The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, August 24, 2022

VOLUME 107, ISSUE NO. 1 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

Rice welcomes

1,210

new students with

8.7% acceptance rate MARIA MORKAS

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Out of 31,442 applicants, only 8.7% of students were admitted, with a yield of 44%, for a matriculating class of 1,210 students as a part of the Class of 2026 this year, according to Vice President for Enrollment Yvonne Romero da Silva. Amid plans of expanding the student body, this serves as a lower admittance rate, in comparison to 9% for the Class of 2025.

“This year 36% of the entering class are from [Texas], 50% are domestic students living outside of Texas and 14% or 167 entering students are foreign nationals,” Romero da Silva wrote in an email to the Thresher. “The international student population represents over 55 different nationalities.”

Romero da Silva said that after Texas, the three most represented states in the matriculating class are

California, Florida and New York.

“Among the domestic incoming student population, 32% represent traditionally underrepresented communities, including 12% who identify as African American, 19% who identify as Hispanic and 1% who identify as Native American or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander,” Romero da Silva said.

Ayush Suresh, a Lovett College freshman, said he noticed a common drive within the matriculating student body.

“People have things they want, and they want to go after them. I think that’s a very important thing,” Suresh said. “That can really make a good class because everyone has very different goals, and [we’re] willing to support each other for school while also creating a good, fun, safe [and] interesting environment.”

This article has been cut off for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

COURTESY IBRAHIM ELSHARKAWY

As Roe falls, Rice grapples with diminishing abortion access PRAYAG GORDY

SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR

Editor’s note: This story contains explicit descriptions of abortion.

A student interviewed was given the option of remaining anonymous in the interest of keeping their experiences private.

The anonymous student was given a false name, which has been marked with an asterix on first mention.

It had been just hours since the doctor confirmed her unwanted pregnancy.

Bethany* had taken a negative pregnancy test just the week before, but she had missed a period and was still not feeling herself. A few days into the initial remote weeks of the spring 2022 semester, Bethany, now a senior, knew she wanted an abortion.

Just seven months earlier, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had signed a bill banning abortions after the detection of an embryonic heartbeat, which the Cleveland Clinic says generally occurs six weeks after gestation and two weeks after the first missed period. Commonly referred to as the “heartbeat bill,” the law was a precursor to Texas’ now near-total ban on abortions.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision ensuring a constitutional right to abortion, states across the country have taken steps to restrict abortion access. Now, almost 60 percent of reproductive aged women live in states hostile to abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights group. “[The legalization of abortion] had a direct and signficant impacts on birth rates,” Diana Strassmann, a professor at Rice’s Center for Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, said. “It particularly impacted young women and Black women and it also had very powerful effects on women’s social and economic lives … I think that the consequences of abortion prohibitions are going to be far more devastating than would otherwise be the case.”

National education data show that college students — whose age group has

the highest rate of unintended pregnancies — are ten times less likely to complete their degree in five years if they have children.

Approximately one-quarter of the total college population had children as of 2012, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research.

Members of Rice for Life, an antiabortion club on campus, celebrated the overturning of Roe. “When we actually saw the overturning [of Roe], we were actually quite pleased with it,” Harmony Moore, the club’s incoming vice president, said. “We’re glad that this decision is being turned back to the state legislatures so that the constituents can advocate for themselves.”

Gabby Franklin, the president of the Student Association, released a statement a few days after the Court’s decision saying the SA was “deeply appalled and distressed.”

“Frankly, everything is falling apart,” Franklin, a Brown College junior, later told the Thresher. “We needed to do something, we needed to say something, we needed to make it clear that we support that anyone with a uterus has a right to choose.”

‘It happens to you’ After leaving her doctor’s office, Bethany said she sat in her car and panicked. She said she did not think she would face an unwanted pregnancy.

“I wish I would have known that this can happen to anyone,” Bethany said. “It’s not just something that happens to people, it happens to you.”

Bethany decided to reach out to a family friend who was a gynecologist.

“She’s a trusted adult who would be able to help me out here,” Bethany said. “I text her, and then she calls me and she’s like, ‘Have you told your parents yet? You’re going to have to tell them.’”

Bethany did not have a close relationship with her parents, she said. She was scared of how they may react.

“I get on my knees on the floor, right next to where she’s sitting, and I’m like, ‘Mom, I really need a hug, I really need some support,’” Bethany said. “I tell her a couple times [that] I’m pregnant, and she doesn’t hear me … Then I say it again, and she switches into disgust, disbelief, which I expected.”

The next step, Bethany’s mom decided, was to tell her dad.

“Now I have to confirm that I’ve been like sexually active, but I also have to say I’m pregnant,” Bethany said. “[But] he’s really nice about it, understanding. He’s not freaked out at all. He’s like, ‘We’re going to help you, we love you no matter what.’”

Making the decision Bethany, a Houston resident, knew her nearest option was Planned Parenthood.

But if an ultrasound revealed that her embryo had developed beyond Texas’ limit, then Bethany would have lost the money she paid for the appointment.

A second option was to leave the state.

At the time, Bethany said she considered driving to Arkansas, whose restrictions on abortion were focused later in pregnancy.

Now, Arkansas, like Texas, has a near-total ban on abortions.

SEE ABORTION PAGE 7

2 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

Rice-Baylor Program ends after 34 years Critical Thinking in Sexuality curriculum changes KEEGAN LEIBROCK

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

KATHERINE HUI / THRESHER

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER in their pursuit of medical school,” Romero da Silva said. “Currently, Rice NEWS EDITOR undergraduates have a high acceptance Rice admitted its last class of Rice- rate to medical school. Between 2019 Baylor College of Medicine Medical and 2021, an average of 18 students Scholars this year, and it has since matriculated to BCM outside of the MSP elected to terminate the program citing program.”

According to BCM’s Manager of differences in opinion on how the program should evolve, according to Communications Dipali Pathak, BCM Vice President of Enrollment Yvonne has valued its long-standing relationship Romero da Silva. In the past two years, with Rice University and is disappointed Baylor College of Medicine had also to be exiting this partnership program.

“However, Baylor College of Medicine limited the number of students admitted has had great success recruiting from six to three students.

The Baccalaureate/MD program excellent students from Rice University allowed for Medical Scholars to receive through the regular admissions portal and will redouble a guaranteed, efforts to continue non-binding to recruit the best acceptance to and brightest from Baylor College of However, Baylor College the University,” Medicine’s MD Pathak said in a school alongside of Medicine has had statement to the admission to Rice great success recruiting Thresher.

University for their excellent students from Maria Hancu, undergraduate current Ricedegree. It began Rice University through the Baylor Medical in 1988 with a regular admissions portal Scholar, said mission to support and will redouble efforts she applied for aspiring medical to continue to recruit the the program students from in high school underrepresented best and brightest from the University. because she was backgrounds. certain about Romero da wanting to attend Silva said that she Dipali Pathak medical school doesn’t anticipate BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE after coming the decision MANAGER OF COMMUNICATIONS from a family of significantly impacting Rice undergraduates or scientists and witnessing medicine at the makeup of future classes. She work.

Hancu said that the program allows expects a minimal dip in the number of applications received, specifically students the freedom to explore and try new things without the fear associated within the School of Natural Sciences.

“We also do not anticipate this having with failing. But, in some instances, it an impact on Rice undergraduates can breed complacency as the minimum

HAJERA NAVEED

GPA and MCAT requirements for Medical Scholars are significantly below Rice’s average, Hancu said.

“It’s easy … to do the absolute minimum because you know you have [a medical school acceptance] in your back pocket,” Hancu, a McMurtry College junior, said. “You have to be a person who is genuinely passionate about learning and about improving yourself to not let that be the case.”

For Shragvi Balaji, another current Rice-Baylor Medical Scholar, being part of this Baccalaureate/MD program allows her to explore different aspects of healthcare and how other disciplines relate to health, without having to worry about how it will impact her medical school application. “[Being part of this program] has definitely impacted [my undergraduate experience] a lot,” Balaji, a Martel College junior, said. “I’ve been able to get involved in a lot of different clubs and extracurricular activities that I find interesting. [In pursuing research], I’ve focused on topics I am interested in rather than what is going to look good on my resume.”

Baylor College of Medicine is continuing its participation in BS/ MD programs with other partner institutions, such as through their Joint Admission Medical Program and other programs with St. Mary’s University and Xavier University.

“We have been pleased to participate in the Rice/Baylor MSP program since its beginning in 1988,” Romero da Silva said. “Baylor College of Medicine is an important strategic partner, and we look forward to our continued collaboration on research, graduate programs and joint faculty hires.”

