The Rice Thresher | Wednesday, November 6, 2024

VOLUME 109, ISSUE NO. 10 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

First non-instructional Election Day draws crowds Students gathered across campus for Rice’s first non-instructional Election Day Nov. 5 to vote, watch news coverage and eat free food. The polling place in Sewall Hall saw over 1,000 voters, many of whom were students voting in their first presidential election. Those who had finished casting their ballots could also go to social events. Over 700 students attended the academic quad block party, a collaboration between a number of student clubs and academic departments.

The event featured food donated by restaurants in the area as well as tables from civic engagement groups providing information for voters. The evening saw watch parties, including one in Sid Richardson College commons, where organizers screened news broadcasts for students as ballots were counted.

KATHERINE CITINO / THRESHER Student organizations tabled during the Election Day block party in the academic quad. Over 1,000 people voted at the Sewall Hall polling location.

RIYA MISRA / THRESHER Community members passed out political flyers and organized in front of Sewall Hall.

KATHERINE CITINO / THRESHER Students wait in line for vendors during the block party.

PHOEBE SCHOCKET / THRESHER Student jazz band Neo played during the block party.

RIYA MISRA / THRESHER Students watch live election night coverage in Sid Richardson College. The watch party was the first at Rice for an election since 2020.

read more about election day events on pages 2-3 >>

Worth the wait: Rice football drowns Navy in rain-soaked victory ANDERSEN PICKARD

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

During a normal Rice football game, junior quarterback E.J. Warner doesn’t usually tell jokes from the locker room while the offense is in the red zone.

Interim head coach Pete Alamar doesn’t usually spend an hour waiting for his clothes to dry while preparing for a five-yard touchdown run. The support staff doesn’t usually sprint to the Rice Stadium Chick-fil-A stand to buy out

their entire supply of sandwiches.

However, Saturday’s 24-10 win over Navy was no ordinary game.

Kickoff was delayed more than two hours due to inclement weather, and even after the game began, the Owls and Midshipmen endured an additional two delays before finishing Saturday’s conference matchup without any further interruptions. By the time the game — initially scheduled for 3 p.m. — resumed at 8:26 p.m., the three delays totaled five hours and six minutes. During that span,

only five minutes and 24 seconds came off the game clock.

For the most part, Saturday’s delays were caused by nearby lightning. NCAA policy mandates that players clear the field for 30 minutes after the last lightning strike; the 30-minute timer resets with every strike inside an eightmile radius, and a little extra time gets added on to allow for players to warm up once conditions become playable again.

During the storms, Rice took shelter in their locker room inside the Brian

Patterson Sports Performance Center. Players were also seen walking in circles around the Patterson Center’s weight room — in full uniform and gear — to stay warm during the lengthy pauses in play.

SEE RICE-NAVY PAGE 10

2 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

First-ever election block party draws crowds “Having worked with RiceVotes as a member of the Student Association to secure Rice’s first-ever nonA line stretched across the academic instructional Election Day, it felt quad this Election Day. In contrast critically important to me that our to previous years, however, the line campus community use this day to was not for voting at the Sewall Hall come together in the spirit of civic polling location — it was for the first- engagement,” Roark said. “We hope ever election block party hosted by the that … the block party will help to Center for Civic Engagement. The event make Election Day a permanent nonaimed to encourage student voting and instructional day in the future.“ engagement in politics, complete with According to Jeng, over 700 students, a bouncy castle, faculty, sponsors free food and a DJ. and donors Katherine Jeng, attended the the event’s coevent, and more chair, said that she We hope that, by than 12 vendors, noticed a lack of bringing people together including Amy’s civic participation for a campus-wide day Ice Cream, Redbull among Rice and Kirkland students since of civic engagement, and Costco her freshman the block party will Pizza, passed year.

She has help to make Election out free food. been dedicated to The experience Day a permanent nonincreasing political for vendors engagement culture instructional day in the went smoothly since then, she said. future. according to T.K. “In 2022, my co- Olivia Roark Oyedele, general chair, Olivia Roark, JONES COLLEGE SENIOR manager of Amy’s and former Student Ice Cream.

Association President Solomon Ni “We wanted to give, especially the championed a Student Association young folks, an incentive to come out Senate resolution to the Faculty Senate and make their voices known and to designate Election Day as a non- heard,” Oyedele said. “Especially with instructional day,” Jeng, a Hanszen the young folks, we want to encourage College senior, said. “As a result of their them early on to let them know that hard work, we have our first-ever non- their voice matters and to make sure instructional civic engagement day.” they have their say in what happens Roark said that the event was part of within our government.“ an effort to make future election days Ian Schechter, a Sid Richardson non-instructional.

College freshman, said that the event

SOPHIE GARLICK

THRESHER STAFF

was highly attended.

“The event struck me because of how massive it was and how many people there were, lots of whom I knew,” Schechter said.

Katie Noonan, a Wiess College senior, said the e n e r g y in the quad was tangible.

“It was very crowded,” Noonan said.

“Rice students are always motivated by food, but there’s a very good turnout, and people seem really excited to actually get out and vote, and lots of people encourage each other to go vote if they haven’t.”

Sowmya Viswanathan, a civic engagement representative for Martel College, said she volunteered to ensure voting accessibility for the Rice student body.

“I think it’s a really successful event.

It shows we really do deserve this day off because people are coming out, voting and then learning about all the

KATHERINE CITINO / THRESHER Students line up for pizza provided

by Costco at the block party. The event had a variety of free food options for students, as well as live music and a bouncy castle. different organizations that are here,” Viswanathan, a senior, said. “People do care, they do want to come out and talk about these issues and make an informed choice as a voter. That’s really important for our democracy, to have engaged and knowledgeable citizens who are making positive choices.”

Students pack Sid Richardson to watch election results HONGTAO HU

THRESHER STAFF Around 200 students crowded into the Sid Richardson College commons Tuesday evening, where voting results played out on the commons’ screen. As Massachusetts turned blue, a loud cheer erupted throughout the room.

Sid Richardson, in collaboration with student organizations like RiceVotes, Civic Duty Rice and IGNITE, hosted a university-wide election party this year, the first since 2016. The Center for Civic Leadership used to host election parties before the COVID-19 pandemic, said Sid

RIYA MISRA / THRESHER Students watch a countdown to poll closing in Sid Richardson College commons.

Richardson magister Melissa Marschall.

While there were no watch parties for the 2020 election, RiceVotes hosted one for the 2022 midterms.

The largest television in the commons displayed live CNN election coverage, while a quad-view of a smaller television provided coverage by The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, along with a student-made spreadsheet detailing areas to keep an eye on.

Sid Richardson president Akshay Sethi said that the college’s large television screens and 300-personcapacity commons made it a prime location for a large-scale watch party.

“As a civic engagement coverage includes a lot of information [representative] and as the president about the Electoral College, election electoral history, of the college, I wanted to host a watch administration, party in Sid commons, but to make it election laws, electoral geography, etc. more of a campus-wide thing,” Sethi, a Watching this in a group means students can ask each other questions and delve senior, said. deeper into these Sethi said the topics. It can be college received very educational CCL funding to buy for dinner and snacks I think the watch party is voters.” first-time for the event, Victoria Roman and coffee was a great way to culminate said she thought provided alongside the many months and the watch party a RiceVotes photo weeks of talking about was a good place booth. to keep track of the Bennett Reddig the election with friends, first election she said the watch or talking about politics could vote in. party was a place — something that this “I feel like it’s to not only support generation understands very important his friends but to be present, be to also see the is really close and dear to participatory and culmination of his our own personal goals get involved,” previous following or values. of polls.

Roman, a “I had some Akshay Sethi Duncan College friends who were WATCH PARTY ORGANIZER sophomore, said. helping run [the “The vibe is event], and I wanted to come to a ecstatic … they’re recording on the TV high-energy environment where there tiny results that you know aren’t going was enthusiasm,” Reddig, a McMurtry to be really big, and everyone’s still College sophomore, said. “I’ve been cheering, so it really gets your spirits following the election and polls for up in a time that is very, very nervethe last few weeks, and this felt like an wracking.” accumulation of all those hours.”

