Rice University’s Student Newspaper — Since 1916
Tuesday, April 01, 2025 — Houston, TX

Riya Misra

SPORTS 3/27/25 1:26pm

Out with the old, in with the new

By Kathleen Ortiz and Riya Misra

Rice Athletics fired baseball head coach José Cruz Jr. on March 13, less than a month into the season. The baseball team was 2-14 and on a 10 game losing streak at the time of his firing. Just days later, Rice welcomed baseball veteran David Pierce to fill Cruz’s seat.

OPINION 3/25/25 10:00pm

Learning how to say goodbye

By Riya Misra

For weeks, I’ve been staring at this blank document, unsure what to write. How do you say goodbye to the most formative job of your (young) life? For two years, I’ve spent my Mondays and Tuesdays — sometimes Wednesdays, often Thursdays, more Sundays than I’d like to admit — shuttered away in my obnoxiously warm, tiny newsroom. 

SPORTS 3/17/25 6:40pm

Rice baseball veteran David Pierce hired as head coach

By Riya Misra

David Pierce, assistant baseball coach at Texas State University, will take over as Rice’s new head coach this week, just days after former coach José Cruz Jr. was fired. This is a homecoming for Pierce, who worked at Rice from 2003 to 2011 under the late Wayne Graham. In 2003, Pierce helped Graham lead the team to their first and only national title.

NEWS 3/4/25 11:25pm

Current RMC to remain, second building to open in 2027

By Riya Misra

A brand-new, second student center will open by Fall 2027, president Reggie DesRoches announced in a March 3 email to campus. The current Rice Memorial Center will not be demolished, and will continue to house Rice Coffeehouse, Pub and student media during construction over the next two years. It will undergo renovations after the second building is complete. 

NEWS 10/29/24 11:39pm

Students mobilize for Harris’ reproductive rights rally

By Riya Misra

Vice President Kamala Harris hosted a rally for reproductive rights Oct. 25. Musical artist Beyoncé headlined the rally, returning to her hometown to endorse Harris in the U.S. presidential race. Over 30,000 attendees — Harris’ largest rally turnout so far, her campaign said — packed the Shell Energy Stadium, emblazoned with signs saying “Trust Women” and “Vote for Reproductive Freedom.” Ten days before the election, Harris’ stop in Houston is a rare one: It’s the first time in 30 years that a candidate has campaigned in Texas, a state that last voted Democrat in 1976. 

NEWS 9/25/24 12:25am

Lovett to permanently move into new building by fall 2026, adjacent to twelfth college

By Riya Misra

Lovett College will permanently move into one of the two new residential college buildings, President Reggie DesRoches said in a Sept. 18 email to campus. The buildings, initially intended to house new twelfth and thirteenth colleges, are projected to finish by fall 2026. Lovett will stand adjacent to the unnamed twelfth college, and there are currently no plans for the thirteenth.

NEWS 9/25/24 12:24am

Rice ranks No. 18 in U.S. News

By James Cancelarich and Riya Misra

Rice ranks No. 18 in the the U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 national university rankings tied with Vanderbilt University and the University of Notre Dame. Rice has also placed No. 8, 9 and 29 in the Niche, Forbes and Wall Street Journal rankings, respectively.

NEWS 9/10/24 11:55pm

Remembering Andrea Rodriguez Avila

By Riya Misra

On a spring night, Andrea Rodriguez Avila was wrapping up her Peer Academic Advisor training. Her close friend, Karen Martinez, wanted boba tea; it was nearing the end of the semester, and everything was "messy and unorganized," she said. The two went to The Tea Nook on campus — Andrea had never been. "We talked the whole way there," Martinez said, and all through their wait in the line.

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