The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, October 23, 2024

VOLUME 109, ISSUE NO. 8 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

How does each residential college plan to vote?

Will Rice

For Thresher’s elections issue, we polled the student body about voting preferences — from their pick in the presidential race, to the policies they care about most. We received 427 responses across all grades and residential colleges.

Hanszen

SEE ELECTIONS POLL PAGE 2

Baker

elections

Elections at Rice by the numbers Wiess Jones Brown Lovett

U.S. PRESIDENT CANDIDATE PREFERENCE

Sid Rich Martel McMurtry Duncan

20%

40%

60%

80%

Republican

TOP 5 POLICY ISSUES RESPONDENTS CARE ABOUT

Democrat Not voting

TEXAS SENATE CANDIDATE PREFERENCE

1 ABORTION & REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS 2 ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE 3 IMMIGRATION 4 HEALTHCARE 5 CEASEFIRE IN GAZA

Meet the ACL artist: Malcolm Todd ARMAN SAXENA

A&E EDITOR

“It’s gonna be fun. If you don’t wanna jump, just leave.”

That’s how Malcolm Todd described the tone at his shows, where energy reigns supreme and connection with the crowd is everything.

“Playing concerts is amazing,” Todd said. “It’s something I am falling more and more in love with.”

After cutting his teeth with nearly 60 shows this year, the 21-year-old artist has discovered that the stage is where his music feels most alive.

At Austin City Limits, Todd played the T-Mobile stage in hot 2 p.m. Zilker Park weather. While his shows draw spirited crowds, with fans singing the words of his tracks while moving to the melodies, Todd likes to end his shows with a bang of energy: 20 seconds of jumping to his most popular song “Roommates.” “‘Roommates’ is my most popular song, a fan favorite for sure,” Todd said. “As time went on I kinda realized everyone’s so stoked on the song, and I just told everyone to jump … and everyone did.”

SEE TODD PAGE 12

100%

ISSUE 2024

Unsure / still deciding Other

RIYA MISRA, ALICE SUN / THRESHER

see Harris County ballot guide pg 7-10

Alumni in politics talk elections, careers AMELIA DAVIS

THRESHER STAFF

In 2010, Annise Parker ’78 stood before a crowd of citizens at the George R. Brown Convention Center. She had just been elected mayor of Houston.

Parker was the first openly gay woman voted to the city’s office, and her election was met with celebration and trepidation alike. On that night in the convention center, she stood to address the crowd in her first speech as mayor.

“I am very proud to have been elected the first …” Parker paused, “... graduate of Rice University to be mayor of Houston.”

In an interview with the Thresher, Parker said she drew on Rice’s reputation and unifying power to gain common ground with the people of Houston.

Though not a politico-producing powerhouse on the level of institutions such as Harvard or Georgetown, several alumni over the years have entered the political sphere.

Included in that small class of Owls: Josh Earnest ’97, former White House press secretary to Barack Obama — and current university trustee — and Ben Rhodes ‘00, former Deputy National Security Advisor.

Glenn Allen Youngkin ’90, American businessman and politician, has been the governor of Virginia since 2022.

Andy Kopplin ’88, former Baker College president, went on to be New Orleans deputy mayor from 2010 to 2016.

Additionally, Rice has produced alumni working internationally — George Chang ’66, or Chang Tsanhung, is a Taiwanese politician and independence activist who served as the mayor of Tainan City from 1997 to 2001.

George Prescott Bush ’98 is an American politician and attorney who served as the commissioner of the Texas General Land Office from 2015 to 2023.

Despite his family’s legacy in politics, after graduating from Rice, Bush’s interest primarily lay not in running for office, but in teaching and public service.

Before attending law school, he taught social studies at a public high school in Florida for several years. He described his time in the military as the most fulfilling role he’s had.

“When I was at Rice, I never even thought about it,” Bush said in an interview with the Thresher. “Looking back on it, I wish I had spent more time

in the military. I did serve 10 years as a reservist and had some time overseas, but I think the apex of my career on paper would be serving as land commissioner, a statewide role — I think I’m the only Rice Owl ever to serve in that role.”

Bush feels the values and expectations of political candidates have changed for the worse, he said.

“It used to be the case that your desire to serve — the amount of skill, the amount of wisdom, you would provide other leaders and also your constituents — really counted,” Bush said. “I feel like less so, that is the case.

SEE ALUMNI IN POLITICS PAGE 6

BRYAN MENDOZA / THRESHER

2 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

FROM FRONT PAGE

ELECTIONS POLL

THE RICE THRESHER

Wiess announces a MAD new public VIOLA HSIA

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Harris’ stance on Palestine and lack of a ceasefire demand are my primary hestiation in voting for her.

Wiess sophomore

ASIAN, GENDERFLUID/GENDERQUEER INDEPENDENT – STILL DECIDING

I wonder how many people actually took five minutes of research before choosing who they vote for. I look at policies and history. I didn’t realize that everyone wants to be worse off than before.

Duncan senior

BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN, MALE GREEN PARTY – FOR JILL STEIN

I feel that oftentimes, the Deep South is viewed as backwards and beyond help. It is belittled by liberals in other areas and blamed for its own problems.

But we are not a lost cause …

We are in this hole because of Republican voter suppression, gerrymandering and policy.

Baker junior

WHITE, FEMALE DEMOCRAT – FOR KAMALA HARRIS

I voted against [Trump] in the primary. I absolutely despise Trump. However, I personally need a better economy, lower crime rates, a peacemaker and to feel safe in my country again.

Unfortunately I do not find that in Harris, so Trump, reluctantly, is my guy.

Wiess freshman

WHITE, MALE REPUBLICAN – FOR DONALD TRUMP

After seeing the aftermath of [the 2020] election and the Jan. 6 insurrection, I feel like I cannot support Trump anymore. Being that I have also disliked Kamala from the start, I will not be voting in this election.

McMurtry senior

ASIAN, MALE INDEPENDENT – NOT VOTING

Local elections are incredibly important, especially while HISD is still taken over by Mike Miles. It’s very easy for Rice students to stay in the hedges, but we also have the power to make change in the fourthlargest city.

Wiess College announced that their new public party theme will be a masquerade. The party will be officially titled “Masquerade After Dark” — MAD for short – according to the announcement made during Wiess’ Oct. 18 FITQ. According to Wiess co-Social Vice President Isabelle Shen, the public is scheduled for Jan. 25. Wiess co-Social Vice President Rocio Gras added that the event will be outdoors.

The announcement comes after Night of Decadence was permanently canceled last summer. NOD was Wiess’s public theme for 50 years, traditionally happening during the weekend closest to Halloween. Shen, a sophomore, said planning for MAD happened immediately after the announcement and Wiess Gras students voted on It’s exciting to see if we said that the new theme one of the beginning June 25. can make something largest challenges “We narrowed that’ll stick. The fact of planning a down to our that we’re trying to put new public is four top choices something out there that living up to NOD’s that were both reputation. appropriate and, could possibly stick with “One of the we thought, could Wiess, I think is very scariest parts be fun,” Shen exciting. is just knowing said. “Then we people are going sent out another Isabelle Shen to compare it to final form, WIESS CO-SOCIAL VICE PRESIDENT NOD,” Gras said. and basically, Masquerade, our final theme, was voted “That’s what students are going to do.

It’s a realistic thing. I think people on the most.”

According to Shen and Gras, other are going to be unhappy, but we can’t

WILLIAM LIU / THRESHER

please everybody, so [we’re] just trying to please as many people as possible.”

Both Shen and Gras wanted to clarify that while the masquerade will not require formal attire, the theme will not encourage NOD’s more revealing dress code.

“We, [along with] our magisters, have made it very clear we want to start to steer away from NOD’s history,” Gras said. “It’s not to be sexualized, not to have the same concepts behind it.

[We’re] fully starting from scratch.”

Divestment referenda proposed to senate, demonstration and postering resolution passes JAMES CANCELARICH

ASST. NEWS EDITOR

Four referenda were introduced to the Student Association during the Oct. 21 senate meeting that call for university divestment from Israel-aligned companies and a university condemnation of the “horrific violence” in Gaza as part of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The SA also passed S.RES 05, a resolution that asks the university to review its recently revised demonstration and postering policies.

S.REF 01 asks the Rice Management Company to disclose all of its holdings and investments. S.REF 02 asks that Rice divest from any companies with financial ties to Israel, with specific reference to Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Chevron and others. S.REF 03 asks for a university statement condemning genocide and scholasticide in Palestine. S.REF 04 asks the university to institutionalize an “anti-

Sid Richardson senior

WHITE, NON-BINARY DEMOCRAT – FOR KAMALA HARRIS

Editor’s Note: These responses have been edited and condensed for clarity, but not content.

themes suggested were Roaring ’20s, Aprés Ski-yee and Night at the Museum.

Shen added that — much like how NOD had annual themes — MAD’s first theme will be decided by the end of the year.

“It’s exciting to see if we can make something that’ll stick,” Gras, also a sophomore, said. “The fact that we’re trying to put something out there that could possibly stick with Wiess, I think is very exciting.”

RIYA MISRA / THRESHER Speakers at senate had one minute to support or oppose S.REF 1-4.

colonial commitment” by materially vote on what they want to see from supporting Palestinian and anti-colonial administration,” Saxena, a Lovett College junior, said during the senate meeting. scholarship.

Editor’s note: Arman Saxena is one of A referendum is a general student body vote on a single political question, the Thresher’s Arts & Entertainment editors.

Following the introduction of the according to the SA Constitution. The Senate may request for a referendum by referenda, eight students gave one-minute a two-thirds vote in favor by SA voting speeches, four in favor of and four against members. If passed by the Senate, the the referenda. Many were cut short by a referendum is then presented to the timer.

S.RES 05 asks the university to create student body for a vote. If there is a 20% a commission voter turnout with with students and two -thirds faculty to consider approval from and revise the the student body, recently updated the referendum The restrictions could postering and passes. In the cases permit current or future demonstration of S.REF 1-4, the administrators from policies. referenda would overly restricting any “ T h e then be presented restrictions to the university campus speech or action could permit a d m i n i s t r a t i o n S.RES 05 current or future for consideration.

A resolution is a view or policy that is administrators from overly restricting any decided on solely by voting members of campus speech or action,” the authors of S.RES 05 allege in the resolution. the senate.

SA President Jae Kim said that the The referenda are expected to come to a vote at the Senate meeting next week, resolution is unlikely to be adopted by university administrators in its entirety, but Oct. 28.

Arman Saxena, author of the referenda, could be the beginning of a conversation.

“The administration is not going said that Senate voting members are not voting on whether they agreed with to take this as it is presented,” Kim, a the contents of the referenda, but if they Brown College senior, said during the believe the questions posed should be senate meeting. “[We will] enter [into] constructive conversations with upper voted on by the general student body. “[This is] direct democracy in that administration with student feedback on it allows the student body itself to what this policy will look like.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 3

NEWS

‘She never stopped letting herself live’: Rice remembers Kathryn Petree, McMurtry sophomore Antwi-Boasiako. She was just as enthusiastic about helping her peers with homework as she was about her own learning.

Among friends, Kathryn was known McMurtry College sophomore Kathryn Petree passed away due to cancer for her unique hobbies and eclectic music complications last Saturday, Oct. 12. Kathryn taste. She loved all things food, baking matriculated a semester late to complete with unlikely ingredients and making complicated coffee chemotherapy drinks — the treatments, but o u t d o o r s , those close to her say Sweetgreen salads she left a mark on and a penchant for everyone in her time We met and she was just a gourmet cheese. at Rice. Above all bundle of joy ... I was like, Kathryn also else, she is survived ‘Oh my gosh, I want to be knitted sweaters, by memories of her cherished traveling incredible generosity friends with her.’ with her family and and optimism.

Brooklyn Freeman had an obsession A k s h a r a KATHRYN’S FRIEND with Sweetgreen Sankar, Kathryn’s salads. O-Week sister Orientation Week sister, said she remembers going to Moody Grace Doolittle said Kathryn pushed her to X-Fest with Kathryn in the spring of last year. embrace a love of the outdoors, which they Organizers were handing out free ice cream shared.

“I’d always looked at Founder’s Court … to everyone who attended; Sankar doesn’t eat dairy. She remembers Kathryn walked and been like, ‘That’d be such a nice place her all the way back to her dorm to give her a to read a book.’ But I was too scared, there’s non-dairy ice cream sandwich Kathryn had always so many cars and students going by,” said Grace Dootlittle, Kathryn’s O-Week in her freezer.

