The Rice Thresher | October 28, 2026

VOLUME 111, ISSUE NO. 09 | STUDENT-RUN SINCE 1916 | RICETHRESHER.ORG | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

Backup QB runs to Paris center students records in FAU loss navigate local protests SAMUEL RUBINSTEIN

FOR THE THRESHER

eighth-most in American Conference history and the third-most by a quarterback. Both Owls programs played a back-andforth game and continued to exchange blows deep into the contest. All six complete third-quarter drives between the two schools resulted in a touchdown, as 42 of the game’s 100 points were scored in the third quarter alone. Rice fell behind by two possessions with less than four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but a touchdown and a defensive stand set up the Owls for a potential gamewinning drive. Trailing by two points, the Owls stalled just past midfield and faced a 4th and 5 from FAU’s 37-yard line. Even though Rice’s offense had 608 total yards on Saturday, head coach Scott Abell chose to trot out freshman kicker Tommy Bauchiero for a 55-yard field goal attempt. Entering last week, Bauchiero had attempted just four field goals in his young career, with his longest conversion coming from 45 yards. His pivotal kick Saturday had the right angle, but it came up short. “Tommy’s got a really strong leg,” Abell said. “I really thought we had a better shot there than going for it. The yards had become really tough at the end of the game. We were gassed. The lack of depth catches up with you, and so I felt really strong that was our best shot. I would do it all over again.” FAU was able to kneel out the remainder of the clock. Rice lost 51-49 and fell to 1-7 this season, including 0-7 against FBS opponents and 0-4 in the American Conference. They will have a week off before returning to action Nov. 7 at the University of North Texas on ESPNU.

As protests sweep across Paris, activities at the Rice Global Paris Fall Semester Program have continued as scheduled. Students are navigating minor disruptions while receiving regular updates from Rice. The RGP Center acts as Rice’s primary location in Europe for students to study abroad, with programs throughout the fall and summer, research partnerships and faculty-run conferences. The 12 undergraduate students live across Paris’s 13th arrondissement, according to an email from Camille Evans, the program coordinator at the RGP Center. Students live roughly 30 minutes from the RGP Center, located in Le Marais. The area where the students live is quiet and residential, Evans said. Students across France have been protesting mismanagement and underfunding for weeks, and trade unions and activists groups recently began demonstrations of their own. In the past week, looting and violence has broken out, with images of destroyed vehicles, vandalized stores and large fires spread across news channels. The French government has strict rules regulating where protests can be held, said Aspen Viamontes, a McMurtry College junior currently attending the program. Consequently, no demonstrations have been held near the students’ housing as the area is mostly residential and lacks major public spaces with wide streets. Still, large metro stations, such as Place d’Italie, located a 10-minute walk from the students’ residence, have been closed down. “[The station is] one of the central areas of the 13th [District], and that metro stop has been closed down, which is kind of weird because nobody protests there,” Viamontes said. Viamontes said students have been able to hear the protests and have seen some of the visible effects, causing them to stay indoors as a precaution. “In general, I have been avoiding the big protest areas,” Viamontes said. “Last weekend, I did not leave the house the entirety of Saturday because I was like, ‘I

faces a reduction in Election Day polling locations. Recent analysis found that the county will have 589 Election Day polling locations in 2026, down from 782 in 2022. This is a decrease of 193 sites. This analysis refers to Election Day polling places and does not reflect the number of locations available during inperson advance voting. Texas voters may also vote by mail, but the state limits eligibility to certain groups, including voters with disabilities and voters aged 65 or older. The shuttle is part of a larger conversation about voter participation on campus. As part of this, students are actively getting involved in the political process. Divya

Keswani, a McMurtry College freshman, voted early and is planning on working as a poll worker on Election Day. “Early voting was a great — and surprisingly quick — experience,” Keswani said. “It reminded me how important it is for everyone to have a voice. This election season feels like a turning point for Texas, and it’s especially important that we all take part in our civic duty.” Eli Risinger, a Wiess College junior, has been involved in increasing voter engagement and has offered rides to earlyvoting locations. Risinger also serves as the Democracy Fellow for the Fair Election Center and Rice Votes, for which he promotes voting on campus.

KAIRI MANO / THRESHER Redshirt sophomore Gael Ochoa runs the football during a drive against the University of Tulsa on Oct. 17. During the Owls’ Saturday game at Florida Atlantic University, Ochoa rushed for 259 yards.

ANDERSEN PICKARD

SPORTS EDITOR

In search of its first Football Bowl Subdivision victory since last November, the Owls flew east for a Saturday afternoon matchup against Florida Atlantic University. Despite recording their highest single-game rushing total since 2004, when they ran for 570 yards, Rice wasn’t able to secure a win in their fourth American Conference battle of the season. Shortly before Saturday’s game, redshirt sophomore Gael Ochoa was informed that he would be starting at quarterback in place of injured redshirt senior Jacurri Brown. Ochoa responded with one of Rice’s best individual stat lines of the century, rushing for 259 yards and four touchdowns in his first career start. He also had two completions, 80 passing yards and his first career passing touchdown. The effort led to Ochoa being named one of the Manning Award Stars of the Week. “Gael executed at a really high level today,” head coach Scott Abell said. “I’m really proud of him.” Ochoa’s four rushing touchdowns all came on plays of at least 52 yards. The transfer from University of Nevada, Las Vegas became just the second Owls quarterback to score four rushing touchdowns in one game. His 21.6 yards per carry is the second-most in school history and set a new American Conference record. Other accolades to come from Ochoa’s breakout performance include the secondmost rushing yards in Rice history and the most by an Owls quarterback since 1984. His 259 yards on the ground also represent the

don’t want to deal with this,’ and you could hear explosions. To me, they sounded like gunshots, but apparently they were something else.” Viamontes said that while they disagreed with the violence occurring at these protests, they believe many of the protestors are advocating for a change in the system that desperately needs to occur; however, the French government’s large budget deficit further complicates the issue. “It’s a very multifaceted issue, where essentially, over years, the French system has prioritized older generations over younger ones,” Viamontes said.“I think the pensioner’s salary is higher than the average working person in France’s salary. However, it gets complicated because the French government is in a bit of a money problem.” However, Evans wrote that despite the severity of these protests, they are not unprecedented, and their direct impact upon city life is often over-exaggerated. “I wish people understood that because protest routes are approved and planned, it’s never a surprise - in fact it’s fairly organized, though the activity can escalate. The images may be shocking to those who don’t live here, but the day after everything is swiftly cleaned up,” Evans wrote. “There are still tourists, the metro is running, the streets are clean, Paris is still Paris.” Evans wrote that regular activities of the program have all continued to run as normal, and restrictive measures like curfews have not created an effect upon their daily lives. “Classes and exams continue as usual, and the students are attending planned excursions. On Monday, for example, the French class went to visit a café and third-space focused on sustainability and community gardening, and today (Friday) the Intro to International Relations class is visiting UNESCO,” Evans wrote. “The curfews (11pm - 6am) have been highly localized, around the immediate vicinity of Châtelet - Les Halles and Place de la République, both very lively areas.”

SEE RICE IN PARIS PAGE 4

Rice offers complimentary shuttles to early voting location JAMES ELLIS

FOR THE THRESHER

WHAT’S INSIDE

Rice is offering free shuttle rides to an advance voting location ahead of the midterm elections, providing students with transportation as Harris County prepares to operate fewer Election Day polling locations than it did in 2022. The shuttle service runs from the Rice Memorial Center on Alumni Road to 1475 West Gray Street in Montrose. According to a university announcement, shuttles are scheduled to depart approximately every 30 minutes during designated service hours on Thursday and Friday. This initiative comes as Harris County

WEST SERVERY CLOSURE PAGE 5

POLI SCI PROF RECS

PAGE 11

“I believe democracy works best when everyone has the opportunity to participate, regardless of their background or political beliefs,” Risinger wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Providing rides during early voting is another way to remove barriers to participation. To me, voting is more than choosing a candidate; it’s about making sure our generation has a voice in the decisions that will shape our future.” The shuttle service is the newest of several efforts to increase student voting participation. Rice Votes hosted registration tables at busy campus locations to register students earlier this year, and the university will facilitate on-campus voting at Sewall Hall on Election Day.

