Special Projects

Kazakhstan envoy speaks at Wiess

Thanks to the 2006 film Borat, the nation of Kazakhstan has quickly, if infamously, earned household recognition. However, unlike the film's hirsute and skimpily-swimsuited main character, Kazakhstan Ambassador to the United States Erian Idrissov, who spoke at Wiess College Monday, promoted a message of peace and progress. This talk was part of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy's partnership with the residential colleges.

International figures grace Rice with presence

Over the last week, Rice has been graced by the presence of a pair of highly-respected diplomats: Edrian Idrissov, Kazakhstan Ambassador to the United States, and Swashpawan Singh, former ambassador for India to the United Nations (see stories, pages 4 and 7). Meanwhile, it was announced that Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, would be the commencement speaker at the 2010 commencement (see story, page 1).Even though the endowment may have dropped by double-digit percentages (see story, page 1), it is nice to see that Rice can still attract the kind of envoys and world leaders that make our university as prestigious as we've been led to believe. And yet that prestige was not on full show for Idrissov and Singh, who both spoke in college commons. Lacking the pomp and showmanship of the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy - and all the perceived intimidation that students may feel when they gape at the building's imposing beauty - the ambassadors were instead treated to the dining facilities for the university's students.

Rec Center opens with a splash

After a year and a half of construction, the much-anticipated Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center opens today at 2 p.m. The center more than doubles the square footage of the former Rec Center, and boasts a variety of new rooms, spaces and workout facilities that will be available to students, faculty, staff and their families, Director of Recreation Programs Tina Villard said.

Online only: Women's tennis opens in Midland

While the men's tennis team already had a weekend's worth of competition under their belt a week ago, the women's squad traveled to Midland, Texas, to begin their fall schedule at the Midland Invitational. The doubles duo of junior Varsa Shiva-Shankar and senior Rebecca Lin performed the strongest for the Owls, playing their way to the semifinals of the tournament. Shiva-Shankar and Lin began the tournament on Friday with a win over Amy Joubert and Shannon MacKenzie of the University of North Texas by a score of 8-5. With that win, Shiva-Shankar and Lin met the No. 3 seeds in the tournament, Carla Lindlar and Karolina Filipiak of Baylor University. Although Lindlar and Filipiak came in with a higher ranking and a day of rest after enjoying a bye in the tournament's first round, Shiva-Shankar and Lin handily won the match by a score of 8-2.

Houston lacks grandeur of New York life

There are some things a New Yorker inherently misses when transplanted thousands of miles from home and left to cope in a new college environment. The hectic buzz of a new life chapter - in my case, residing at 1601 Rice Boulevard - seems at once marvelously invigorating and sadly lacking in the comforts of home.After my first month at Rice, I can assuredly say, "Houston, you are not New York."

Online Only: Denver gives advice on friends, food and fellas

Dear Denver,I've never been a "life of the party" kind of person, but does that mean that I have to spend the rest of my life doing things when it's convenient for other people? Am I just being petty and selfish? I always end up feeling like I'm inferior in some way, and I hate that. What should I do?

A Word With Your Wardrobe: Backstage at the Simon Malls fashion show

If you've ever wondered what it's like backstage at a fashion show, you're about to get a taste. Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of working behind the scenes as an intern at the Simon Fashion Now fall runway show, which kicked off the night on a majestic pop-up runway over the Galleria's ice rink and was held exclusively for the press and VIPs. In a nutshell, the event is a three-day animated window display of the clothing that will soon be available in stores, focusing on ready-to-wear luxury and mid-range sportswear and whetting appetites for their eventual retail.

Online only: Ill volleyball team takes weekend off

The volleyball team was looking forward to the opportunity to face second-ranked University of Washington last week, but an influenza outbreak forced the Owls (8-3) to cancel their trip to San Antonio and abandon their chance at taking on the Huskies. Rice will restart play on Friday evening's road match against the University of Memphis in their Conference USA opener. Rice defeated Memphis (2-12) in three sets in their only match last year, which took place at Fox Gym . Memphis should not present much difficulty, as the Tigers have won only two of their first 14 games. The Owls continue play on Sunday afternoon against the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Rice and UAB (7-8) played a five-set thriller last year at Fox Gym, with the Owls emerging victorious. Though UAB made the NCAA Tournament last year, the team lost its core group of seniors and have opened this year with a mediocre showing.