“I think the watch party is a great Marschall said that watch parties way to culminate the many months help stoke engagement among first-time and weeks of talking about the election voters. with friends or talking about politics “Elections are important events — something that this generation and watch parties allow dialogue and understands is really close and dear to debate,” Marschall wrote in an email to our own personal goals or values,” Sethi the Thresher. “Obviously the TV election said.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 • 3

NEWS

Waits drop after morning voters crowd Sewall polling place said the election was stressful for her and her peers.

SENIOR WRITER “It is [my] first presidential election, so On Tuesday, 1,094 voters flocked to it is exciting to be involved,” said Pollan, Rice’s Welcome Center to cast their ballots a Duncan College sophomore. “I’m more in the presidential, state and local elections. scared for the results.”

Others were more confident that things Wait times climbed to an hour shortly after the polling center’s doors opened at 7 a.m., would swing their way, like Rice linguistics with many hoping to beat the crowds during professor emeritus Sydney Lamb.

“I’m expecting [Kamala] Harris to win Rice’s first-ever non-instructional Election Day. The lines calmed down around noon, big time,” Lamb said. “It’s been a long time when students began congregating in the coming.”

The presidential election was a main academic quad for the election block party.

“It did not take much time at all,” said concern for many, but others highlighted the Nat Pujet, a Duncan College sophomore importance of voting for local policies and who voted around noon. “We were thinking candidates. Charlene Cogborn, a Spring, of going at 7 [a.m.], but then we were like, Texas resident, stationed herself outside ‘Wait a minute, we’ve got to game theory of Sewall Hall to educate student voters about Propositions this, other people A and B, which are going to have the combined propose a same idea.” total of $4.4 billion Karyn Fu, the in bonds to pay for presiding election It’s been really fulfilling infrastructure needs judge, said she was to see people so excited and technology surprised to see so to vote, willing to wait improvements many voters lined so long just to cast their in the Houston up so early in the ballot.

Independent School morning.

District.

“I did not think Karyn Fu The proposals people would get PRESIDING ELECTION JUDGE are highly contested, up early to vote first thing in the morning,” said Fu, a drawing criticism from Democrats Baker College sophomore. “It’s been really and Republicans alike — the Houston fulfilling to see people so excited to vote, Chronicle’s editorial board has urged willing to wait so long just to cast their residents to vote no on the measure.

“The current school board ballot.”

Alongside student voters: Rice president superintendent, Mike Miles, has not been Reggie DesRoches cast his ballot on a good steward of the money that he’s already been given,” Cogborn said. “I don’t Tuesday, with his family in tow.

“Some of those voters were students have any children, I don’t live in HISD, but eligible to vote for the first time, which is this is important enough for me to be out such a big milestone,” DesRoches wrote in here and supporting this.”

“I grew up in Texas, and I think a statement to the Thresher. “Personally, it was wonderful for my wife, Paula, 92-year- that means that I have a little bit more old father and me to vote at the Welcome investment in the local elections,” said Raven Shamoo, a Hanszen junior. “I would Center as well.”

While some say they considered early like for people in support of women’s rights voting, many ended up choosing to vote and LGBT rights to win.”

Many said they felt empowered stepping on campus due to Sewall Hall’s central location and lack of classes. Glen Henson, up to the voting stations and sliding their a Hanszen College sophomore, said he ballots through the scanners on their way appreciated its proximity to his dorm room. out.

“Having a collective push together in “Being close [to the dorms] is a big part of the convenience,” Henson said. “I unison can be really impactful,” Henson definitely thought I’d have to wait a little said.

“Taking a role in the civic process helps bit.”

“We had the day off, so I thought it you stay educated, helps you keep up with would just be easier to go today,” Pujet said. what’s going on,” Shamoo said. “It’s really Located in Sewall Hall, the Welcome easy to fade into the background and feel Center was abuzz with anxious chatter like you don’t have an active role in the about the election’s eventual outcome. society that you live in, when you really do.”

Caroline Pollan, an Austin native,

NOA BERZ

NOA BERZ / THRESHER Voters wait in line inside Sewall Hall, where Rice’s campus polling place was located.

NOA BERZ / THRESHER Voters leaving the polling place gather in the Welcome Center.

Rice alumni visit for homecoming weekend

COURTESY HUSSAIN HIJAZI Alumni get together for homecoming weekend.

We just hired the number one material scientist in the world from Yale starting ASST. NEWS EDITORS January 2025.”

John Perkins ‘74 said he liked that Rice Alumni Weekend took place from Nov. 1-2. Over 48 hours, alumni the plan focused on the people of the gathered for events across campus, Rice community. “[DesRoches] emphasized the including a tailgate party, a community business fair and a town hall led by upbuilding of the people, the university president Reggie DesRoches. teachers, the students, especially According to James Hurley, the the graduate students and providing associate vice president of development the infrastructure to support them,” and alumni relations, this year’s event Perkins said.

Michael Ross ‘70 said that he saw a 30% increase in attendance from 2023. There were over 2,000 guests in came from California to attend the alumni weekend attendance, he so that he could said. reconnect with “Of particular old friends. importance People came from all “A lot of the this year was I don’t innovation and over, not just the country, times remember which adding new but the world, and [I] class my friends o p p o r t u n i t i e s heard multiple pieces of were in,” Ross for alumni to said.

“They engage with feedback, where people Rice,” Hurley were making connections could’ve been a year or two earlier wrote in an email and having fun, seeing or later.

I’ve to the Thresher. old friends and trying met people just “This resulted walking around in launching the new things. I’m feeling that I knew who first ever ‘Alumni really, really good about were from class Run’ at Alumni it, and it was definitely a of 69, 71 and 72.

Weekend, where success and a team effort They weren’t in a number of my class and I alumni, the ARA for sure. would’ve missed Board President April Cole them if I didn’t David Mansouri DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI PROGRAMS, come some ’07 and President DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI years.”

DesRoches ran Gabriella an outer loop of RELATIONS Buba ‘16, who Rice.”

According to April Cole, director graduated from Rice with a degree in of alumni relations, the event was chemical engineering, was one of the successful despite rain delays for the eleven vendors present at the Alumni Weekend community market. She homecoming football game.

“People came from all over, not said coming back to sell her debut just the country, but the world, and novel proves that any Rice student can [I] heard multiple pieces of feedback, pursue something creative.

“Everyone treats the engineers like where people were making connections and having fun, seeing old friends and we can’t do anything creative,” Buba trying new things,” Cole said. “I’m said. “So I like to come back and be feeling really, really good about it, and like, ‘No, we’re creative too. Look, we it was definitely a success and a team make things, right?’”

David Ronn ‘83 had a booth at the effort for sure.”

The President’s Town Hall started market for his cyber security business, off by presenting the 2024 Builders Zecurity. He said he hopes that current Award, which recognizes alumni who Rice students take advantage of have made significant contributions opportunities, especially those that to Rice since graduating, to recipients seem outside their fields.

“Life’s not a straight line. Did I Tim Harrison ‘20 and Vivas Kumar ‘14.

President Reggie DesRoches spoke figure out that I was going to be doing about the university’s new 10-year what I’m doing now? No way,” Ronn said. “There are opportunities that strategic plan entitled “Momentous.”

“We will have a lot of new programs come up, and it’s important to be and buildings but fundamentally the able to spot those opportunities and people will be what changes Rice,” decide what’s right for you. Use your DesRoches said during the town hall. Rice education, engage your brain and “We are just hiring exceptional talent. follow whatever path comes along.”

VIOLA HSIA & BELINDA ZHU

4 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

NEWS

Rice Young Democratic Socialists organize for engagement youth section of the larger DSA organization.

COURTESY SOLOMON NI Solomon Ni and Conner YDSA co-chair Solomon Ni sets up a table Schultz are co-chairs and to tell Rice students about the club and founders of the chapter. They hand out buttons. wanted to start a club, they said, that focused on mutual aid and anti-capitalist action on campus.