INTRAMURAL SPORTS

PAGE 14

2 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

THE RICE THRESHER

Paul Ryan at Baker Institute: “Foreign policy with no morality” ANDREW MA

FOR THE THRESHER Former House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized President Donald Trump’s deal with Vladimir Putin to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. He called it a break from the United States’ history of moral leadership at an Oct. 20 conversation with Baker Institute director David Satterfield. “We’re in the Jim Baker Institute, for heaven’s sake — the architect, along with Ronald Reagan, of our peace through strength initiative that ended the Cold War,” Ryan said at the event. “It’s kind of like we’re going from the shining city on a hill to ‘might makes right’ and the victor gets the spoils.” Ryan, who led the House during Trump’s first two years in office, has been one of the president’s most prominent Republican critics since leaving Congress in 2019. In 2022, he called himself a “Never-Again-Trumper.” In 2024, he said Trump’s willingness to place himself above the Constitution made him “unfit for office.” At Harvard’s Institute of Politics this March, Ryan described Trump’s nationalist wing as a 2.0 version of the protectionist paleoconservatives he fought early in his career. “I don’t even want to call it conservatism,” Ryan said. At Rice, he went further, naming Trump directly and targeting specific decisions of his second term. The diesel deal was the most recent. On Oct. 9, Trump announced that Russia would supply diesel to American and global markets, and eased sanctions on Russian diesel through April 2027. The White House has framed the move as relief from fuel prices, which have soared since the war with Iran began in February. But the deal came three weeks after Trump signed a bipartisan law meant to tighten economic pressure on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. Six

Republican and six Democratic senators have since urged the president to rescind the diesel deal. “I think we are now practicing foreign policy with no morality,” Ryan said. “It’s hard to put your head around this Putin diesel deal other than a rejection of the things that this country has stood for, for 250 years. We’re for freedom. We’re for liberty. We’reo for democracy. And we stand up for those values and those people who are fighting for those things.” Asked by Satterfield whether the damage could be undone, Ryan said it was possible, but credibility would be is lost in the meantime. He was equally blunt about the president’s hold on the party. “It’s a cult-of-personality party right now,” Ryan said. “It’s not a political philosophy. It’s not a worldview. It’s Donald Trump’s personality.”

It’s hard to put your head around this Putin diesel deal other than a rejection of the things that this country has stood for, for 250 years. We’re for freedom. We’re for liberty. We’re for democracy. And we stand up for those values and those people who are fighting for those things. Paul Ryan FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER

That hold, he said, runs on fear. “There are two ways to motivate people. You inspire people or you intimidate people,” Ryan said. “If you’re intimidating them, they’re going to be

with you until they’re not afraid of you anymore.” Many congressional Republicans dislike some of the administration’s policies, including on trade, but will not say so publicly, Ryan said. “They’re intimidated by their base,” he said. “They’ll lose their primary.” Retired from politics, Ryan no longer has a primary — or a seat — to lose. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, an El Paso Democrat who came within 2.6 percentage points of unseating Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018, said he wishes Ryan had spoken up when he held the speaker’s gavel. “I sure wish he had used his position of power and influence to avert the catastrophe that we’re in right now,” O’Rourke told the Thresher. Ryan’s office declined to comment on O’Rourke’s remarks. Ryan predicted that Republicans would likely lose the House. Several senior Republicans anonymously conceded the same to Politico a week prior. After Trump, Ryan said, the party will fight over whether to keep the nationalist-populist direction or return to the classical liberal conservatism he represents. If Trump is popular in 2028, Ryan said he expects that Vice President JD Vance will become the nominee. If not, he anticipates a crowded field, including Ted Cruz. Ryan rejected the “blood and soil” nationalism he said has gained ground on the right. He said it was “very dangerous” and “antithetical to who we are.” He also defended foreign aid, which the administration has slashed. Ryan recalled writing the budget for PEPFAR, the Bush-era AIDS relief program he credited with saving “tens of millions of lives” in Africa. Ryan placed some of the blame on the Biden administration, which he said “put woke politics into USAID” and “made

it easy for the DOGE guys to go and kill them.” “That doesn’t mean [we should] kill USAID and soft power,” he said. “It means fix it.” But Ryan said the Department of Government Efficiency’s dismantling of the agency went too far. “That was not legal. They went around Congress,” he said. “Congress authorizes and appropriates.” DOGE, he said, “went for pelts on the wall, went for hits and clicks, and they went for, you know, sensationalism. And they didn’t save much money.” Not every Trump policy drew his criticism. On the war with Iran, Ryan questioned only how it was carried out. “I think this presidency was probably going to have to deal with Iran one way or the other,” he said, arguing that Iran had chosen to pursue a nuclear weapon. His objection was that Trump went in without allies. “Right now, it’s the IRGC versus Donald Trump,” Ryan said. “Instead, it could have been the IRGC against the world, and the world could have helped us keep the straits open.” The position is consistent with his remarks at Harvard, where he called the strikes “a very prudent move.” Asked by the Thresher whether the war’s costs had changed his view, a spokesperson for Ryan said Tuesday that he stands by his remarks. “Yes, Speaker Ryan still holds the views he espoused last week regarding the recent diesel deal with Russia and the U.S. conflict in Iran,” Kevin Seifert, Chief of Staff, said in an email. Despite his criticism, Ryan closed on an optimistic note. He predicted that voters will tire of the “grievance-based populism” he said dominates both parties. “This grievance-based populism has kind of run its course,” he said. “Let’s try optimism.”

Rice plans 40 additional AI faculty hires across disciplines LINA KANG

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Growing the artificial intelligence initiative is a central part of the 10-year Momentous initiative, which includes hiring a total of 75 AI-focused members, with 40 more hires left to reach the goal. The university has not specified how the 40 planned hires will be distributed among departments. The hiring initiative includes four research areas. The four research areas in the hiring initiative are foundational AI; AI for health; responsible AI; and AI for energy, the environment and resiliency. Dean of the School of Social Sciences Rachel Kimbro wrote in an email to the Thresher that they are hiring faculty for anthropology and in psychological sciences, with hopes of branching out to economics in the future years “The biggest questions about AI right now, I would argue, are societal,” Kimbro wrote. “How will AI impact the workforce? How do humans interact with AI? What are the benefits and drawbacks of AI in the medical field? In education? These are questions the School of Social Sciences is well-positioned to tackle. Some of our existing faculty are already exploring these questions, but I’m also excited to hire some new faculty who work on these questions and who also may use AI in their research.” The Rice Program on Technology and Responsibility will also create collaborations between the School of Engineering and the School of Humanities and Arts. Baker College

junior Jesse Romero wrote in an email to the Thresher that while he understands the push for AI at Rice, he doesn’t agree with the approach. “Critical thinking is one of the fundamental skills humanities courses teach you,” Romero wrote. “By implementing AI into these courses, you begin to lose the essence of what’s at the core of the discipline. Furthermore, the base word ‘human’ is central to humanities courses, indicating their human-driven nature, so incorporating AI completely alters these courses.” Chris Jermaine, chair of Rice’s department of computer science, said the hiring initiative reflects the growing role of AI in scientific research. “I think what I could say is that there’s just this realization that artificial intelligence is going to … be a very important part of science for the next decade or more,” Jermaine said. The hiring initiative comes as Rice expands its AI degree o$erings. The university introduced its Bachelor of Science in AI in fall 2025 and plans to launch a Master of Artificial Intelligence program in fall 2027. John Greiner, assistant teaching professor in computer science and director of undergraduate studies in artificial intelligence, said the additional faculty could help meet demand for courses in the new programs. “I’m looking forward to having a strong base of faculty available to teach the courses and electives within the major,” Greiner said. “It’ll be good to have a lot of faculty coming up with ideas for those projects, and our

