Special Projects

Kim decodes disinformation

What do some alcoholic Korean businessmen and lying American politicians have in common? Minjae Kim, an assistant professor at the Jones School of Business, has an answer. 

POLI 224 simulates running for office

Election season is in high gear: Campaign signs litter front yards, texts from candidates blow up phones and in a new class, students make their own election bid. In POLI 224: How to Run for Office, students create mini-political campaigns, learning the realities of being a candidate as they go. 

‘Get out there and vote’: Poll workers on volunteering

While most students only spend a few minutes at the polls on election day, some students are at the polls for up to eight hours, directing lines and handing out ballots  as student poll workers.

Alumni in politics talk elections, careers

In 2010, Annise Parker ’78 stood before a crowd of citizens at the George R. Brown Convention Center. She had just been elected mayor of Houston.

Scholasticide is a local issue

One year of genocide and scholasticide — the process of intentionally and systemically destroying education and knowledge — in Gaza has revealed Israel’s apparent imperialist mission of not just eradicating Gazan life, but also Palestinian pasts and futures. As we have the privilege of  learning in newly built classrooms and Rice celebrates the re-opening of the academic quad, no universities have been left unscathed in Gaza. 

Rice needs to better support students with disabilities

As I sit in my room, struggling to muster the energy to get out of bed, I can’t help but wonder how many others are silently fighting the same battle. It’s been almost two months since I lost access to my medication, and the toll is undeniable. Since 2022, a medication shortage has left thousands without life-saving treatment, forcing them to manage their symptoms alone. I don’t drink, smoke or vape — yet here I am, trapped in a haze of withdrawal. The most infuriating part? I can’t fix this alone. So, I turned to my accommodations — the lifeline that should have supported me.

Public party dress codes are doomed to fail

Divestment referenda proposed to senate, demonstration and postering resolution passes

Four referenda were introduced to the Student Association during the Oct. 21 senate meeting that call for university divestment from Israel-aligned companies and a university condemnation of the “horrific violence” in Gaza as part of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The SA also passed S.RES 05, a resolution that asks the university to review its recently revised demonstration and postering policies.

Wiess announces a MAD new public

Wiess College announced that their new public party theme will be a masquerade. The party will be officially titled “Masquerade After Dark” — MAD for short – according to the announcement made during Wiess’ Oct. 18 FITQ. According to Wiess co-Social Vice President Isabelle Shen, the public is scheduled for Jan. 25. Wiess co-Social Vice President Rocio Gras added that the event will be outdoors.

Rice among 40 elite colleges sued in second financial aid antitrust lawsuit

A class action lawsuit was filed Oct. 7 against 40 private institutions including Rice, accusing them of overcharging students by including noncustodial parents’ assets in determining financial aid. 

Political engagement varies as election season begins

Early voting for the 2024 election cycle began Oct. 20. While some Rice students are preparing to cast their votes, most of whom are voting in their first presidential election, others will not be voting. 

Review: “Joker: Folie à Deux” has no punchline

It’s hard to understate how big of a cultural moment “Joker” was. It was a rare moment when a film succeeded in nearly every metric a film can. It grossed over a billion dollars, was critically praised and was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, with star Joaquin Phoenix taking home one of the two Oscars the film ended up winning.

Chabad at Rice hosts vigil for Oct. 7 anniversary

Nearly 150 students, staff and faculty gathered at Farnsworth Pavilion for a vigil commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Held up by clothespins, pictures paying tribute to killed Israeli people lined the walls of the room. 

Rice Students for Justice in Palestine remembers a ‘year of genocide’

Reflecting upon a “year of genocide,” Rice Students for Justice in Palestine hosted a vigil Oct. 7, honoring the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed since last year’s attacks on Israel. 

RUPD updates on recent campus crime

A single person is likely responsible for the rash of recent car burglaries in North and South Lot, according to Rice University Police Department Chief of Police Clemente Rodriguez in an email to the Thresher. The male suspect was identified with security cameras, but their identity could not be determined. No one has been arrested in connection to these burglaries, which occurred on Sept. 21 at 3 a.m. Students received a Rice Crime Alert email Sept. 22 informing them of the break-ins. The North Lot suspect had not been connected to the South Lot burglaries in the email.

R2: The Rice Review showcases student talent at open mic night

Students filled the air with poetry, music and conversation at R2: The Rice Review’s open mic night Oct. 3, where the spotlight shone on student talent, from soulful singers to stand-up comics. This year’s open mic night celebrated the release of the literary journal’s 20th edition.

Rice introduces peer-led study program

Rice launched the Office of Academic Support for Undergraduate Students this semester, serving as a centralized office and drop-in study hub to academically support undergraduates. OASUS was created by the Task Force on Student Success, initiated by President Reggie DesRoches during his tenure as provost, to address gaps in educational experiences and outcomes, particularly for under-resourced students.

SA Labor Commission proposes $15 student minimum wage

The Student Association’s Labor Commission advocated for a $15 minimum wage for student workers during a Student Association meeting Sept. 30, based on results from a student wage survey. Currently collecting signatures for a petition, the Labor Commission said that raising the minimum wage for student workers would reduce financial burdens for students. 

10-08-2024 Owl-American

Choose Your Own Adventure: Midterm Recess