2 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 2023
THE RICE THRESHER
MOB presents SA resolution targeting Pep Band MARIA MORKAS
ASST. NEWS EDITOR A student resolution to restore Rice University’s Marching Owl Band as Rice athletics’ official basketball band waS presented at the Feb. 20 Student Association senate meeting. The resolution also calls for the compensation of MOB members and the establishment of a student-led task force to accomplish these initiatives. Rijuta Vallishayee, the drum major for the MOB, and Ryan Mbaushu-Ndip, the drum minor for the MOB, said they wrote this resolution to raise awareness about the implications of the presence of the pep band’s presence for the MOB during the fall and spring semesters. “We also advocate for more transparency from Rice Athletics going into the future regarding all athleticsadjacent organizations, including The MOB, Rice Cheer and Rice Dance,” Vallishayee said. Deputy athletic director Rick Mello said athletics’ focus is to continue to build on the progress that the pep band has made and evaluate once the season is done. “We recently met with MOB and student government leadership and indicated that we will engage our student body and campus in gathering feedback,” Mello said. “We will also include members of the Rice Community including fans and stakeholders in the process.” Mbaushu-Ndip said the MOB staff has been the primary source of opposition to the pep band. “We have found that our many appeals to the athletics department have been ignored,” Mbaushu-Ndip said. Vallishayee said that the MOB has played at Rice’s athletic events without compensation for a century.
KATHERINE HUI / THRESHER A student resolution to restore Rice University’s Marching Owl Band as Rice athletics’ official basketball band waS presented at the Feb. 20 Student Association senate.
“Rice Athletics decided to replace The MOB at indoor sports events with a paid pep band whose restricted instrumentation would prevent many of our members from playing at indoor sports events and erase our tradition of student leadership at these events,” Vallishayee, a junior at Martel College, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Though representatives of Rice Athletics and the new director of the pep band met with the MOB in the fall to convince MOBsters to join the pep band through negotiation, they failed to open up their instrumentation
[to accommodate the large variety of instruments that MOBsters play].” This resolution also establishes the Rice Athletics Fan Experience Task Force, led by a designated member of the MOB. According to Vallishayee, the goal of the task force will be to advocate on behalf of the MOB in the dispute. In an amendment to the resolution on Feb. 27, SA voting members added that the task force will be annually presented for renewal by the end of February until its deemed dissolution. Vallishayee said that the ideal outcome of this resolution would be Rice Athletics
restoring the MOB as the indoor pep band and compensating its members similar to the pep band, which she said would allow more students to participate in the paid opportunity of playing at Rice games. “In this way, Rice could have more consistent pep band attendance, maintain the long-standing traditions we’ve developed for volleyball and basketball that were lost when we were removed from Tudor Fieldhouse and bring our unique performance energy back to games,” Vallishayee said.
Ruth Simmons to serve as president’s distinguished fellow extensive history and connection with Rice that motivated her to accept the role. MANAGING EDITOR “My association with Rice as a trustee, Ruth J. Simmons, former president of as well as my involvement with a number Prairie View A&M University and president of other efforts at the University, proved to emerita of both Brown University and be among the most satisfying experiences Smith College, will join Rice University following my return to my hometown as a president’s distinguished fellow after my Brown presidency,” Simmons, a Houston native, said. “I am familiar with beginning April 1, 2023. President Reggie DesRoches said the quality of Rice leadership and the that Simmons will work with a variety international standing of the university. I of programs across campus and advise greatly admire President DesRoches and look forward to the the president’s influence he will office on various have locally and matters, in nationally. Why addition to Ruth is one of the most would one not collaborating wish to be involved with faculty and highly regarded higher with the University staff on various education leaders of our during this period initiatives. generation. Her role will of time?” “Ruth is one of not be confined within Simmons said the most highly she wishes to be of regarded higher a department or unit on assistance to Rice education leaders campus, so I expect her of our generation,” impact to be across various in any way that the faculty and DesRoches wrote administration to the Thresher in areas on campus. identify as an email. “Ruth Reggie DesRoches important, with has a long history RICE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT a special focus with Rice, as a on increasing former trustee and an advisor on various initiatives at Rice diversity and inclusion. “I want to continue to speak and write … Her role will not be confined within a department or unit on campus, so I expect on subjects that relate to diversity and her impact to be across various areas on inclusion in higher education,” Simmons said. “As a former director of Afrocampus.” Simmons also served on Rice’s board American Studies at Princeton and past from 2014 to 2018 and was the keynote chair of the Afro-American Studies Visiting speaker for DesRoches’ inauguration last Committee at Harvard, I will be pleased to year. According to Simmons, it was her assist [Rice’s Center for African and African
BONNIE ZHAO
BRANDON CHEN / THRESHER
American Studies] in any way they deem useful.” During her time at Rice, Simmons said she will also be advising Harvard University on developing a partnership with HBCUs and continue her role as a member of the White House Commission on HBCUs. “Whatever knowledge and experience I have gained over my decades of leadership in high education is available to [Rice] university,” Simmons said. “I look forward to opportunities to make use of that experience for the benefit of Rice.”
DesRoches, who has referred to Simmons as one of his mentors in the past, said that Simmons is down to earth and student centric despite being one of the most well respected leaders in higher education. “I first met Ruth while she was serving as a Rice Trustee in 2017. I have kept in close contact with her since that time and frequently seek her guidance on a range of areas related to higher education leadership … It is great to have her as a Fellow at Rice,” DesRoches said.