AMANDA JIN / THRESHER students being able to work with faculty on a large number of AI projects.” Rice is also planning the AI Foundry, a proposed facility at The Arc intended to bring Rice researchers, students and industry partners together to develop AI applications and translate research into practical uses. Jermaine said the project remains in the planning and discussion stages. He said establishing an AI presence in Midtown could help Rice connect its research with the

broader Houston community. “I think to an extent, the Rice campus is just physically a little closed o$ from the world, like we’re inside the hedges,” Jermaine said. “And so the idea is that we want to have an AI presence in Midtown, with faculty over there and researchers and students as well, that will make it easy for us to sort of translate the work that’s going on and the capabilities that we have at Rice into the greater Houston community.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 3

NEWS

Rice faculty put travel on hold during green card wait KAMILA EL MOSELHY

THRESHER STAFF

Booking a flight home is a simple decision for most people. For some international faculty at Rice waiting on a green card, it can put years of paperwork at risk. For 64 Rice faculty, that risk has meant canceled holiday plans, research trips in doubt and a lot of waiting without knowing how long. Under federal rules, people in the final step of the green card process can generally have their applications treated as abandoned if they leave the country without advance parole, a travel document from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. One Rice assistant professor who requested anonymity has been waiting for a green card for more than two years and has canceled plans to see family over the holidays because she said she cannot risk leaving. She is now in adjustment of status, the final stage, and said the hardest part is not knowing. New policies often arrive on a Friday and are changed by Monday, she said, and timelines for moving from a work visa to a green card now run about twice as long as they once did. For many faculty, the road to a green card starts with the university. Rice first

has to show the Department of Labor that no qualified U.S. worker is available for the job, then file an immigrant petition with USCIS. Then, the employee can apply for permanent residency. The Department of Labor’s review of those labor certification applications alone averaged 336 days in August. She said in September 2025 she held off on leaving the country until she knew whether a new $103,000 fee on H-1B visas would apply to people who already held one. The worry about whether she can leave has not gone away. “The precarity of the policies makes that fear kind of ongoing,” she said. She has used walk-in hours at Rice’s Office of International Students and Scholars to ask how worried she should be when new policies are announced. The uncertainty also affects her work. Research trips and conferences are a regular part of academic work, and they are harder to plan when a green card case has no clear timeline. “It gets in the way of research planning … the things that you have to do with your job as an academic, which include, for me, doing research in other places outside of the country and traveling to conferences outside of the country,” she said. “Trying to work at Rice and in America

right now is so much different than it has been in the past,” she said. Megan Keener, a Rice human resources specialist who handles immigration cases, wrote in an email to the Thresher that employees with a pending adjustment of status application can generally travel if they have a valid H-1B visa or an approved advance parole

When I have traveled internationally, the reentry process is always on the back of my mind– hoping I have all the right documents and that the [Customs and Border Protection] officer I deal with at the border isn’t hostile. Liam Mayes ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

document. “With increased scrutiny at the border, risk can vary by one’s individual immigration history as well as the

intended travel location,” Keener wrote. Rice pays all legal and filing fees for the labor certification, she wrote. She also wrote that the university has seen more questions and uncertainty over the past year. Liam Mayes, a Martel College resident associate and assistant teaching professor, wrote that he has a smoother road than most, but it still weighs on him. “I will say that as a Canadian, I have one of the most privileged immigration situations,” Mayes wrote in an email to the Thresher. “And even from that privileged position, it’s been difficult.” Mayes was attending a conference in Mexico City, where he wrote that the trip home was already on his mind. “When I have traveled internationally, the re-entry process is always on the back of my mind–hoping I have all the right documents and that the [Customs and Border Protection] officer I deal with at the border isn’t hostile,” Mayes wrote. He said he feels fortunate that Rice has given him letters explaining the purpose of his travel and offered legal support. “The biggest change since 2024 isn’t any one thing as much as it is the unpredictability of what changes are coming and when,” Mayes wrote.

Who’s on the ballot? A brief guide to the Texas midterms TOBY CHOU

ASST. NEWS EDITOR Senate In what has proved to be one of the most high-profile races of the midterms, Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico are both vying for the Texas U.S. Senate seat. Paxton made his start in politics as part of the Texas House of Representatives, serving as the representative for District 70 in Collin County. He was later elected to the Texas Senate, representing District 8. In 2014, Paxton was elected Texas attorney general. In that position, he sued the Biden administration over 100 times, contesting Biden’s immigration policies, abortion and genderaffirming care laws and environmental regulations. Paxton’s platform mentions supporting the “America First” movement, prioritizing strict border control, economic deregulation and national sovereignty. He focuses on aiding President Trump in deporting immigrants lacking permanent legal status, securing the border and completing construction of a border wall. He also promises to reduce regulations on American energy, seeking to increase domestic production and reduce consumer costs. His foreign policy focuses on national interest and “peace through strength,” rather than sending foreign aid. Before entering the world of Texas politics, Talarico worked as a public school teacher at Rhodes Middle School on the west side of San Antonio. Talarico said that after seeing the poverty and the systemic barriers of the school, he ran for and won the Williamson County’s District 52 seat in the Texas House of Representatives. Across his four terms in the Texas House, Talarico authored nearly 200 bills, with 16 of them becoming law. As a legislator, he focused on public education, early childhood development and workforce development. Talarico’s platform prioritizes progressive economic policy and anticorruption laws in government. His platform advocates for paid family leave, universal childcare, capped credit card

interest rates and increasing access to Medicare. His campaign also highlights his belief that corporate political action committee money takes elections out of the hands of voters and puts it into the hands of billionaire donors. He promises that his first set of legislation in congress will seek to ban super PACs and corporate PACs. Texas governor Three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott is defending his position from Democrat Gina Hinojosa. Abbott has a lengthy history in Texas government, beginning with his election as a State District Judge for Harris County in 1993. In 1995, Governor George W. Bush appointed Abbott to fill a vacancy on the Texas Supreme Court, where he served until 2001. In 2002, Abbott ran for Texas attorney general, where he served until 2015, becoming the longest serving attorney general in Texas history. Abbott’s platform revolves around lowering property taxes, increasing economic and state security and improving Houston education. His campaign advocates for lowering local property tax burdens, mandating twothirds voter approval for local property tax rate hikes and streamlining thirdparty home inspections to cut building costs. He also supports increasing Texas’ repeat offender taskforce and denying bail to immigrants lacking permanent legal status. He is a major proponent of school choice and supports increasing Texas’ school voucher program. Hinojosa, formerly a civil rights and union lawyer, ran for Austin Independent School District school board in 2012 and won, later becoming board president in 2015. She resigned in December of the same year in order to run for the District 49 seat in the Texas House of Representatives. As a House member, she helped secure $11 billion in funding for Texas public schools and sponsored Senate Bill 1350, which helped low-income and uninsured families get healthcare. She then authored House Bill 3488 (85R), which formally recognized Public Benefit Corporations and required their corporate directors to prioritize societal