Changes will be made to the Rice Critical Thinking in Sexuality curriculum, a violenceprevention program with discussions on sexual consent and communications, beginning this semester, which includes an optional sixth session and several changes to the course’s original curriculum.

Cathryn Councill, the director of the Rice Sexual Assault Free Environment Office, said that the CTIS course is updated every year based on feedback from students, TAs and instructors.

“This year, we have added an optional sixth session covering information about sexual health, including STI and pregnancy prevention, STI testing and communicating with partners,” Councill said. ”This session was piloted last fall as a stand-alone workshop, and students expressed the need for this and collaborated with the SAFE office to create the proposal and slides.”

In addition to information surrounding general sexual health, the session will include information surrounding birth control and contraceptives.

“The sixth session will have information about where to access contraceptives and obtain medical resources in Texas in accordance with Texas law,” Councill said.

Kareena Patel, a Jones College sophomore, said she would have attended the sixth session if it was offered her freshman year. “[The optional sixth session gives] a lot of information that [Rice students] know and hear through other applets but gives a good way to have the information reinforced,” Patel said. “[It] also gives a way to be able to be there with your peers to hear and understand their feedback and what situations they come from.”

Vedha Penmetcha, a Sid Richardson College sophomore, said that she also would have attended the sixth session as a freshman, despite it being optional. “[The optional sixth session] is a good, solid foundation of sexual health in general and is pretty important as you are entering coming to college and becoming more independent,” Penmetcha. “So even if it were optional, I think I still would have attended.”

According to Councill, there have been changes made to the original curriculum too.

“Activities such as the gender box exercise in week one have been removed. Information and activities about intersectionality beyond gender identity have been added based on feedback from the previous years,” Councill said. “We were also asked to provide more flexibility in class times, so we have offered early evenings, daytime classes and Saturdays.”

Councill said that CTIS will be taught at the university level beginning this semester.

“Over the past two years, we have received feedback from students who wanted to see sections not taught by residential colleges but rather in open sections,” Councill said.

“There seemed to be a variety of reasons as to why students expressed this opinion, so we thought we would reorganize the classes.”

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 • 3

NEWS

DesRoches builds Rice’s senior leadership team

Paul Cherukuri was recently named Rice’s vice president for innovation, a newly created position. Prior to that role, he was the executive director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering at Rice.

Ramamoorthy Ramesh is Rice’s new vice president for research. He previously taught at the University of California, Berkley, and worked at the Department of Energy during the Obama administration.

Kelly Fox is Rice’s new vice president of finance and administration, a newly created position. She previously served in a similar role at Georgia Institute of Technology.

Omar Syed is Rice’s new vice president and general counsel. Syed is an attorney who previously served the University of Texas system as associate vice chancellor and deputy general counsel.

Paul Padley was recently named Rice’s vice president of information technology and chief information officer. He has been conducting research on experimental particle physics at Rice since 1994.

ALL COURTESY RICE UNIVERSITY

VIOLA HSIA

SENIOR WRITER The 2022-2023 school year brings with it not only a new president for Rice University, but also new leadership in other administrative positions. So far this year, the university has introduced five new members of administration: Omar Syed as vice president and general counsel, Paul Cherukuri as vice president of innovation, Ramamoorthy Ramesh as vice president of research, Kelly Fox as vice president of finance and administration and Paul Padley as vice president of information technology and chief information officer.

Rice also named Amy Dittmar as the new provost.

According to President Reginald DesRoches, Fox’s and Cherukuri’s positions were newly created before the start of this semester, while Ramesh’s, Syed’s and Padley’s positions were pre-existing.

Ramesh and Syed succeed former Vice President of Research Yousif Shamoo and former Vice President and General Counsel Richard Zansitis, respectively.

“What impresses me about all of these new leaders of our university is that they’re not only extremely accomplished in their fields, they also share the values of Rice,” DesRoches said, “They all are about commitment to excellence in their respective areas as well as to the Rice community as a whole.”

DesRoches said that while the university consulted professional executive firms and committees made up of Rice faculty during the hiring processes, he made the final decisions.

“We will really put a lot of emphasis “We looked for the best people for the job and for people who are collaborative on research, scholarly work, solving big and can embrace the Rice culture,” problems, doing great science, all of those.

DesRoches said. “Rice has such an That was the main reason I signed on to outstanding reputation. There’s never a this,” Ramesh said, “I think there’s this shortage of stellar talent eager to join us.” amazing opportunity to build something on Padley has been doing research on the research side, so [the students] can do something great.” experimental Syed, an attorney particle physics at who previously Rice since 1994 and served the University continues to do of Texas system work on the CERN What impresses me about as associate vice Large Hadron all of these new leaders chancellor and Collider to this day. of our university is that deputy general “We know they’re not only extremely counsel, further that there is a expressed the point strong desire accomplished in their on research, as to expand the fields, they also share the well as building research enterprise values of Rice. They all programs at both on campus, so the graduate and we will need to are about commitment undergraduate level. make sure we to excellence in their “I am very have the research respective areas as well as excited about c o m p u t i n g to the Rice community as a the unparalleled infrastructure in opportunity to help place to support whole.

President DesRoches that,” Padley Reginald DesRoches advance this firstsaid.

“Beyond class institution that, we want to RICE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT to a new level of provide the best possible service to advance learning and distinction through impactful research, award-winning scholarship and insightful scholarship on the campus.”

Ramesh, who currently has a joint creative work, all while building Rice’s appointment at the University of graduate programs and maintaining its California, Berkeley, in physics and excellent undergraduate programs,” Syed material science and who worked in the said.

Syed said that while he is uncertain Obama administration as the director of an initiative to reduce solar energy costs, about changes he would make to an already also put an emphasis on research at Rice successful university, he has plans outside when talking about his goals for his term. of his official duties.

“I plan to be a daily fixture on the jogging trail around campus,” Syed said.

For the positions that were created this year, several of the vice presidents expressed their excitement at contributing something new to the university. Fox, who had previously served as vice president of finance and administration at Georgia Institute of Technology, talked about how her position will benefit Rice. “[We are] bringing together the infrastructure side of the institution with the financial side,” Fox said. “You don’t do anything in [human resources] without thinking about finances, you don’t do things around facilities or capital without thinking about finances. Thinking of those things as an integrated support entity for the rest of the institution is really beneficial.”

Cherukuri, who previously was the executive director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering at Rice, as well as a former Rice graduate student, said that his goal as vice president of innovation is to give students the support to make their research a reality.

“It’s not about the paper. It’s about the actual technology that can actually go into somebody’s pocket or somebody’s lives to make it better,” Cherukuri said.

DesRoches said he feels confident about the positive changes the new additions to the Rice administration will bring to the university.

“I’m thrilled with the talent we have been able to recruit to Rice and the collaborative spirit and energy they all bring to their roles,” DesRoches said. “I’m looking forward to working with them.”

4 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

NEWS

Rice introduces Analyzing Diversity requirement INFOGRAPHIC BY ANNA CHUNG

MARIA MORKAS

ASST NEWS EDITOR Starting this fall, all matriculating students must take a class of at least three credit hours that meets the new Analyzing Diversity requirement.

According to the General Announcements, these courses will primarily consist of three areas: social and cultural analysis, system inequities and their redress, and equity, knowledge and the university. These courses are meant to focus on how difference is understood across societies, how understandings have changed through time and their specific consequences on human development.

AD courses can concurrently satisfy a distribution or FWIS requirement. For Fall 2022, there are AD classes available within all three distribution groups.

Shivam Dalmia, an international student from Kolkata, India, said that he sees this requirement as a way to help students be more aware of their surroundings, not only during university years but also later in life as workplaces become more diverse “Even though you may not mean to offend someone, sometimes certain comments tend to have an impact on other people [in a way] you might not have expected,” Dalmia, a Duncan College

“As a Rice student, I personally find sophomore, said. “Just taking this class is going to help you be more conscious myself educated about [these topics], but about it and make sure that you don’t I feel like taking this class and learning more about these topics is going to help unknowingly offend someone.”

Hai-Van Hoang, a Baker College me understand, gain knowledge about and hopefully spread freshman, said awareness about the she likes the idea importance of talking of having an about diversity, analyzing diversity which unfortunately r e q u i r e m e n t , I believe having a proper is a taboo in [Indian] especially since Rice class throughout an entire society,” Dalmia students come from semester is going to make said. all over the world. people understand the Hoang said she “Even though associated with the I feel like a lot of importance of the subject, Houston Vietnamese students are quite and it’s going to ensure community before aware [of these that they’re learning the coming to Rice but topics], there’s has been introduced always more things material properly. to even more that they can learn Shivam Dalmia diversity now that about, and it’s DUNCAN COLLLEGE SOPHOMORE she’s on campus. widening their “Although I perspective on things, which I really like about the whole was born in Houston, my parents are from curriculum of Rice — not only just focusing Vietnam, and they immigrated here to Texas on people who are like your ethnic, racial like 30-40 years ago. By meeting the people within my community through different or academic group.” Hoang said.