“She would be open with what she was sister. “I walked out one Saturday, and she going through, [and] she always asked how was just there, sprawled out on a picnic you were doing, too,” Sankar said. “That blanket reading a book … She made me was such a defining part of her. She was brave, as silly as it sounds, to enjoy nature.”

“She snuck away from MD Anderson really generous in everything she did.”

Kathryn — an ‘orgo whiz’ — was eager without the doctors knowing to go to a [Greta to continue taking organic chemistry, Van Fleet] concert, even when she was stage despite reducing her course hours after four,” Doolittle continued. “That was really hospitalization, said her O-Week sister Ann awesome of her.”

NOA BERZ

SENIOR WRITER

Religion was another important piece of Kathryn’s life. Brooklyn Freeman said she remembers meeting her for the first time at a Sunday church service in Houston.

They bonded over mutual friends, and later attended public parties and prepared for Beer Bike together.

Freeman remembers Kathryn as someone who appreciated and took full advantage of the opportunities she was granted, even as that became increasingly difficult.

“We met and she was just a bundle of joy, honestly, that’s how I think most people would describe her,” Freeman, a sophomore, said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I want to be friends with her.’”

“Kathryn was a true embodiment of what gratitude means,” she continued.

“I think that that’s just one of the most special things about her, and that I hope to carry on for her – being grateful for the everyday things that we have.”

Kathryn was open about her cancer but never let the illness define her, friends say.

Antwi-Boasiako said she tried to stay lighthearted, often joking about her RICE NEWS frustrations with the treatments

and coming to campus daily, even as her treatments ramped up.

“As soon as she got to stage four, she was like, ‘I’m just gonna do everything I want now,’” Antwi-Boasiako said. “And she really did do that. She never stopped letting herself live and enjoy all the things that she loved.”

Those who knew her best say they remained in awe of Kathryn’s adventurous spirit, determination and relentless joy.

Friends adored her quirkiness and kind heart, and said her presence will be missed across campus and by those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

“In spite of her death, what really needs to be focused on is the way that she lived,” Antwi-Boasiako said. “She lived so fearlessly and she did all the things that she loved.”

Candidates comment on Harris County hot-button issues VIOLA HSIA

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Students registered in Harris County this year will vote in dozens of national, state and local races. While races for local and state elected officials see lower turnout than presidential elections, these candidates will be making decisions with local impact on the Rice community.

One of the issues on the ballot across multiple races is reproductive freedom, which became a key legislative matter after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022.

“This election is about freedom,” U.S. Representative Lizzie Fletcher, a Democrat, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Women and families across Texas are in crisis, and attacks on women’s health have generated fear and confusion for women and their loved ones. It is critical that we find a way to protect them. I will continue doing everything I can to restore the health, privacy, dignity and freedom of women in Texas and across our country.”

Like reproductive health, public school funding is a concern for many Harris County residents. In June 2023, the Texas Education Agency took over the Houston Independent School District, appointing a superintendent and board of directors until all schools within the district meet TEA

COURTESY MOLLY COOK

offenders task force, street crimes unit educational outcome criteria.

Brett Robinson, the Democratic candidate and community problem-oriented policing for State Representative of District 130, unit,” Gonzalez, a Democrat, wrote in an email to the Thresher. said public school “We’re laser-focused funding is a core part on women and of his campaign. families, providing “As someone who counseling and grew up in public This election is about support to children schools and recently freedom. with a parent in jail, graduated with my educational and Master’s in Public Lizzie Fletcher vocational programs A d m i n i s t r a t i o n U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN, TX-07 for incarcerated from [University of Houston], I am a fierce advocate for public women to help them stay out of jail after education, I am deeply concerned about they’ve served their time and raising the the future of public education in Texas, as number of women deputies.”

Libertarian Senate candidate Ted Brown Governor Abbott’s voucher scam is already defunding our public schools,” Robinson said he is campaigning on reducing inflation.

“We need a balanced budget with massive wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Instead of vouchers, we need to support our public spending cuts in all federal departments, school teachers. 70% of Texas teachers are agencies and programs across the board, considering quitting, so we need to increase with no exceptions,” Brown wrote in an teacher pay and show them the appreciation email to the Thresher. “This includes the military, which can’t pass an audit and can’t they deserve.”

Robinson refers to Abbott’s plan to account for hundreds of billions of dollars provide education savings accounts, or they were appropriated in past years.”

Laura Jones, the Democratic candidate vouchers, which would provide families for Texas’ 8th Congressional District, said state funds to pay for private schools.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he plans to create she wants to prioritize strengthening Texas’ economy. county task forces to increase public safety.

“Economic growth is another critical “We’re working hard to reduce violent crime, creating the department’s first-ever area of focus,” Jones wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Once elected, I plan to put violent f o r t h legislation

COURTESY ED GONZALEZ

COURTESY LIZZIE FLETCHER

that will promote job creation, support small businesses and invest in sustainable industries to foster a thriving economy.”

Other issues most candidates are bringing to their ticket include the right to vote and peaceful transition of power, as well as election misinformation. Dayna Steele, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative in District 36, said that this was one of the main reasons she decided to run against incumbent Brian Babin.

“My opponent, Brian Babin, was running unopposed even though he breached his oath of office by participating in the fake elector plan and not certifying the election,” Steele wrote in an email to the Thresher. “He has also never condemned the actions of Jan. 6.”

The “fake elector” plan Steele refers to was part of Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election results, which declared President Joe Biden the winner. Trump and his administration asked Republican state officials to not certify the election results.

Texas Senator Molly Cook said she believes progress will only happen in Texas if more people are able to vote.

“I believe in year-round, sustained, targeted voter engagement that meets real needs and supports community cohesion,” Cook, a Democrat, wrote in an email to the Thresher. “We will never see the change in Texas that we seek until we increase voter turnout.”

COURTESY BRETT ROBINSON

4 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

NEWS

Political engagement varies as election season begins including Fondren Library and the League of Women Voters.

“I think this year’s [RiceVotes] program Early voting for the 2024 election cycle has been great, but it also acknowledges began Oct. 20. While some Rice students all the different organizations on campus are preparing to cast their votes, most of that work independently to create voter whom are voting in their first presidential registration opportunities for students,” Alvarez, a senior, said. election, others will not be voting.

Alvarez said she RiceVotes, one of joined RiceVotes the larger political and became a organizations at engagement Rice, aims to “make I wouldn’t say that there’s civic representative in participation in no activism, it just kind response to the local, state and political conditions federal elections of comes and goes. in Texas. a social norm,” Melissa Marschall “I’ve always according to its PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE been quite civically website. According to Melissa Marschall, a professor of engaged, even as an immigrant to the U.S., political science and steering committee so I can’t vote,” Alvarez said. “I’m always member of RiceVotes, many Rice students making sure that I am informed, especially in a state like Texas, which makes it so vote.

“Part of [Rice’s voter turnout] is having difficult to vote.”

However, voter registration and a polling location on campus, which is something relatively new,” Marschall said. education efforts haven’t reached everyone.

“This year is the first year that we have no For McMurtry College sophomore Kef classes on Election Day. That’s a big deal. Nkosi, registration difficulties prevented We’ve never done that before – recognizing him from voting in previous elections.

“Last year, I did try to vote because that it’s important for students to have time people were telling me to vote,” Nkosi said. to vote and give them the day off. ” Marschall said that 878 people “I ended up missing a lot of class waiting registered to vote this fall, a record number in line to vote, just to be told once it was my since 1999. Voter registration efforts also turn that something went wrong with my began during Orientation Week for the first registration, and they weren’t able to fix it.

Honestly, I felt like I wasted my time.” time this year.

“This year, when I ran into the same According to an Institute for Democracy & Higher Education report, in the 2020 issue, I honestly just didn’t really feel like election, 77.9% of eligible Rice students going through it again,” Nkosi continued.

Still, Nkosi believes that he’ll participate voted in the presidential election, up from 59.1% in 2016, and 11.9 points higher than in political processes in the future.

“As I age, I probably will become a little the average institution similar to Rice.

For Erika Alvarez, Baker College’s civic more engaged and actively involved,” Nkosi engagement representative, RiceVotes’ said. “Right now, I don’t even know who I successes are due in part to concurrent am, I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t efforts from multiple organizations, know what I want to study, I don’t know

HONGTAO HU

THRESHER STAFF

what I want to do, so maybe when I figure myself out a little more, I can start to pay more attention to all these other things around me.”

However, Marschall said that student p o l i t i c a l engagement beyond voting is lacking.

“We don’t see a lot of student organizing compared to maybe some other campuses or earlier periods in time,” Marschall said. “I wouldn’t say that there’s no activism, it just kind of comes and goes.

Most recently, it’s centered around what’s going on in the Middle East with the IsraelPalestine conflict.”

Matti Haacke, a Students for Justice in Palestine representative, said they found that political involvement in the group has ebbed and flowed in response to global events.

“As the early spring semester came this past year, I think that the movement slowed down a little bit because of losing momentum,” Haacke, a Sid Richardson College senior, said. “We’ve been working on how to build up the momentum and be strategic about what actions are worth having. For example, our walkout during the opening of the academic quad was really successful. The vigil that we had on Oct. 7 was really successful, where we had over 100 people there.”

Haacke said that Rice’s nature as a STEM-focused school may discourage

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER

political activism.

“Given the intensity of the expectations that are put on people at Rice, just socially and culturally, having something that doesn’t fit your resume, help you get an internship or a job after you graduate can be hard for some people to rationalize as being worth their time,” Haacke said.

Alvarez said that lack of engagement is because many student groups focus on single issues.

“There’s been a shift away from partisanship and toward issue-based organizing, such as SJP or Planned Parenthood Generation at Rice, which is for … people’s access to healthcare resources,” Alvarez said.

Haacke said that increasing political engagement on campus could benefit the community.

“I think Rice needs more political clubs on campus,” Haacke said. “I think that as a civic citizen, having political discussions and political energy on a college campus, it’s something that can be really fruitful.”

The Office of Alumni Relations invites all students to

sign up here

tuesday

Oct.

29 Free food

7-8::30 p.m. huff house

+ drinks Costume contest Games + Giveaways

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 5

THE RICE THRESHER

EDITORIAL

Public party dress codes are doomed to fail Like many years past, students will dress up and line up for a public party the Saturday evening before Halloween. These students will be less scantily clad — but we question if that is a good thing.

After the loss of Wiess College’s infamous Night of Decadence public party, ‘Masquerade After Dark’ is a fine theme, and probably the best option presented to Wiess students (Aprés Ski-yee, anyone?) We don’t envy the job of the Wiess socials, as their public will inevitably, and unfairly, be compared to past NODs. However, we are concerned that Baker Beach’s ban on shirtlessness and swimsuit bottoms is an overstep of personal expression and is uncomfortable and difficult for socials and core teams to enforce. We understand the need to distance Halloween publics from NOD, and hosting at a different college is a good way to do so. However, policing students’ clothing is the wrong way to go about it.

First, the onus of deciding what is and isn’t appropriate clothing will probably

fall on security volunteers, resident associates or even police officers — it’s unclear. Imagine calling a classmate out of line due to their dress and seeing them the next morning; it’s uncomfortable and, frankly, not students’ places to police other students’ attire. Even worse is the optics of asking faculty or police officers to stare at students’ attire.

We understand the need to distance Halloween publics from NOD ...

However, policing students’ clothing is the wrong way to go about it.

Additionally, of all things, why are swimsuit bottoms banned? In today’s age, no one bats an eye at swimsuit bottomesque fashion at festivals and concerts.

Do proponents of the swimsuit bottomban avert their eyes at the Rec pool? If the point of Baker Beach is to move away from the sexual connotations of NOD, why do so in a way that puts attention on the real or imagined sexual implications of students’ clothing?

The logistics of enforcing this ban are nigh-impossible: what makes swimsuit bottoms different from the bottom half of a one-piece? The wording of the ban technically prevents students from wearing tankinis, often touted as a modest bikini alternative — yet would allow one pieces, even those arguably more revealing than a tankini. Are spandex shorts allowed? What if they ride up and look like a swimsuit bottom from the back? Does this ban unfairly penalize curvier or larger students?

Administration is understandably concerned with students making the mistakes of NOD again. However, a party dress code does nothing to prevent overdrinking and students deserve trust in decisions as basic as what to wear.

GUEST OPINION

Rice needs to better support students with disabilities

Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board.

All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness by Thresher editors.

As I sit in my room, struggling to muster the energy to get out of bed, I can’t help but wonder how many others are silently fighting the same battle. It’s been almost two months since I lost access to my medication, and the toll is undeniable.

