Special Projects

Students comment on Ramadan dining accommodations

The Islamic holy month of Ramadan ran March 10 to April 9 this year, according to the Islamic calendar. During the month, observers fast from dawn until sundown, a period of introspection and communal prayer.

Title: Exploring Michel Foucault’s Legacy – Foucault: Genealogies for the Future

Rice will host the Foucault: Genealogies for the Future international conference from April 18 and 19, convening scholars to reconsider the influence of Michel Foucault in academia and culture since his death in 1984. This international conference is a part of the Foucault: 40 Years After, a world congress commemorating the legacy of French philosopher and historian Michel Foucault.

Junichiro Kono named director of the Smalley-Curl Institute

Junichiro Kono succeeded Naomi Halas as director of the Smalley-Curl Institute on Feb. 1. Kono currently also serves as director of the applied physics graduate program, housed in SCI. He is also the Karl F. Hasselmann Chair in Engineering. 

Students convert Housing and Dining vehicle to electric

Four Rice teams, encompassing over 20 students, worked over the past year to convert a 1997 Chevrolet P30 Rice Housing and Dining vehicle into a fully electric vehicle. The teams finalized the van’s conversion before its senior design debut at the Ion last Thursday. Two teams, the thermal management and dashboard design teams, received awards following the showcase.

Rice students win National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

The National Science Foundation awarded 25 Rice students the Graduate Research Fellowship April 4. The fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year period in graduate studies in a STEM field, which amount to $37,000 in stipends and $16,000 to the institution that the awarded will attend for their graduate degree.

Headshot photographers capture senior farewells

As the demand for senior photos escalates towards the end of the semester, Rice’s student photographers find themselves at the forefront of commemorating significant milestones for their peers.

Everything fits right: Student completes campus Lego model

Once upon a time, Brown College senior Andrew Linhart was a kid — a Lego kid, to be precise. He could not have foreseen how a love of Legos would lead him to a career in mechanical engineering, but he knew this much: he loved putting things together. Much like the fragments of the Lego sets built during childhood, the pieces of his life now fit together effortlessly. 

Rice Thresher announces $10,000 goal for the 24-hour challenge

Through wars and pandemics and everything in between, the Rice Thresher has tirelessly reported on the state of the campus and its students for well over a century. Visit the Rice Thresher’s 24-hour challenge page to donate today.

Student activism is working – and fear-mongering cannot hold us back

S.RES 02, titled “Student Association Boycott and Divestment from Corporations Complicit in the Ongoing Genocide in Gaza,” was presented to the Student Association on March 25. This resolution proposes the creation of an Ethical Spending Advisory Board designed to ensure that Blanket Tax funds are not dedicated to corporations that are complicit in Israeli colonial violence and apartheid based on guidelines created by the BDS movement. 

A journey with Generation Conscious: breaking barriers and expanding horizons

When I first set foot on the Rice University campus, the contrast with my small hometown of Toomsuba was stark. Moving from a quaint town of 800 people to the big city of Houston, Texas made me realize how large the divide between my experience and that of my peers was.

After discrimination complaint, Rice orders SA to table resolution divesting from Israel-aligned companies

The Student Association is indefinitely tabling a resolution to boycott and divest SA funds from Israel-aligned companies after a student filed a discrimination complaint with the equal opportunity office, Student Association president Jae Kim told the Thresher.

To bike or not to bike? Beer Bike 2024 sees tents, possible wind

This year’s Beer Bike took place Saturday, April 6. After a seven-minute delay, the alumni races began, followed by the women’s and then the men’s. For the second year in a row, each of the races were divided into two heats. As usual, the times from both heats will be compared, along with calculated penalties, by the Rice Program Council to determine final results. Results are not available at time of publication, and the campus-wide Beer Bike coordinators did not provide a timeline for when they will be.

Sallyport to temporarily open for commencement, academic quad to fully open in the fall

The academic quad construction is on track to be completed in late April, according to Executive Vice President for Operations, Finance, & Support Kelly Fox. The Sallyport entrance will temporarily open for graduation, with the rest of the quad remaining closed until the fall semester.

Greg Abbott discusses power grid at Baker Institute summit

Texas Governor Greg Abbott came to campus to speak at the Texas Electricity Policy Summit, hosted by the Baker Institute for Public Policy April 9. In his 15-minute speech, he discussed Texas’ power grid and economic development.

‘Change is inevitable’: Rice Village through the years

Today, Rice Village is frequented by students and local families alike for its collection of cafes, restaurants, boutiques and brand-name stores. At the time of its founding in 1938, though, the Village was an undeveloped, wooded area with a single dirt road. On that road — now Rice Boulevard — just two buildings stood: Rice Blvd. Food Market, which would be frequented by Rice students grocery shopping for decades to come, and an ice house.

After alleged election procedure violation, RWRC to undergo special elections

The Student Association will be conducting special elections for the Rice Women’s Resource Center directors on a campus-wide ballot. Although internal elections have concluded, SA director of elections Jocelyn Wang said it is currently unknown when the ballot will go out to the student body.

Rice community members see solar eclipse on day off from classes

Students, faculty members, and community members gathered to view the solar eclipse April 8. The total solar eclipse swept across North America and was visible in parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. While parts of Texas were in the path of totality, approximately 94% of the sun was blocked in Houston. It was the first total solar eclipse visible from the United States since 2017, and the next one won’t occur until 2044. 

04-10-2024 Crossword Solutions

04-10-2024 Crossword: "Pride Week"

RUPD Crime Bulletin