Dalmia said that addressing diversity, events, I think I was able to gain a pretty good whether that be gender norms or race, view of how diverse the city of Houston can through academic discussion isn’t common be,” Hoang said. “But just coming into Rice, I realized just how little that slice is because I in his own country.

was able to meet people from literally all over the world.”

Dalmia said since this class is a threecredit class, more people are going to be serious about it and invest more time and energy into it.

“Even though [Critical Thinking in Sexuality and Critical Dialogues on Diversity] are truly amazing classes and try to achieve something similar, those classes usually don’t have a grade or are just a five-week program where only attendance is mandatory. A lot of people don’t give them as much importance as they should be given,” Dalmia said. “I believe having a proper class throughout an entire semester is going to make people understand the importance of the subject, and it’s going to ensure that they’re learning the material properly.”

Hoang said she appreciates the direction Rice is taking to address diversity in the academic discussions.

“When researching potential universities to apply and attend, I’ve never really seen a college that’s just so focused on building community and a culture of care; they just really want to make sure that all the students have a safe space and that they’re constantly being represented,” Hoang said.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion could not be reached for comment.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 • 5

THE RICE THRESHER

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK

Let’s progress together This is my first column for the Thresher as Rice’s new president, and the opportunity fills me with a sense of awe and gratitude.

Rice is a remarkable institution of higher education, and I am honored to lead and serve our community.

To begin, my wife Paula and I want to welcome our new and transfer students to Rice. We are so glad that you chose Rice for your education and enjoyed meeting many of you during the move-in and welcome dinners last week. I also want to welcome back our returning Owls. It’s been great to see you again around campus!

If Orientation Week is any indication, the fall and spring semesters are going to be filled with renewed energy and hope for a bright future. The students I met while moving into their residential colleges are full of excitement, ideas, hopes and dreams.

They also are dedicated to investing in their futures and in Rice.

This fall’s entering class is one of the largest ever — thanks to a growing student population and a more normal university environment as we continue to monitor and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virus poses a different challenge today than it did more than two years ago.

We now have vaccines and treatments to combat the effects of COVID-19, and we have a better understanding of how we can protect ourselves with simple precautions like wearing masks in certain public settings when needed. Being responsible for your own health and respectful of other people’s health is especially important with the emergence of other viruses, such as Monkeypox.

As I mentioned, the Class of 2026 is 1,210 new Owls strong. The class has no single ethnic or racial majority — 32% are from underrepresented minority groups and another 14% are international students who hail from 55 countries around the world.

Our faculty, which is also growing, is becoming more reflective of our diverse community as well. The last two classes of new faculty members were among the most diverse ever at Rice. We continue to work hard in this area.

I have only been in my role as president for about a month and a half. Much of my time thus far has been focused on assembling the university’s leadership team. I have announced several new members of the administration and am thrilled with the talent we have been able

Read more at

ricethresher.org

Let’s show our gratitude for campus staff

to recruit to Rice and the collaborative spirit and energy they all bring to their roles.

The new members of the leadership team include: Provost Amy Dittmar, Vice President for Innovation Paul Cherukuri, Vice President for Finance and Administration Kelly Fox, Vice President for Research Ramamoorthy Ramesh and General Counsel Omar Syed. This group of new leaders — working closely with the vice provosts, other vice presidents, deans, chairs and institute directors — will work with me and others across campus to define and carry out some of my top goals, which include improving the student experience, and enabling Rice to reach a new level of distinction nationally and internationally for impactful scholarship, research and innovation.

I also want to grow and elevate Rice’s graduate programs to the same distinction as our undergraduate programs, enhance our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and expand our general education curriculum and study abroad program. We have made great strides in many of these areas in recent years, and I know this great community will keep up the momentum and take us further.

I will continue the listening tour I started shortly after my announcement as president, with the goal of meeting as many staff, faculty and students as possible to hear about their hopes, concerns and aspirations for Rice. I look forward to visiting with you and wish everyone a fulfilling semester.

Reginald DesRoches

RICE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT COURTESY RICE UNIVERSITY

The majority of complaints I hear seem to come from students who expect luxury but overlook the employees who work so hard to provide for our every need.

Alexa Thomases

LOVETT COLLEGE SENIOR

EDITORIAL

New semester offers new beginnings for students, admin Every August, as Orientation Week wraps up and the fall semester begins, it feels as if the campus is rejuvenated with new life. That feeling is especially prevalent for students this time around, as this is the first semester to start with fully in-person classes since January of 2020. But what many students might not realize is that this year is also a fresh start administratively.

In addition to welcoming a new president, Rice announced the hiring of five new vice presidents and a new provost.

In many ways, this year is the closest thing to a clean slate this university has seen in many years. Both students and the new administration should take advantage of this clean slate to work together to build the campus community we want in this “post-COVID” era.

Students, be cognizant of the fact that there is a new administration that can and will operate differently than the previous one. Rather than lump them together with

the previous administration, take the time to understand their roles and set out to communicate your wants. Take advantage of this transition by reaching out to specific members of the administration to discuss your concerns rather than just stating complaints to your peers; it is through maintaining a direct line of communication that we can have an effective administration.

Likewise, it is important for this new administration to make the effort to get to know the student body and all of their concerns and needs. Many hires came from large public state schools like the University of Michigan and Georgia Institute of Technology, with very different environments and cultures than Rice. It is critical that you connect with the campus in order to understand its community.

As we navigate through a year of changes, students and administrators alike should make efforts to connect with, share concerns with and learn from each other.

LETTER FROM THE EDITORS’ DESK

We love Rice. We hope our work this year reflects that.

Each year, past editors in chiefs have penned welcome letters to the Rice community about their goals for the upcoming year. Many of them have urged the community to trust the Thresher in our pursuit of accurate, thorough reporting and storytelling. We enter this year with a similar goal, but we don’t have an ask of our community or our readers. Instead, we are calling on ourselves to reach out to the Rice community as a whole and meet the standards of journalistic integrity that our community deserves and that we expect of ourselves.

As we begin our tenure as editors in chief, we are acutely aware of instances when Thresher coverage attracted the ire of readers and social media commenters. We welcome this criticism; it is both a reminder of how we can improve and a sign of when we’re doing our job right. As the only student-run news publication at Rice, we see ourselves as playing a vital role in facilitating campus discourse. But we understand that trust is earned, not given. So, we are taking steps that we believe will help us earn that trust.

Moving into this semester, we’re investing more time and resources in longer form stories in an effort to more holistically and responsibly report on complex issues that are relevant to our community. Additionally, we are expanding our online coverage to incorporate data journalism and multimedia storytelling to tell more compelling stories.

We are attempting to strengthen our relationship with the Rice community itself.

In that spirit, we will be hosting office hours Thursday, Aug. 25 from 4 to 6 p.m. in the

Rice Memorial Center’s Ley Conference Room. This is a chance for all members of the Rice community including students, staff and faculty to ask any questions they have about the Thresher as a publication or about our processes and goals. Beyond that, we are hosting monthly “Lunch and Learns” with journalism professionals, to which all graduate and undergraduate students on campus are invited to sign up.

For years, as a part of our staff training, we have asked everyone on the masthead to collectively choose one value that embodies the Thresher’s mission. Without fail, we have selected “trustworthy” each time. We rely on the campus community to trust our integrity even when they don’t agree with the content that we’re publishing. As editors of the Thresher, we love Rice and the values we believe it embodies. Our work in student media is an extension of that love. We wouldn’t do it otherwise.