Since 2022, a medication shortage has left thousands without life-saving treatment, forcing them to manage their symptoms alone. I don’t drink, smoke or vape — yet

here I am, trapped in a haze of withdrawal.

The most infuriating part? I can’t fix this alone. So, I turned to my accommodations — the lifeline that should have supported me.

For the first month, I was too embarrassed to mention my withdrawal symptoms. I’d have to disclose intimate details about my medication to professors.

I called every pharmacy in Houston, and the medication was always out of stock.

I didn’t want to be seen as a “druggie,” yet I couldn’t access my accommodations without explaining why. That’s the problem. It wasn’t until my symptoms became unbearable that I emailed my professors. But how many others are silently suffering, too ashamed or too afraid to ask for help because they don’t

want to be judged?

Unfortunately, even with accommodations, the fight is far from over. Using them often becomes a battle.

I’ve had professors demand personal details about why I needed an extension, completely unaware of how invasive that question can be.

Editor’s Note: This guest opinion has been cut off for print. Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

Charlie Cruz

DUNCAN COLLEGE JUNIOR

* Indicates Editorial Board member Riya Misra* Editor-in-Chief Maria Morkas* Managing Editor Spring Chenjp* Managing Editor NEWS Sarah Knowlton* Editor James Cancelarich Asst. Editor Viola Hsia Asst. Editor Belinda Zhu Asst. Editor OPINION Sammy Baek* Editor FEATURES Shruti Patankar* Editor ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Juliana Lightsey* Editor Arman Saxena* Editor SPORTS Kathleen Ortiz* Editor Diego Palos Rodriguez Asst. Editor Andersen Pickard Asst. Editor BACKPAGE Andrew Kim Editor Charlie Maxson Senior Writer Max Scholl Senior Writer Will Howley Senior Writer COPY Annika Bhananker Editor Jaden Kolenbrander Editor PHOTO, VIDEO, & WEB Cali Liu Photo Editor Francesca Nemati Photo Editor Steven Burgess Video Editor Ayaan Riaz Web Editor DESIGN Alice Sun Art & Design Director Chloe Chan News Siddhi Narayan Opinion Jessica Xu Features Alexa Bu Arts & Entertainment Kirstie Qian Sports Lauren Yu Backpage BUSINESS Emma McLean Business Manager Alina Zhong Advertisement Rahul Santhanam Advertisement Audrey Witherspoon Distribution Madison Fuhr Distribution

ABOUT

GUEST OPINION

Scholasticide is a local issue Editor’s Note: This is a guest opinion that has been submitted by a member of the Rice community. The views expressed in this opinion are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of the Thresher or its editorial board. All guest opinions are fact-checked to the best of our ability and edited for clarity and conciseness

by Thresher editors.

One year of genocide and scholasticide — the process of intentionally and systemically destroying education and knowledge — in Gaza has revealed Israel’s apparent imperialist mission of not just eradicating Gazan life, but also Palestinian pasts and futures. As we have the privilege of learning in newly built classrooms and Rice celebrates the re-opening of the academic quad, no

EDITORIAL STAFF

universities have been left unscathed in Gaza.

On Oct. 11, 2023, Israeli occupation forces decimated the Islamic University of Gaza’s library and main buildings, before proceeding to annihilate a range of libraries in the coming days and weeks. Archives have been destroyed. Teachers and students have been killed.

Though we are privileged to share knowledge within university spaces, we should not become comfortable with Rice’s complicity. As an institution that invests in “a portfolio of oil and gas royalities,” Rice has not only been culpable in the genocide and scholasticide in Gaza, but has directly profited from it. With a Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowship program and the Shell Auditorium in McNair Hall, these material

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and intellectual connections to the oil industry do not go unnoticed. Yet, Rice has not been transparent about the specificities of these investments other than labeling them as “natural resources,” leading to calls for disclosure and divestment from SJP activists across campus.

Editor’s Note: This guest opinion has been cut off for print. Read the full article at ricethresher.org.

Lauren Palmieri HISTORY PH.D. STUDENT

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.

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ricethresher.org

6 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

Charles Spain on Rice, rulings and re-election only sees the final decisions, Spain said the deliberative process can be contentious.

“Smart people can really get into it, Seeking re-election in 2024, Charles and hopefully, the work product that Spain ‘81 is Texas’s first openly gay justice goes out at the end leaves out the … sharp of appeals. From his legislative efforts to elbows and the disagreements and the his work with the Boy Scouts of America, frustrations,” said Spain.

Spain said his convictions for fair Spain, a Will Rice College associate, said he has always valued bravery and fairness. treatment were shaped during his time Spain said that personal opinions have at Rice, where he was initially a premedical student no place in his majoring in history. decision-making.

While working “What people in a hospital as don’t understand Bravery is when you say a sophomore, about our courts Spain said he saw is, if we’re doing things that need to be said firsthand how our job, we really that other people don’t power imbalances are calling balls want to hear. could play out and strikes,” Spain in real life, a said. “The fact Charles Spain realization that that I don’t like TEXAS 14TH DISTRICT COURT OF stayed with him what happened is APPEALS JUDGE throughout his irrelevant.”

Spain’s role in the appellate court legal career.

“I thought the doctors did not treat the involves collaboration with fellow appellate judges. Judges make decisions nurses well. I thought the power dynamic in groups of three who may disagree on was off,” said Spain. “I thought the doctors interpretations of the law. While the public oftentimes were dismissive and rude to

THOMAS PICKELL

THRESHER STAFF

Kim decodes disinformation HUGO GERBICH PAIS

SENIOR WRITER

What do some alcoholic Korean businessmen and lying American politicians have in common? Minjae Kim, an assistant professor at the Jones School of Business, has an answer.

Kim, who has a Ph.D. in economic sociology, said both groups either uphold or break social norms to be perceived as authentic. His interdisciplinary work straddles business, sociology, economics and political science. His research is especially relevant this November, he says, as politicians try to amass trust with voters in the weeks before the Nov. 5 election.

While the subject matter of his research varies, ultimately Kim said he’s interested in strategic coordination and interaction — that is, how people work to curry favor in their environment. He studies issues from voter disinformation, to examining how female business founders present themselves to venture capitalists.

“His work on decision-making offers important insights … which in turn can inform policy making and systemic change,” Alina Zhong, one of Kim’s research assistants, said.

Social science research, Kim said, is often motivated by researchers attempting to explain a puzzling phenomenon. His interest in authenticity sparked when he observed the art market, noticing that wealthy “high-status” buyers would purchase “low-status” art from untrained artists.

“We found that high-status people might consume these kinds of ‘low-status products’ because they are trying to gain authenticity from [the product’s quality], not because of the art itself,” Kim said.

“One of my colleagues … suggested we look at how [Donald] Trump gained his perception of authenticity.”

Kim and his collaborators examined the 2016 presidential election and voter perception of the Republican and Democratic nominees, Trump and Hillary Clinton.

“We were essentially interested in why some ‘lying demagogues’ like Trump appear authentic, and why other lying politicians like Clinton don’t,” Kim said.

“By breaking the established norm, you’re essentially sticking it to the political establishment,” Kim continued. “The more flagrantly and explicitly you break the norm, the more authentically you appear.”

Kim’s research can also help explain why voters respond to disinformation, he said.

“We surveyed Trump voters as well as non-Trump voters, and the Trump voters often recognized Trump’s statements as not based on objective evidence, but they still rated the statement as [“true”], because they saw the statement as pushing forward American priorities,” Kim said.

“They see [the statements] as effective in communicating a deeper truth, even though they know that it is not based on objective evidence.”

Throughout Kim’s research, he has found that this phenomenon affected both Republicans and Democrats, Clinton and Trump voters alike.

As voters consider who to vote for in this upcoming election, Kim’s advice is to consider policy, not just party.

“We often let [our] partisan identity dictate our choices, even though our policy positions might not necessarily align with those politicians,” Kim said. “Practicing stepping out of the partisan identity to see the policies as they are, would be my number one advice for anybody, including myself.”

COURTESY MINJAE KIM

me, not always, but some of them.’”

After graduating from Rice, Spain worked for the Boy Scouts of America, an organization he had a strong passion for since he became an Eagle Scout as a teenager. Though he hadn’t yet come out, he said the experience left him with a stark reminder of the systemic injustices that the LGBTQ+ community faced in the 80s. “[My predecessor] picked up a couple of guys at White Rock Lake and took them back to his apartment, and they robbed and killed him,” Spain said. “The media and the District Attorney’s office [had] agreed that they’re going to keep this quiet.”

After graduating from Baylor Law School, Spain worked as a clerk for the Texas Supreme Court, where he pushed to remove Confederate symbols from the Texas state seal.

Before his work on the appellate court, Spain was one of the founders of the state bar’s LGBTQ+ committee, along with Connie Moore and Mitchell Katine. When the trio argued for the section to be added to the bar, it was initially rejected by the board of directors in 1996.

“It was the first section of the State Bar of Texas that they ever turned down, “ said Spain.

Despite the initial rejection, Spain said Judge Norman Black encouraged them to persevere and re-apply. Two years later, in 1998, the Bar Association approved the creation of the LGBT Law Section, the first of its kind in the United States.

“He said, ‘Your job is to keep going.

Because you almost got this done,’” Spain said. “He said, ‘I’m really disappointed at what happened,’ and then he went all Winston Churchill, and he said, ‘Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.’”

Spain said he has also advocated to fix the omission of Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the U.S. Flag Code with the help of senator Ken Bentsen. Though it was initially rejected by the Republican Congress, it was eventually passed with support from Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. Spain said his moment of triumph was cut short by the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut for print. To read more, visit ricethresher. org.

an interest in politics, despite originally planning on law school.

Throughout a career, as Emmett has “Now it’s about how bombastic you experienced, the needs of the people push can be, how extreme you can be, in officials to learn about specific issues, your politics that leads to more success, regardless of their formal role.

“When I first ran for state representative, especially with redistricting and the influence of money in politics and the I knocked on 19,404 doors,” Emmett said. political primary process, which rewards “One of the big issues in the area I lived in, Kingwood, was they wanted an overpass. extremism.”

Ed Emmett ’71 served as a county So I said, ‘Okay, you [vote for] me, I’ll get judge and is now a current Baker Institute an overpass.’ Then I won. I had no clue fellow in energy and transportation, how to get to an overpass.”

“We lived at a time when, regardless returning to the transportation issues which he specialized in, beginning during of party, if you became the known expert, his time as a member of the Texas House whether it was in public education or transportation or of Representatives. redistricting or “The irony here whatever, other is that so many members would people here know When I first ran for state listen to you. Now, me as county I don’t think it’s judge, where I representative, I knocked like that so much.” didn’t have that on 19,404 doors.

He shares this much to do with willingness to work tr ansportation,” Ed Emmett across party lines Emmett said to RICE UNIVERSITY ‘71, with another Owl the Thresher. “So, FORMER COUNTY JUDGE familiar to the city coming back to Rice and being able to re-establish myself of Houston.

Parker served as the 61st mayor of and what was really my life’s work, except for that little 12 years as county judge, has Houston from 2010 until 2016. However, for Parker, politics was not a goal but a been a godsend.”

As with many other Rice students with result of unrelated jobs.

“When I went into the workforce, I an interest in a career as a politician, his first steps on that path were running for went to work for an oil company because that was 80% of the Houston economy college presidency.

“I am the oldest living president of in 1978 when I graduated,” Parker said.

Lovett College,” Emmett said. “I was a “I was working to support my volunteer freshman running for treasurer. I got habit, and so for the first 10 years after elected, and the reason is, I was on the graduating most of my volunteer time tennis team and the jocks all voted for me. went to LGBT organizations, and then the Block voting — I mean, what can you next 10 years most of my volunteer time went to Civic Association and Housing say?”

This success only galvanized his United Way volunteering, those sorts of aspirations, he said; beyond the things.”

To Owls, both those aspiring to follow unspoken rules of the college in her footsteps and those passionate government, in fact.

“I ran for president [the about different careers entirely, Parker next year], and I was the first said she offers the same advice.

“The bare minimum of being involved, person to run as a rising junior, to be president of a college,” being a member of a democracy, is voting,” Emmett said. “They said, ‘Wait, Parker said. “But I also think that the bare you can’t do that. You have to minimum should never be enough for any be a senior,’ and I said ‘No, that Rice student … Pick a campaign, pick a wasn’t written anywhere,’ and so candidate, pick an issue and get involved.