“There was this space on campus to have an organization like this to advocate for students, for workers and for people that are typically not represented, and generally we wanted to give people that space to figure out what issues are important to them,” Ni, a Jones College senior, said in an interview with the Thresher. “I think that the student KRISHNA CHALISE THRESHER STAFF government here is great, but they can’t do everything. And as the former student A new chapter of Young Democratic body president, I think that organizations Socialists of America started at Rice this like this need to exist for us to be a better semester. With several hundred chapters part of the community and also make across colleges, Young Democratic students’ lives better.”

Schultz, a Will Rice College freshman, Socialists of America is the student and

said that some of the organization’s they hope to get more involved with work will also focus on nearby areas the Houston community. They recently of Houston. On Nov. 1, they organized connected with the Houston DSA for materials and help at a Montrose with their first Tax Increment meeting.

Reinvestment “We want to Zone board collect blankets meeting, which As the former student and bed linens that was open for body president, I think students aren’t public testimony that organizations like using anymore, about a Montrose and donate them in B o u l e v a r d this need to exist for us collaboration with redesign plan. to be a better part of the Food Not Bombs,” “ T h e y ’ r e community and also make Ni said. remodeling the Ni said that streets there students’ lives better. the organization and rather Solomon Ni than putting a is currently YDSA CO-CHAIR pedestrian island working on student in the middle, like engagement. they originally intended, they want to “We’re gauging what student interests place a 12-foot wide flat road,” Schultz are in the first place, and also reaching said. “So that’s gonna be really damaging out to the affinity groups and other to the businesses and community in [organizations] on campus that we align Montrose.” with, and seeing how we better can As co-chairs, Ni and Schultz said support them,” Ni said.

IGNITE pushes for women in politics “We want to reach out to pretty much anyone on the Rice campus and be able to connect them with the resources to A new chapter of IGNITE, started under learn about the field of politics and civic the national organization of the same engagement so they can learn about the name, was founded at Rice by Aleena influence that they can have in the field Ahmad and Carmine Steiner this semester. and be able to go forth and create change in the world,” Ahmad, The organization is a Baker College dedicated to closing sophomore, said. the gender gap in IGNITE has the political sphere helped host two by encouraging I really, really want this events — a watch civil and political club to be about our party and a block e n g a g e m e n t members so much more party — for the for women and Nov. 5 election in nonbinary people, than it’s about us collaboration with according to their Arrya Abmayr RiceVotes, Civic website.

IGNITE TREASURER Duty Rice and the Steiner said the club provides members with the skills and political science department.

“Over the last few weeks, what we’ve confidence to promote change in politics.

“I think there’s a lot of great political been most focused on is, of course, organizations and civic engagement clubs Election Day on November 5,” Ahmad said. on campus, like Civic Duty Rice [and] “We’ve been working with a lot of other RiceVotes. But what I noticed that Rice organizations on campus to put on both was lacking was one specifically aimed the Election Day block party, as well as the at women,” Steiner, a McMurtry College watch party.”

Ahmad said that the watch party, held sophomore, said. “I took a gender and politics class my freshman fall, and it really in the Sid Richardson College commons, showcased the big gap between genders in live streamed the election results. the political landscape … I thought it was a Throughout the night, they had pizza and great opportunity to focus on closing that snacks, activities like trivia, a poll worker appreciation event, photo booth and gap here within the Rice community.”

Ahmad said that IGNITE’s main focus this election bingo.

Steiner said she’s most excited to semester is to increase civic engagement.

EILEEN CHEN

FOR THE THRESHER

engage with the Rice community and see the club’s impact, especially in furthering conversation on gender in politics.

“Our main focus is to have events serve as a platform for our members to communicate with each other and share their own experiences, to not only increase civic engagement but also increase political empowerment amongst them and make sure that everyone is feeling heard and understood,” Steiner said.

Club treasurer Arrya Abmayr said she hopes that the IGNITE chapter at Rice will provide students with the

educational resources and community that will help them engage in politics.

“I really, really want this club to be about our members so much more than it’s about us,” Abmayr, a Brown College sophomore, said. “I want people to feel connected with their community, with the Houston area, or the Texas area or the US as a whole, and be able to engage politically in issues that they think matter and that matter to them and be able to have all of the information available that they need.”

NDIDI NWOSU / THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 • 5

THE RICE THRESHER

EDITORIAL

So, you want to be the Rice football coach?

First, Rice is currently struggling with The grim reaper of men’s sports coaches, also known as athletic director attendance at football games. The stands Tommy McClelland, struck for the second are not full, nor is the student section time since his arrival at Rice in August and football does not have the same 2023. This time, his victim was former prominence at Rice as it does at most other D1 schools. The only thing our student head football coach Mike Bloomgren.

In March, McClelland fired the men’s section is known for is stacking pizza basketball coach, and a lackluster boxes, but even free pizza does not bring Scott Pera was replaced less than two in enough students to fill the section. Any coach that comes to weeks later by the Rice either needs to fired Southern accept that or have M e t h o d i s t a plan to change it.

University’s newly This is not the University Even when fired head coach of Alabama, Louisiana there are no fans, Rob Lanier.

Rice’s Marching B l o o m g r e n ’ s State University or even Owl Band is firing came eight the University of Houston. a consistent games into the There are a few important presence in the football season, things a coach should stands and during meaning the halftime.

There replacement will know before taking a job is definitely a not be as quick as here. learning curve Pera’s. While there is still plenty of time before McClelland for any new coach or even new student has to replace Bloomgren, it’s time for when watching their first MOB show. him to start thinking about Bloomgren’s Something to keep in mind is that they replacement, and for possible are dedicated to Rice football and enjoy candidates to start thinking about what making fun of the opponents.

Next, Rice football’s Federal Rice has to offer.

Coaching football at Rice is not a Graduation Rate was 88% for football regular Texas football job. This is not players who matriculated in the 2016-17 the University of Alabama, Louisiana academic year, which is four percentage State University or even the University points above the FBS average. Also, of Houston. There are a few important there is no general studies major at Rice things a coach should know before like there is at other schools. There are future engineers, doctors and lawyers taking a job here.

on the football team. A coach that understands the academic rigor of this school is important.

Bloomgren had a mantra of “Intellectual Brutality” and this mindset served Rice well. A new coach needs to bring their own academic mindset to the football team, as these players truly are student athletes.

Another point to note is that Rice is one of the few universities that has a residential college system. This system places students randomly into different colleges, where students live and participate in a fraternity-like community. This is important because this system and culture is something that a football coach also needs to buy into. Freshmen, no matter how close they are to the beginning of their season, are required to participate in Orientation Week at Rice. This week sets the students up academically and socially, as they participate in energetic activities designed to help them make a smooth transition to college alongside their peers.

All of this to say, the Rice football head coaching job is unique. There are challenges here that a coach will not have to face at other places, but the community is strong and maybe a leader who recognizes that and embraces it is just what Rice football needs to turn the program around and win a bowl game before everyone on this editorial board graduates.

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

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

Editorial and business offices are located on the second floor of the Ley Student Center: 6100 Main St., MS-524 Houston, TX 77005-1892 Phone: (713) 348 - 4801 Email: thresher@rice.edu Website: www.ricethresher.org The Thresher is a member of the ACP, TIPA, CMA and CMBAM. © Copyright 2024

CORRECTIONS In “Sunrise Rice pushes for environmental change,” Sam Forman is the co-founder of Sunrise Rice, not Sam Foram.

ricethresher.org

6 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

Renee Wrysinski crafts circuits for change

THRESHER SCREENSHOT OF MOUSER ELECTRONICS VIDEO

NANDINI DASARI

FOR THE THRESHER

As a child, Renee Wrysinski fit the standards for a future engineer to a tee, even getting an early start on model design by building Legos. Fifteen years later, she would win first place in Circuit Showdown, a televised engineering design competition for college students hosted by distributor Mouser Electronics and media company eeDesignIt. Wrysinski, who studies electrical and computer engineering, secured $10,000 and equipment donations for herself and the university.

Wrysinski’s win has significant implications for Rice according to Joe Young, professor of electrical and computer engineering. Young said that Wrysinski’s accomplishments will help to boost Rice’s reputation and attract a diverse student body.

“Rice is an incredible school, but we are smaller … so I think it’s all about getting the name out,” Young said.

Young, who had previously taught Wrysinski, said that Wrysinski’s participation in Circuit Showdown has increased recognition of Rice’s unique engineering program.

