In recent weeks, following several student suspensions and expulsions, rumors have circulated that Student Judicial Programs mistreated students during interviews regarding drug issues on campus. However, SJP has denied these allegations and claims the interviews were conducted according to procedure.
Martel College senior Helene Dick will be the first student Convocation speaker, representing the class of 2014 at the commencement ceremony on Friday, May 16.
When Veronica Mars abruptly went off the air seven years ago, I was left wanting more. So last March, when series-creator Rob Thomas announced an opportunity to fund a Veronica Mars movie through a Kickstarter campaign, I jumped at the chance
Five college presidents and three college senators were removed from office at the Monday, Feb. 24 Student Senate meeting for failing to comply with the attendance policy as determined by the Student Association by-laws.
Five college presidents and three college senators were removed from office at the Monday, Feb. 24 Student Senate meeting for failing to comply with the attendance policy as determined by the Student Association by-laws.
I decided to give Enlisted a chance mostly because it stars Chris Lowell, aka Piz from the cult favorite Veronica Mars, and after watching, I'm definitely willing to tune in for at least a few more episodes.This new comedy centers around three brothers, all soldiers in the U.S. Army stationed at a rear detachment base in Florida. As the serious "supersoldier," Pete (Geoff Stultz, The Finder) comes on a little strong. His superiority complex feels overdone after he gets sent home from Afghanistan for punching a superior. But when he stops taking himself so seriously and bonds with his brothers, he becomes a character I can actually root for. Derrick (Lowell), the surly and lazy but secretly soft brother, offers up some of the best deadpan one-liners and quickly became my favorite character. Randy (Parker Young, Suburgatory), the clumsy and confused brother, has some cheesy slapstick, but his earnest enthusiasm makes him endearing.The supporting cast of characters, a misfit bunch of out-of-shape soldiers, shows big comedic promise - see their attempt to find a great soldier inside themselves. If the writers continue to capitalize on the quirky dynamics of their ensemble, the show will win over audiences.In the end, I will continue watching for the heartfelt relationship between the brothers. The playful chemistry between Stultz, Lowell and Young makes Enlisted worth the watch.
The Student Association Committee on Constitutional Revisions proposed a set of bylaw amendments at the Nov. 11 Student Senate meeting that will revise the blanket tax review process. The changes include stricter standards for recommending that funding be reduced or eliminated, more diverse representation on the blanket tax review committee, and more clearly defined steps for the review process, according to SA Parliamentarian and committee chair Brian Baran.These amendments come in advance of the complete constitutional revisions, to be presented at the Dec. 2 SA meeting and placed on the ballot in the spring General Elections for ratification by the student body. The committee proposed these amendments for review early so that they would be able to take effect in time for this academic year's blanket tax review, Baran, who is a Thresher copy editor, said.The revisions detail a more clear procedure for the review process, including steps to ensure adequate documentation is submitted to the review committee. The new procedure ensures that organizations have a chance to meet with the review committee and submit appeals or corrections prior to finalization of the committee's recommendation, according to Baran.The committee can then recommend that the organization undergo further review. In that case, a contingency committee would be created for that particular organization. The contingency committee would include blanket tax organization officers and the adviser of another blanket tax organization. This committee then has the power to make a recommendation to the SA to reduce funding if issues are found."The procedure, as it stands, was not clear in how the committee was supposed to be composed and how the process was supposed to work," Baran said. "[The procedure] left it open for the government to make, on the basis of not a whole lot of information, a recommendation to defund an organization based on a single year's review."The revisions add a requirement which states that organizations must be found in violation of blanket tax criteria for three years in a given four-year period in order for the review committee and the Student Senate to recommend a change in funding, Baran said.Campanile Editor in Chief Anastasia Bolshakov said she thinks the new requirement will be helpful for blanket tax organizations because it will give them time to fix any problems that arise."If you just look at it at on a year-by-year basis, there could be a bad president or person in charge," Bolshakov, a Duncan College junior, said. "Taking away an organization that serves the whole student body just because one person messed up one year seems to be extreme."The criteria for properly using blanket tax funds include ensuring that funds go toward the organization's mission, purpose and goals and that spending follows Rice rules and regulations. The constitutional revisions add a provision that organizations should use student money with student interests in mind, according to Baran.The last major change proposed is to adjust the representation of the blanket tax review committee. The new rules would require both blanket tax organization officers and general student body representatives to be on the committee. The SA treasurer, SA parliamentarian and the associate director of Student Activities would also sit on the committee.Baran said he welcomes student feedback."The reason we presented [the revisions] was so we can get feedback and make [the new process] work as well as possible for all of the students and organizations affected by this process," Baran said. "We are open to feedback and to making adjustments if people have concerns or suggestions."The Senate will vote on the bylaw amendments at its next meeting Monday, Nov. 18 at 9 p.m. in Farnsworth Pavilion. The Committee on Constitutional Revisions plans to present the entire revised constitution at the Monday, Dec. 2 Senate meeting.