Morgan Gage & Ben Baker-Katz EDITORS IN CHIEF

EDITORIAL STAFF * Indicates Editorial Board member Ben Baker-Katz* Editor-in-Chief Morgan Gage* Editor-in-Chief Bonnie Zhao* Managing Editor NEWS Hajera Naveed* Editor Maria Morkas Asst. Editor Keegan Leibrock Asst. Editor OPINION Nayeli Shad* Editor FEATURES Nicole Lhuillier Editor Riya Misra* Editor Nithya Shenoy Asst. Editor

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Michelle Gachelin* Editor SPORTS Daniel Schrager* Editor Pavithr Goli Asst. Editor SPECIAL PROJECTS Prayag Gordy* Special Projects Editor BACKPAGE Timmy Mansfield Editor Ndidi Nwosu Editor Andrew Kim Editor COPY Bhavya Gopinath Editor Annika Bhananker Editor

PHOTO, VIDEO, & WEB Katherine Hui Photo Editor Cali Liu Asst. Photo Editor Jasmine Liou Video Editor Brandon Chen* Web Editor DESIGN Robert Heeter Art & Design Director Anna Chung News Siddhi Narayan Opinion Katherine Chui Features Ivana Hsyung Arts & Entertainment Lauren Yu Backpage BUSINESS MANAGEMENT Edelawit Negash Business Manager Ariana Moshiri Social Media Jazmine Castillo Distribution

The Rice Thresher, the official student newspaper of Rice University since 1916, is published each Wednesday during the school year, except during examination periods and holidays, by the students of Rice University.

Letters to the Editor must be received by 5 p.m. on the Friday prior to publication and must be signed, including college and year if the writer is a Rice student. The Thresher reserves the right to edit letters for content and length and to place letters on its website.

Editorial and business offices are located on the second floor of the Ley Student Center: 6100 Main St., MS-524 Houston, TX 77005-1892 Phone: (713) 348 - 4801 Email: thresher@rice.edu Website: www.ricethresher.org The Thresher is a member of the ACP, TIPA, CMA, and CMBAM. © Copyright 2022

6 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

International Owls: Summer study abroad returns in full force NITHYA SHENOY

ASST. FEATURES EDITOR The beginning of another academic year at Rice has seen the return of study abroad programs that were inactive the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rice offers students the opportunity to study abroad in multiple countries, from Costa Rica to Germany.

These students not only take classes outside the United States, but also immerse themselves in new cultures and perhaps even improve their language skills.

Chloe Corbitt, a McMurtry College senior, participated in Rice in Madrid, a Spanish and Portuguese Studies program this summer. It was led by Luis Duno-Gottberg and Esther Fernández and based around the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

“I heard about the program from Esther and Luis when [they] hosted an information session at Baker and was immediately interested in the study topics and itinerary,” Corbitt said. “It was the perfect study abroad option for me.”

Sid Richardson College senior Trisha Gupta wanted to find the right study abroad program for her. According to Gupta, she always wanted to study abroad in college because she had never lived outside of Houston. However, she also didn’t want to miss more semesters of on-campus experiences at Rice, which were affected by the pandemic. Gupta said she spent part of the summer in Copenhagen, Denmark through the Danish Institute for Study Abroad.

“When I found out that there were a lot of study abroad summer programs, I decided to try to find one that would fit with my summer internship’s schedule using the Rice Study Abroad search tool, and DIS ended up being the only one that offered a short enough program,” Gupta said.

William Tsai, a Will Rice College junior, participated in the Leipzig Summer Fellowship, which is offered by Rice’s German Studies program. Tsai said the program did not have strict COVID-19 rules.

“Thankfully, there were close to no restrictions in the program itself,” Tsai said. “Unfortunately, the German

government mandates masks in all public transportation such as trains, buses and streetcars.”

Corbitt said that the experience in Madrid was mostly normal. The mask requirement for public transportation was one of the few health-related policies.

“For the most part, the experience was pretty normal. There was a COVID outbreak towards the beginning, but they were efficient with protocols and students had access to testing and were able to leave quarantine pretty quickly,” Corbitt said.

According to Corbitt, the COVID outbreak had an impact on classes, but Duno-Gottberg and Fernández did a great job handling the situation.

“When the COVID outbreak happened, we did switch to asynchronous [learning], but then afterwards we went back to in-person lectures,” Corbitt said. “[Duno-Gottberg and Fernández] handled everything very well while still emphasizing that the students were there to share their opinion and participate.”

Gupta said her experience in Denmark was also mostly normal.

“The only COVID-related restrictions were needing to rest upon arrival and before departure, as well as being vaccinated in order to attend the program,” Gupta said. “All students were required to be in-person. Denmark has achieved a pretty high vaccination rate and low infection rate, so there was no significant need for COVID measures from the program’s perspective.”

Gupta and Corbitt both said that their academic experiences were interesting and enriching.

“We had one class in lecture style … and then had internships for class credit,” Corbitt said. “I got lucky and got a great internship with a fashion designer in Madrid, Inma Camacho, where I gained a lot of experience in business and entrepreneurship and customer interaction in Spanish.”

Gupta said that the DIS program’s academics were easier than Rice classes but still interesting since it centered on Danish concepts.

“I took a class on economy and social change, and it was very interesting to dive into the nuances of the Danish socialist economy and the specific struggles that

people still experience under the Danish political system,” Gupta said. “Socially, it was also an amazing experience to meet people from different universities.”

Tsai said he greatly enjoyed the experience his summer program offered him.

“The academic experience was absolutely wonderful. I can honestly say that my German has improved immensely during the months,” Tsai said. “While we had school during the weekdays, weekends were left free with little to no homework, allowing us to explore Germany and Europe.”

Tsai said that his fall study abroad program at Sciences Po will be significantly different from his summer experience. Sciences Po is globally ranked as the second-best school for political science, right in between Oxford and Harvard.

“First of all, I will be taking six courses — the maximum allowed amount,” Tsai said. “The students [at Sciences Po] are extremely intelligent. I fully expect the

workload to be as much as a normal Rice semester if not more.”

Corbitt said that the overall experience of Rice in Madrid was valuable and meaningful for her future as well.

“I broadened my horizons when considering career paths for after graduation since I got to spend time in a new country and experience a different way of life,” Corbitt said. “Overall, the experience was wonderful and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to go with the Rice in Madrid Program.”

Tsai said that his social experience was even better than his academic one and that he made many unforgettable memories. Like Corbitt, Tsai said that the experience was eye-opening.

“I visited student bars across the city, tried delicious German beer with my classmates and made unforgettable memories,” Tsai said. “Although study abroad has been an eye-opening experience, I dearly miss Rice and am looking forward to getting back in the spring.”

COURTESY LUIS DUNO-GOTTBERG A group of Rice students walk together through Granada, Spain. This photo is one of many that Duno-Gottberg and people on the trip posted to the Rice in Madrid Instagram.

Cycle through these spots off-campus DISHA BALDAWA

THRESHER STAFF

With the beginning of a new academic year comes a surge of new students who are looking to explore their surroundings.

But it also comes with Houston’s humid, musty weather. This fall semester, escape the Houston heat by commuting to these places using your beloved bike or e-scooter.

Purple Glaze Express your artistic side and get the real ceramic experience at Purple Glaze in Rice Village, a quick six-minute bike ride from campus. Pick up any ceramic item of your choice and create your masterpiece using the dozens of brushes and paints that Purple Glaze provides. They fire and glaze your final product for you to use or display your creation.

Munchies in the Med Center Thinking of skipping the servery food

today? On Fannin Street, a short nineminute bike ride away, you will find plenty of dining options. Craving boba? Make Möge Tee your best friend. Need some coffee to finish up your work? Starbucks is right there. Use your student status to your advantage and get pasta and a drink from Piada for $8. Eat some chips and guac from Chipotle. Try out non-servery pizza from MOD and find halal chicken at The Halal Guys.

Cockrell Butterfly Center Submerge yourself in the natural beauty that Cockrell Butterfly Center offers, a quick seven-minute bike ride away from the academic quad. Observe hundreds of butterflies in a walk-through rainforest habitat, an exotic 50 feet waterfall and the insect displays in Brown Hall. Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Cockrell is the perfect off-campus spot to spend time with your friends.

Waterwall Drive Spend time outside at Waterwall Park, featuring a 64-foot human-made waterfall. Bike to Main St @ Sunset Blvd bus stop, ride bus 292 to Westpark/ Lower Uptown Transit followed by bus 20 to Sage Rd @ Hidalgo St. From there, it’s a smooth four-minute bike ride to the waterfall. You can chill in the park and get some work done while overlooking the Williams Tower, the fourth tallest skyscraper in Texas.

Menil Collection Enjoy the picturesque grounds of the Menil campus. Perfect for reading in the Houston sun if you can stand the heat, people in the area flock here for picnics and leisurely walks. Not to mention, it’s only a 10-minute bike ride from campus with a convenient route. For art aficionados, the Menil Collection boasts an array of contemporary art that is free and open to the public.

COURTESY MICHELLE GACHELIN

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 • 7

FEATURES FROM FRONT PAGE

ABORTION

Medical abortion, which the Mayo Clinic defines as “a procedure that uses medicine to end a pregnancy,” was another possibility.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized a cocktail of the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, and experts say their usage may increase in states with post-Roe abortion bans.

