing border security measures and altering the daily lives of undocumented immigrants. The orders include expanding the use of immigration detention, bypassing immigration judges to fast-track deportations and auditing current federal programs that support allegedly removable immigrants. 

Late-night car thief runs from police near OEDK

Students received an alert Feb. 2 near midnight from the Rice University Police Department regarding an active investigation. According to the email, RUPD and the West University Place Police Department were pursuing a male suspect driving a stolen vehicle who then ran, barefoot, to evade police near the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen. The area is no longer being investigated. 

Meal swipe donations reach a record high in third year

Students donated 16,095 meal swipes to off-campus students this semester, almost double last spring’s 8,224 swipes, according to Student Association President Jae Kim. 

New developments coming to Rice Village, Third Ward

What do a Third Ward affordable housing development and a luxury condominium have in common? They’re both part of Rice’s investment portfolio. 

In the shadow of NOD: New Wiess public met with mixed reviews

Wiess College hosted Masks After Dark on Jan. 25, its inaugural new public, which debuted months after administration permanently canceled the Night of Decadence. NOD, Wiess’ themed underwear party, had run for five decades — and was so risqué, it allegedly garnered Playboy attention — before excessive drinking and hospitalizations drove the party to its early death in October 2023.

Proposed amendments revamp constitution

The Student Association Constitutional Revisions Committee announced four potential constitutional amendments at a Jan. 27 Senate meeting. The amendments include correcting typos, restructuring the blanket tax allocations process, clarifying election rules and potentially reshaping the power structure of the Senate. 

Future of Rice research uncertain amid possible federal funding freeze

The White House announced a pause on all federal grants and loans Jan. 27. The freeze was slated to go into effect Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. EST — just minutes before the clock hit, a federal judge temporarily blocked the freeze, effective until Feb. 3.

‘Breath(e)’ brings climate conversations from California to the Gulf Coast

A 3D-printed sculpture of the Houston skyline is slowly being eaten away by plastic-consuming enzymes at the Moody Center for the Arts. The piece is part of the center’s newest exhibition, “Breathe(e): Toward Climate and Social Justice,” which opened Friday, Jan. 24.

Rice Marriage Pact returns for third year

This year’s iteration of the Rice Marriage Pact opened Wednesday, Jan. 22 via email. Matches will be released later this week, according to Allison He, Marriage Pact coordinator. The questionnaire closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday after a one-day extension due to a “lopsided” respondent pool that would leave 52 heterosexual men unmatched. According to He, 2217 students filled out the survey total.

SA announces election timeline

The Student Association’s director of elections Natalie Wang announced the election timeline in a senate meeting this Monday. Campaigning begins on Feb. 12 and ends on Feb. 26, with the voting period open for a week afterwards. Election results will be announced March 6 around noon.

01-29-2025 Crossword Solution

01-29-2025 Crossword: "Vending Machine"

Marriage Pact Plus+

01-29-2025 Score updates & what’s next

Scores from Jan. 22 to 28