It is actually, I kid you not, it is easier to I got elected as a junior.”

After graduating, he spent a year elect people who you align with on some coaching tennis at a country club, then issue than it is to get an officeholder to received a Master of Public Affairs at the change their mind on something. So get University of Texas at Austin to pursue out there.”

FROM FRONT PAGE

ALUMNI IN POLITICS

THE RICE THRESHER

HARRIS COUNTY

ELECTION GUIDE

If you’re voting in Harris County for this year’s elections, your ballot will have competitive federal, state and local races, in addition to three propositions.

To help you make your choice at the polls, editors at the Thresher put together a voting guide detailing the ballot’s candidates and proposals.

U.S. PRESIDENT

Donald Trump (R)

The former U.S. president and real estate mogul is aiming for a return to the White House, four years after losing his reelection bid to current president Joe Biden. Trump’s major policy goals include expanded tax cuts and initiating the country’s “largest deportation operation” in history.

Kamala Harris (D)

The current U.S. vice president took over the top of the Democratic ticket after Biden dropped out of the race in July. Formerly a U.S. senator and a California prosecutor, Harris’ platform focuses on restoring abortion access and remedying a national housing shortage.

Chase Oliver (L)

The political activist is running his first presidential campaign on a platform of minimal government interference. The Gazette has described him as a “pro-gun, pro-police reform, pro-choice Libertarian.”

Jill Stein (G)

A physician, three-time Green Party nominee and former candidate for Massachusetts governor, Stein is running a campaign pushing for anti-war policies and a “Real Green New Deal.”

CONGRESS

U.S. Senate

Texas voters will elect one person to represent their state at the federal level for six years alongside Republican Senator John Cornyn, who is not up for election until 2026 as term lengths in the Senate are staggered. The unusually contested race could determine whether Democrats keep control of the Senate or lose it to the Republicans after this election cycle.

Ted Cruz (R)

Incumbent Cruz is running for a third six-year term. As a former solicitor general, Cruz has been ranked as one of the chamber’s most conservative members. He came under fire in 2021 when he took a trip to Mexico during the Texas freeze — an act that his opponent, Colin Allred, has invoked in the hopes of persuading voters to deny him a third term.

Colin Allred (D)

This former NFL player and current congressman from Dallas is pitching himself as “the honest, pragmatic” alternative to incumbent Senator Ted Cruz. As senator, Allred would support raising the minimum wage, codifying Roe v. Wade into law and capping prescription drug costs.

Ted Brown (L)

This self-employed insurance adjuster from the Austin metro area presents himself as a clean, “principled alternative” to the two-party system. As senator, Brown would introduce legislation repealing the federal income tax and abolishing the Department of Education, the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal Drug Administration.

U.S. Representative, District 7

Texas voters in District 7 will elect one person to represent them for a two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives. With all 435 House seats up for grabs every two years, this district will be closely watched as Democrats fight to regain control after losing it in 2022.

Caroline Kane (R)

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 7

Kane, a Houston-based entrepreneur, is running to unseat Lizzie Fletcher by promoting a pro-business, limited-government agenda.

Kane criticizes the Biden administration’s economic policies and has pledged to reduce government regulations, expand border security measures and enhance energy production in Texas.

Lizzie Fletcher (D)

The incumbent congresswoman, Fletcher has built a reputation as a centrist Democrat focused on economic development and healthcare access. Fletcher positions herself as a bridge between business interests and progressive values — she voted to protect the right to an abortion after Roe v. Wade’s fall and secured funding for flood mitigation projects in Houston.

TEXAS LEGISLATURE

State Representative, District 134 Voters in this district, encompassing Rice’s Inner and Outer Loop, River Oaks, Bellaire and the Texas Medical Center, will have the option to elect one person to represent them for a two-year term in the Texas House of Representatives.

Audrey Douglas (R)

Douglas, a consulting firm CEO, is the Republican candidate for state representative to oust Ann Johnson. Douglas “does not appear to be running a substantive campaign,” the Houston Chronicle reported, and may not reside in the district she’s running in.

Ann Johnson (D)

This former human trafficking prosecutor and current law professor defeated her opponent in a contentious race in 2020. Johnson, a Democrat who is running for re-election, has fought vigorously to protect reproductive rights in Texas after the Dobbs decision. She has also crafted legislation circumventing Texas’ attempts to ban gender-affirming care for minors, and worked to get new criminal courts for Harris County.

State Senator, District 15 Voters in Texas’ 15th Senate District will elect a new state senator to represent them for a four-year term in Austin.

The race has drawn attention for its potential impact on key state issues, including healthcare, education and criminal justice reform. As Republicans push to consolidate power in the state legislature, Democrats hope to flip seats like District 15, making it a battleground in the larger fight for the direction of Texas politics.

Joseph L. Trahan (R)

Businessman Trahan is running for Texas Senate District 15, framing his campaign as a fresh start for the district. A longtime Houston resident, Trahan emphasizes conservative policies such as strengthening border security, ending property taxes and expanding parental choice in education.

Molly Cook (D)

Cook, a registered nurse and community activist from Houston, won a special election in May to fill the Senate vacancy left by now-Houston mayor John Whitmire. The first openly LGBTQ+ candidate elected to the Texas Senate and the first woman to represent the district, Cook is vying to win a full term. She presents herself as a grassroots candidate fighting for working families, and advocates for Medicaid expansion, abortion rights and a ceasefire in Gaza.

JUDGES

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 2 Texas voters will choose three out of the nine justices on the state Supreme Court, each of whom will serve six-year terms. As the court of last resort for Texas’ civil matters, these justices have decided on hot-button issues — most notably the Kate Cox case, which denied an abortion to a woman carrying a baby with a fatal condition. As of at least the last election cycle in 2018, all Supreme Court judgeships have been held by Republicans.

Jimmy Blacklock (R)

Incumbent Blacklock was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott in 2018, going on to defeat Democrat Steven Kirkland in his first election to the post. He previously worked in the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice under President George W. Bush.

DaSean Jones (D)

Army veteran Jones is a judge in Harris County’s 180th District Court. He is an adjunct professor in Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Jones prioritizes equity in sentencing and countering far-right extremism.

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 4 John Devine (R)

Incumbent Devine is a staunch supporter of the anti-abortion movement, and has proudly said he was arrested 37 times for protesting at abortion clinics. Devine has faced criticism from Democrats and GOP peers alike, and has often described church-state separation as a “myth.”

Christine Vinh Weems (D)

Weems is currently a judge in Harris County’s 281st Civil District Court. A child of Vietnamese immigrants, Weems is campaigning to bring “impartiality, fairness and balance to the court.” She issued an opinion in 2022 that blocked Texas from enforcing a 1925 abortion ban, and has been endorsed by the reproductive rights organization EMILYs List.

Justice, Supreme Court, Place 6 Jane Bland (R)

Bland, the incumbent, was appointed to the Texas Supreme Court by Gov. Abbott in 2019. She previously served as a justice in the First District Court of Appeals.

Bonnie Lee Goldstein (D)

Goldstein is currently a justice in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, elected in 2020. She previously served as a presiding judge in the 44th Judicial District Court, and was named the legal counselor to the Mexican Consulate in Houston.

David Roberson (L)

Roberson currently works as a tax attorney to monetize tax incentives, most notably for research and development. Roberson supports increased funding for public defenders.

Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the state’s court of last resort for criminal matters and is composed of a presiding judge and eight judges. The presiding judge is selected by voters at large and serves for a six-year term.

David Schenck (R)

Schenck is a former appellate attorney who has served on the Dallas Court of Appeals, as Deputy Attorney General and as Chairman of the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

He is backed by attorney general Ken Paxton.

Holly Taylor (D)

Taylor currently works as a prosecutor with the Travis County District Attorney’s Office. She advocates for respecting constitutional rights, supportive environments and enhancing court procedures for fair and efficient case resolution.

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7 Gina Parker (R)

Parker has served as Assistant District Attorney and chair of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. She identifies as a constitutional conservative and, if elected, would prioritize community safety, preserving the rule of law and ensuring justice for victims.

Nancy Mulder (D)

Mulder is currently presiding judge over Texas Criminal District Court 6, and has also worked as a criminal defense attorney in private practice. She has chaired local release programs in Dallas County, and her platform emphasizes fairness, preparedness and dignity.

Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8 Lee Finley (R)

Finley, endorsed by Donald Trump, says if elected he will strictly interpret the constitution and honor the rule of law.

He has been a criminal lawyer for 20 years and is a Marine Corps veteran.

Chika Anyiam (D)

Anyiam has been a judge in Dallas County’s Criminal District Court since 2018 and has 20 years of legal experience. Anyiam was the center of a controversy in early 2022 when she lowered bail for a road rage shooting suspect whose defense attorney gave political donations to Anyiam, but after public backlash she raised the bail and then recused herself from cases involving the suspect.

8 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 2 Harris County voters will elect a judge who oversees cases in the 1st Court of Appeals, an intermediate appellate court with jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases from 10 counties. These judges also preside over cases where the death penalty is imposed and cases seeking “extraordinary relief,” or where monetary compensation is insufficient to address an issue.

Jennifer Caughey (R)

Caughey, who previously served as an appointed judge in Place 9 until she lost her election to Democrat Pete Kelly in 2018, is running as the Republican nominee to return to the 1st Court of Appeals.

Brendetta Scott (D)

Scott, the Democratic nominee, is also leaning on her years of experience — although in her case, as an attorney in various legal fields with a “passion for justice … [and a] commitment to fairness and integrity.”

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 6 Andrew Johnson (R)

Johnson has spent over five years of his law career working for the Houston Courts of Appeals and is a textualist who believes an appellate judge should interpret the law as written. He has almost 17 years of experience as an appellate attorney in private practice.

Sarah Beth Landau (D)

Landau, the incumbent who has held the position since 2019, is a former public defender who has 20 years of legal experience and has handled more than 400 appeals.

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 7 Clint Morgan (R)

Morgan, Harris County’s current assistant district attorney, has over a decade of criminal appellate law experience. He has pledged to focus strictly on the law, maintaining that personal beliefs or biases have no place in judicial decisions.

Julie Countiss (D)

The incumbent has served in the 1st Court of Appeals since 2018. With more than 20 years of legal experience, Countiss has reviewed cases from civil, criminal, probate, family law and juvenile matters.

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 8 Kristin Guiney (R)

Guiney currently serves as the presiding judge over the 183rd Criminal District Court. Guiney is the executive director of Angela House, a nonprofit that helps women reenter society after incarceration.

Richard Hightower (D)

Hightower, the incumbent, is a fifth-generation lawyer who previously had his own law firm representing the interests of public school districts. Hightower has held this office since 2019.

Justice, 1st Court of Appeals District, Place 9 Susanna Dokupil (R)

Dokupil, who has been endorsed by Gov. Abbott, has been a lawyer in Texas for over 20 years. She is currently special counsel in the Texas attorney general Ken Paxton’s office.

Dokupil’s website states that her candidacy represents a “departure from partisan politics.”

Amber Boyd-Cora (D)

Boyd-Cora, currently a lawyer focusing on construction and real estate, defeated incumbent Peter Kelly in the March Democratic primary. Boyd-Cora said her candidacy is dedicated to “ensuring that our legal system serves everyone equally” and if elected, will prioritize “transparency, accountability and responsiveness.”

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 3 Chad Bridges (R)

Bridges currently presides over the 458th District Court. He previously worked as an assistant district attorney in Harris County, specifically regarding post-conviction death penalty litigation. During this time, Bridges helped develop a program to allow low-level narcotics defendants to enter a treatment plan instead of standing trial. He also wrote a grant creating a legal team to identify and assist those at risk of domestic violence in Fort Bend County.

Velda Renita Faulkner (D)

Faulkner has served as an attorney for over 30 years. Her goal is to bring more diversity to the 14th Court of Appeals and better represent the people living in her district. If elected, she said she aims to provide a unique perspective on appellate cases and encourage mentorship programs in the district.

HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION GUIDE

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 4 Tonya McLaughlin (R)

McLaughlin is a former felony prosecutor and criminal defense attorney that runs her own law practice. She has worked in the Harris County District Attorney’s office, and points to her experience handling over 100 appeals cases as a qualification to serve on the 14th Court of Appeals.

Charles Spain (D)

Spain, the incumbent — and an associate at Will Rice College — has served as appellate judge since 2018, when he was elected as the first openly LGBTQ+ appellate judge in Texas. Prior to this, he worked as a staff attorney for 23 years in different appellate courts, including the Texas Supreme Court.