good along with shareholder interest. Hinojosa’s platform prioritizes middle-class relief, seeking to deliver direct economic assistance, defend Texas’ public education system and end data center tax breaks. Claiming that Abbott’s Rainy Day Fund has just been used to take money away from taxpayers, she promises to issue one-time $1,500 checks to every household in Texas out of Abbott’s Rainy Day Fund. She also focuses on ending Texas’ school voucher system, claiming that vouchers only help those who can already afford private school while keeping those who cannot out. U.S. House District 7 Running for the U.S. House District 7 seat are Democrat incumbent Lizzie Fletcher and Republican Alexander Hale. In 2018, Fletcher defeated nineterm Republican incumbent John Culberson to represent Texas’ 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman ever and first Democrat in over 50 years to represent the district. In her position, she has co-chaired the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus to advocate for traditional energy while supporting transition technology. Fletcher’s platform emphasizes pragmatism, focusing on balancing Houston’s traditional economic markets with Democratic progressive reform. She backs Houston’s oil and gas industries, prioritizing securing domestic energy supply and protecting local industry jobs. Before running for the U.S. House of Representatives, Hale worked at Alvarez & Marsal, a management consulting firm, as an energy and chemicals consultant senior associate. Hale’s campaign also focuses on energy, prioritizing Houston’s position as energy capital of America. His campaign is centered around promises to fight federal mandates that give jobs to foreign producers, champion the oil and gas industry while pushing for innovation and work on improving water infrastructure for Houston. Texas attorney general Democrat Nathan Johnson Republican Mayes Middleton

and are

running for Texas attorney general. In 2018, Johnson ran for Texas Senate District 16 in Dallas County, defeating incumbent Republican Don Huffines. His bills have covered a wide range of public policy, from modernizing Texas law with respect to data privacy and artificial intelligence to securing $2 billion in funding for backup systems to power essential community facilities. Johnson’s campaign prioritizes deweaponizing the Attorney General’s office. He claims that the office, under former Attorney General Ken Paxton, has been turned into a weapon by the “Make America Great Again” movement in order to curtail individual rights. Johnson promises to defend and restore individual rights while also taking Trump to court. He also is pushing for investigations of large corporations accused of price gouging and utility monopolies. Outside of pursuing politics, Middleton currently serves as president and CEO of Middleton Oil Company, an independent oil and gas company formerly run by his father John Gregg Middleton. In 2018, Middleton ran for and defeated two-term incumbent Republican Wayne Faircloth in the primary for District 23 in the Texas House of Representatives, later winning the general election. During his service, he co-authored Texas’ “constitutional carry” legislation, which eliminated state permit requirements to carry handguns. In 2021, Middleton ran unopposed for the District 11 seat in the Texas Senate. As a senator, he authored the Save Women’s Sports Act, restricting athletic participation in public higher education by biological sex at birth. He also authored Senate Bill 7, which created a sweeping ban on COVID-19 vaccine mandates by private employers across Texas. Middleton’s platform prioritizes traditional conservative social policy. His key proposals include creating a “DOGE Texas”-style oversight commission to trim government waste, enforcing restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors, backing strict border enforcement statutes and penalizing local prosecutors who decline to enforce state laws.

4 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

THE RICE THRESHER

RSA proposes Election Day off and announces H-E-B shuttle SRIJAYA BOLLAVARAM

THRESHER STAFF

The Rice Student Association announced a new weekend shuttle to H-E-B and Target, introduced a proposed update to its constitution and discussed e$orts to establish Election Day as university holidays during Monday’s Senate meeting. Internal Vice President Mahtab Dastur discussed e$orts to establish permanent days o$ from classes for general and midterm elections. Dastur is working with the Faculty Senate to propose making election days a regular part of Rice’s academic calendar, following the university’s previous decision to give students time o$ for the 2024 general election. “The last time we did this was for the general election in 2024, and Rice’s voter turnout was so high that it made the national news,” Dastur said. “It really demonstrates how important it is for students to have specific designated time o$ in order to vote, especially since we have one voting center on campus and the lines can get really long.” For the upcoming midterm elections on Tuesday, faculty and sta$ have been encouraged to be flexible with students who need time to vote. The proposed permanent change would give students the entire day o$ for future general and

midterm elections. RSA announced that a new shuttle serving H-E-B and Target will begin operating Saturday. Developed in collaboration with Rice Transportation, the shuttle will pick up students at Stop 6 and run on Saturdays during the day, with buses returning to campus approximately every 30 minutes. Stop 6 is located in front of Robert R. Herring Hall on the Inner Loop. Students can find additional information about the shuttle on the RSA’s Instagram. Rohan Dharia, RSA’s external vice president, said the route was developed after RSA gathered student feedback and worked with the transportation department to identify an efficient route. “The beauty of this route is it’s going to be about the same amount of time [as the Target route], but we’re going to be able to add in H-E-B as well, which I know is a more popular destination for students that are grocery shopping,” Dharia said. RSA Chief of Sta$ Cedric Lau unveiled the association’s new logo, which follows multiple rounds of student feedback and revisions by a rebranding task force. The updated branding package includes a brand guide and an accompanying color palette. The Senate also voted to approve a batch of Initiative Fund requests for student

MUYWIA OGUNSOLA / THRESHER Students gather in Brown College Commons for the Rice Student Association’s traveling Senate. organizations and RSA commissions. The fund has approximately $45,000 available for student initiatives, with the Budget and Treasury Committee reviewing applications and recommending funding amounts. Approved requests included $3,100 for the Free Speech Commission’s Congress to Campus event, $8,200 for the Vietnamese Student Association’s Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander Night and $6,100 for the Chinese Student Association’s Lunar

AMANDA JIN / THRESHER

JESSICA XU / THRESHER FROM FRONT PAGE

RICE IN PARIS

Evans said students were specifically debriefed prior to departure about largescale protests and demonstrations. “From a program level, we cover safety and security comprehensively in pre-departure materials, have some of this information available publicly on our website, and hold an in-person orientation when students arrive in Paris to cover all of these items again. Our pre-departure Canvas course also has a section specifically addressing protests and strikes,” Evans wrote. Juliana Crim, the global travel safety manager, wrote in an email that Rice regularly checks in on students’ safety and wellbeing. “If a significant event occurs that could affect the health or safety of

Rice travelers, I proactively reach out, typically by email and/or WhatsApp, to all registered travelers in the affected area to check on their well-being, share relevant information, and offer assistance as needed,” Crim wrote. Crim said the Global Paris Center has a permanent staff who notify students of potential risks and advise them on how to stay safe. “One of the great things about the Paris Fall Semester is having a permanent Rice team based at the Paris Center that can communicate directly with students, offer timely, locationspecific advice, and provide support as situations evolve,” Crim wrote. “I think this combination of on-the-ground experts to provide local support, and the Rice travel safety support we have for all international travelers works really

New Year showcase. Rice Women in STEM and Rice Pre-Medical Society received partial funding for their respective events. The meeting concluded with a Halloween costume contest, with students competing for $50 Rice Campus Store gift cards. Costumes included a dozen brown E’s worn by residential college presidents, Steve Jobs, a cowboy, Spider-Man and Elsa. Following the contest, attendees shared brownies as the Senate meeting came to a close.

well.” Evans said both faculty living in Paris and administrators at Rice regularly check in with students. “We answer questions from students asking about the locations of marches, and we do our best to educate and inform them without downplaying the situation, which is that the protests can be volatile and dangerous for students to observe or participate in,” Evans wrote. “Furthermore, our Vice President is in close contact with us, and actively updates the Provost and the Dean of Undergraduates and other university leadership.” Viamontes provided an example of an alert email sent by Camille Evans to the students in the program. “Protests or gatherings around Bastille, République and other areas are

now considered unapproved, police will likely exercise force and crack down on crowds whether they are involved in the protest or not,” the alert read. “Expect a higher police presence and tightened security around monuments, museums and landmarks.” Viamontes said Rice’s response was generally effective, noting that as protests increased in severity, the university provided students with greater information and guidance. “One thing they did tell us was that visa holders can get deported if a police officer stops you while protesting, and that was very helpful,” Viamontes said. “I think actually leading up to this week, this weekend or whatever, I feel like we’ve just been getting progressively more and more information and more support.”