“During our chat, I was so focused on how [Renee] is just such a distillation of the engineering spirit,” Young said.

Wrysinski said she learned about Circuit Showdown through an advertisement in an electrical engineering mailing list. “[I] was like, ‘Oh, I’ll throw my hat in the ring,’” Wrysinski said. “I didn’t actually expect to be chosen for it.”

Circuit Showdown producer Raymond Yin said the application process for contestants was competitive, with only three out of several dozen applicants chosen. Prospective candidates were asked

to complete both a written application Wrysinski said. “I figured it out with like 10 minutes left in the competition.” and an interview.

Wrysinski also said that filming, “My initial impression when interviewing all three of the contestants, at least initially, was an additional as well as other ones during the Zoom source of pressure for her. Speaking interviews, was ‘Holy cow, these kids and interviewing on camera during the are smart,’” Yin said. “They were all competition forced Wrysinski to step out of her comfort zone. incredibly bright.”

“I have ‘engineer’ social skills,” Circuit Showdown consisted of two rounds of competition; participants were Wrysinski said. “It’s not like I’m the most challenged to design a themed project in natural on camera or [it’s] something that I have a lot of experience doing. I was very under four hours for each round.

“The projects [the students] came up nervous.”

However, as the competition with were very interesting to me. They were given several categories which were progressed, Wrysinski said she grew more completely broad and open-ended and in comfortable in her interactions — both on what they came up with, each one pulled and off camera. Wrysinski said that she some aspect of their personal life,” Kirk even began to develop a camaraderie with other contestants, as the students took Ulery, Circuit Showdown judge, said.

During the first round, themed “smart lunch breaks and brainstormed project ideas together. home,” Wrysinski “I don’t think any said she drew on of us were taking the her experience with competition aspect of poor air quality [I] was like ‘Oh, I’ll [Circuit Showdown] in her home in all that seriously.

Colusa, California. throw my hat in the Even though there She created a ring.’ I didn’t actually was a lot at stake, we sensor to detect expect to be chosen for were all just trying to levels of carbon do the best we could dioxide and other it. and help each other,” indoor pollutants, Renee Wrysinski Wrysinski said. alerting users DUNCAN COLLEGE JUNIOR Ulery said when ventilation is organizers jumped at the chance to necessary.

“Going home for Christmas and other encourage the next generation of holidays, I would notice I get headaches engineers.

“One of the things I try and do in way more often. And I figured out that it’s just because we don’t open windows at my position is mentor young people.

And to me, this seemed like a really all,” Wrysinski said.

In the months leading up to Circuit good opportunity to get involved [in] Showdown, Wrysinski said she tried the growth aspects that this brings for a her best to familiarize herself with the college student,” Ulery said.

Wrysinski said her struggles with equipment used during the contest, but the impromptu nature of the competition migraines and epilepsy motivate her to caused many technical difficulties. During produce technology improving quality the final round, Wrysinski said her biggest of life for those with similar medical test came when the code she had written conditions.

“I want to work on [products] that for a GPS refused to operate.

“I was Googling error codes and people interact with … small things that nothing was coming up. I talked to the improve people’s everyday lives, even if technical mentors, and they also didn’t they’re not something that people really really know what was happening,” think about,” Wrysinski said.

A peek at the polls: political participation through the years MOID ASIF

FOR THE THRESHER Waiting on election results isn’t new to Rice students. The 1916 presidential election saw students waiting for the Houston Chronicle’s news for three days; when the results were finally announced, Woodrow Wilson’s reelection drew incoherent shouting, rah-rahs and a congregation in the quad.

The first president of Rice, Edgar Odell Lovett, was a friend and former colleague of Woodrow Wilson. When Wilson won reelection in 1916, members of the Rice community celebrated. The support for Wilson was overwhelming, so much so that a November 1916 article in the Thresher said that the Saturday after his reelection was declared a holiday.

“Every man in Rice Institute is a Democrat — that is, if their beliefs are judged from the unanimity of … Woodrow Wilson Day, Saturday following the election,” the article read.

Moving forward a few decades, Rice students and faculty continued to

lean toward a particular candidate. In a Nov. 4, 1960 article in the Thresher, a ‘pre-election presidential primary’ poll revealed a majority of students supported Richard Nixon over John F. Kennedy for the presidency.

“Nixon received an even two-thirds of the ballots cast, winning 270-135,” the article reported.

In the late 1960s, with the Vietnam War at its peak and a looming presidential election, the Rice community had shared their opinions. In a May 1968 op-ed in the Thresher, the Citizens for McCarthy Houston Chairman J.-Cl. DeBremaecker said that he wanted to thank the Rice community for their work in furthering Senator Eugene McCarthy’s mission.

McCarthy was opposed to the Vietnam War and worked on advocating against the war within the Democratic party.

“I want to thank all the students and faculty members who worked for Senator McCarthy, and for bringing true liberalism to Texas,” DeBremaecker wrote.

The Rice community’s involvement did not just stop with supporting particular candidates but also included

broader issues, such as the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. A May 1968 Thresher poll found that a majority of respondents were opposed to the Vietnam War. “About 71% of the respondents indicated they were opposed to the war, and over 62% said they had become more dovish in their opinion of the war in the past year,” the article reported.

Students also banded together through student organizing and political clubs, like the Young Democrats. In a January 1970 edition of the Thresher, there was an advertisement for voter registration through a drive organized by the Young Democrats, showing the involvement of these political groups on campus.

In recent times A November 2018 article in the Thresher showed a steady increase in the number of votes cast by Rice students in the 2010s. In 2014, 336 votes were cast by Rice students, while in 2016 and 2018 it rose to 1,027 and then 1,298, respectively.

Although the number of votes

increased throughout the 2010s, some Rice students believed participating in electoral politics was not the most effective way to see the changes they wanted. In the same November 2018 edition, two students, Bilal Rehman ’20 and Sunee Quirante ’20, wrote in an op-ed that grassroots movements are a more effective form of activism.

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

AMY CAO / THRESHER

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 • 7

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20 Discussion class on moral principles 23 Fish eggs 24 Golden State schools, for short 25 Secondhand 28 Citation style, abbr.

29 Jigglypuff king of Smash Melee, familiarly 31 Brief slumber 32 Precious goods 36 Cow intestines featured in some phos 38 Actor Sandler 39 Tender spots 41 Yorkshire river 42 Many, informally 44 Secret aliases, or a hint to the circled letters of this puzzle 46 Shrimp, at sushi restaurants 47 Placed down 49 Heavy unit of weight 50 Throat tissue prone to removal 52 Creature associated with 5 down 53 “Mamma ___!”

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From Alabama to Bahia, Hordge-Freeman examines emotion CHI PHAM

Studies concentration sparked a lasting interest in the country’s history — a passion that continues to inform her research today.

“I learned that [Brazil] had transported One night in Brazil, Elizabeth HordgeFreeman was driving back from a late the largest number of enslaved Africans dinner with friends when a military police to its shore, more than any other country officer stopped her and ordered her out of — 10 times as many as the United States,” her car. As he aimed a rifle at the side of Hordge-Freeman said. “When I learned her head, she said she remembers standing about that history, I thought, ‘Brazil there, shaking, unable to hear anything but seems fascinating.’”

Hordge-Freeman said her interest in his voice — not even her friends shouting at her. This anecdote is one of many Hordge- exploring the legacy of Brazil’s colonial Freeman shares in her first book “The slavery led to her 2022 book “Second-Class Color of Love,” which examines how racial Daughters: Black Brazilian Women and hierarchies are reproduced and challenged Informal Adoption as Modern Slavery.” The book compiles her research on the lives in Black Brazilian families.

A sociologist of emotion, Hordge- of filhas de criação, or raised daughters — Freeman said she works across national women informally adopted into affluent families that and linguistic live as unpaid boundaries to domestic workers advance racial in conditions justice and research I would have to secretly akin to slavery — race, gender and meet with them so that conducted over 10 class. Before her years primarily in doctoral studies their families did not the state of Bahia. in sociology at know that they were “I would Duke University, talking to me. travel back and however, Hordgeforth to Brazil Freeman began Elizabeth Hordge-Freeman [and] maintain her undergraduate ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF relationships with years at Cornell as a SOCIOLOGY participants online pre-medical student through WhatsApp Messenger,” Hordgestudying Spanish and biology.