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 5 Maritza Michele Antu (R)

Antu has served as a prosecutor, defense attorney and District Court judge. Her platform emphasizes the importance of providing effective legal representation for low-income individuals, favors nonpartisan judicial races and supports the creation of the new business court to specialize in complex business cases.

Frances Bourliot (D)

Bourliot, the incumbent, was elected to the 14th Court of Appeals in 2018, and was the first Asian American woman elected to the bench. She has worked as a public defender, and represented low-income and death row inmates with the Texas Innocence Network.

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 6 Katy Boatman (R)

Boatman is an appellate lawyer at a Texas-based law firm, and has clerked for the Texas Supreme Court and 5th Circuit of Appeals. Her campaign emphasizes impartiality, consistency and fairness as judicial ideals.

Meagan Hassan (D)

Hassan, the incumbent, was elected to the 14th Court of Appeals in 2018, and identifies as a progressive constitutionalist. Her platform promotes the courts’ role as a check on the legislative and administrative branches of government, and she advocates equal application of the laws, regardless of partisanship.

Justice, 14th Court of Appeals District, Place 8 Brad Hart (R)

Hart has worked as a prosecutor in the Harris County District Attorney’s office, where he notably secured the conviction of a man who shot a Houston police officer. Hart also served as Judge of the 230th Criminal District Court.

Margaret 'Meg' Poisssant (D)

Poissant, the incumbent, has many years of experience as a Texas trial lawyer, specializing in personal injury, wrongful death and business law cases, while also providing pro bono services.

District Judge, 11th Judicial District Civil district court judges must be at least 25, licensed to practice law in Texas for at least four years, and Harris County residents for at least two years. Judicial vacancies in district courts are filled by appointment of the governor. The judge of the 11th District Court presides over jury and bench trials, along with pre-trial matters. This court hears civil cases.

Nile Bailey Copeland (R)

Copeland has been an associate municipal judge for the City of Houston, a partner at a Houston-based law firm and a commercial and residential realtor in Texas. While he ran for Texas 55th District Court he was defeated by Latosha Payne (D) in the general election.

Kristen Hawkins (D)

Hawkins, the incumbent, was first elected back in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Prior to her election, she practiced general civil litigation and represented individuals applying for Social Security disability.

District Judge, 61st Judicial District Lee Kathryn Shuchart (R)

Shuchart, an attorney with nearly 40 years of experience, currently practices law with a focus on insurance defense and personal injury cases.

Fredericka Phillips (D)

Fredericka Philips, first elected in 2016, is running for her third term in this position. With over 17 years of experience as a civil litigator, she has previously represented both individuals and businesses in state and federal courts.

District Judge, 80th Judicial District Sonya L. Aston (R)

Aston, a sixth-generation Houstonian, currently serves as general counsel to state senator Paul Bettencourt. Aston has a legal background in business, construction, environmental and election law.

Jeralynn Manor (D)

First elected in 2020, Manor has nearly 20 years of experience in judicial matters, focusing on fee and escrow matters, helping Texans achieve homeownership as a fee attorney for title companies.

District Judge, 129th Judicial District Will Archer (R)

Archer is running for a seat on the Houston 1st Court of Appeals, bringing over 31 years of legal experience. A fith-generation Houstonian, Archer says he takes pride in his deep community roots and extensive public service. He has received endorsements from over 100 practicing attorneys.

Michael Gomez (D)

Gomez is running for re-election to the Houston 1st Court of Appeals. Serving the citizens of Harris County for four terms, Gomez says he emphasizes accessibility and efficiency in his court.

District Judge, 133rd Judicial District Michael Landrum (R)

Landrum is certified in civil trial and appellate law, with prior experience in serving as the judge for both the 164th and 113th district courts.

Nicole Perdue (D)

Perdue, with over 20 years of civil trial experience, first started her career in employment litigation and later expanded to other civil matters.

District Judge, 164th Judicial District Aaron Gabriel Adams (R)

Adams previously ran for the 151st District Court in 2016 but lost the primary. He has been practicing law in Texas for 19 years.

Cheryl Elliott Thornton (D)

Incumbent Thornton was elected to the 164th District in 2020.

She was previously the senior assistant county attorney for Harris County.

District Judge, 165th Judicial District Bruce Bain (R)

Bain is running for a seat on the Houston 1st Court of Appeals, bringing over 30 years of civil trial experience in areas such as commercial, constitutional, personal injury, business and real estate law.

Ursula A. Hall (D)

Hall, first elected to the bench in 2016, is running for re-election to continue serving on the Houston 1st Court of Appeals.

Hall brings nearly two decades of judicial experience, including 11 years as an associate municipal judge for the city of Houston.

District Judge, 177th Judicial District Emily Munoz Detoto (R)

Munoz Detoto, a fourth-generation Texan, has been practicing criminal law for 27 years and has owned her own firm since 2001. She is board-certified in criminal law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

Robert Johnson (D)

Johnson is the incumbent judge. He was elected to the bench in 2016 and has over 20 years of experience in criminal law. While he began his career in the private sector, he opened his own practice specializing in criminal law.

District Judge, 215th Judicial District Nathan J. Milliron (R)

Milliron has been practicing law for 20 years, covering a range of civil matters from breach of contract actions to real estate.

Elaine Palmer (D)

Palmer, the incumbent, has served as a judge since 2012. She has experience in private practice, district courts and state courts. Outside of court, she was an adjunct professor in Westwood College’s paralegal program.

District Judge, 333rd Judicial District Brian Staley (R)

Staley has 27 years of legal experience and owns a small retail business with his wife. Prior to law school, he worked as an analyst for the Central Intelligence Agency.

Tracy D. Good (D)

Good was previously an Associate Judge in Harris County Family District Court 309th for three years, and previously worked in private practice. He is a certified public accountant and internal auditor.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 9

THE RICE THRESHER

District Judge, 338th Judicial District Michele Oncken (R)

Oncken has worked as a prosecutor for 30 years in Harris County. She supports probation, as opposed to incarceration, for some non-violent offenses or first-time offenders.

Allison Jackson-Mathis (D)

After starting her career as a public defender in Palau, Jackson Mathis worked in New Mexico and Washington, especially with Indigenous communities. In Texas, she has worked as a felony trial attorney and as representation for border operation defendants.

District Judge, 486th Judicial District Aaron Burdette (R)

Incumbent Burdette used to serve as general counsel for U.S. LawShield and assistant district attorney for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office for 14 years.

Vivian King (D)

King currently works at the Harris County District Attorney’s office, and has previously served as a prosecutor and private practice attorney. Outside of court, King co-stars in a reality television show about Black female lawyers in Houston.

District Judge, 487th Judicial District Lori DeAngelo (R)

DeAngelo, appointed by Gov. Abbott in 2023, is running for reelection. With over 25 years of experience in criminal law — 20 years as a prosecutor and five as a criminal defense attorney — she has reduced the court’s case backlog by nearly 40% since her appointment.

Stacy Allen Barrow (D)

As a current felony associate judge for the Harris County Criminal District Courts, Barrow has handled over 1,500 felony cases and has experience in criminal law.

District Judge, 488th Judicial District Matthew Peneguy (R)

From 2019 to 2023, incumbent Peneguy was an assistant U.S. attorney in the criminal division for the U.S. Attorney’s Southern District of Texas office. Prior to his work with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he was an assistant district attorney in Harris County for 13 years.

Carvana Cloud (D)

Cloud has worked as a prosecutor, leading the Special Victims Bureau. She co-founded Houston’s Domestic Abuse Response Team, established a social justice think tank and owns a family and immigration law firm.

District Judge, 507th Judicial District Dan Lemkuil (R)

Lemkuil has operated his own family law practice since 2006, and previously served as an associate judge in the 310th district from 2000-2006.

Lillian Henny Alexander (D)

With 13 years of experience specializing in family law and divorce litigation, Henny Alexander has built her career focusing on child custody, support and visitation disputes.

Judge, County Criminal Court No. 16 County criminal court at law judges preside over cases less severe than those in district courts. Cases include misdemeanors in which the allowed fine exceeds $500 or county jail time is less than one year, appeals on decisions from municipal and justice of the peace courts and appeals for license reinstatement after driving under the influence.

Linda Garcia (R)

Garcia was a Criminal Court No. 16 judge in 2016. She has over 20 years of legal experience, including as an assistant district attorney and in the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, which makes parole decisions for inmates.

Ashley Mayes Guice (D)

Guice is a former judge of Harris County Criminal Court at Law 3 and is currently a staff attorney for county court judges. In 13 years of practice, Guice has worked as a private defense attorney, a prosecutor, a public defender and an appointed judge.

Judge, County Probate Court No. 5 Probate courts oversee the execution of wills and supervise the distribution of property and estates.

Ray Black Jr. (R)

An attorney, Black Jr. has three decades of experience litigating trust, guardianship and estate settlements. He counsels for a private Texas-based firm.

Fransheneka ‘Fran’ Watson (D)

Watson has practiced law for 15 years, with experience in contracts, consumer law and estate planning. She worked in private practice until 2023, and said she dedicated 30% of her practice to pro bono services.

PUBLIC SAFETY

County Tax Assessor-Collector

The district attorney is the county’s lead prosecutor, operating the branch that investigates and prosecutes misdemeanor and felony crimes.

The county tax assessor-collector collects and distributes property taxes to local governments, in addition to registering and maintaining voter rolls for the county.

They also collect hotel occupancy taxes, perform vehicle registrations and renew liquor licenses in the county.

Dan Simons (R)

Steve Radack (R)

Sean Teare (D)

Annette Ramirez (D)

Sheriff

Railroad Commissioner

District Attorney

A former assistant district attorney, Simons had an 84% conviction rate during his tenure. He believes the county needs a “prosecutor, not a politician” and is running on a platform of restoring community trust in the criminal justice system.

In March’s Democratic primaries, Teare unseated Kim Ogg in a “blowout loss” for the former district attorney. Last year, Ogg faced criticism for launching criminal investigations into people who “pissed her off” — resulting in no charges, but hundreds of thousands of taxpayer-shouldered legal bills. Teare says he’ll work to bolster transparency and accountability, and is eager to restore trust in the district attorney’s office.

Voters in Harris County will elect a Sheriff for a four-year term to head the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. As the highest-ranking law enforcement officer in the county, the sheriff is responsible for operating the Harris County Jail and providing law enforcement services to county residents.

Mike Knox (R)

Knox is a former city councilor and police officer running to unseat Gonzalez. Knox has said he would “prioritize tackling human trafficking/drug smuggling” and increase law enforcement staffing and presence. He would also reinstate the controversial 287(g) program, which would empower sheriff’s deputies to perform immigration enforcement duties normally assigned to federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Ed Gonzalez (D)

Former Houston Police Department sergeant and incumbent Sheriff Ed Gonzalez is running for a third consecutive term. Gonzalez has pledged that he will continue to advocate for criminal justice reform and accountability, such as requiring body cameras for deputies and jail detention officers and providing support services to incarcerated women.

POLICY

County Attorney The county attorney represents the county government, flood control district, toll road authority and 9-1-1 emergency network in all civil cases.

Radack was a county commissioner from Precinct 3 for nearly 30 years. He says he would serve as a check of accountability to the Democrat-led county government and has pledged to increase full-time staffing.

Ramirez is currently the assistant general counsel for Aldine Independent School District and a first-generation Mexican American immigrant. She has pledged to work with officials to establish county online voter registration, upgrade and maintain technology, and increase access to resources that help homeowners deal with difficult property tax burdens.

The railroad commission is a three-person regulatory agency that oversees Texas’ oil and gas industry. One seat on the commission is up for election this cycle.

Christi Craddick (R)

Craddick, the incumbent, is the current chair and has served on the commission since 2012. She is a former attorney from Midland who is critical of progressive policies that undermine the economic success of the state’s oil and gas industry. Craddick advocates for private property rights, limited government regulation and investment in new technology within the oil and gas field.

Katherine Culbert (D)

Culbert is a process safety engineer and small business leader whose top priorities are enhancing safety protocols, holding corporations responsible for orphan wells and greater transparency and accountability in the commission. Culbert also has experience as a delegate for the League of Women Voters and advocates for policies to mitigate climate change.

Hawk Dunlap (L)

Dunlap has 30 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, including well control, drilling and risk management. His priorities include preventing groundwater contamination by plugging wells effectively, stricter regulations and increased accountability.