THE RICE THRESHER

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 5

Pest sightings caused West Servery closure, chef says RUBY GAO AND HONGTAO HU

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

KONSTANTIN SAVVON / THRESHER West Servery was closed Oct. 15-19 due to pests. Servery workers and a pest control company conducted a deep clean of the kitchen. the ones who were doing all the traps, catching everything over the last two days.” White said about half of West Servery’s staff remained at the facility during

HONGTAO HU / THRESHER West Servery staff have affixed wire mesh to gaps in the wall as a temporary fix, according to White.

the closure, while the other half were reassigned to dining facilities across campus, including South, Seibel and North Servery. After the deep clean, West Servery was equipped with temporary preventative measures, White said. Metal mesh nets have been placed between gaps in the pipes to block animals from crawling in, and additional drain covers have been affixed to the kitchen floor. White said they plan to find a permanent solution over winter break. “The infrastructure is aging,” White said. “Friday night and Saturday, we have people deep cleaning … and then all the trash is being taken out twice or three times a day. So those are two measures we put in place to make sure rodents are not here.” Andy He, a Duncan College freshman,

VIP TEAMS

Just 14 minutes before West Servery was set to open for lunch on Oct. 15, Rice students learned that the dining facility had suddenly closed its doors. West Servery remained closed Oct. 1519, when it opened for lunchtime service. The five-day closure was caused by a pest sighting, according to West Servery sous chef Zarian White. “The servery’s infrastructure was withering,” White said. “So over time, due to maybe improper maintenance or improper upkeep … things were able to slip through the gaps.” In response to a request for comment, Rice University spokesperson Chris Stipes referred the Thresher to a Housing, Dining & Hospitality email that was sent to all students. “West Servery is temporarily closed while Rice Housing, Dining & Hospitality works with Facilities to address kitchen maintenance,” wrote H&D in an email to students. “During the closure, students may dine at South, South Main, Seibel, North, and Baker Serveries during their regular operating hours.” White said dining staff got the order to close down West Servery immediately after breakfast service ended. “That’s why we need to close down — to make sure we’re able to fully deep clean not only the kitchen, but also the roofs to do a full inspection. That way, the students can come back with a peace of mind,” White said. White said West Servery worked with a pest control company to address the pest sighting, which conducted a deep clean of the kitchen and set traps for rodents. “It’s pretty much we prep the area for them … then they came, they did their deep cleaning,” White said. “They were

said he wished students received more transparency from H&D about the closure. “They should have given students some information about it,” He said. “We deserve to know what food we’re eating.” To prevent similar incidents from happening in the future, White said the pest control company, an outside vendor, will start conducting regular inspections of West Servery. “I believe it’s, once a week, if not, twice a week, they’ll be coming to make sure nothing crazy is getting started,” White said. “If you get it early, it won’t be a big problem.” Special Investigations is a section of the Thresher that writes in-depth articles on student life and administration at Rice. Its members are Hongtao Hu, Yilian Jiang, Zaid Rashid and Ruby Gao.

VIP RESEARCH T EAMS MEET & GREET Research Recruiting Event!

VERTICALLY INTEGRATED PROJECTS Connect with research teams across campus and learn about their projects! This Meet & Greet features Vertically Integrated Projects (VIPs), which are ongoing research teams. Many teams in attendance are currently accepting applications for new members, so this is a great opportunity to find a potential research team!

FARNSWORTH PAVILLION, RMC OCTOBER 29TH 4 PM - 5PM

RSVP HERE! ouri@rice.edu www.ouri.rice.edu

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 6

THE RICE THRESHER

EDITORIAL

Don’t forget about Houston. Local races matter too. While many say that we live in a Rice bubble, that bubble does not insulate us from politics. We are affected by Houston and Texas’ local politics and to pretend like we aren’t is to waste the power of your ballot. The city of Houston and the Houston Metro Transit Authority each leverage an additional 1% sales tax on everything we buy in Houston, every road surrounding Rice is paved and maintained by local Houston services, and our campus partially runs on city and state supported utilities. Essential services we depend on are controlled by the people we choose to put in office. What happens at the ballot box in Houston affects us, so it’s time we start voting like it. Local races matter as well: As students, hopefully education matters to you, even if it’s K-12 schools within Houston. Four State Board of Education seats are up for election within Greater Houston, and you can vote on District 4. Board members have an active hand in shaping public schools, from curriculum to teacher certification. For not only the 35% of students at Rice who are from Texas — but for all Rice students — it’s important to make our opinions about the

future of education heard. Rice is providing shuttle services to in person advance voting, where 4.5 million Texans have already cast their ballot. Harris County has broken records with an early voting turnout high of over 600,000 people. And when election day rolls around, Sewall Hall will serve as an oncampus vote center. We know that the ballot is long — 104 items, in fact, if you’re on campus. If you’re thinking of voting down ballot to minimize the amount of decisions or research you’d like to make, remember that some races won’t have a “R” or “D” next to them, especially Harris County’s referendum on Proposition A. The Marijuana Enforcement Priority and No-Knock Warrant Ban Charter Amendment is essential to vote upon if you’re concerned with the police presence within Houston. The amendment — true to its name — lowers the priority that the Houston Police Department makes arrests on marijuana possession and prevents Houston police from conducting no-knock search warrants. You’re not allowed to take out your mobile device during voting, so we recommend that you print out your ballot

Students and community members line up to vote at Sewall Hall for the 2024 election. THRESHER at harrisvotes.com. The Houston Chronicle also has a printable voter sheet that lists who they’ve endorsed. So, read about local propositions. Look up local candidates. And during early voting, or on Election Day, go to a voting center and be one of the millions of Houstonians that makes your voice heard.

Editor’s Note: Thresher editorials are collectively written by the members of the Thresher’s editorial board. Current members include James Cancelarich, Evie Vu, Abigail Chiu, Hongtao Hu, Andrew Rynsburger, Chi Pham, Andersen Pickard and Patrick Shukis.

PARLIAMENTS AND POLITICS

A golden opportunity: The case for James Talarico MATEO DEVRIES

COLUMNIST

In 2026, a Texan can apply for a license to carry a handgun from a laptop, yet registering to vote requires printing, filling out and mailing physical paper. That fact is especially baffling when you consider that online voter registration has been adopted by 42 states and is proven to lower costs, diversify the electorate and reduce human error in data entry. This year’s U.S. Senate election in Texas offers a choice between James Talarico, who will seek to make voting easier, and Ken Paxton, who would rather you not vote at all. Registering to vote should not be hard. Nonetheless, Texas piles on inconvenience after inconvenience. It is not surprising then that Texas consistently ranks among the bottom five states in voter turnout rate. This is unacceptable for a state with an economy larger than Canada’s. Despite the dismal turnout, the Republican politicians in charge have made every attempt to prevent new voters from registering. The strategy is tactically sound, as newly registered voters are predominantly 18 to 29 years old, 70% of whom either identify as or favor Democrats, according to a New York Times poll. The shift in 18 to 29 year olds has made this year’s Senate contest narrow and bruising. More than $500 million has been spent on advertising, predominantly negative messaging about the other candidate. But what is most telling is the way the candidates have engaged with our system of democracy. Talarico has toured across Texas, including even deeply Republican areas like Bell County, which voted for President Trump by 16 points in 2024. Additionally,

he has refused to take corporate political action committee money. Meanwhile, Paxton was the recent beneficiary of $190 million that Elon Musk poured into the Senate race through a Republican super PAC. It is deplorable how one man can drop millions on the race in a day, while students like us are