Elise Johnson, a clinical counselor at the Rice Counseling Center, said that unwanted pregnancies are emotionally distressing.

“Generally speaking, I think that there can be a lot of panic, a lot of ‘What do I do now?’” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of, ‘What does this mean for my future?’ I think there’s an isolating, alone feeling in this. In those kinds of moments, it can drop you into a place where there’s a lot of fear.”

After deliberating with her parents, Bethany decided to fly to another state where she could legally undergo a surgical abortion.

She declined to specify the state.

“The worst part was waiting for something to do, because with something like this, you just want to take care of it right away and you just want to get rid of it and get it over with and you can’t,” Bethany said. “You’re just thinking about it all of the time, there’s nothing else to think about. You’ve got this thing inside of you and there’s nothing you can do to get it out and you just have to wait and you just have to hope and you have to just know everything’s going to be okay, but you don’t really know because there’s no resolution yet.”

The ‘procedure’ Bethany landed the night before her surgery and went to a hotel. Classes were remote for a few weeks due to a COVID-19 surge, so Bethany could join from anywhere.

“My original idea was to have [the abortion] before my classes, but then my mom was like, ‘No, you will just have had an abortion, you’ll want to hang out for the rest of the day, not class,’” Bethany said. “So I went to my two classes that morning, and then I went to the clinic to get my abortion.”

Since she was still early in the first trimester, Bethany had a manual vacuum aspiration instead of the more conventional dilation and sharp curettage, she said. In a manual vacuum aspiration, a doctor inserts a syringe into the uterus to remove the pregnancy tissue with suction.

Many patients receive a local anesthetic, but the short procedure may still hurt.

“I wish people knew how painful it was,” Bethany said.

“I didn’t want to scare anybody by saying that … obviously pain isn’t going to be the one thing

continue referring students to abortion services and is awaiting guidance from the Office of the General Counsel.

Cathryn Councill, the director of the Sexual Assault Free Environment Office, said they will continue to support survivors of violence.

A representative from the Houston Area Women’s Center, a local clinic focused on victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or sex trafficking, said removing access to abortion will damage victim services.

“As advocates, we are concerned about the elimination of abortion care, which is a health care option for all survivors of domestic and Rice’s ‘placeholder’ response Four days after the Supreme Court sexual violence,” Chau Nguyen, HAWC’s overturned Roe, outgoing President David chief public strategies officer, said. “This will Leebron and incoming President Reginald greatly diminish safety and exacerbate risk DesRoches released a two-paragraph for any survivor.”

Rice can continue to make statement reiterating their commitment to accommodations under Title IX for students gender equality.

“We remain committed to supporting seeking abortions, according to deputy Title the health needs of women at Rice, and we IX coordinator Allison Vogt.

“Title IX requires that universities which are working to determine the ways in which receive federal the university monies allow can appropriately students to take a provide support leave of absence for in this changed [Initially], I couldn’t say [medical abortions e n v i r o n m e n t , ” the word [‘abortion’] or out-of-state Leebron and so I just called it the surgical abortions] DesRoches wrote. and without Lora Wildenthal, ‘procedure’ for the longest consequence,” Vogt, affiliated faculty time. I think it was the associate dean of for SWGS, said overturning of Roe v Wade an students, said. she considered Undergraduate Rice’s statement to where I actually started students would be a placeholder calling it [an abortion]. request a leave of for future Bethany absence, for physical communications. medical reasons, and “I don’t expect RICE SENIOR graduate students Rice to take a strong abortion rights position, nor is it would also consult with their department and precisely the mission of a university to advisors, Vogt added.

Doug Miller, Rice’s director of news and do so,” Wildenthal said. “But I think it is important in a non-profit organization, media relations, said Rice does not maintain that is also a community … to acknowledge data on the number of students requesting what is happening and acknowledge how accomodations due to an abortion.

Dean of Undergraduates Bridget Gorman profoundly upsetting it is.”

Moving forward, Abigail Robert, the declined to comment on Rice’s plans events coordinator for Rice for Life, called regarding abortion rights.

“We are still working through what this for Critical Thinking in Sexuality — a course required for all first-year students — to decision will mean for members of our include more information about abstinence, community, including students,” Gorman the potential for pregnancy and options said. “Do know that we care deeply about the reproductive health and wellbeing of all besides abortion.

“I think that CTIS needs to stress persons at Rice, and will work to continue to the implications of intimacy, and being support that in the time ahead.”

Robert said that Rice should focus on transparent about risks, such as pregnancy being a real and possible outcome,” Robert, fostering an inclusive environment by a Jones College sophomore, said. “I think providing resources and accommodations for that CTIS can encourage students to consider pregnant and parenting students.

“Attention must be given to both all their options … such as abstinence, nonabortifacient contraceptives, [adoption], and preventing unwanted pregnancies by other means than abortion and also towards pregnancy health care centers.”

In a statement to the Thresher, Jessica women who are pregnant and desire to McKelvey, the director of Student Health continue their education,” Robert wrote in an Services, said that her office has rarely email to the Thresher. “We need to normalize true diversity — that includes pregnant handled abortion-related requests.

“If a student asked SHS for assistance women going to school … Rice should provide after a positive pregnancy test, SHS provided financial resources, well-being resources, and counseling on all available options,” accommodations. She should not feel the McKelvey wrote. “Only in extremely rare need to support her child alone, especially instances have students come to SHS seeking given how hard it is to be a student at Rice. support in obtaining abortions. When SHS Rice as a culture needs to embrace pregnant has been consulted in such a case, students women and help them in their journey by walking alongside them.” have been referred to Planned Parenthood.”

McKelvey said SHS is unsure if they can that dissuades you from getting an abortion, but it wasn’t comfortable at all. It was bloody and painful and I was screaming.” Her mother, who waited outside the room, could hear Bethany’s screams, she added.

A few months later, Bethany tried to get an intrauterine device that her body ultimately rejected after more than two hours of pain.

“I would definitely call the IUD more painful, like a 10 out of 10, while the abortion was an eight out of 10 because the abortion ended, whereas the other one did not,” Bethany said.

KATHERINE CHUI / THRESHER

Stigma Bethany has not yet told her younger sister about her abortion, she said. She said she was too “embarrassed,” which she attributed to societal stigma.

“We are really close, I think she’d consider me her best friend … and basically, I had to lie to her,” Bethany said. “I plan on talking to her one day, but I don’t want her to look at me different. She won’t, I know she won’t. We have similar beliefs, but I don’t want her to look at me different, that’s the fear … ‘Had an abortion,’ that label attached to me in her eyes forever, I think is what I was trying to avoid.”

As her younger sister graduates high school and goes to college, Bethany said she is worried about her reproductive options.

“I’m scared for her too, I mean, she’s going to go to [a different] college … and we may not have the money to send her out of state,” Bethany said. “I’m really scared for her because what if the same thing happens to her and she has to travel really far and doesn’t have the resources?”

‘1,000 times more afraid’ When Bethany first heard that the Supreme Court overturned Roe, she said she feared for herself, but later turned her attention to other people.

“I’m scared not for me so much anymore, because I know that I can obtain pills, that I can fly out of state at literally a moment’s notice,” she said. “[Today] it’s more fear for other women than it was back when it was [initially] overturned, [when] it was just fear for me.”

As the dust settled, Bethany said she realized her perspective on her own abortion had changed. “[Initially], I couldn’t say the word [‘abortion’] so I just called it the ‘procedure’ for the longest time,” Bethany said. “I think it was the overturning of Roe v Wade where I actually started calling it [an abortion].”

Her relationship with her parents has not changed. Bethany said that her family accepted and then quickly moved on from her abortion. Bethany’s mother was with her the day Roe was overturned and said nothing.

“My mom came to visit me the day that Roe v. Wade got overturned, and she didn’t say a word about it, even fully knowing that I’ve had one and would be affected by this,” Bethany said. “I wish she had taken me aside and said something and made sure I was okay, kind of reaffirm that I would be okay, that she would still love me no matter what, but that’s not so much what happened.”

Her relationship with sex has changed, though, regardless of contraceptive methods, Bethany said. “[My abortion] has made me 1,000 times more afraid of having sex than I was before,” she said. “Now it’s always a worry, it’s always a what if, what if, what if. Birth control fails, and it has before and it will again.”

It has now been more than seven months since Bethany’s abortion, since she learned she was pregnant, flew to another state, attended her classes and got her abortion, all in just a few days. In those seven months, discussions of abortion made her tense, Bethany said, while the world debated the initial leaked draft opinion overturning Roe and the later official opinion.

As organizations fundraised, voter drives launched and political fights heated up, to Bethany, it remained personal.

