Special Projects

Nostalgia, Function and Design in Zemaitis' talk

As an introduction to the 2011 Lawndale Art Center Design Fair, the Museum of Fine Arts, partnered with the Lawndale to present a special lecture by James Zemaitis, the Senior Vice President and Head of 20th Century Design at Sotheby´s, on Wednesday, March 30. Zemaitis discussed case studies ranging from American mid-century modern art to the evolving contemporary design market relating to the issues of provenance, rarity and the change in market.

Commencement policy changes

Starting with this year's graduating class, seniors who have not yet completed their degree requirements may walk with their class at graduation.

Taxation a necessity to preserve our society of comfort

There is so much discussion and numerous viewpoints today about the size of government, the amount of money the government should borrow, how big a deal the debt currently is, and whether or not we can responsibly raise taxes while still in a recession. But one of the major misconceptions present in a large number of debates deals with people's perceptions of taxes. Especially with the last midterm elections which so many people view as a clear message for smaller less intrusive government, the word "taxes" got thrown around so often, used pejoratively by the right, while being a taboo word for the left.

Owls get strong efforts across the board at SFA

With just a handful of events left in their outdoor track careers, seniors Michael Trejo and Connor Hayes wasted no time in continuing to update their personal record books at the Stephen F. Austin Alumni Invitational in Nacogdoches, Texas on Saturday. After a personal best time in the 1,500 meter run at the Texas Southern University Relays of 3:57.02, Trejo dropped his time down by nearly three seconds at Fletcher Garner Track, winning the event with a time of 3:54.05.

Rice convenince store has potential to be great asset to students

Barnes & Noble will soon over take more real estate in the RMC (see story, pg. 1). The contract of 13th Street, Sammy's and Smoothie King has expired, thus allowing a "Recharge U" convenience store, operated by Barnes and Noble, to open.

Women's Tennis: Owls dominate Southern Miss

 With their time as members of the women's tennis team drawing to a close, seniors Rebekka Hanle and Jessica Jackson clearly took advantage of their last match against the University of Southern Mississippi (7-11), as they combined for two doubles and two singles victories in the Owls 6-1 win over the Golden Eagles.

Students help RUPD catch serial bike thief

Rice University Police Sergeants Gary Spears and Clemente Rodriguez apprehended William Baisden Wednesday for breaking a trespass warning for Rice campus and on suspicion of stealing four bicycles in the past two to three days, according to Spears.

Athletic Department effective in distributing NCAA Finals tickets to students

The Athletic Department, not to be bested by RPC's Harry Potter pre-midnight showing ticket distribution last semester, generously provided students around campus the opportunity to obtain free NCAA Final tickets (see story, pg. 9). A portion of the unsold UConn tickets were donated to Rice for use by its students; a similar donation was made to the University of Houston. Furthermore, instead of exclusively dealing the tickets to athletes, the Rice Athletic Department allowed all students equal opportunity to experience this exclusive event.

A Sucker Punch to common sense, decency, taste

In Zack Snyder's (300) newest film Sucker Punch, blonde bombshell Baby Doll (Emily Browning, Ghost Ship) and her posse of attractive young friends need five items to escape their wrongful incarceration in a draconian insane asylum. Similarly, five elements are key in accomplishing the seemingly impossible task of earning zero stars for a movie involving beautiful women clad in schoolgirl outfits wielding machine guns.

Letters to the Editor

Online Comments of the Week

Hanna too complex, ambitious, stale

Hanna is no fairy tale. Though director Joe Wright's (Atonement) film attempts to capture the supernatural world of the Brothers Grimm, the threads of this film unravel faster than Rapunzel's hair due to its implausible plot line. The story, about a genetically engineered supersoldier child on a search for freedom and identity in a harrowing world of evil government cover-ups and lederhosen-clad Germans, reads as a poor entanglement of The Bourne Identity with an adolescent girl and The Boys from Brazil. Channeling Bourne with its action sequences (there is even a one-on-one with a pen, in case you had not quite gotten the hint yet), search for identity, superassassins, rogue agents, corrupt government agencies and an obsession with cameras and the watching eyes of Big Brother, the film moves at a schizophrenic pace.

From professor to college president

Sociology Assistant Professor Michael Lindsay will be leaving Rice this summer to become the eighth president of Gordon College in Massachusetts.

Photo: King Kemba holds court

The University of Connecticut basketball team celebrates with the national championship trophy after its 53-41 defeat of Butler University on Monday night at Reliant Stadium in front of the largest crowd in NCAA history, 70, 376.

Photo: Overdrive

 UConn freshman Shabazz Napier soars above Kentucky on Saturday during the Huskies' 56-55 semifinal win.

RMC convenience store to open next fall

The Rice Memorial Center will replace 13th Street and Smoothie King with a convenience store during the summer, former Student Association President Selim Sheikh announced in Monday's SA meeting.

Men fall to Texas in Austin for second time this year

The Owls traveled back to Austin on Saturday to get revenge against the seventh-ranked University of Texas after they were beaten 4-0 in Austin on Jan. 30 as part of the ITA National Team Indoors Championship. Rice could not get their payback as they were trampled by the Longhorns, 6-1.

This week's Editorial Cartoon

Owls sweep Marshall, shut out against Louisiana

Even with three or four freshmen regularly in the starting lineup for Head Coach Wayne Graham, things are starting to look awfully similar to this same time in 2010 for the Rice Owls baseball team. Flash back a year ago, when Rice (21-11, 4-2 C-USA) opened the Conference-USA schedule by dropping two of three to the Memphis Tigers to fall to just 13-12 on the season. The national media was down on Rice, with the pitching struggling and the team's conference championship streak looking like it would be in jeopardy.

Beyond the Hedges

Five Owls take first place at SFA Alumni Invitational

Three meets into the season, and the women's track team is beginning to hit its stride and fall back into the rhythm of competition. With team members who had started the season injured slowly coming back into action (seniors Alex Gibbs and Nicole Mericle), the Owls are finding their way back to full force.