Eddie Espinoza (G)

Jacqueline Lucci Smith (R)

Espinoza is a U.S. army veteran and public school teacher. As the Green Party candidate, he prioritizes environmental and public health policies. If elected, he would work to phase out the fossil fuel industry, protect freshwater resources, lower energy costs for all Texans and reform campaign financing regulations for railroad commissioners.

Christian D. Menefee (D)

EDUCATION

Smith is an attorney and former civil court judge. She has previously opposed a pilot $500 basic income program started earlier this year by County Judge Lina Hidalgo as “[the pitfall] of woke agendas and handouts.”

Running for a second term, Menefee is the youngest person and Harris County’s first African American elected to the position.

He has waged legal battles for environmental justice and against restrictive voting laws. He most recently filed lawsuits against two gas stations in the Houston area after they were accused of price gouging following Hurricane Beryl.

County Commissioner, Precinct 1

The governing body of each of Texas' 254 counties is Commissioners Court. Each county has five members, consisting of a county judge and four commissioners — together, they manage county budgets, tax rates and infrastructure.

Gerry Vander-Lyn (R)

Vander-Lyn’s platform focuses on issues like public safety, mental health, homelessness and government transparency. She hopes to challenge her opponent’s lengthy tenure in public office.

Rodney Ellis (D)

Ellis, the incumbent, is running for a third term and is currently the longest-serving commissioner. He previously worked as a state senator and a member of the Houston City Council. As commissioner, Ellis has taken a leading role on issues such as misdemeanor bail reform, criminal justice and equitable allocation of resources.

County School Trustee, Position 3, At Large The Board of Trustees develops and votes on policies regarding the Harris County Department of Education.

The Department of Education supports school districts in Harris County by providing school supplies, therapy and other services.

Danielle Dick (R)

If elected, Dick would increase funding for under-resourced schools and integrate mental health services. Her spouse, Eric Dick — an insurance attorney known for billboards featuring slogans like “Hire a Dick” — is an incumbent board trustee.

Earlier this year, he was fined $250,000 for mishandling lawsuits as an attorney as well as $40,000 for incorrect campaign finance filings while running for local offices.

Richard Cantu (D)

Cantu has over 30 years of public service experience managing economic development and public safety. His platform prioritizes mental health support, youth outreach and gun violence reduction — informed largely by his daughter, Aleksis, who died in a shooting three years ago.

PROPOSITIONS & VOTING LOCATIONS

>>>

Flip to the next page to learn more about where to fill out your ballot on Nov. 5 or during early voting.

10 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

HARRIS COUNTY ELECTION GUIDE

PROPOSITIONS HARRIS COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT, PROPOSITION A • Prop A aims to increase investment in Harris County’s flood control infrastructure.

• Voting for would provide funding for infrastructure repairs to Harris County’s drainage channels, including sediment removal, erosion repairs and concrete replacements.

• The proposition would give an additional $100 million to the Flood Control District for maintenance, for a total maintenance budget of $241 million.

• Taxes would increase by around $44 each year for the owner of a $274,000 home with a 20% homestead exemption.

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, PROPOSITION A • Voting for this bond proposal, split into two parts, would allocate a total $4.4 billion in bonds to HISD as part of a property tax increase. Proposition A advocates for $3.96 billion toward infrastructure upgrades.

• This bond proposal is universally contested, facing criticism from both Democrats and Republicans alike. The Houston Chronicle’s Editorial Board has urged voters to select ‘no.’

• While many agree on the importance of funding public education, many have also lost trust in state-appointed superintendent Mike Miles amid allegations of financial mismanagement.

• Simply put, voters share one concern: They don’t trust someone “wholly unaccountable to the community he serves” to use the money wisely.

HOUSTON INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, PROPOSITION B • HISD’s bond proposal has been split into two packages, one for approximately $4 billion and the other for approximately $440 million. Proposition B would redirect the some $400 million toward technology upgrades in the district.

• The opinions, however, stay consistent across both propositions. Proponents believe that improvement to HISD’s infrastructure is needed desperately.

• However, critics from across the political spectrum display a lack of trust in HISD Superintendent Mike Miles’ ability to allocate the bond money effectively.

VOTING LOCATIONS Emanu El - Feld Hall

Address: 1500 Sunset Boulevard Voting Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Election Day only

Welcome Center - Sewall Hall Address: 6100 Main Street Voting Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Election Day only

John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons 1st Floor Early voting location Address: 6550 Bertner Ave Voting Hours: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. most days Accessible via BRC Shuttle

ALICE SUN / THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 11

FEATURES

POLI 224 simulates running for office on identifying potential voters and increasing voter turnout. They hear from former candidates, including those Election season is in high gear: not elected, to help with these projects.

“Raj Salhotra (’13), [a Houston City Campaign signs litter front yards, texts from candidates blow up phones and in Council candidate], didn’t win his a new class, students make their own campaign,” Vann said. “But he shared election bid. In POLI 224: How to Run with the students early on some regrets for Office, students create mini-political he had about how that played out and campaigns, learning the realities of maybe what he would do differently.

This is an opportunity at a sort of high being a candidate as they go.

The class, taught by social policy level.”

Throughout the semester, students analysis lecturer Elizabeth Vann, walks students through running for election. have the freedom to make decisions Rather than a readings and lectured- about aspects of their campaign after based syllabus, Vann said she wanted to hearing insights from speakers like craft an experiential course, enhanced Salhotra.

“The class design is really unique,” by visits from local candidates, officials Nina Wallach, a Martel College and advisors.

“I wanted Rice students in the course sophomore, said. “We’ve had a lot of to be able to imagine future pathways autonomy to decide what we want to run for themselves,” Vann said. “If they for and our strategies.

“The guests that we’ve had have been really are interested in working in the space, having personal connections is really cool to learn about why people run for office, what makes a more great.”

Class speakers range from Annise successful campaign and what it’s like Parker ’78, former Houston mayor, to to be in office.”

But despite the class’s name, not all Josh Earnest ’97, former White House press secretary and current university students want to run for office.

“I did think trustee. Vann said most students the first visitors would have were Rice alumni p o l i t i c a l who ran for office The class design is really ambitions of their in Texas, and unique ... We’ve had a lot own,” Vann said. they discussed “I would say fewer the motivations of autonomy to decide than 50% of the behind their what we want to run for class is interested candidacies. and our strategies. in running for “Is it stuff that office, and that’s happens at home? Nina Wallach great.”

Is there something MARTEL COLLEGE SOPHOMORE The class you’ve always wanted? … These [questions] engage is a prime opportunity for students students in the conversation of why interested in working behind the scenes they might be interested in running for on political campaigns, Vann said.

Students work in groups in class, so office,” Vann said.

These discussions help students they get a sense of the collaborative build their own candidate biographies, work that goes on beyond the candidate.

Even if students have no interest in which guide their campaign goals, Vann political work, Vann believes students said. “[The] candidate biography is a way can gain valuable knowledge about for them to think about the person who elections — and said students in the has big ambitions, and they run initially class are much more likely to recognize because they’re thinking about what’s the importance of primary elections, next, versus someone who runs because races with exceedingly low turnout.

“For me, that is a win for this class,” they’re committed to maybe an issue space or a particular community,” Vann Vann said. “If [students] have zero interest in running [for office], said. but they’re now primary Additionally, voters, I’m thrilled.” students work

‘Get out there and vote’: Poll workers on volunteering

WILL PATEL

FOR THE THRESHER

FRANCESCA NEMATI / THRESHER PLI 224 students listen to guest speakers.

From left, professor Bob Stein, owner of Campaign Strategies Robert Jara and Raj Salhotra ’13.

HAI-VAN HOANG / THRESHER

NEELA RAVI

FOR THE THRESHER While most students only spend a few minutes at the polls on election day, some students are at the polls for up to eight hours, directing lines and handing out ballots as student poll workers.

Katherine Jeng, a Texas civic ambassador and democracy fellow for the Campus Vote Project, has worked the polls for the past five elections. Jeng said she noticed a lack of voter literacy on Rice’s campus, which inspired her to become a poll clerk for the first time.

“I think I’ve also always been really passionate about social justice and how we can use our voices for change,” Jeng said. “And as I’ve gotten to Rice, I saw how people didn’t really care about the election. There wasn’t a lot of voter awareness on campus, especially with elections coming up. And so that was something I really wanted to fix.”

Jeng said that her time as a poll worker helped her make voting in elections a priority in her life.

“Being an election judge or election clerk has made me even more civically aware, and I vote in every election now,” Jeng said. “I vote in the primaries, I will vote in local elections, and that’s been a really big point in my life to make sure I get out there and vote for every election.”

Jeng said her favorite responsibility is demystifying the voting process for students and helping them to cast their vote.

“I really like having people vote and learn how to cast their ballots, making sure that they know who they’re voting for and streamlining the process,” Jeng said. “I just really liked helping them exercise their [right to] vote in any way possible.”

Poll clerks can also apply to be a presiding judge, who oversees election day logistics. Karyn Fu is the current presiding judge for Rice’s polling location. Fu said she has been preparing for the presidential election for months, ensuring that poll clerks are trained, the Welcome Center is set up and voting registration is being promoted at Rice.

“I think I also just felt very proud because in high school I was pretty politically involved,” Fu, a Martel College sophomore, said. “After the elections, tearing everything down, you [see] how many people voted. We’re able to see how many students voted as well. I think seeing that we were able to help thousands of people vote … it was

such a cool feeling that I personally was able to help.”

Fu said at first, she found the role intimidating.

“There was a lot of media coverage around it, a lot of people were voting, so I was like, ‘Oh my God. I can’t mess up,’” Fu said. “It was something really scary at first, but with time, I realized that, yes, it is a big responsibility, but with that, you have so much power to facilitate people’s access to voting and make sure that elections and voting are accessible to everyone.”

While being a presiding judge or a poll clerk carries responsibility, Fu said that anyone can be a poll clerk or presiding judge. Historically, poll clerks have been older citizens, but Fu said that anyone can get trained and help in elections, which is what makes Rice’s on-campus polling location unique.

“People see who’s working the polls, and it’s old people, so they assume there’s a bunch of qualifications, a bunch of things you have to do or a big time commitment to do it. But it’s really not,” Fu said. “So being able to have young people help other young people go vote is really special.”

Veronica Reyna, the associate director of Civic Engagement at the Center for Civic Engagement at Rice, said the student poll worker program is a way to not only uphold one’s responsibility to vote but also one’s obligation to create accessible and high-quality elections.

“There’s a responsibility for participation in making our democracy work, and one side of it is voting, the other side is the implementation of high-quality elections, and that is an equal responsibility,” Reyna said.

“There’s a lot of misinformation about the quality of our elections. One of the best ways to make sure that they’re free and fair, accessible and they run smoothly is to participate in them and kind of do your part and make it so.”

Fu and Jeng said they are especially excited about voting this term — their first presidential elections as poll workers — which will be the most hectic election either of them have ever experienced.

“I like it when the lines are really long, if that makes sense,” Jeng said.

“This year is going to be the craziest, because it’s a presidential election, and I’ve never witnessed a presidential election … I always am so empowered by the people who are willing to stay in line and wait. People who are like ‘This is important to me.’”

12 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

ACL fashion centers fun and comfort JULIANA LIGHTSEY

A&E EDITOR

While notable for its eclectic artist lineups and Texas weather, the Austin City Limits music festival is also known for its unique festival fashion. This year’s festivalgoers balanced comfort in the hot sun, fashion trends, such as mini-shorts and

riding boots, and matching the unique style of headliners such as Chappell Roan.

Many ACL attendees opted for pieces tying in Western or Texan elements with traditional festival fashion, such as shorts paired with statement belts and cowboy boots. Even those from outside of Texas incorporated some quintessentially Southern elements into their outfits.

“Everyone’s excited to be in Texas, to go to a festival in Austin … even the performers are in Texas gear,” Styra Goldblatt said.

Goldblatt wore a sheer lace skirt paired with a studded belt, black tube top and brown cowboy boots. Although Goldblatt hails from San Antonio, Texas, she attended with three friends from Maryland, New Jersey and Chicago.

JULIANA LIGHTSEY / THRESHER Faith Song (left) and Emily Siegel (right) pose at ACL.

“I’m wearing denim on denim, so very Texas vibe with cowboy boots,” Samantha Topf, who attended the festival with Goldblatt, said.

The group of four said that they all dressed according to their own taste, but ended up appearing stylistically cohesive, with dark brown and denim tones tying

their outfits together.

When asked about any fashion trends they noticed at this year’s ACL Festival, Goldblatt pointed to a surge in the use of statement belts.