“At the end of the day, I am going to be the person who carries the pregnancy, that is going to be responsible for it,” she said. “[He] could have dipped at any time … he had no repercussions from this the same way that I did. I had to open my legs and have this thing inside of me, and a vacuum or whatever it was and needles and I had to go through the entire thing on my own. I had the tax on my body, not him at all. That was hard. It was just because I was mad at him, it was unfair. I was like, ‘I can’t believe we did this together and now I have to deal with it for the rest of my life.’ It’s something that I always have to carry.”

Hajeera Naveed and Murtaza Kazmi contributed addtional reporting for this story.

This story has been condensed for print.

Read more at ricethresher.org.

8 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

Meals & deals: Enjoy Houston Restaurant Weeks

COURTESY CARRABA’S ORIGINAL

SARA DAVIDSON

THRESHER STAFF

Every year from Aug. 1 to Sept. 5., the end of Labor Day weekend, Houston restaurants offer up some of the best deals of the year in the name of charity. Houston Restaurant Weeks — in reality a whole month — is the largest annual fundraiser for the Houston Food Bank, which according to the Restaurant Week website is America’s largest. It includes restaurants from The Woodlands down to the beach in Galveston. Many venues are a short walk or drive from campus, and this fundraiser can be a great way to try out new restaurants at slightly reduced cost. Here are some of the best restaurants participating right outside the hedges.

Carrabba’s - The Original on Kirby When the Carrabba family sold their restaurant chain, they kept both of the

original restaurants that they still own and run to this day. The very first Carrabba’s, dubbed “The Original,” is a bit more upscale than the chain restaurants and offers a variety of good Italian food. For Houston Restaurant Weeks, they are offering a three-course lunch menu for $25 and three-course dinner menu for $39 with pastas, soups, pizzas and more. Highlights include the “Shrimp Osiel,” which is fried shrimp and crabmeat in a garlic herb butter sauce served with garlic toast and their “Baked Rigatoni.” For anyone wanting to try the elevated original of this beloved chain, this month offers the perfect chance to do so.

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ This Japanese BBQ restaurant is a short METRO ride from Rice on the Red Line and offers a four-course lunch menu for $25 and a five-course dinner menu for $39 for restaurant week. Steak, ribs and pork

belly are highlights from the menu, which even includes s’mores and green tea ice cream as dessert options. Even better is the restaurant’s concept of “shared plates” and the open grills at every table, meaning you can go with friends and get tons of amazing food to share and cook together. There are several other locations in Houston that are also participating in the event, but this one is the closest to campus.

Black Walnut Cafe Located directly behind Rice campus in Rice Village, Black Walnut Cafe is offering a two-course lunch menu for $25. Notable items include “Vindaloo Wings,” “Bacon Jam Deviled Eggs” and the “Ultimate Bacon Burger.” This restaurant is a part of a chain with locations all through Houston and Dallas, and a majority of the Houston locations are participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks.

Traveler’s Table This continental restaurant in Montrose has a three-course dinner and to-go option both for $55 for Houston Restaurant Weeks.

It specializes in “curated global cuisine,” with chefs of many backgrounds and specialities coming together to serve food from all over the world. Highlights from their Restaurant Weeks menu include “Hummus with Lamb Ragu,” “Jungle Curry” and “Banana Leaf Snapper.” The venue itself is worth seeing, and was even featured in “Architectural Digest” for its thoughtful layout and travel-themed decor.

This story has been cut off for print. Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

Looking back at summer music releases

COURTESY GOOD MUSIC

“It’s Almost Dry”

Pusha T “It’s Almost Dry” is a diptych showing both sides of Pusha T’s art, juxtaposing two unique pockets of ability throughout.

In both his solo career and in his hiphop duo Clipse, Pusha has worked with two producers who rise above the rest at crafting beats that highlight his abilities: Pharrell Williams and Kanye West. In “It’s Almost Dry,” both producers have very different goals that elevate the album and make it a worthy successor to “Daytona.”

Throughout the album, Pusha T never sacrifices his ability to write clever bars that stick with the listener, such as “I been gettin’ at these coins as I’m breakin’ down a brick / Made the jump to each level, Super Mario exists.” In that line, Pusha cleverly overlays his drug dealing past with a classic video game.

One of the classic critiques of Pusha T and similar artists is that they primarily rap about drug dealing. On “It’s Almost Dry,” Pusha again proves how unfounded this critique is. Throughout the album, Pusha T uses drug dealing to convey profound elements of the human condition. As Pusha T has himself noted, his music continues to have power over listeners for the same reason as director Martin Scorcese’s classic gangster movies: they share a similar commitment to quality and innovate with unique stories through the archetype.

This story has been condensed for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

COURTESY COLUMBIA RECORDS

“Harry’s House”

Harry Styles During his break from touring during the pandemic, Harry Styles “realized that that home feeling isn’t something that you get from a house; it’s more of an internal thing. You realize that when you stop for a minute.” This reflection is an essential part of “Harry’s House,” an album that refers not to a physical house, but to “a day in [Styles’] mind,” the introspection that happens in his daily life.

On “Cinema,” Styles creates a fun, house-influenced feeling while talking about someone he has feelings for. The chorus emphasizes “I think you’re cool,” but follows it up with the ask, “am I too into you?” While the song sounds confident musically, there is a hesitance to fully commit to the relationship due to personal insecurity rather than the typical superstar fear of being tied down.

The album closes with “Love Of My Life,” a sparsely arranged metaphorical track that seems at first glance to be about someone. However, it is really a tribute to Harry’s home country of England. It’s a fitting end to an album about belonging and the parts of home beyond the physical location, as it emphasizes the feelings and memories associated with the country rather than simply landmarks.

This story has been condensed for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

COURTESY L-M RECORDS/RCA RECORDS

“Gemini RIghts”

Steve Lacy Grammy nominated for his production work with The Internet while still a teenager, Steve Lacy has always been an artist to watch. While his previous solo work has always been well made and enjoyable, “Gemini Rights” is a revelation in his artistry. It’s an immensely interesting album, layering a range of styles, instrumentation and vocals to create a deeply rewarding listen.

The first single from the album, “Mercury” is a great introduction to this new expansion to Steve Lacy’s sound, beginning with almost flamenco-like guitar that leads into an immersive sound. The track has incredibly satisfying changes in vocal melody along with a beautiful layered production.

As with much of his previous work, love and relationships are the main theme that pull together the album. “Buttons” is a wistful love song that captures both the initial intensity of falling in love with someone and a reluctance to give up on them after being treated badly.

Interestingly, the track consists of one long verse followed by an outro, eschewing traditional song structures. “Give You the World” is a love song that features some of Lacy’s best vocal work on the album.

It’s a fitting ending to the album that pulls together the ideas expressed throughout.

This story has been condensed for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

More Online:

Visit ricethresher.org to read staff reviews of newly released album and films.

‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’ IMOGEN BROWN

THRESHER STAFF

The pointless gaudiness of “Bodies” adds to its superficial appeal; though “Bodies” ends up a completely forgettable film, its big-name flashiness, sporadic comedy, sexiness and scariness might make for a solid entertainment experience. Beyond this crude, sensory amusement, the film’s lumpy rhythm and inability to create sympathy or materiality for any of its spoiled characters render its purported satire derivative and meaningless.

Review: ‘Nicole’

JACOB PELLEGRINO

THRESHER STAFF

“Nicole” is a return to Zefanya’s roots, made up of reimagined and re-recorded versions of songs that Zefanya wrote before taking on her new moniker. In her album announcement on Instagram, she told fans that “the first half of the album will feature both new & archived songs no one’s ever heard before, and the latter half will feature my personal favorite originals that used to live on nzee24.” Over the years, NIKI held onto her past work, waiting for the right moment to return to those songs. Inspired

by Taylor Swift’s own re-recorded albums and a personal desire to revisit that time, Zefanya knew it was the right time to return to the words she wrote so many years ago.

JACOB PELLEGRINO

THRESHER STAFF

COURTESY BIG HITS MUSIC

“Jack in the Box”

j-hope As the first BTS member to release an album since the announcement that the members of the group would be focusing on solo music, all eyes were on j-hope.

Primarily a rapper, j-hope’s album strays from BTS’ pop releases like “Butter” and “Dynamite” in favor of a darker, hip-hopinfluenced sound.

Listeners’ first introduction to this deep dive into j-hope as a solo artist is the song “MORE,” a rumination on his art and dedication to improving. j-hope tells his fans, “my work makes me breathe, so I want more,” emphasizing the necessity of art in his life. The song’s structure is a rapped verse over a traditional hip-hop beat, heavy with snare, that broadens out into a rock chorus backed by a full band.