Nobel Prize recipient selected to speak at commencement

The Commencement Speaker Committee announced Monday that Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, will be the 2010 Rice commencement speaker, concluding a search process that lasted nearly six months. Best known as one of the chief proponents and purveyors of microcredit, Yunus is the founder of the Grameen Bank, which makes small loans to the poor that can be used to help start businesses.

Capitalism polarizes education, society

As capitalism moves ever closer toward cultural universality, it is important to discuss whether our adoption of this particular socioeconomic system has brought the gains and advancements it is often credited with.It is generally agreed that capitalism is an effective means to economic growth, keeping innovation-breeding competition fervent while maintaining government regulation at minimum levels. Less consensus exists regarding the direct cultural effects of the world capitalist system; for example, when discussing the appearance and growth of capitalism in Asian cultures, there is debate as to whether the local culture facilitates and dictates the eventual implementation of capitalism, or the other way around.

Cross country squads win two titles in home meet

Rumor has it that the men's cross country team was chanting the popular Under Armour slogan "We must protect this house!" before the start of Saturday's Rice Invitational. While no one will fess up to it, there is nothing to be ashamed of. Their finish would have made the folks at Under Armour proud.

Wiess One-Acts deliver varied, enjoyable show

Whether in communist Russia or 1940s Mexico, whether dealing with death or deciding on the ideal spread for a bagel, the Wiess Freshman One- Acts truly run the gamut. A collection of short one-act plays put on every year during the fall semester by Wiess Tabletop theater, the one-acts are intended to teach Wiess freshmen about theater in a fun and low-key way, and this year it has certainly succeeded in its goal. Although there are some small errors present in the production and a noticeable level of disorganization at times, the actors onstage are having so much fun that the audience can't help but join them in their enjoyment.

Director of acclaimed Electric Car speaks on vehicle's resurgence

The solution to the economic crisis may not lie in bailouts, but in electric-powered cars. Chris Paine, writer and director of the 2006 documentary film Who Killed the Electric Car?, spoke to an audience of 90 at the Dore Commons in the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy on Monday about electric cars and their feasibility in the future U.S. economy. Despite his film's title, Paine suggested that the electric car is not dead, just a stifled innovation that, as public opinion shifts in its favor, has just begun to reach the mainstream.

Soccer avoids loss in deadlock against New Mexico

The stars were aligned, the signs pointed to "yes" and the wind was blowing in the right direction last weekend because, for the first time this season, the women's soccer team played to its full potential. Unfortunately, their best still could not earn the Owls (2-4-2) a win.

Sammy's in the Grammys

It is rare for established artists to snag a Grammy nomination with their first commercial album release, but lifelong jazz musician and Rice Jazz Instructor Larry Slezak has done just that with his group's debut album, No Worries. Earlier this week, Slezak was notified that his album had been nominated for no less than four Grammys.

New Rec Center well worth the wait

If the brand new Barbara and David Gibbs Recreation and Wellness Center had opened last Wednesday, the odds of us putting out this week's issue would have been as likely as the football team cracking the top 25 in the polls. After looking over the Rec Center's litany of features, there is simply no way we would have elected to spend our time pumping out this Family's Weekend edition of the Thresher (see story, page 8).Just look at what Rice's newest addition has to offer. Brand new banks of cardio machines. A dance studio with springy floorboards. Stationary bikes that allow for spin classes without the instructor berating you for your lethargy. Kalwall windows to both filter light and absorb excess heat, preventing the body-odor humidity that we all love about our local gyms.

This week's Editorial Cartoon

Cross country squads win two titles in home meet

Out of the 39 runners at last Saturday's Rice Invitational collegiate women's race, 17 were members of Rice's women's cross country team. Thus, not only does Head Coach Jim Bevan have more runners on his roster than ever before, but also he can almost field a full meet with just his team. "It was almost a meet between the unattached and Rice runners," Bevan said.

Arrests made in Labor Day weekend BB gun shootings

Update: According to Rice University Police Chief Bill Taylor, Caitlin Barnett turned herself in sometime between Thursday and Friday afternoon, paid bond and was released. Bonnie Mugg also paid bond and was released. The two remaining suspects are currently in jail.Four suspects involved in the Labor Day weekend BB shootings on Rice campus and the surrounding area have been identified by Rice University Police Department. Arrests have been made for three of the suspects, and a warrant has been issued for the fourth.

NFL Power Rankings, Week Two

NFL Week 2 Sexy Sixteen Power Rankings 1. Baltimore Ravens. Apparently the Ravens have the second-highest scoring offense in the league behind the Saints. And you know they still have that nasty defense. Ray Lewis looks rejuvenated and Heap looks healthy.