“Definitely a chunky belt, in any variation,” Goldblatt said. “I’m already seeing so many and they’re really cool — I

followed that trend.”

Tracking the evolving festival fashion over the years, some attendees noticed a greater emphasis on function and comfort, particularly for hot afternoon concerts.

“I feel like people have gotten more comfortable with wearing less over the years,” Ava Riley said.

JULIANA LIGHTSEY / THRESHER (left to right) Styra Goldblatt, Samantha Topf, Marli Golden and Emily Myers pose at ACL.

This year was Riley’s fourth time attending ACL, and she wore a brown lace top with a cutoff denim skirt. Riley attended with her friend Maggie Singleton, who said this was her first year at the festival.

Singleton noted a popular trend in the tiny, ruffled shorts that many chose to include in their outfits at ACL. “I’ve seen a lot of the bloomers, the

shorts,” Singleton said. “The little belts are a big trend too.”

Singleton herself sported red checkered bloomers, and a denim vest paired with brown cowboy boots. When asked if the range of artists performing – and their respective styles – influenced her festival fashion at all, Singleton said that she felt like each day’s lineup impacted her stylistic choices.

“I feel like the days are different types of things,” Singleton said. “Like for Chappell Roan [on Sunday], I’m wearing pink and all the fun stuff.”

Regardless if their motivation came from the heat, the headliners or the overarching fashion trends, this year’s festival-goers expressed a diversity of unique pieces and outfit combinations authentic to the ACL festival atmosphere.

JULIANA LIGHTSEY / THRESHER Ava Riley (left) and Maggie Singleton (right) pose at ACL.

FROM FRONT PAGE

TODD

Todd said he engages his fans throughout his shows, fulfilling one lucky fan’s request to sign their face at his ACL set. However, he said he tries to stray away from letting his live performances influence his writing process.

“I never really played shows before … since I’ve done my tour and done like 60-something shows this year, I have now gone back in the studio and been like, ‘How is this going to work live?’” Todd said. “So I try not to think about it because to me it’s the song first … When it comes to the show, they’ll love it if they love the song.”

Todd said his family gave him an early head start to becoming a professional musician.

I don’t want to do the same thing over and over again. I want to be great, you know?

Malcolm Todd SINGER/SONGWRITER

“My whole family’s musical, my mom’s super musical, [my] dad loves music,” Todd said. “So there was a lot of music around my house … and I just picked [the guitar] up in the pandemic, and it came naturally to me.”

While his mother came from a musical theater family, Todd’s brand of indie pop blended with R&B melodies was heavily influenced by the playful yet melancholic rhythms of the bedroom pop and alternative R&B titans of the 2010s.

Because of how formative fellow singer Omar Apollo’s music was for him, Todd said that his recent opportunity to open for Apollo felt like a surreal, fullcircle moment.

“It was so cool, he’s amazing, he’s such a great guy, and he was so cool to me, his whole team was amazing,” Todd said. “As I was on tour, I’d think back to moments in high school when he was doing what I’m doing now and how excited I was about it.

And now here I am, doing it too — damn, that’s crazy.”

Houston holds a special place in Todd’s heart, he said. His recent show there on Apollo’s tour not only cemented his bond with fans, but also fueled his excitement for future performances in the city.

“I love Houston, bro,” Todd said.

“Houston’s a great crowd, they were fun for Omar too … I can’t wait to go back.”

Despite the buzz around his growing success, Todd says he tries to stay focused on developing his artistry without getting caught up in trends or comparisons — and advises aspiring artists to do the same.

“You just cannot look around too much,” Todd said. “It’s great to be inspired by people, but the more you look at what other people are doing and let it influence what you’re about, the less you’re gonna get done. If you’re gonna do something great, it’s gotta be your way, because the power you have is what’s gonna take you where you need to be.”

With his signature blend of vulnerability, energy, humor and a drive to connect with his fans, Todd’s journey is just beginning.

“I want to get better,” Todd said. “I don’t wanna do the same thing over and over again. I want to be great, you know?

“So I’m taking my time to figure out what’s next. I’m not trying to switch eras or commercialize it — I just want to evolve musically. Whatever that looks like, it’ll be what it’s gonna be. It’s just a journey.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Students explore activism and solidarity through art political dimensions — often feels absurd,” Salah, a Will Rice junior, said. “I believe young people are While some college students use increasingly aware of and frustrated by their voices to protest and call for these conditions, and my work aims to social change, others opt for a different create spaces for collective exchange, medium of expression, through reflection and expression.”

Many artists find that their artwork painting, sculpture or photography.

Some Rice students say activism becomes informed by politics and through art has proven to be a fulfilling activism. Sophia Rohlfsen ’24 said avenue of expressing dissent that she finds that her photography work indirectly expresses her views and resounds just as loudly as their voices.

Some artists advocate for topics thoughts about needed change.

“My work is not overtly political, but relating to their identity. In this case, activism may be integral to their art politics will always inform my artwork,” due to the role of their identity in their Rohlfsen said. “I don’t know if my work lives. Camille Neal-Harris is one such is ever trying to prove a point. I think I artist, whose wood, plaster and metal just try to show what I find interesting sculptures express her beliefs on race about a subject.”

The intersection of activism and art and equality.

“A lot of my pieces have to do also allows students to get involved in with the sky and sun, culture and the greater student community. Salah emotional development,” Neal-Harris, had one such experience through an a Will Rice College senior, said. “I think installation at Rice Students for Justice in Palestine’s because I am a “liberated zone,” Black woman, set up last spring. concepts of “ L a s t race, culture semester, some and advocating While words are of my peers and against the important, visual forms — I conceptualized s y s t e m s whether posters, murals this installation that cause or installations — offer a as a collective discrimination project,” Salah are embedded tactile, immediate way to said.

“We in every piece I engage with the world. constructed a make, whether I mural framework say it explicitly Musab Salah WILL RICE COLLEGE JUNIOR that allowed or not.” c o m m u n i t y Others find themselves using art to understand and members to paint freely within represent the world. Musab Salah said the designated space on large his multi-media art reflects Palestinian wooden panels. This piece took on resistance and solidarity across additional significance in response to administrative pushback against movements.

“I think in absurd terms because student protests — organizing a protest the world today — particularly in its was restricted due to censorship, and

ANGELICA HERNANDEZ

FOR THE THRESHER

COURTESY MUSAB SALAH Salah said he spearheaded the design for a mural that stood outside Rice SJP’s “liberated zone” last spring.

students were closely monitored.”

According to Salah, artistic spaces also foster an environment that allows for creativity and activism to collide.

“I regularly seek input from my friends and classmates on the visuals I produce,” Salah said. “Through this collaborative process, art becomes a medium of engagement, encouraging others to reflect on their roles in broader social issues.”

According to Salah, the diverse

environment at Rice allows him to challenge conventional expression through a variety of mediums.

“On a campus as multifaceted as ours, art has the power to reshape how we exchange ideas and create new forms of cultural expression,” Salah said. “While words are important, visual forms — whether posters, murals or installations — offer a tactile, immediate way to engage with the world.”

Protest albums to exercise your voice ARMAN SAXENA

A&E EDITOR

It’s election season, and while the ballot is one way to make your voice heard, these artists believe in another way to influence their communities: protest.

From Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” to Rage Against the Machine’s self-titled debut, major protest albums have entered the cultural canon. However, many lesser-known protest projects are equally as powerful. Check out these albums and get inspired to exercise your voice outside the confines of the electoral system.

VIVIAN LANG / THRESHER

“Nina Simone in Concert,” Nina Simone This 1964 live album is the iconic African American singer-songwriter Nina Simone’s first with explicitly political themes. In the midst of the civil rights movement, it was no wonder Simone felt compelled to protest a racist status quo through her music.

While multiple songs on this project contain political messaging, none ring as powerfully as the final track “Mississippi Goddam.” It angrily yet melodically critiques white moderates who claim to support civil rights but prefer slow, comfortable change, highlighting their discomfort with protests as stemming from ignorance with effects similar to outright

opposition.

The song contrasts this with the Black community’s enduring trauma, emphasizing that prioritizing the comfort of the privileged over the suffering of the disenfranchised is self-serving. The themes of this song made it a popular choice during the Black Lives Matter movement.

“Zombie,” Fela Kuti The pioneer of Afrobeat, a blend of West African musical styles with funk and jazz, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti was known for his energetic rhythms laced with rebellious political messaging.

A passionate critic of the Nigerian military junta that controlled the country from 1966 to 1999, Kuti organized a commune he called the Kalakuta Republic in 1970 that he declared independent of Nigeria. His 1976 album “Zombie” is characteristically rebellious and condemns complicity and docility in the face of subjugation, as well as denouncing robotic compliance from members of the Nigerian military.

In response to the album’s popularity, the Nigerian military burned down the Kalakuta Republic and killed Kuti’s mother. Still, the album remains a strong stance against oppressive power.

“It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back,” Public Enemy Along with N.W.A., De La Soul, Eric B. & Rakim, Run-DMC and Beastie Boys, the New York-based Public Enemy was one of the hip-hop groups that ruled the scene during the late 1980s.

But unlike the rest of those groups, Public Enemy was the most explicitly political (with the exception of N.W.A., whose “Straight Outta Compton” was the first major political hip-hop album on the

West Coast). “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” is the blueprint for many of the political hip-hop projects that followed it.

While it doesn’t contain “Fight the Power,” a track made iconic by Spike Lee’s similarly radical film “Do the Right Thing,” songs like “Bring the Noise” and “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos” more than suffice in terms of protest messaging.

“Da Lama ao Caos,” Chico Science & Nação Zumbi By blending Afro-Brazilian musical genres like maracatu, coco and ciranda with hip-hop and rock, Chico Science & Nação Zumbi established a unique sound that brought together the traditional and the modern.

Lead singer Chico Science grew up in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco and “Da Lama ao Caos”’ lyrics criticize the systemic socioeconomic factors that Science believed contributed to the poverty and inequality that affected the state. This album immerses listeners in a lush environment through its images of street markets and subaquatic trees, and with sonics similarly native to Pernambuco.

“Let England Shake,” PJ Harvey PJ Harvey is an artist constantly reinventing herself. With 2011’s “Let England Shake,” PJ Harvey channels her inner Bob Dylan and Sixto Rodriguez, transforming herself into an anti-war folk rocker. This project explores the United Kingdom’s relationship with war, illustrating how England’s national identity has been forged by the corpses of war. It also explores the role the country has played in the world, from World War I to more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

14 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

Is Rice women’s soccer’s ‘Transfer Forward University’?

DIEGO PALOS RODRIGUEZ

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

On Oct. 3, graduate forward Leah Chancey broke the Temple University defensive line and found herself faceto-face with the goalkeeper. On her first touch, she shot the ball past the keeper, marking her eighth straight game with a goal, breaking the program record and maintaining the longest active goal-scoring streak in the NCAA. Despite the streak ending in the next match against the University of North Texas, Chancey provided two assists that propelled the Owls to their 11th win of the season, tied for the second most in head coach Brian Lee’s time at Rice.

While Chancey’s numbers might seem unprecedented, Rice soccer fans know that this is just another highly successful graduate transfer forward who has had a significant impact on the Owls’ season.

In 2022, Grace Collins announced that she would be transferring from Texas Christian University to Rice, an unexpected move considering TCU’s success in the Big 12 Conference and her individual success on the team. Earning Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in just her sophomore season with the Horned Frogs, Collins

played a huge role in an Owl squad that had just recently made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. She finished the season with the most goals and assists on the team with nine and eight, respectively.

She also set the Conference USA record for the most assists in a single game, with five against the University of the Incarnate Word. Collins led the Owls to the C-USA tournament as the No. 1 seed, but they were knocked out in the first round, ending Collins’s time with the program.

While the Owls lost a key piece in Collins, Lee recruited another graduate forward, Ellen Halseth from Hofstra University in 2023. She was among Hofstra’s top scorers in multiple seasons there, and the same followed in her year at Rice. While the Owls finished 3-13-2, Halseth led the Owls in both goals and assists, with five each, as well as points, shots and shots on goal. The team did not qualify for their first American Athletic Conference tournament, but Halseth proved to be another crucial asset in what was otherwise a low-output season.

Now, Chancey is not only following in the footsteps of these two transfer forwards, but she’s going beyond what Rice fans have seen in recent years. After playing three seasons at Southern Methodist University, Chancey had only amassed two goals in

CAYDEN CHEN / THRESHER Graduate forward Leah Chancey shoots the ball during the game on Sept. 26.

her collegiate career. In her 15 games with Rice, she has scored nine and assisted four, leading the AAC in goals and points while helping the Owls to first place in the conference as of Oct. 22, clinching the AAC Tournament three games out from the end of the regular season.