In the pre-chorus, j-hope’s vocal delivery on “bring it all, I’m doing it all” would be at home on a 90s grungy, alternative rock record.

The brief, 21-minute long album ends with “Arson,” one of the most fun songs vocally on the album. j-hope’s flow has a frantic necessity to it that makes the track interesting and enjoyable to listen to.

“Jack In The Box” is an album that does a great job of differentiating j-hope from the group that he’s been a part of for so many years, leaving the listener wanting to hear more.

This story has been condensed for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 • 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

DEPARTMENT OF PHILOSOPHY

Philosophers think clearly and deeply about the fundamental questions that arise for us as human beings. What is the nature of knowledge (epistemology)? How can we distinguish between what really is and what only seems to be (metaphysics)? What is consciousness (philosophy of mind)? What is the right thing to do (ethics)? How should we live with others in society (political philosophy)?

To study philosophy is to study the best and most enduring answers that can be given to these difficult questions. We challenge our students to think clearly about truth, facts and the mind, and about values and norms, justice and equality, and about the meaning of existence. Because every other field of study adopts some stance toward these questions, philosophy is concerned with the very foundations of the sciences, the humanities, the arts and society.

Characteristic of philosophy are the construction and evaluation of arguments, expressing thoughts clearly and precisely, and defending one’s ideas and evaluating the ideas of others. The study of philosophy thus provides resources for critical participation in all realms of human endeavor. There is no knowledge about the world without philosophy.

love wisdom. philosophy.rice.edu

10 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

THE RICE THRESHER

SOCCER PREVIEW

Soccer leans on experience, newcomers as they look for bounce back season DIEGO PALOS RODRIGUEZ

FOR THE THRESHER

The Rice soccer team walked into last year with mountain-high expectations. After entering the season ranked No. 22 in the country, fresh off of a Sweet 16 appearance the season before, the team was disappointed to finish their year in the first round of the C-USA tournament. But according to senior goalkeeper Bella Killgore, despite a frustrating end to last season, hopes are high within the team as they look to use last year’s struggles as motivation during this season.

“There’s a chip on our shoulders a little bit,” Killgore said. “At the end of the day, we had a great spring as a team getting better and we’re just looking forward to playing.”

Heading into this season, head coach Brian Lee explained that the team isn’t focused as much on expectations as they are on daily operations and preparing for the season, which includes introducing incoming players to the rotation and system at Rice.

“We’re trying to acclimate all the new players with the old players and [get] everyone on board of how we operate, starting with presoccer, how we operate day-to-day,” Lee said.

This year’s team features seven incoming freshmen, two graduate transfers – including forward and former Big 12 Player of the Year Grace Collins – and one incoming sophomore.

According to senior midfielder Delaney Schultz, the newcomers will play a huge role in the team’s success this season.

“We have some good new freshmen, and then Grace Collins and [Madi] Allen from [Texas Christian University] and [Vanderbilt] help a lot in both defense and attack,” Schultz said.

According to Lee, this year’s new additions are expected to play a big role right away.

“All seven of the [incoming freshmen] have

done very well in training, and a majority of them are gonna play a prominent role right from the opening game,” Lee said. “So we’ll just play it one game at a time, see how their roles evolve, see how quickly they can acclimate to college soccer.”

In addition to a strong group of newcomers, the Owls are returning a set of highly awarded players. Killgore and Schultz have both been named to United Soccer Coaches’ list of Goalkeepers and Midfielders to Watch, respectively. They were also both named to the preseason All-Conference team and the Hermann Trophy Preseason Watch List, which is awarded to the country’s top collegiate soccer players. Collins, a TCU transfer, and Schultz were also listed in TopDrawerSoccer’s Preseason Top 100.

Schultz was also named as C-USA’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year and College Soccer News’ Preseason Second Team All-American. She returns as the team’s leading scorer and assist-maker from last season.

But having multiple players on award watchlists did not save the Owls from a rocky start to their season. Aug. 18, the team traveled to face No. 23 Southern Methodist University in their first match-up of the season, where Lee featured three freshmen and both transfers in the starting lineup. The team took an early lead after Killgore, the freekick-taking goalkeeper, blasted one past the Mustang keeper in the bottom right corner.

The Mustangs tied the game up later in the first half with a high header and eventually took the lead in the second half after an outside-the-box chip shot. Despite this loss, the Owls showcased their high-pressure system and a number of their new players.

On Sunday Aug. 21, the squad took on Samford University at Holloway Field, the

COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS Freshman forward Jules Johnston takes on a defender during Sunday’s game against Samford University.

The Owls will look to rely on their ten new players as they look to bounce back from their 0-2 start.

team’s first home match of the season. The game was locked even with both teams sharing bursts of attacks and a few chances.

As the final whistle drew nearer, it seemed as if the game would end in stalemate. That was until, with four minutes to go, Samford sent a high ball that bounced past the Owls’ backline and thirty yards from the goal. Goalkeeper Killgore raced forward to clear the ball, but Samford’s striker reached it first and was able to put it over Killgore, slowly bouncing into the Owls’ net and securing a 1-0 victory for the Mustangs.

These first two games riddled the Owls with injuries for Schultz, sophomore forward Natalie Gorji and freshman midfielder Kallie McKinney. According to Lee, these injuries have pushed some players into unexpected roles.

“It’s thrown a lot of young players in who wouldn’t be playing the minutes they’re playing, so we’ve just gotta mature quickly

and get our communication up,” Lee said.

Out of the seven freshmen, six have already made their debuts and some have already started filling into the prominent roles that Lee ensured. According to center-back Carsyn Martz, who played the entire 90 minutes in both games, the team and coaching staff have been taking active steps to acclimate the newcomers to college soccer and emphasize their importance in the squad.

“I think we’ve adjusted well and that’s a testament to coach Lee and the rest of the coaching staff,” Martz said. “The older girls are [also] really welcoming to the freshmen.

In terms of playing, it’s definitely next level.

I’m just trying to stay competitive and do my best; [being] aggressive on the field.”

The Owls take the field Thursday, Aug. 25, at 6:30 p.m. against Loyola University Maryland at Holloway Field. On Sunday, Aug. 28, they host Incarnate Word University at 7 p.m.

Soccer star Schultz aims to put exclamation point on Rice career CADAN HANSON

SENIOR WRITER

COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS Fifth-year senior Delaney Schultz dribbles during a game last season. Schultz, last year’s C-USA player of the year, hopes to end her Rice career on a strong note.

If you’ve followed Rice soccer over the last four years, there’s a good chance you’ve come across the name Delaney Schultz. Since first stepping foot on the Rice campus, the fifthyear senior midfielder has left her mark on the soccer program, earning all-Conference honors three times and helping lead the team to the Sweet 16 of the 2021 NCAA tournament.

Growing up, Schultz was the epitome of a multi-sport athlete, playing basketball, tennis, swimming and field hockey. The Missouri native did not start seriously playing soccer until her freshman year of high school when she joined one of the best club teams in St. Louis. She continued to play throughout high school at the Mary Institute and Country Day School, helping her school win their first and second ever district championships, collecting all-state honors along the way. As her success on the soccer pitch continued, Schultz said that colleges came knocking. “[When] I realized college soccer was a possibility for me … I got noticed by Rice in the spring of my sophomore year when I came down to Houston for a recruiting event,” Schultz said. “I didn’t know what Rice was at the time but I came and visited and I fell in love with the school and the quality of academics.”

Immediately, Schultz made an impact on the team. As a true freshman, Schultz won a starting defender spot and never looked

back on her way to winning a spot on the Conference USA All-Freshman team. Not only did Schultz start every game for the Owls but she played every minute of the season.

After moving back to midfield for her sophomore season, Schultz hit two game winners against C-USA opponents, and earned Second Team All-South Region honors from the United Soccer Coaches Association.

However, her swift climb took a sharp turn when she tore her ACL in practice, the spring before her junior season. To make matters worse, the injury occured a week before the COVID-19 pandemic sent the entire school home. Schultz made the difficult decision to remain in Houston for rehab. According to Schultz, the injury motivated her to make a jump going into her junior year.

“I ended up getting surgery the last day they were doing non-essential surgeries in Houston,” Schultz said. “After the surgery you have to learn how to walk, run and jump again and I think the jump from sophomore to junior year actually came through that recovery. I think I came out of that recovery a better player with more motivation. When you’re out for a year it gives you a lot of desire to come back stronger and so I think the reason I had that jump was actually the fact that I got injured.”