“I felt like everybody was pre-med,” Freeman said. “I ended up meeting the Hordge-Freeman said. “And while [Spanish participants … because I would see these and biology] seem separate … I had women in the shadows of the families that I imagined learning Spanish and eventually would meet in Brazil.”

While working on “The Color of creating medical clinics across Latin Love,” Hordge-Freeman said her research America. That was my vision.”

Hordge-Freeman said a transformative trajectory changed after meeting a raised study abroad experience in Spain inspired daughter for the first time. “[I] was renting a room in a very nice her to stray from her plans in medicine, sparking curiosity about different cultures. condominium in Salvador, and I woke “[Spain] changed everything for me,” up at night for a glass of water,” HordgeHordge-Freeman said. “I realized that Freeman said. “I walked by the teenage where my passion really rested was in my son’s room, and I saw an elderly black curiosity about different cultures [and] woman sleeping … on the floor next to his histories and using my language skills bed with [a] sheet that barely covered her to really bridge the gaps of … cultural … and that was really the first interview that sparked my interest in understanding understandings across [continents].”

In her final year, Hordge-Freeman said these relationships.”

While the interviews with these studying Brazil through her Latin American FOR THE THRESHER

women could last hours, they often required a degree of secrecy, HordgeFreeman said.

“I would have to secretly meet with them so that their families did not know that they were talking to me,” HordgeFreeman said.

“When we were able to get away … sometimes it would almost be as though they were having a cathartic experience where they just wanted to get everything out. So in one interview [that lasted for] 10 hours straight, I said, ‘Okay, we have to stop … you need to eat. I need to eat.’”

While previous researchers understood that young Black, Indigenous and impoverished girls were taken into affluent families as unpaid domestic workers under the guise of adoption, Hordge-Freeman said that her book challenges the assumption that these young girls eventually ran away. “[My research] highlights the lives of women who are 50, 60 and 70 years old who … [are] in these exploitative relationships for decades,” Hordge-Freeman said. “The other insight is perhaps an unexpected one, and that’s the role of emotions in domination and exploitation.”

Central to Hordge-Freeman’s research on raised daughters is her concept of “affective captivity,” which describes how emotions can maintain power structures, she said.

“Even when these women are being abused … they don’t leave for a number of reasons,” Hordge-Freeman said. “They are often not allowed to go to school.

They often don’t have networks outside

COURTESY ELIZABETH HORDGE-FREEMAN

of the family. They are deprived of all of these important material resources. But in addition to that, they also feel a type of loyalty and a sense of gratitude towards the family … and so their desire to remain morally good by expressing gratitude is also a contributing factor.”

Hordge-Freeman said that one of the most difficult parts of her research has been navigating what it means to be a Black woman in Brazil. While there, she is assumed to be a Black Brazilian woman and often faces the associated mistreatment, but she said that perceptions of her change dramatically once people discover she is American. Her encounter with police underscored this complexity, she said. “[H]e’s asking me all these questions — ‘Where are you from? What are you doing here?’ — and I’m responding in Portuguese,” Hordge-Freeman said. “I hear [my friends] say, ‘Elizabeth, speak in English,’ and so I say to the officer, ‘I’m Elizabeth … I’m here conducting research.’

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

8 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

‘Chromakopia’ bares all ARMAN SAXENA

A&E EDITOR

There are few artists that have had as eclectic of a transformation as Tyler, the Creator. Breaking into the game as a teenager in the irreverent rap collective Odd Future, Tyler Okonma has reinvented himself on pretty much every project he’s released since then — and this newest project is no exception.

“Chromakopia” throws the quirky and manic edge of “Cherry Bomb,” the funky, psychedelic and soulful production of “Igor” and the introspection of “Flower Boy” into a blender to create a project that sees Okonma delve deeper into themes of family, queerness and identity than we’ve ever seen before.

Similar to Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 project “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” the album investigates family trauma and how that has affected the artists today. Both albums feature a chorus of voices and a female narrator in their opening tracks. “St. Chroma,” the opening song of Okonma’s album, is introduced by his mother Bonita Smith, who says “You are the light/It’s not on you, it’s in you/Don’t you ever in your motherfucking life dim your light for nobody.”

Okonma was raised by a single mother, and he has long attributed his success to his mother’s motivation. The lines “Can you feel that light inside/ Can you feel that fire?” are repeated throughout the song by R&B star Daniel Caesar. The “light,” the same “light” that his mom says to never “dim,” likely refers to a uniqueness that is completely and totally Okonma’s. With that interpretation, this opening song functions as a perfect introduction to the rest of the album, as Okonma peels back layers of himself, excavating his childhood and relationships and pulling off the metaphorical mask that graces the album’s cover.

While this album is Okonma’s most introspective since “Flower Boy,” it’s not warm and mellow like many of the tracks on that project were. This project is his most anxious and manic since “Cherry Bomb” and the album’s next two tracks “Rah Tah Tah” and “Noid” exemplify that. Okonma brings the noise on “Rah Tah Tah,” an industrial and trap-influenced banger that might break the Richter scale at concerts. It’s a brash, punchy track that seems almost chaotic, with heavy, distorted bass and

frenetic drum patterns underscoring Okonma’s verses. “Noid,” like the title suggests, sees a paranoid Okonma unraveling over themes of distrust and pressure, layered over a jarring, dissonant beat that mirrors his internal turmoil. Here, Okonma’s voice is almost claustrophobic, switching rapidly between more restrained and incredibly frantic flows, as if he’s on the brink of something, exposing a restlessness that feels raw.

“Darling, I” sees Okonma dive back into the blend of R&B, soul and hiphop prominent on both “Flower Boy” and “Igor.” On this track, Okonma melodically ruminates on love and commitment, with Teezo Touchdown providing gentle backing vocals. The synth funk influences on the track are very reminiscent of the groovy production that backed Okonma’s lyricism on “Igor”. The next song “Hey Jane” furthers these themes of love and commitment, but is even more vulnerable. The song feels similar to Kendrick Lamar’s “We Cry Together” off “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” in that it also features a conversation between a man and a woman. However, while Lamar raps the man’s part and “Zola” actress Taylour Paige takes the woman’s part on “We Cry Together,” Okonma raps both perspectives on “Hey Jane.” With lines that cut to the bone, “Hey Jane” feels like a moment where Okonma sheds the last of his armor, letting his guard down completely for a few soul-baring minutes.

The middle of the album features the project’s biggest duds: “Judge Judy” and “Sticky.” These songs, while not outright skips, lack the complexity and depth of the rest of the album. “Judge Judy” relies too heavily on its hook, feeling almost repetitive, while “Sticky” doesn’t quite mesh with the project’s overall mood, its playful beat feeling out of place among the more intense themes elsewhere on the album. They are bumps in an otherwise captivating journey, tracks that don’t necessarily take away from the whole but don’t add to it either.

The album, however, reaches new heights again with “Thought I Was Dead.” This track is electric, pulsing with life and energy as Okonma explores the push and pull between fame and authenticity.

This article has been cut off for print.

Read more at www.ricethresher.org

COLUMBIA RECORDS

Lovett journeys ‘Into the Woods’

WILLIAM LIU / THRESHER

happily after. But then there is a second act … it’s kind of exploring what THRESHER STAFF happens after the traditional fairytale Lovett Theater returns from an eight- ends,” Thieriot, a McMurtry College year hiatus with its performance of “Into junior, said. “[The show] gets dramatic, the Woods” this weekend. There will be and it gets a bit darker, but it still ends a three performances in Lovett College bit hopefully.”

In addition to playing Cinderella’s commons from Nov. 7 to Nov. 9, each starting at 8 p.m., as well as a 2 p.m. mother, Thieriot is also the props matinee on Nov. 9. The show is free for designer for “Into the Woods.” Thieriot aimed to incorporate visually appealing all Rice students.

According to executive producer props that enhance the story, she said, Auggie Schwarz, she wanted to including white pigeons, “Milky White” reestablish the tradition of Lovett the cow and the hen.

