Special Projects

Deep dive into Rice Escape’s ‘Sub-merged Sea-crets’

Deep in the bowels of Sid Richardson College lies a chamber brimming with the stench of brine and brackish water. Of the 83 students who have ventured in, only half have managed to return within the hour. Rice Escape’s newest escape room, “Sub-merged Sea-crets,” which is running in the Sid Richardson Makerspace from Jan. 12 to Jan. 28, doesn’t take itself too seriously — the room does have a “handsome Squidward” drawing on the wall — but the story of the room is still airtight.

Run for SA to make a difference

As this year’s Student Association election cycle officially begins in early February, let’s not forget last year’s uncontested slate of candidates and the “Dilf Hunter” write-in campaign. The student body’s dissatisfaction with the SA has been clear, with many even calling for change in the way the SA operates, or questioning the allocation of their current resources elsewhere. If you’re one of the many jaded about the SA, we pose a question: Why not run for SA yourself?

New vending machines open with healthy alternatives

New vending machines have been placed in West Servery, the second-floor vending area in the Brockman Hall for Physics and the seventh floor near the student lounge in the Biosciences Research Collaborative, according to David McDonald, interim associate vice president of Housing and Dining.

Dandelion Cafe begins normal operations, sets hours

The Dandelion Cafe, a Houston-based vendor, has opened in the O’Connor Building for Engineering & Science. This week, the restaurant has begun operating its normal hours, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. The restaurant serves a number of breakfast and lunch options all day.

Undergraduate teaching grant doubles

Starting this year, Rice has nearly doubled the total funding available for the George R. Brown Teaching Grant from $35,000 to $60,000. Faculty may apply for the grant and receive a maximum of $8,000 in funding, an increase from the original limit of $5,000, for project proposals aimed at enriching the undergraduate educational experience.

Burke to be lead innovation AVP

Brad Burke has been named associate vice president for industry and new ventures by Rice’s Office of Innovation. According to Burke, this new role serves as an alliance between the Brown School of Engineering, Wiess School of Natural Sciences, Jones Graduate School of Business and the Office of Research to support the launch of Rice faculty and student startups, combining business experience with engineering and science innovations.

RUPD hosts 15th Citizen’s Police Academy

The Rice University Police Department’s Citizen Police Academy classes will begin Jan. 29 after a five-year hiatus. The CPA offers free, interactive courses on RUPD’s departments and responsibilities for campus community members every Monday for nine weeks. 

Rice launches partnership with Woodside Energy

Rice announced a five-year partnership with Australian-based company Woodside Energy Jan. 17. This partnership will provide $12.5 million to build the Woodside-Rice Decarbonization Accelerator, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide lower carbon solutions.

Student Association elections kick into gear with information sessions, election packets

Student Association director of elections Jocelyn Wang held the first information session for interested candidates Monday. Campaigning begins Feb. 7 and ends Feb. 21, when the voting period will open for one week. The SA will announce election results Feb. 29.

Ni announces resignation from SA presidency

Solomon Ni, the Student Association president, announced his resignation at the Student Association meeting Jan. 22 effective Jan. 29. Internal Vice President Alison Qiu will assume the role as SA president through the remainder of Ni’s term.

Tomás Morín’s ‘Where Are You From: Letters to My Son’ explores Brown identity in America

​​Writing to an audience that does not yet exist — some may think it’d be a bit tricky. In his latest book, “Where Are You From: Letters to My Son,” assistant professor of creative writing Tomás Q. Morín sets out to do just that, writing a series of letters to his, at the time, unborn son. Letters that, as Morín puts it, “offer advice and personal perspective on issues of love, growth and the future his son will have to face.” Morín discusses how he, as a person of color, inhabits the present day in America  — and what it means for the landscape his son will be born into.

‘Ferrari’ gives a high-octane account of automobile giant’s eccentricities

Michael Mann, best known for his distinctly American action thrillers “Heat” and “Collateral,” released his first ever film set entirely outside of the U.S. late last December. “Ferrari” is a historical biopic on the turbulent life of automobile mogul Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver), founder of the eponymous car manufacturer. Mann brings out the best of his older films for “Ferrari” — the paranoid intensity of “The Insider” and the steely solitude of “Thief” — to craft one of his most riveting films to date. 

01-17-2024 Crossword Solution

01-17-2024 Crossword: "FREEZE!"

Spring 2024 Horoscope

01-17-2024 "Owl-American"

Men’s tennis sweeps PVAMU

Rice men’s tennis opened their 2024 season Saturday with a sweep of Prairie View A&M University at home. The Owls won both the morning and afternoon dual meet with a pair of 7-0 victories, starting their season 2-0. After the matches, head coach Efe Ustundag explained that the double-header was perfect in terms of results and preparation.

Checking in: Men’s basketball 13th in AAC at midseason

Halfway through the season, Rice men’s basketball has not won a game against an American Athletic Conference opponent. Following Jan. 12’s loss to the University of South Florida, the Owls are 6-10 on the season, 0-3 in conference play and stuck in a four-game skid, at time of publication.

Review: ‘Hall & Nash 2’ showcases what makes Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine exciting

In 2016, underground rappers Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine were beginning to build a following, releasing albums filled with intense verses over ornate instrumentals. As a follow up to their collaborative release, “Hall & Nash,” named after the ’90s pro wrestling duo, the two linked up with The Alchemist, one of hip hop’s most exciting producers, to record a sequel. However, Westside Gunn and Conway the Machine soon signed with Shady Records leaving the finished album, originally scheduled for a 2017 release, shelved with some of the tracks used on other projects over the years. Now, the original album is finally out for public consumption.

Review: ‘Mean Girls’ is kitschy, camp, questionable

“Mean Girls” reminded us of an important truth: If you are going to make a musical, you need to hire actors who can sing and a choreographer with experience. It also proves, though, that bad films can often be great fun.