This year’s U.S. Senate election in Texas offers a choice between James Talarico, who will seek to make voting easier, and Ken Paxton, who would rather you not vote at all. given a confusing and complicated set of obstacles to even be able to cast a ballot. Talarico, on the other hand, has spent his entire campaign drawing this exact contrast between how billionaires engage with politics versus the average citizen. His campaign website states that his first legislative pursuit will be an anti-corruption package to ban super PACs and corporate PACs, prohibit partisan gerrymandering and increase transparency and accountability across all branches of government. His platform also includes establishing term limits for the U.S. Supreme Court and ending the war in Iran. This message has resonated with voters, and for the first time in our lives, a Democrat, Talarico, stands an even chance of winning a statewide election in Texas. Considering the recent Republican gerrymander that intended to flip five House seats to Republicans in Texas, combined with the hundreds of millions of dollars spent on this Senate race, it

is clear that the fear of a younger, more diverse voter base in Texas is at a fever pitch for Republican elected officials. Paxton also cannot be trusted to be truthful should this race be as close as expected. He has already shown his total disregard for election integrity. In 2020, following Joe Biden’s defeat of President Trump, Paxton called for the Supreme Court to invalidate election results in four key swing states. Following that election, Republicans in the Texas legislature passed the Election Integrity Protection Act, Senate Bill 1. This bill is thinly veiled voter suppression. It banned 24-hour early voting, restricted almost all drivethru voting and made it a felony for election officials to send mail-in voting applications to voters who had not requested them. In fairness, the bill includes several positive components, like setting requirements for when early voting locations must be open and ensuring that voters may remain in line after the polls close. Paxton has defended many of these provisions in court, both good and bad, and recently he pledged to “continue to vigorously defend Texas laws that protect lawful voters, prevent fraud, and preserve public confidence in election outcomes.” He says this despite having cast doubt on an election that was proved time and time again to have been legitimate. If reducing fraud is the goal, then why not call for implementing online voter registration? Furthermore, he defended Texas’s unprecedented mid-decade redistricting in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. This was a blatant disenfranchisement of Democratic voters across the state. Altogether, Paxton has given me no evidence whatsoever that he truly wants

me, a college student from another state, to participate in this year’s midterm elections. He has shown me that he is willing to circumvent the rules and make baseless claims of fraud when things do not go his way. In stark contrast, Talarico spent the final stretch of the race championing democratic participation. Following the statewide suspension of 1.2 million registrations and Tarrant County’s decision to close 92 polling locations, he reminded voters that protecting the ballot is a universal right. He urged every Texan to verify their voting status and

It’s not often that Texas has a competitive statewide office. There will be a polling place open at Sewall Hall from 7 am to 7 pm on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Whatever your political perspective, sitting this election out means folding to the Republicans who don’t want you to vote. vote early. In the Texas State House, he supported a bill that would require voter registrars to distribute voter registration applications to every high school senior. The difference is clear. It’s not often that Texas has a competitive statewide office. There will be a polling place open at Sewall Hall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Whatever your political perspective, sitting this election out means folding to the Republicans who don’t want you to vote. Casting a ballot for democracy is how you take that power back.

Mateo DeVries is a Brown College junior studying political science. He believes civic engagement is a key responsibility for every Rice student to ensure the continued success of our democracy. By sharing insight into recent political and policy developments, he hopes to foster a more involved and excited atmosphere of civic participation on Rice’s campus.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 7

OPINIONS JOURNAL OF PUBLICS POLICY

Baker Beach fails to make a splash

EDITORIAL STAFF * Indicates Editorial Board member James Cancelarich* Editor-in-Chief Evie Vu* Managing Editor NEWS Abigail Chiu* Editor Toby Chou Asst. Editor Ruby Gao Asst. Editor Lina Kang Asst. Editor OPINION Andrew Rynsburger* Editor FEATURES Amelia Davis Editor Sophie Garlick Asst. Editor London Frey Crossword Editor ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Chi Pham* Editor Cora Wareh Asst. Editor SPORTS Andersen Pickard* Editor Patrick Shukis* Editor Keya Patel Asst. Editor SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS Hongtao Hu* Editor

JUNE LI / THRESHER

Students dance at Baker College’s public party, Baker Beach. Each residential college hosts a public party during the academic year.

REINHARD SMITH

COLUMNIST

Words literally cannot describe Baker Beach. Was it good? Not really. Bad? Eh. It wasn’t packed, but I wouldn’t call it empty either. Also, what was with the portable toilets? Really, the only thing I can describe Baker College’s public party as is exactly what it is: a stereotypical Rice public. So, as is typical for a Rice public, if you hadn’t told me the party was Ibizathemed, I would not have known. I guess if you squinted hard enough, you could imagine most of the outfits being beachrelated, and the one wayward beach ball making its way through the venue was a cute addition. But it only took one dance to Nicki Minaj’s Starships to remind me I was smack dab in the middle of Reggie’s playhouse. I’m a man with a relatively high tolerance for white girl music, but as somebody who’s personally been on the front lines of Ibiza, Spain, I can only pretend for so long. Where was the house music? EDM? I’d even take some Europop at this point. An Ibiza and beach theme should be easy to do. The only truly notable thing about this party compared to its predecessors was the massive rift in the crowd. It was as if Moses himself had come by and

parted the Red Sea of definitely, 100% not-intoxicated teenagers. The area near the DJ was asphyxiatingly packed, while the rest of the venue bore a concerning resemblance to the sixth floor of Fondren Library.

But it only took one dance to Nicki Minaj’s Starships to remind me I was smack dab in the middle of Reggie’s playhouse. And that brings me to the crux of the problem: attendance. Baker Beach, along with every other party under the sun, could have been great had there been more people. And in some alternate universe, there probably were. Plenty of people, even upperclassmen, seemed excited about the event beforehand. That is until the ticketing chickens came home to roost. Theoretically, if everything went to plan, the place could have been packed. However, I don’t think that’ll happen anytime soon. With the ticket sign-ups being individualized and online, the chance your whole friend group gets a ticket is quite low. And who wants to go to a party their friends aren’t going to? Once one friend doesn’t get in, it’s only

a matter of time before a chain reaction makes its way from friend group to friend group and throughout the student body. If people are unsure if their friends will be at a public party, they’ll be more likely to attend something unrelated or off campus instead. Soon, what would theoretically have been a fun party with a full venue becomes Baker Beach. It wouldn’t be fair to blame the lack of attendance entirely on the ticketing system. After all, every public party has tickets, yet attendance still varies. But when people are as excited about a party as they were, and tickets do sell out, only for the turnout to look like it did at Baker Beach, something in the system clearly isn’t working. Finally, it’s time for the most beloved and reputable rating system at Rice: the Slosh-O-Meter. How drunk would I have to be to have a good time at this party? On a scale from one — stone-cold sober — to ten — REMS drunk, Baker Beach gets an unremarkably underwhelming 6/10. Like at every public, you could have fun dancing to the same old pop music if you really wanted to. But you can only be so sober when the party is already so empty at 1 a.m that it’s more fun to hang out with security than to be on the dance floor (true story). Baker Beach wasn’t everything I had hoped for. But for a Rice public, that’s unfortunately ordinary.

Reinhard Smith is a Brown College freshman from Amsterdam majoring in economics. A veteran of the scene, Smith spent most of his weekends in high school bartending and playing at hole-in-the-wall clubs with his band. Nowadays, you’ll likely find him either reading pretentious Dutch literature, at the Recreation Center or practicing his guitar.

Last Week’s Online Poll Results Where do you usually get your coffee on campus? Total number of responses: 432

Next week’s poll:

When are you voting?