“The props leave a little less to the College performances by choosing to perform “Into the Woods,” a choice imagination … it’s another part of the she acknowledged was both incredibly visual medium of the show, giving the audience a chance to see the things the ambitious and exciting. characters actually “I had the have,” Thieriot utmost [faith] in said. the Rice Theater The crew who community to be work behind the able to [perform] There are moments scenes play a and bring [‘Into the where it is really tender. crucial role in Woods’] to Rice,” this production, Schwarz, a Lovett There are moments i n c l u d i n g junior, said. where it is really sad. choreographers, “Into the There are moments costume designers Woods” features where there will not be and even the a wide variety of pit orchestra. characters and a dry eye in the house, According to stories, including including my own.

Youngson, a lot of Cinderella, Jack their work often and the Beanstalk Jeffrey Youngson goes unrecognized. and Little Red BROWN COLLEGE JUNIOR “There’s a whole Riding Hood.

Jeffrey Youngson, who plays the role of lot of work that just doesn’t really get the narrator, is excited for the audience seen … set crew doing all of their pieces, to see the “electric” dynamics of the the choreographers, the directing,” Youngson said. “But [the behind-thecharacters onstage, he said.

“The way [the characters] interact scenes crew] does pull the whole show with each other on stage is so funny and together.”

The show has comedic, dramatic so fluid,” Youngson, a Brown College and suspicious components. The junior, said.

“Into the Woods” explores the stories audience connects to the show feeling and adventures of multiple families, a wide variety of emotions, according to offering a unique twist on the classic Youngson. The show is action-packed, fairytale. According to Nadia Thieriot, and has a little bit of everything, he said.

“There are moments where it is really who plays the role of Cinderella’s mother, there is a “big shift” between tender. There are moments where it is really sad. There are moments where the two acts.

“In Act One it seems like everyone’s there will not be a dry eye in the house, gotten what they wanted. They live including my own,” Youngson said.

CHIARA MORETTI

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 • 9

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The River Oaks Theatre is a Houston film fan’s dream JAY COLLURA

THRESHER STAFF The River Oaks Theatre, freshly renovated and restored, reopened its doors to Houston audiences Oct. 3.

Taking visual cues from the movie palaces of the 20th century, the new theatre now boasts three screening rooms, two in-house bars and a kitchen that serves food to guests.

Throughout October, the theatre screened new releases, including “Joker: Folie à Deux”, alongside many cult and arthouse classics, including films like “Mulholland Drive” and “Fight Club.” This new mixture of old favorites, modern arthouse and prestige studio releases is a breath of fresh air in the Houston cinema space, as few theatres near Rice consistently screen these types of films (the Museum of Fine Arts being a notable exception).

However, the River Oaks Theatre is not new, even if it may be to many Rice students. The theatre operated from 1939 to 2021 until it closed due to the pandemic. Shortly after the theatre closed, however, a nonprofit, Arthouse Houston — previously known as Friends of River Oaks Theatre — started working to save the historic space and reinstate it back in the Houston film community.

Maureen McNamara, co-founder and director of Arthouse Houston, said the original River Oaks was the core of Houston’s art film community. After beginning her career overseeing the River Oaks for Landmark Theatres, McNamara returned to help save the theater, after recognizing the establishment’s complex leasing situation.

“There had been a long-standing desire of the real estate company that owned the River Oaks Shopping Center to redevelop [the River Oaks Theatre],” McNamara said. “The landlord had been renewing leases for short periods of time, so it was very hard for the people operating the business to invest in renovations and repairs.”

McNamara also said that, at this time, Weingarten Realty Investors were negotiating to raise the rent, further contributing to the initial closure of the business.

“That doesn’t mean it wasn’t healthy or thriving,” McNamara said. “With the pandemic and the lease ending, it was easy just to use the opportunity to move on and get them to close the theatre.”

During and after these negotiations, McNamara and other Houstonians recognized the problems and began to take action.

“It was really clear that the theater was at risk, there were people who worked at the theatre, preservationists, local filmmakers, neighbors that came together to say ‘not on our watch’,” McNamara said.

Because of this nonprofit effort, the Houston Mayor’s Office determined that the space should remain a theatre, regardless of who the owner is, McNamara said. Eventually, Culinary Khancepts, a Houston-based company that operates a variety of restaurants, including Liberty Grill and the Star Cinema Grill, a chain of dine-in movie theaters in the greater Houston area, became interested in the space.

McNamara said that the Friends of River Oaks Theatre worked with the company after they signed the lease to the space in 2022.

“We wanted to make sure the idea of the theatre was never more than a beat away,” McNamara siad.

Despite this newfound collaboration with Culinary Khancepts, however, the River Oaks Theatre is still committed to arthouse and cinema outside what you might find in the megaplex, according to artistic director Robert Saucedo.

“We always want to recognize that the River Oaks has historically been like a great place to see independent arthouse, so we were trying to keep on that and stay true to that,” Saucedo said.

Saucedo also noted that the theatre’s approach may be philosophically the

KONSTANTIN SAVVON / THRESHER The River Oaks Theatre re-opened on Oct. 3 after a three-year closure.

same in terms of film programming, but noted some key differences in terms of what is being shown.

“We will definitely keep bringing in big studio films wherever it makes sense and where they fit in with the general kind of philosophy,” Saucedo said.

“We’re not probably ever going to play something like the new Avengers movie, but we would play a superhero film if it was directed by an auteur filmmaker, like Christopher Nolan.”

Since the reopening, the River Oaks has found success in terms of capturing a new audience.

“I think the biggest surprise I’ve had is just how young our repertory audiences are,” Saucedo said. “The median age of the audience being probably 30 is great, because that’s the kind of audience that it’s important to nurture and support because they’re going to continue to continue to support the theater in the years to come.”

Going forward, Saucedo said he hopes to continue to engage audiences with the programming offered.

“Students at Rice who want to see a certain movie or want to see certain types of programming: reach out and let us know. We’ll continue to tailor the programming at River Oaks to fit what people are interested in watching,” Saucedo said.

McNamara said the cinema experience is completely unlike watching at home.

“I challenge anyone to watch the same movie on their [small] screen and then go see it at the River Oaks and have the same experience they had the first time,” McNamara said. “When you’re in the dark and completely surrounded, with a community of people or other people you’re with, you have shared emotional peaks and valleys and wonder that you’re experiencing together. It can be very magical.”

Asia Society Night Market shines, displays culture LILY HARVEY

THRESHER STAFF Asia Society Texas put on its annual night market on Friday, Nov. 3 at the Asia Society Texas Center in the Museum District, providing opportunities for food, performances and shopping to highlight Asian culture.

In traditional night-market fashion, attendees gathered outdoors, walking from tent to tent to try different things. People stopped by shops like Caobao for egg cream baos and Saigon Arts Matcha for an ube drink or matcha ice cream.

Attendees could also buy craft items, like crochet animals from The T’s Creation or candles from LH Candle Studio. Meanwhile, local business Adorned by Aysha offered henna designs.

Stephanie Todd-Wong, Vice President of Communications at Asia Society Texas, explained the Night Market’s impact on both attendees and the AAPI-owned businesses it showcases.

“For this event, we welcome so many people to Asia Society for the very first time,” Todd-Wong said.“We uplift AAPI-owned businesses … and it’s a really great way to introduce them to a whole new audience.”

LILY HARVEY / THRESHER Japanese calligraphy on display at the Asia Society Texas’ night market.

Inside the center, Asia Society’s museum highlighted pieces from Asian artists.

Attendees could stop to admire abstract space-inspired pieces by JooYoung Choi or Angela Chen’s Hurricane Beryl-inspired cyanotype works.

People also got the chance to try out activities like kokeshi doll making, Japanese calligraphy and mahjong.

Mark Schneider, a coordinator at the Japanese Consulate, explained the significance of the kokeshi and calligraphy activities the consulate hosted.

“Kokeshi is a craft from the northern part of Japan, more specifically, the Miyagi area; it’s where I was living in Japan when I first went so this is a handicraft I saw all the time,” Schneider said. “As for the calligraphy, it’s a little bit more aged up and gives people the chance to try learning Japanese and see what it’s like to write the characters … that’s how I first got interested.”

