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Friday, March 28, 2025 — Houston, TX

Viola Hsia

NEWS 3/4/25 11:25pm

Rice rebrands DEI office amid federal scrutiny

By Viola Hsia

Rice has renamed its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to the Office of Access and Institutional Excellence, announced in a Feb. 28 campus-wide email from Provost Amy Dittmar. This change arrives as universities across the country adapt — often altering or erasing diversity statements entirely — to federal anti-DEI legislation.

NEWS 2/18/25 10:15pm

Virani School celebrates namesake donors

By Viola Hsia

The Jones Business School held a celebration for the donation establishing the Virani Undergraduate School of Business Feb. 13th. The celebration was held in the Jamail Plaza outside of the Jones School building and is the first official celebration of the Virani School of Business since its official naming last fall. 

NEWS 1/28/25 11:41pm

Rice Marriage Pact returns for third year

By Viola Hsia

This year’s iteration of the Rice Marriage Pact opened Wednesday, Jan. 22 via email. Matches will be released later this week, according to Allison He, Marriage Pact coordinator. The questionnaire closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday after a one-day extension due to a “lopsided” respondent pool that would leave 52 heterosexual men unmatched. According to He, 2217 students filled out the survey total.

NEWS 1/22/25 2:34am

Rice reflects on leadership at MLK vigil

By Viola Hsia

Rice held a vigil to commemorate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jan. 19. The vigil, held in Kraft Hall, included a reception, followed by a series of talks from Rice professors. The Rice Black Men’s Association and Multicultural Community Relations, within the university’s Office of Public Affairs, helped organize the event.

NEWS 1/14/25 10:56pm

Sarofim Hall on track for August 2025 opening

By Viola Hsia and Aisha Khemani

The construction of Sarofim Hall, the art department’s new building, remains on schedule for an expected opening in August 2025. The project is moving forward as planned while construction crews continue to work at the site, said John Sparagana, art department chair.

NEWS 12/3/24 10:28pm

SA approves special ballot, gender resolution

By Viola Hsia

Senate passed the special election ballot about divestment and investment transparency referenda Dec. 2., during its last meeting of the semester. Senate also passed a resolution, formally introduced on Nov. 25, recommending the inclusion of gender diversity statements in professors’ syllabi and a bill to expand student discounts around Houston.

NEWS 12/3/24 10:25pm

‘Not an easy job’: Student hosts police officer panel

By Viola Hsia

A panel discussion titled ‘Behind the Badge’ was hosted by Kelsea Whiting, a political science student, Nov. 21. The event, according to the Rice University Police Department’s Facebook post, aimed to “humanize law enforcement by providing an honest, inside look into the challenges, experiences and realities faced by officers in their daily lives.”

NEWS 11/12/24 10:30pm

SA referenda scheduled for December vote

By Viola Hsia

Campaigning for the four Student Association referenda, targeting divestment and investment transparency, will begin Nov. 20. The voting period will begin Dec. 4 and end Dec. 11 at noon, with the results published Dec. 12. 

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