Although a college master's term usually lasts for five years, four current sets of masters will be extending their time in the mastership. The change is a move to even out the number of searches for new masters in a given year, according to Dean of Undergraduates John Hutchinson.Baker College Masters Ivo-Jan and Rose van der Werff and Will Rice College Masters Bridget Gorman and Mike Reed will stay an extra two years, while Martel College Masters Ted Temzelides and Beata Loch and Jones College Masters Michel and Melanie Achard will stay for one additional year, according Hutchinson.The current congestion in searches stems from a variety of factors, including the addition of Duncan College and McMurtry College in 2009 and occasional instances of masters leaving before their term ended. Under the current schedule, 10 colleges would be searching for new masters within the next three years."There would be a lot of turnover at the same time, and then we would go into these quiet periods where we're not recruiting at all," Hutchinson said. "I would like to be able to tell the faculty who would be interested in being masters that we're looking for at least two masters every year."In January 2013, Hutchinson met with all of the college masters and asked for volunteers interested in extending their term. Four colleges volunteered, and Hutchinson said he was able to accommodate all of them. Under the new schedule, two or three colleges will be searching for new masters every year.Reed said he and Gorman decided to stay on at Will Rice because they both enjoyed being masters and felt the timing was right to stay for two more years."I enjoy being around students," Reed said. "I enjoy being able to give them advice and experience. I enjoy helping them uphold Will Rice traditions, and I like helping them achieve the college's goals."Reed said he thought adding to his current term would be an easy transition."Being a master is a much easier job once you know the college and the college knows you," Reed said. "The first year is tough because you're learning about the college, and the college is learning about you. I think adding on years is easier than starting."Temzelides said making the decision to stay at Martel for an extra year was easy."We would stay as masters at Martel forever if we could," Temzelides said. "We absolutely love the place. It's been an incredibly positive experience for me and my family. We've formed lifelong friendships with the students."Temzelides said he and his wife hope to continue being as active at Martel in their extra year as they have been in their other years."This is a job that is extremely fulfilling," Temzelides said. "But at the same time, it takes something out of you. We hope we will be as productive, involved and energetic as in our first year."In his extra year, Temzelides said one of his goals is to promote the role of masters to other faculty so that more people will be inspired to apply to be a master."I think this is the best job that exists, but I don't think faculty necessarily know that," Temzelides said. "There are things that you have to do sometimes in the middle of the night, but that's not what defines the role. It's incredibly fulfilling, and we want others to want to do it."Baker College junior Raven Graves said she was happy to see the van der Werffs extending their time at Baker."As they stated at our previous Cabinet meeting, this extension will give them the opportunity to witness the current freshmen mature and graduate in 2017," Graves said. "They have been a delight around Baker, and judging by the reception the announcement received, Baker is happy to keep them."Jones College junior Lillian Seidel said she worked with the Achards closely during her time as an Orientation Week coordinator and thought they were completely supportive and always available as resources. She said she is grateful for the time that they have spent at Jones."They are a wonderful pair to have around the college, and they continuously offer fun, creative, and relaxing study breaks and are always available for a chat," Seidel said. "They are incredibly engaging in conversation, challenging us to think further but also respecting our opinions, and you can tell that they truly care about all of our students."
President David Leebron announced Joe Karlgaard as the new Rice University director of athletics. Karlgaard will take over the position Oct. 7, according to a Rice News and Media release.Karlgaard comes to Rice from Stanford University, where he is currently serving as the senior associate athletics director for development, according to the release. He has previously served as the athletics director at Oberlin College in Ohio from 2005 to 2011."I'm highly optimistic about what Rice can do," Karlgaard said at a Sept. 9 news conference. "I'm not one of those people who believes that academic values and athletic excellence are mutually exclusive. At Stanford, we've done a very good job at that, but I want Rice to form its own identity. And I'm here to collaborate with all of our coaches, our community and our supporters to find a way to get that done."Karlgaard received his undergraduate degree from Stanford. During his time as an undergraduate, he competed in Stanford's track and field program. He later earned a doctorate in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota. He went on to coach Minnesota's men's track and field and cross country teams, according to the release.Karlgaard said he has a vision for athletic excellence at Rice. He said he wants to bring the type of national success to each program that the baseball and, more recently, women's tennis programs have seen."If your aspirations are lower than that, then I don't think that really squares with the values of a place like Rice and what it's trying to do academically," Karlgaard said.Leebron convened a committee to search for a new director in July, according to an email he sent to the campus community. Vice President for Administration Kevin Kirby served as the committee chair. Other members of the committee included chairman of the Rice board of trustees Bobby Tudor, President of the Houston Texans Jamey Rootes and two student-athletes - Brown College senior Gabe Baker and Hanszen College junior Natalie Beazant - according to Leebron's email.Leebron said that when looking for a new director, he wanted to find someone who was devoted to the welfare of student-athletes and who had a passion for athletic achievement."[We wanted someone with] a belief and optimism that Rice, in everything it does, including athletic endeavors, can succeed at the very highest level," Leebron said.Leebron said he thought Karlgaard's background at Stanford would serve Rice well."[Stanford has] one of the greatest athletic programs in our country," Leebron said. "It was [Stanford's] level of ambition that we wanted to bring to our program at Rice."Baker, a football player and member of the selection committee, said he appreciated that Karlgaard can empathize with what it is like to be a student-athlete."[Karlgaard] has ... personal experience with understanding the student-athlete perspective and the dynamics of competing at a high level athletically and in the classroom," Baker said.Baker said the committee hoped Karlgaard would be a good representative and spokesperson for Rice on the national stage."We want a strong face for the university who will show that we're not just a great academic school, but that we have athletic prowess as well," Baker said.Women's swim team member Taylor Armstrong said that when she and many other student-athletes met Karlgaard, he was charismatic and conversation flowed easily."I met [Karlgaard] once for 10 minutes, and not only did he seem extremely friendly and personable, but also approachable and relatable," Armstrong, a sophomore, said. "He urged us to come up to him whenever we saw him just to chat, and he tried to learn all of our names right off the bat. So far, I am loving what I see. I look forward to the future years for our Rice Owls."Rick Mello, who has been acting as interim director since July, will continue in the position until Karlgaard takes over in October.
The search committee for Rice University's new director of athletics released a document July 31 detailing what it is looking for in potential candidates, according to Rice Director of National Media Relations David Ruth.