Couple Costume

No Costume

25%

14%

BACKPAGE Max Scholl Editor Will Howley Editor Rykelle Sandidge Editor Kyle Chen Senior Writer Caleb Song Senior Writer COPY Shruti Patankar Editor Julianne Ma Editor PHOTO, VIDEO, & WEB Konstantin Savvon Photo Editor Sarah Bradley Asst. Photo Editor Andrew Gingerich Video Editor Rachel Jeong Asst. Video Editor Megan Zhang Web Editor Fiona Sik Web Editor Varshini Loganathan Web Editor DESIGN Jessica Xu Art & Design Director Magnolia Hickey-Zamora News Sydney Chang Opinion Lisa Wang Features Alexa Bu Arts & Entertainment Kirstie Qian Sports Brandon Nguyen Backpage Richard Li Design Consultant BUSINESS Sivani Vasireddy Manager Alina Zhong Advertisement Rahul Santhanam Advertisement Makeen Shafer Distribution Manager Ary Rodas Social Media Manager

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 and CMA. © Copyright 2026

Solo Costume

32%

Follow @ricethresher on Instagram to answer weekly polls.

Friend Group Costume

29%

ricethresher.org

8 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

THE RICE THRESHER

Writer-in-residence Justin Cronin on his return to Rice after blockbuster trilogy ANNAMIKA KONKOLA

THRESHER STAFF

Justin Cronin was born in 1962, during the Cuban missile crisis, and spent his childhood between two possible futures: one of nuclear war and one of rockets headed for the moon. “Part of me thought that we were all going to Mars,” Cronin said. “And part of me thought I wouldn’t live to be 12.” The books and films that imagined both of those futures became the literature he loved growing up, and they now inspire ENGL 306: Reading & Writing Apocalypse, a course he designed and calls his favorite to teach. “The end of the world is not an academic exercise,” Cronin said. “It’s a deeply human experience.” However, though the apocalyptic makes up much of his writing, it is only one of the classes he teaches — something he has only recently returned to. When Cronin came back to Rice’s English department in 2016 after several years away from the classroom, he walked into a room where about half the faces he saw belonged to faculty he had never met. As he tells it, they seemed to have some questions about him. “Who is this guy? What’s he doing here? He just sort of parachuted in,” Cronin said, recalling his reception. He’d had a long history with the English department, having joined Rice in 2003. In the years he’d been away, though, Cronin’s writing career had progressed toward some signi!cant milestones. “The Passage,” his postapocalyptic vampire novel published in 2010, became a bestseller and, along with its two sequels, was adapted into a Fox television series in 2019. His 2023 novel, “The Ferryman,” also debuted as a New York Times bestseller. After the success of these novels, Cronin came back to Rice and is now a writer-in-residence. He is about halfway through a new novel he hopes to send to his editor by this winter and now teaches one course each spring.

Part of me thought that we were all going to Mars. And part of me thought I wouldn’t live to be 12. Justin Cronin WRITER-IN-RESIDENCE

“I was a teacher long before I was a writer,” Cronin said. Although Cronin was a lifelong reader, his career as a teacher began at age 20, when he taught eighth graders at a New England preparatory school the summer after his junior year of college. He later taught high school students in Hawaii and California and spent 11 years at La Salle University in Philadelphia teaching four classes a semester. At La Salle, he settled on a rule he still cites as one reason he is drawn to teaching: If he was going to ask students to write, he had to be writing, too. Additionally, explaining writing to a room of students meant he had to !gure it out for himself !rst. “I was teaching myself the whole time,” Cronin said. “And I realized that the relationship between those two things is deeply symbiotic.” That relationship between Cronin’s teaching and writing runs through his

PHOTO COURTESY OF TIM LLEWELLYN time at Rice. When he arrived in 2003, the creative writing program had only three active writers on its faculty — one of them part-time — and student demand far outstripped their capacity. “Every time you offered a class, 40 students would line up in the hall hoping somebody would drop out,” Cronin said. He pushed to hire more writers, and when he came across a university fund that nobody had spent, he used it to start a student literary magazine which became R2: The Rice Review. Lacy Johnson, a professor of creative writing and director of Rice’s new Master of Fine Arts program, said Cronin was an important part of envisioning, early on, how the department could grow — and working to realize that vision. “We have grown the program, both at the undergraduate level and the graduate level. And I think he was an important part at the early stages of imagining what that might look like and dreaming about a possible future,” Johnson said. Cronin became a full professor in 2007, but the commercial success of his writing soon pulled him out of the classroom, first on leave and eventually for good. His commitments to publishers in a long list of countries grew too large to balance with teaching. By 2015, with the trilogy finished, Cronin became curious about two things: how he had changed as a teacher in the years away from Rice, and how much the students had changed while he was gone. Cronin returned the next year to teach a novel-writing course.

“I was no longer tenured faculty, and I didn’t care,” Cronin said. “I do it for the teaching and the time I get to spend around students, and I learn a lot from them.”

We have grown the program, both at the undergraduate level and the graduate level. And I think [Cronin] was an important part at the early stages of imagining what that might look like and dreaming about a possible future [for the Rice creative writing program]. Lacy Johnson DIRECTOR OF RICE’S MFA IN CREATIVE WRITING

Decades of teaching have helped Cronin create classrooms students keep coming back to. McKenna Tanner ’24, a former student, took Cronin’s novelwriting course as a sophomore and then again as a junior, working on the same book both years, then took his apocalypse course in her last semester. “Honestly, it was just fun. His classes are fun,” Tanner said. “It was a good environment to be in, and it did make me excited about my writing the majority of

the time.” In his classroom at the Moody Center for the Arts, students push the wheeled tables into one long table Cronin calls “family dinner,” where all laptops stay closed, phones stay off and everything happens on paper — right down to the comments he writes in Sharpie. “I would get well over 10 chapters in a single semester, where on my own I was like, ‘Whoa, this month I wrote half a chapter,’” Tanner said. Now an assistant media editor at W.W. Norton, Tanner still uses what she learned in his workshops to deliver effective feedback. She also continues to work on the projects she began in Cronin’s classes and stays in touch. This fall, Cronin is in Massachusetts writing five or six hours a day on his new novel, which he expects to be shorter than his others. “You got to treat [writing] like a job,” Cronin said. “And the first rule of any job is always the same. You must show up.”

I would get well over 10 chapters in a single semester, where on my own I was like, ‘Whoa, this month I wrote half a chapter.’ McKenna Tanner RICE ALUMNA ’24

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 9

FEATURES

Seeing Triple 1

2

3

4

4

5

14

14

15

18

19

6

7

22

21

22

21

26

29

30

25

22 24

31

33

31

34

38

39 43

40

43

45

46

49

52 61

64 64

67

12

16

10

11

12

13

12 17

27

24 28

32

43

41

44

49

47

33

34

40

41

53

50

53

54

55

57

62

62

65

63

66

65

58

66

69

50

60

9

23

26

42

7

FOR THE THRESHER

20

21

48

8

STEPHAN HATEM

27

28

28

35

36

37

57

58

59

51 56 63

ACROSS 1 *big kiss* 5 Something to dig up on a rival 9 Eggs on 14 “Results may ___” 15 March Madness org. 16 Houston’s county 18 Commit to a risky text 20 Rice, for one 21 Massachusetts or Vermont 22 Tiny amount of lotion 24 Hot pot mushroom 25 Square ___, Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy publisher 27 Frantic period at course registration 29 Bit of rosemary 31 Jump to conclusions 33 King Bob, for one 34 Mother Earth, to the ancient Greeks 35 British alt rock band with the hit “Duvet” 38 Rice’s !rst president and namesake of the 7th residential college 42 “The Grand Budapest Hotel” director Anderson 43 Out of shape, as a paper clip 44 Bad way to get caught 45 Like cherry blossoms in the spring 47 Poker giveaways 48 An easy chess opponent, perhaps 51 It might get busted 52 Continue a subscription 53 Dante’s breed in “Coco” 56 Desert refuge 60 Past caring 62 Like one in need of touching grass 64 Google’s AI 65 Long hike 66 Load, as cargo 67 Carter who played Wonder Woman 68 Against all ___ 69 “You can say that again!”