The market also provided attendees the opportunity to learn more about Hanfu — traditional Chinese clothing. Founder Li further described the objectives of the Hanfu Houston Association, which include educating people on the vast diversity of traditional Chinese garments.

“If you think about Chinese traditional clothing, a lot of people think about Qipao, which is really two hundred years old, it’s very young,” Li said. “You have four or five thousand years of actual traditional clothing that no one ever talks about, so we dedicate ourselves to let people know there’s this whole category of really amazing elegant clothing that’s really Chinese traditional clothing.”

Jenny Hu, a University of Houston student and Houston Hanfu Association treasurer, said she appreciated the exchange of cultures during the event.

“My favorite part was getting to meet people and see that they are interested in learning about our culture,” Hu said.

After stopping by these activities, participants could then attend a performance featuring Bollywood group Rhythmic Rani, K-pop group Wonderbox and hip-hop team University of Houston Modern.

Samira Choudhury, a member of Rhythmic Rani, said she wanted to emphasize that dance is accessible to anyone through her performance.

“Performing at Asia Society was very important to me as a person of Asian heritage because it allowed me to bring into the public eye the beauty of Bollywood dance,” said Choudhury. “What was special and important about the performance was showcasing dancers from different cultural as well as dance backgrounds. I wanted to send the message that anyone can dance to Bollywood music, and that kind of unity is so important and so powerful in this day and age.”

According to Li, the importance of events like the Asia Society Night Market is heightened by the context of recent discrimination.

“I really appreciate the founding members of the Asia Society, especially nowadays with the social, political environment and with Asian hate [during Covid-19],” Li said. “I think there’s a pretty serious issue that we’re facing and having organizations like this is important.”

10 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

THE RICE THRESHER

COURTESY MARIA LYSAKER — RICE ATHLETICS Senior running back Dean Connors runs with the ball during the game against Navy on Saturday.

Rice upset Navy 24-10 after a five-hour rain delay.

FROM FRONT PAGE

RICE-NAVY

When play resumed, Rice found itself five yards from the end zone, largely thanks to a pair of long catches that graduate wide receiver Matt Sykes had made prior to the third delay. On the Owls’ first play back from the locker room, Warner handed the ball to senior running back Dean Connors for a short touchdown run. The Owls capitalized on their next drive, too, as Sykes withstood contact from a defender to make a physical touchdown catch late in the first quarter.

“Matt is such a reliable guy,” Warner said of Sykes, who caught eight of 10 targets for 93 yards in the win. “I always know I can trust him on the back side, against one-on-one; you know he’s going to make a play.”

The Owls added three more points on redshirt senior kicker Tim Horn’s 47-yard field goal, his longest made kick in over a year. Navy answered with its first points of the game on a nine-yard touchdown run. Rice took a 17-7 lead into halftime.

Each team added one more touchdown in the second half. Rice’s points came

from Connors, who rushed nine yards for the score. He finished Saturday’s game with 105 rushing yards, 34 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

“Any time I give the ball to him and watch him run, it’s fun,” Warner said.

Warner, who missed the Oct. 26 game at the University of Connecticut due to injury, didn’t know he’d be healthy enough to play against Navy until Thursday night. He managed to suit up on Saturday and completed 70 percent of his passes for 239 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Rice’s 24-10 victory brought the team to 3-6 (2-3 in AAC) this season. The outcome dropped Navy to 6-2 and handed them their first conference loss of the year. The Midshipmen’s only other loss this season came to No. 10 Notre Dame.

Rice held Navy to new season-low marks in rushing yards, total yards and total points. The Midshipmen’s low offensive output is a testament to Rice’s strong defensive showing, headlined by senior safety Gabriel Taylor’s six tackles and one interception. Taylor noted that this week’s preparation felt different.

“The energy [and] the vibes went

Nine hours in the press box with the Thresher ANDERSEN PICKARD

ASST. SPORTS EDITOR

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to sit in the Rice Stadium press box for nine hours, drinking Diet Coke and watching raindrops slowly slide down the windows? Let’s revisit the commotion of Rice’s weather-delayed win over Navy on Saturday from the perspective of assistant sports editor Andersen Pickard.

2:16 p.m. – The first delay While the game was not set to begin until 3 p.m., an announcement from Rice Football on X, formerly known as Twitter, said that pregame warmups were delayed due to inclement weather.

2:20 p.m. – Arrival After a long wait for the elevator, I

up and we just clicked,” Taylor said.

“Everybody was disciplined.”

Other defensive leaders included redshirt junior linebacker Andrew Awe (who led the team with seven tackles), redshirt sophomore safety Tyson Flowers (one interception) and redshirt junior defensive end Michael Daley (one sack and one forced fumble). Flowers’ 88.1 Pro Football Focus coverage grade ranked 18th-best among 1,594 eligible FBS defenders in Week 10.

Rice posted an 81.8 PFF grade in the win, setting their new season-high for a game against an FBS opponent. They also earned season-best grades in pass blocking, defense, run defense and coverage.

The offensive line showed significant improvements Saturday as redshirt junior tackle Ethan Onianwa and graduate tackle Chad Lindberg both provided key protection for Warner and Connors.

Onianwa’s 88.6 pass-blocking grade from PFF ranked 11th among 1,052 FBS linemen. Lindberg ranked 21st with his pass-blocking grade of 87.0.

Overshadowed by the upset victory and lengthy delays was Alamar’s NCAA head coaching debut. He was promoted

EDITORIAL CARTOON

to interim head coach Oct. 27 after Rice fired Mike Bloomgren during his seventh season with the program. Alamar didn’t expect his first game as head coach to be delayed five-plus hours by weather, but he said he didn’t mind waiting a little longer for the victory.

“I couldn’t even tell you how long [this game] took, but I think if you ask every one of those guys, ‘Was every minute of it worth it?’ everybody would tell you, ‘Heck yeah,’” Alamar said, his outfit soaked by the rain and postgame Powerade shower.

Alamar also said that energy levels were high in the locker room postgame, in no small part thanks to the 64-year-old coach showing off his dance moves.

“That’s probably worth the price of admission there,” Alamar said of his dancing.

A Rice team that appeared defeated and destined for the bottom of the AAC just one week ago has found new life after one of the conference’s biggest upset victories this season. The Owls can still qualify for a bowl game, but the path won’t be easy.

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. Read the full article at rice thresher.org.

“Owl-American”

made my way up to the Rice Stadium press box, grabbed a complimentary lunch and Diet Coke, found my seat in the front row above the 40-yard line and opened up a blank Google Doc. 2:22 p.m. – The first rain Seemingly out of nowhere, the clouds dropped heavy rain on Rice Stadium, soaking its occupants and the fans still tailgating in the parking lots.

3:00 p.m. – Radio silence The original kickoff time came and went. We were officially in a weather delay, but there was no update on when the game might begin.

Editor’s Note: This article has been cut off for print. Read the full article at rice thresher.org.

HONG LIN TSAI / THRESHER

“That should’ve been me!”

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 • 11

SPORTS

Women’s cross country achieves breakthrough third-place ANA RIVERA

THRESHER STAFF The Rice women’s cross country team has made significant strides this season, improving from a sixth-place finish at the 2023 American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship to third place this past weekend. Women’s cross country head coach Jim Bevan said he attributes the success to the dedication of returning athletes and new talent.

One of the key additions according to Bevan is freshman Oliwia Kopeć, whose journey and quick progress have sparked new energy in the Owls’ lineup.

A native of Poland, Kopeć came to Rice as a middle-distance runner, primarily experienced in the 1,500 meters.

In Poland, she trained with a local club rather than a school team, often practicing alone and competing in shorter track events. Transitioning to collegiate cross country, with its extended distances, larger fields and intense competition, brought fresh challenges, she said.

“I was used to pushing myself, but running with a team here has been a completely different and rewarding experience,” Kopeć said. “My teammates have become a huge source of support.”

Kopeć’s journey to Rice began over a year ago when she was looking for U.S. universities with high academic standards and strong athletics. After

discussions with Bevan and a campus visit, she said she felt an immediate connection.