Is Rice soccer the place to be for transferring forwards around the country? Or is it the graduate programs in accounting, energy economics and data science that attract these players? Whatever Lee is telling them in recruitment talks, it must be working.

Bowl status in doubt as football splits competitive games ANDERSEN PICKARD

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

A win over the University of Texas at San Antonio and a loss to Tulane University have pushed Rice football to 2-5 (1-3 in AAC) heading into the home stretch of the 2024 season.

The Owls secured their first 2024 victory over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent when they took down the UTSA Roadrunners at home Saturday, Oct. 12. Both teams went scoreless on their first three drives of the game before the floodgates opened. They strung together seven consecutive scoring drives, including three touchdowns from Rice. With eight minutes left in the third quarter, the Owls had pulled ahead, 23-13.

“We talk so much about Rice Fight Never Dies, and what a great example of that,” head coach Mike Bloomgren said during the Oct. 14 episode of The Mike Bloomgren Show.

Scoring halted for a full quarter, but the Roadrunners refused to go down without a fight. They scored two touchdowns over the span of three minutes, leading by four points at the two-minute timeout.

The Owls were down 27-23 with about two minutes remaining, so they couldn’t afford to settle for a field goal. They

KAIRI MANO / THRESHER Redshirt sophomore running back Quinton Jackson runs with the ball during the Oct. 12 home game against UTSA.

needed a touchdown for a chance to win the game.

Junior quarterback E.J. Warner proceeded to lead an eight-play, 65yard drive into scoring position. The series included two catches apiece from graduate tight end Graham Walker and graduate wide receiver Matt Sykes.

With less than 20 seconds left in the game, Walker committed a costly offensive pass interference penalty that set Rice back to the 32-yard line.

However, Warner then completed a 14yard pass, UTSA called timeout and Warner found Sykes for an 18-yard touchdown pass. Sykes adjusted to catch the deflected pass while diving near the back of the end zone. The reception, which put Rice ahead by three points with four seconds remaining, was featured on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays segment.

“If we have the ball and time on the clock, we just believe we can go make that thing happen,” Bloomgren said.

“That’s that new Rice stuff, and that’s what these kids did.”

UTSA’s last attempt at scoring failed as time expired, giving Rice a 29-27 conference victory at home. The Owls earned their second-highest Pro Football Focus grades of the season for passing (71.3) and defense (73.8).

“It was such a great way for that game

to end,” Bloomgren said. “We’ve wanted “He might be a little guy, but he can run, to beat those guys for a long time. We’ve too.” been trying to catch up and get to their Rice’s five offensive turnovers level, and that’s just a big win for our played a significant role in their loss to program.”

Tulane, canceling out above-average The Owls weren’t as lucky on the road performances from the offensive line against another conference foe, Tulane and defense. The Owls posted their University, the next weekend. worst overall PFF grade of the season Rice put together a solid first half (56.1) during the loss to the Green Wave. against the Green Wave on Oct. 19, aided “That game came down to turnovers,

by Warner, who completed 14 of 20 including two in the red zone,” passes for 147 yards, Bloomgren said. one touchdown and “That was the one interception bottom line. You in the first half. That game came down can’t go 5-0 turnover Senior running margin and expect back Dean Connors to turnovers, including to win anyone’s added 77 scrimmage two in the red zone. football game.” yards, but he also The latest Mike Bloomgren committed a costly sequence of games turnover by losing RICE FOOTBALL HEAD COACH for the Owls is a a fumble in the first reality check. Rice half. is now 2-5 and must win four of their Rice went into halftime leading 10- final five games to earn an automatic 7, but they failed to score for the rest of bowl game bid. They’re fourth-tothe game. Tulane, meanwhile, scored last in the AAC, and only one of their three more times, pulling ahead 24-10 remaining games is against a team with before the final whistle. Warner threw a worse conference record (University of two more interceptions in the second Alabama Birmingham). half, finishing Saturday’s game with 271 Rice now heads into its final nonpassing yards, one touchdown and three conference game of the year on the road interceptions. against the University of Connecticut, “E.J. understands that whenever he whom the Owls lost to last year at releases the ball, he has the final say on home, 38-31. Then, they begin their final whether it’s a good throw,” Bloomgren stretch of conference games against an said during Monday’s episode of The undefeated Navy team, currently ranked Mike Bloomgren Show. “He’s the one 24th nationally, and the University of that holds all of our livelihood in his Memphis, the preseason favorite in the hands and we just can’t make those AAC. throws, and he knows it.”

Bloomgren said that he hopes Elsewhere on offense, Connors Warner, who is sore after taking a hit committed another turnover, ending the in the fourth quarter against Tulane, game with 76 rushing yards, 74 receiving will play versus UConn. He also expects yards and a pair of fumbles. Sykes caught redshirt junior tackle Ethan Onianwa to seven passes for 74 yards while senior return from a three-game absence and wide receiver Kobie Campbell caught six redshirt senior linebacker Josh Pearcy passes for 100 yards. Campbell became to play after missing Monday’s practice. the first Owls wide receiver to tally at Rice’s battle with the UConn Huskies least 100 receiving yards in a single kicks off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CDT on game this season.

CBS Sports Network. The Owls enter “I want to shout out Kobie Campbell,” as 6.5-point underdogs, according to graduate tight end Elijah Mojarro said. DraftKings.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024 • 15

SPORTS

Faith Hutchins makes her mark during final season “Bella has been a huge influence on me,” Hutchins said. “She knows how to THRESHER STAFF push me in ways that get the best out of Faith Hutchins, Rice soccer’s graduate me, and I trust her completely.”

Killgore’s mentorship has extended goalkeeper, said that she has built her success around one key philosophy: beyond technique, helping Hutchins Pressure is a privilege. It’s a mindset that manage the mental side of the game.

“I tend to overthink after games — like has driven her through a standout season I could’ve done this better or that better,” for the Owls.

“It is clear that Faith has worked so Hutchins said. “Bella always reminds me, hard in her playing career to get herself ‘As long as the ball doesn’t go in the net, to where she is,” Bella Killgore ‘22, former you’ve done your job.’ That helps me stay Rice goalkeeper, said. “She has a great focused and not dwell on mistakes.”

Building trust with her teammates, mindset, self-awareness and work ethic.

Faith gets better every time she trains, and particularly the defensive line, has been that is really due to the mentality that she essential to Hutchins’s success, Killgore said. has had since the “Faith is a great day she stepped communicator here on campus.” and takes pride As a visiting in organizing the student from the This is my last collegiate defense to limit University of Rhode season, so I want to make the other team’s Island, Hutchins the most of it. I didn’t chances,” Killgore said she stepped said. “When a into a crucial role come this far to slack off goalkeeper has at Rice, determined now. little to do in a to make every game, we consider moment count in Faith Hutchins that a great game; her fifth year as a GRADUATE GOALKEEPER that means you’ve collegiate soccer done a great job communicating and player.

“This is my last collegiate season, so organizing.”

Hutchins credits the team’s strong I want to make the most of it,” Hutchins said. “I didn’t come this far to slack off chemistry for much of their success this season. now.”

“I’ve never been on a team with this Hutchins’s transition to Rice wasn’t just about adapting to a new level of kind of culture,” Hutchins said. “Everyone competition — it was also about growing knows their role, and we push each other personally. Having spent her entire life every day. It’s a great environment to be in close to home in Rhode Island, Hutchins because we all know we have each other’s was now navigating being far from her backs.”

With only a few games left in the regular loved ones and familiar surroundings.

“Being away from my family was a season, Hutchins and her teammates are huge adjustment,” Hutchins said. “But I focused on finishing strong.

“These last games are crucial for us,” was ready to branch out and see what I could do — not just on the field, but as a Hutchins said. “We’ve worked all season for this, and now it’s about staying sharp person.”

On the field, Hutchins has quickly and not letting anything slip.”

As the postseason approaches, established herself as a vital part of Rice’s defense. With 75 saves and seven shutouts Hutchins is determined to remain this season, she has anchored the team’s consistent and reliable. Rice, boasting a 5-1-1 record in the AAC and 11-2-2 overall, backline with composure and focus.

“When you’re in goal, every second now prepares for a pivotal matchup counts,” Hutchins said. “It’s a tough against The University of Memphis this position, but I take pride in being the last Thursday.

“I can’t afford to have an off day,” line of defense.”

One of the key factors in her Hutchins said. “I need to be locked in development has been her work with for all 90 minutes because my team is Killgore, a goalkeeper coach and former counting on me.”

For Hutchins, the season isn’t just player who excelled in the position, boasting 399 career saves and 31 shutouts about her statistics — it’s about proving what she can achieve under pressure. across five seasons.

“Pressure, to me, means opportunity,” Killgore’s experience as a standout goalkeeper has given her unique insights Hutchins said. “I want to walk away from that have shaped Hutchins’s approach, this season knowing I gave everything I had for my team.” she said.

Sports Mini #2 EVIE VU

THRESHER STAFF

ANA RIVERA

EDITORIAL CARTOON

“Owl-American” HONG LIN TSAI/THRESHER

“I heard you wanted us to cook up something, so I made turnovers!”

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1 Baseball player’s hat 4 Home of The Green Wave, for short 5 Teach privately 6 Genetic letters 7 Nine-digit govt. ID

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16 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2024

BACKPAGE

Decision 2024: Rice University Votes The Backpage polled members of the Rice community to understand who they were voting for and why.

Jeanne Vasquez Freshman, KINE/EEPS, Duncan College Kamala Harris and I totally agree where it matters: we are both soooo brat, and I love coconuts and ‘existing in the context’, haha! I also LOVE Venn diagrams! Girly is always #eating Trump up with her TikToks, no crumbs left! My O-Week mom said she will defend reproductive rights and fight for the middle class, which is slay too. Plus, Tim Walz’s wholesome vibes and protective dad energy heal my inner child (and like why is he lowkey fineee). Literally gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for that man!

Brandon Pickett Sophomore, ELEC, Will Rice College President Donald Trump has my vote. He is tough on the border and a fresh change from Biden’s miserable joke of an economy. More importantly, Trump has promised to end the epidemic of zesty men like Harry Styles and my roommate, who are rubbing off on me (and it makes me feel weird inside). And Trump also fights for our right to a fair and free erection, sorry erection, sorry election. Plus, JD Vance speaks to the silent majority of us guys who wore historical peacoats to school—people thought I was gay, but I’m actually just an old soul who cares about our nation’s illustrious past.

Frank Henry Associate Director of Alumni Relations Nobody in the mainstream media is talking about Boe Gorbert. He’s the guy that can really unite our country, a good ole boy, none of that hoity-toity Warshington nonsense. Ever since I saw his stellar performance at the debate, I was sold. He’s the perfect middle ground on the issues between the other two candidates in every way, and he’s so scandal-free that nothing even shows up when you Google him.

Adrian Chang Junior, ENGL, Wiess College George Santos is the cuntiest candidate of them all. He can be problematic sometimes, but like, so is my roommate who sexiled my entire suite of eight people for 24 hours lol. I slept outside haha. Anyways Santos is Icarus and Prometheus and Hercules. He is a warrior who was punished for doing what no one has done before: diva-ing the Congress down boots. I don’t even care if he’s a liar cuz I lie literally all the time he’s so real for that to be honest. Also he would definitely get lip filler covered by the Affordable Care Act and that’s on tea.

Chase Lewis Senior, MECH, Brown College Ok not gonna lie I already voted early but I was insanely hungover and couldn’t remember a single candidate’s positions so I wrote in Dilf Hunter for every single race. But it kind of works out, I haven’t seen him around campus yet but as U.S. President I think he would bring back NOD and turn Brochstein into a giant Cane’s. Also if he wins even one of the races then I get $60,000 back on my $5 Polymarket bet.

Tracy Skinner Associate Professor of Political Science I’ve been researching U.S. politics for forty years. I’ve read the papers. I’ve seen the data. And at long last, I believe I am one of the few people who can actually say I am making the objective, well-informed decision in this year’s presidential election… but ah ah ah! [finger wag] You really thought it’d be that easy to get it out of me? No way, José! Come back when you’ve got your own dissertation, buster.

The Backpage is the satire section of the Thresher, written this week by Andrew Kim, Will Howley, Charlie Maxson, and Max Scholl and designed by Lauren Yu. For questions or comments, please email pookiebear@rice.edu.

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