Coming off the injury, Schultz looked like she never left. She continued to fill her personal trophy case with awards, earning First Team All-South Region honors, C-USA

Tournament Offensive MVP and the No. 92 spot on TopDrawerSoccer’s rankings of the best players in the NCAA. Her efforts helped the Owls win the conference and reach the NCAA tournament.

Schultz’s junior campaign became even more remarkable as she picked up two assists in the Owls’ first round win over Furman University. In their second round game against No. 4 West Virginia University, Schultz hit the back of the net on a game winning penalty kick to send the Owls to the Sweet 16.

While the team took a step back the following season, losing in the first round of the conference tournament, Schultz continued to collect accolades. She won C-USA Player of the Year and jumped to No. 77 in TopDrawerSoccer’s best players list.

Schultz led the team and was second in C-USA in goals (9), points (25) and shots (60) in her fourth season, which she said was a result of working every day to get better.

“I haven’t done anything complicated my whole soccer career,” Schultz said. “I just love playing and as much as I love playing, I love training on my own. I really like the process of seeing myself get better at something and so almost every day I’ll go out to the field and run or be with the ball and slowly get better.

When you do something repetitive over and over, over a long period of time you’re gonna see results.”

This story has been condensed for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 • 11

SPORTS

Volleyball looks to finally end streak of second place finishes

VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW

KATHERINE HUI / THRESHER Fifth-year seniors Anota Adekunle and Carly Graham combine for a spike in last year’s game against Texas.

The two all-conference selections hope to help the Owls win C-USA after three straight years as runners-up.

PAVITHR GOLI

ASST SPORTS EDITOR The Rice Owls’ women’s volleyball season ended in heartbreak last season when they fell to the then-ranked No. 2 University of Texas Longhorns in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament. Despite getting knocked out of the tournament by their rival, the Owls were proud of their effort in putting up a competitive effort throughout the match against such a tough opponent, according to head coach Genny Volpe.

“I’m extremely proud of how we played,” Volpe said. “We really wanted to win and it’s unfortunate that we didn’t but I think we met up with a really tough team in the second round.”

In addition to their appearance in the second round of last year’s NCAAs, the Owls also finished as the runners-up in the C-USA Tournament, losing to then-No. 18 Western Kentucky University in the championship game for the third consecutive year.

Building upon their achievements from last season, Volpe, who is entering her 19th season as the head coach of the team, looks

to improve upon her team’s 20-7 record last season and their postseason appearances.

“My expectations for this season are pretty much the same as they always are,” Volpe said. “We want to win the conference title and go as deep into the NCAA Tournament as we can.”

Volpe also emphasized the importance of growth and maximizing her squad’s potential as they enter a deep season which stretches into mid-November.

“We want to maximize our potential,” Volpe said. “[We want to] stay process oriented, not result oriented. So we are going to work each and every day to improve ourselves and believe that the results we want will happen because of that work.”

Volpe will return a number of key contributors, including a pair of first-team all C-USA selections in fifth-year seniors Anota Adekunle and Carly Graham. Graham, a setter, earned a spot on the U.S. Women’s Collegiate National Team and was also given Second Team All-American honors by VolleyballMag.com. Graham said that she is excited for the upcoming season as she hopes the team can reach higher heights this year.

“We have worked extremely hard throughout the spring and summer in preparation for this upcoming season and we are excited to get after it all together,” Graham said. “We really want to get out of that second round but know we have to take things one practice and one game at a time as well as knowing the work we have to put in to get that goal.”

Knowing the work that she and her team must put in to reach their goals this season, Graham said that the team will rely on their chemistry and the work ethic they have built in recent years.

“I think a major strength of this team is how hard we work and the buy-in we have towards working towards our goals as a team,” Graham said. “Similarly, our team chemistry is a great strength which allows us to be able to work hard for the people next to you which I think is really important. It really is a special group and I’m so excited to keep practicing and competing with them.”

The team will be without outside hitter Nicole Lennon, the program’s all-time leader in kills, after her eligibility ran

Athletes use O-Week to connect with greater student body REED MYERS

SENIOR WRITER Orientation Week marks the annual introduction to Rice for the incoming freshman class. For student-athletes, it can be difficult to enjoy all O-Week it has to offer, as it often overlaps with their athletic seasons.

According to senior soccer forward Shelby DesRoches, it was challenging to balance being an O-Week advisor this year at Sid Richardson College with her soccer schedule, but she could not pass down the opportunity to welcome the Class of 2026.

“The two weeks that I spent doing advisor training and advising while simultaneously playing soccer was an extremely exhausting experience at times,” DesRoches said. “However, it was an experience that allowed me to branch out of my comfort zone, mentor new students, which was extremely rewarding, and more heavily immerse myself in my residential college culture.

I certainly have no regrets choosing to advise despite my busy schedule.”

Finding student-athlete advisors is challenging as many are unable to participate in O-Week because of their athletic responsibilities. According to Jose Acuna, a junior runner on the men’s cross country team, he was only able to advise at Hanszen College this year because of an injury.

“Advising is very time-consuming, making it very difficult to uphold your athletic commitments,” Acuna said.

“When the time to apply for advising came around, I was nursing a fractured femur, so I knew I would have a lot of free time on my hands early in the semester.

Knowing it would be my only chance at advising without it interfering with my cross country training, I decided to advise at Hanszen.”

According to DesRoches, it is important for athletes to participate in O-Week because their current relationship with the broader student body is disjointed.

“I view the relationship between student-athletes and students in general as very separate and divided on campus,” DesRoches said. “Individually, these relationships exist; however, I find that most students stick together, and most student-athletes stick together.”

However, DesRoches said that having athletes participate in O-Week can go a long way to helping bridge this divide.

“Another reason that I decided to advise despite my busy schedule is that I wanted to be both an example and representation for student-athletes, particularly fall student-athletes, who have struggled to get involved in residential college culture,” DesRoches said. “I think it is important to have student-athlete representation in O-Week because it highlights integration between student-

out at the end of last season. Returning outside hitters Ellie Bichelmeyer and Sahara Marsuka, who ranked third and fourth on the team in kills respectively, will help fill the void left by Lennon, but Volpe said that having a variety of attacking options across their offense to turn to in her place will be a strength for the team.

“I think some of the strengths of our team this year would be the ability to balance our attack [as] we have multiple attack options, our floor defense, and our overall setting,” Volpe said. “Not only do we have a returning All American in Carly Graham, but we have Izzy Rawlings and Darby Harris who are both very capable of running a high level offense. Returning 5th year senior Anota Adekunle is also a huge threat to our opponents.”

The Owls will kick off their season at noon this Friday, August 26th in Baton Rouge when they face off against the University of Houston Cougars in the Tiger Classic. Following their game against the Cougars, the Owls will play Samford University later Friday afternoon at 5 p.m.

GAZI FAUD / THRESHER Rice student athletes participate in this year’s Rice Rally during O-Week. A number of student-athletes told the Thresher that O-Week has given them a chance to connect with more the Rice community at-large.

athletes and non-student-athletes, which is a very important relationship.”

While advising is optional for returning student-athletes, incoming student-athlete freshmen are required to participate in O-Week, at their coach’s discretion.

Andrew Akuchie, a freshman forward on the men’s basketball team, said that his reception at Baker College during O-Week made for a smoother transition to college.

“O-Week helped ease my transition from high school to college,” Akuchie said. “I feel like the student body accepted me as an athlete and really brought me in, and I was able to learn more about Rice and my college’s tradition.”

With O-Week being one of Rice’s trademark events, student-athletes, like Ashlyn Zhang, a freshman guard on the women’s basketball team from Hanszen College, hear all about it. According to Zhang, she wanted to take advantage of opportunities like O-Week to meet other students.

“I feel like O-Week makes Rice stand apart from other institutions and shows how much the people here support you and care about you,” Zhang said. “I definitely want to be intentional with getting to know people from all different backgrounds and fields of study, so I’m glad O-Week gave me the opportunity to do that.”

This story has been condensed for print.

Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

12 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022

BACKPAGE

Download Download Jizz Download Jizz Jizz The Backpage is an ambassador for a completely new app called “Jizz” that just came on campus. Jizz has a piss ton of features that you’ll love and combines all the Instagram pages and confessions into one single place.

We, personally, love Jizz and some of the content that we’ve seen on there! .

Use this QR code to download it on the App Store:

NOTE: Jizz does not subscribe to the Western convention where the ideas of an individual is something that is protected.

The Backpage is the satire section of the Thresher, written this week by Ndidi Nwosu, Andrew Kim, and Timmy Mansfield and designed by Lauren Yu. For questions or comments, please email dilfhunter69@rice.edu.

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