“From our first call, Coach Bevan was interested, and when I visited Rice, it just felt right,” she said. “The campus, the people, the program — it was everything I was looking for.”

At the recent conference meet, Kopeć finished third overall, crossing the line with a time of 20:55.3. In only her fifth cross country race for Rice, she achieved the best finish by a Rice freshman since Bevan began coaching.

“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Kopeć said. “Coach told me to stay calm, keep my pace and stick with the pack. As we hit the 5K mark, I realized I had more left, so I went for it.”

Bevan said her growth and adaptability this season has been remarkable.

“Oliwia has been learning with every race,” Bevan said. “She’s up against athletes with years of experience, but she’s overcome the challenge each time.”

Returning athletes have also shown progress. Sophomore Alex Gobran moved up from 30th last year to 13th, earning All-Conference honors with a time of 21:26.9.

“Alex came back this season determined to make an impact, and she’s done exactly that,” Bevan said. “Her AllConference finish is well-deserved, and it speaks to the work she’s put in.”

Another freshman, Daphne Mayer,

contributed to the team’s success, finishing 15th at her first conference meet and earning All-Conference honors with a time of 21:31.9. Senior Heidi Nielson delivered her best performance of the season, finishing in 17th place.

“This year, we’ve had the right balance of youth and experience,” Bevan said. “That

COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS Freshman cross country runner Oliwia Kopeć runs during the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship this weekend. The women’s team finished third.

Men’s cross country struggles at AAC, eyes regional comeback

Sports Mini #4 EVIE VU

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ANA RIVERA

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mix has been essential to our success.”

As Rice prepares for the upcoming South Central Regional meet Nov. 15 in College Station, Texas. Bevan is focused on maintaining the team’s momentum.

“We’ve seen what’s possible this year,” Bevan said. “And I believe we’re only beginning to tap into our potential.”

The Rice Owls men’s cross country team finished in eighth place in the 2024 American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championships Nov. 1 in Wichita, Kansas, with 215 points.

Runners said unexpected challenges left the team grappling to meet prerace expectations.

“We came into the meet expecting to be in the mix for a top four finish,” men’s cross country head coach Jon Warren said. “On a good day, we felt confident about hitting that mark, but cross country can be unpredictable, and unfortunately, our two strongest runners faced unexpected issues that threw us off course.”

The team’s top runner, junior Gus Gannon, was unable to finish the race due to medical reasons, and sophomore Brandon Martz, typically also a consistent scorer, was hindered by medical issues that affected his usual performance.

“If you had asked me which two runners I’d least want to have an off day, it would’ve been Gus and Brandon,” Warren said. “They’re the backbone of our lineup. Their struggles were like running with one arm tied behind our back.”

In their absence, junior Ben Tijerina delivered a standout performance, crossing the line in 22nd place with a time of 25:02.

“Ben really rose to the occasion,” Warren said. “That was the best race he’s run at Rice. He didn’t let the day’s setbacks get to him — he showed a lot of maturity and grit out there.”

Tijerina said his control in the first 2K was the key to his success. “[The runners] went out really fast, unusually fast,” Tijerina said. “I let that front pack pull away while I kept my pace steady.”

Tijerina said that the dry air was an additional challenge.

“The air was unusually dry, which made it difficult to breathe,” Tijerina said. “But the hardest part was mentally staying strong when everyone started to pull away. There’s always that uncertainty about catching them again.”

Despite the team’s challenges, Warren said he was optimistic as they look ahead to the NCAA South Central Regional meet Nov. 15 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas.

“This season has shown me the strength of their character and their commitment to each other,” Warren said.

“They’ve built a strong foundation, and I know they’re ready to bounce back.”

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1 Not clear 2 Outcome of the Rice football game this week 3 Garfield’s favorite 4 Tax pros 5 Garlicky dip served with fries 7 Batting-practice locations 8 At any point 14 “I for___ ,” Twitter/X saying

COURTESY RICE ATHLETICS Junior cross country runner Ben Tijerina runs during the American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship. He led the Owls, placing 22nd.

12 • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

BACKPAGE

Spring 2025 Sample Course Schedule LOIS/PETA/STWE/BRYN/GGTY 479: Highbrow Comedy Writing

BUSI/CHBE/POLI 201: Fracking for the World

BUSI/CHBE/POLI 201: Fracking for the World CHEM 150: The Art of Servery Cooking

BUSI/CHBE/POLI 201: Fracking for the World CHEM 150: The Art of Servery Cooking

BUSI 103: Arbitraging the Tragedy of the Commons

LPAP 192: Interpretive Football

UNIV 285: College Coordinator Career Development

UNIV 285: College Coordinator Career Development

UNIV 285: College Coordinator Career Development

UNIV 285: College Coordinator Career Development

UNIV 285: College Coordinator Career Development

ARTS 303: Bodies in Motion

ARCH 470: Pillow Fort Advanced Studio

CHEM 150: The Art of Servery Cooking TR 10:50 a.m. - 12:05 p.m.

Servery chefs have perfected the craft of generating nebulous, ostensibly nutritious sludge, and they are here to share their secrets with you. In this class, students will pioneer alternatives to conventional food items, tapping into concepts from organic chemistry along the way. Final projects of past classes have included revolutionizing the limits of what can legally be called “food” and inventing the elusive Red 41.

Rice University is not responsible for students who accidentally or intentionally create illicit substances.

ARTS 303: Bodies in Motion M 7:00 - 10:00 pm “What is a body? How does it flow through space? What are its boundaries of self-care?” are among the questions that this studio will engage in with its exploration of the tactile dimensions of the human body. Students will physically (and extensively) touch and explore the bodies of themselves and visiting artists as they investigate the boundaries between artist and audience, self and other. Failure to participate in such activities will result in an instant failing grade and possible university expulsion.

BUSI/CHBE/POLI 201: Fracking for the World MWF 10:00 - 10:50 a.m., F 1:00 - 1:50 p.m.

This multidisciplinary course will prepare students for an ethical career in the oil and gas industry through seminars on individual environmental responsibility and guest lectures from Houston-area energy corporation marketing teams. Lab component involves major-specific workshops for students studying Business (BUSI 103: Arbitraging the Tragedy of the Commons), Chemical Engineering (CHBE 103: Down the Pipeline You Go), and Political Science (POLI 103: Regulatory Loopholes). The semester will culminate in an environmental ethics field trip to a Global South nation (past cohorts have visited South Africa and New Zealand).

LOIS/PETA/STWE/BRYN/GGTY 479: Highbrow Comedy Writing M 7:00 - 9:30 a.m.

Intensive writing seminar returning to the golden age of comedy.

Note: Counts against Analyzing Diversity Requirement

ARCH 470: Pillow Fort Advanced Studio T 9:00 p.m. - W 7:30 a.m.

This advanced senior design studio provides students the opportunity to conduct rigorous formal analysis of evolving methodologies, contingencies, and design futures regarding the “pillow fort.” Students will chart interactions between material, structural, and thermal systems of “pillow fort” assemblies, considering processes of functional, community-based usage across different scales. Final design projects will demonstrate a thorough understanding of confluences between environment, social practice, and space, such as “eepy time” and “beddy bye-bye.”

Required materials: Nightcap with pom-pom, warm glass of milk, candle holder

LPAP 192: Interpretive Football R 3:17 p.m. - 4:41 p.m.

Fans and critics alike agree that the rules of gridiron football are too niche and complex. Instead of reworking the rules, this class ventures to transcend these rigid structures completely. In-class activities will include creating playbooks from clay and paper mache and inventing new football positions, such as the Frontendlinereceiverback and the Sniffer. Students will begin each class period with one dose of medical marijuana to enhance their creativity.

Prerequisite: LPAP 191: Imaginary Football

UNIV 285: College Coordinator Career Development MTWRF 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Designed for graduating seniors, this course provides credit for students to conduct the job responsibilities of a residential college coordinator after working hours and over weekends. Responsibilities include organizing mail, keeping accurate student records, managing student housing logistics, reporting college finances, listening to students trauma dump, and storing two decades of institutional knowledge in their brain only. By the end of the semester, students will be ready to continue undercompensated work for the university into adulthood.

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.