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 17 19 23 26 28 29 30 31 32 33 35 36 37 39 40 41 45 46 48 49 50 51 54 55 57 58 59 61 63

DOWN

Season’s standouts, for short Bump on a toad Neck of the woods Madness _id _ot _tart (F1 letdown) Alpine climbing tool “Atlas Shrugged” author Ayn “Voila!” Sounds of hesitation Like the Resident Evil games Rio ___ (Texas border river) Proofreader’s catch Freak Root for as a couple Soon-to-be graduate Herb in bruschetta Satiric science prize for “research that makes people laugh, then think” The ___ of man “A” or “B” for a vinyl Screenshot !les Word after “double” or “secret” Bitter after a loss Catlike Pokemon Jingling thing ___ Spunkmeyer cookies Had a meal Dopamine ___ (unplugging trend) 2,000 pounds Grad bar in Keck’s basement Snoop through a window Annual YouTube recap, until 2019 Lily pad lounger Bask Bowser, to Mario Said “hi” at the dairy farm, say Italian palindrome meaning “eight” ___ Farquaad (“Shrek” antagonist) Thailand’s former name “Obsession” star Navarrette Status that may appear after you 18-Across Aunt, in Spanish Gives the thumbs-up

Halloween hacks for harried scholars ANNIKA BHANDARI

THRESHER STAFF

In the midst of exams, problem sets and laundry loads, it’s easy to completely forget about Halloween. However, Halloween does not need to prompt a panicked 1 a.m. Amazon order. Between your own closet, a cheap haul at Value Village and one standout piece from Montrose, you can put together something great. So, if you’re in desperate need of an out!t, look no further than this insider’s guide. Shop your own closet first If you own cowboy boots (as any selfrespecting Houstonian should), you can be a cowboy or a cowgirl. And a white buttondown and a tie can produce a waiter, a businessperson or you at that career fair — truly a costume guaranteed to frighten. Hi, Value Village It’s farther, but the selection is massive and full of deals. Tags are color-coded and a different color is 50% off each day of the week, so check the schedule before you go. This is the place to !nd a full out!t under $25. Take a Montrose day trip Montrose is Houston’s thrifting district, and it’s worth the ride if you want standout items, as stores like Pavement and Leopard Lounge have curated collections. Go for a ’70s plaid shirt or a fringe vest, if that !ts your theme. For cheaper Montrose !nds, try The Cottage Shop or The Guild Shop. On the other hand, if imagination — not the contents of your closet — is the obstacle to be defeated, here are some simple costumes that can be scrounged together from items you might already own. Pearl from “X” With a pair of overalls and a servery knife, you, too, can give crazed farm girl this October — splatter of fake blood optional, but recommended.

G i r l with the G r e e n Ribbon If you too were an avid reader of “In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories” by Alvin Schwartz in !rst grade, you will recall the tale of the girl with the green ribbon: When her husband dares to untie it, her head falls right off. In honor of this story, tie a green MICHELLE LEE ribbon around your neck and add a tasteful drip of lipstick or fake blood, et voilà: a Halloween costume that demands little more than some light accessorizing and can be paired with any out!t! Cujo from “Cujo” I’m sorry to tell you, but simple dog ears and some eyeliner whiskers will no longer cut it this Halloween. However, if that represents the limits of your resources and self-con!dence, step it up by adding a cardboard collar reading “Cujo” and — you guessed it — some fake blood. This costume

will strike fear instead of weary sighs into the hearts of onlookers! Edward Cullen from “Twilight” Or any Cullen! Why slap on vampire fangs and a black cape when instead you could simply infect your room with glitter for the foreseeable future by coating your skin in the stuff? The glitter is the worst part of this costume — the best part is it can go with any out!t, though of course it can be used to greater effect with khakis and a button-down that wouldn’t be amiss at a job interview. Volvo optional, of course.

Adam Sandler If you have athletics shorts that are a few sizes too large and a baggy T-shirt, you have Adam Sandler. And if you have Adam Sandler, you have a successful (and comfortable) Halloween costume. Stay in character If your costume is a little thin, make up for it with commitment. Confidence is the one accessory you can’t thrift for, and it’s the one that sells every costume on this list.

10 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

THE RICE THRESHER

Twoyearsinto Momentous, whathaschanged? JOYA ROY

FOR THE THRESHER Rice’s current 10-year strategic plan Momentous has just hit its two-year mark. Brittni MacLeod, the program’s project manager, said Momentous’ overall goal is for Rice to become the world’s premier teaching and research university. This ambitious goal is re$ected in the various areas the project focuses on, which range from enhancing undergraduate and graduate education and improving research on constructing successful urban communities to designing sustainable futures and driving the creation of new health technologies. The ultimate catalysts driving these changes are responsible arti!cial intelligence and empowered campus culture. Preceding its 2024 launch, Momentous was designed through the work of roughly 36 focus groups composed of more than 350 students, faculty, staff, alumni and board of trustee members, as well as the information from 3,250 survey responses, MacLeod said. Currently, Momentous has a strategic planning committee that helps oversee the project. MacLeod said the project has already seen success. “As of this spring’s report, Rice reported measurable progress across every driver and catalyst of the plan, with hundreds of programs, events, projects, and initiatives documented as advancing Momentous priorities,” MacLeod said. MacLeod said progress has been measured in both a qualitative and quantitative manner. Since 2022, roughly 84% of hired faculty have produced research focused on advancing the plan’s objectives. Additionally, with 73% of undergraduates currently participating in research, the plan has already surpassed its goal to have 70% of undergraduates engaged in research. Some of this increase in participation stems from a pilot program focused on making co-curricular opportunities easier for faculty to advertise and students to !nd, MacLeod said. However, Rice already had 70% of graduating seniors participating in research in 2024, which suggests that the magnitude of growth may be smaller than it seems. Fay Yarbrough, senior associate dean of faculty and graduate programs in history, is a member of the 15-person planning committee who witnessed the process leading up to Momentous’ launch. “At the time, we worked with a consulting !rm that gathered information by surveying various constituencies — current students, alumni, faculty, staff, other stakeholders — to gain a picture of who we see ourselves as in our Rice community and what goals we have for the university in the future,” Yarbrough said. “President DesRoches and Provost Dittmar worked with senior leadership to craft a vision and plan for its implementation for the university and the result is the strategic plan Momentous.” Yarbrough said there have also been changes, such as a focus on increasing the compensation for staff, that are less noticeable to the undergraduate population. Additionally, the university has seen an increase in rankings and the formation of international partnerships. It remains unclear, however, how much of this change is a result of the Momentous initiative. Yarbrough also said she does not think the plan is very well known among the student body. “I don’t know if Momentous is so visible or digestible to students,” Yarbrough said. “I would change that.” Rice has also grown its undergraduate population, with the class of 2030, having 1,352 freshmen, being the biggest one yet. One of Mometous’ objectives is to increase faculty and staff involvement and engagement in athletic events with student-athletes. This initiative

AMANDA JIN / THRESHER is intended to foster community and support for student athletes who balance both challenging athletic and academic demands. Ben Tijerina ’25, a graduate student and track team captain, said there have been changes to Rice’s athletic department, but that those changes haven’t come from Momentous. Tijerina also served as president of the Student Athletic Advisory team during his undergraduate career, which act as liaisons between studentathletes and athletic teams as well as representatives for student-athletes in the Rice community. Instead, these changes have been a result of adjustments to name, image, likeness rights for college athletes — speci!cally, the ability for some college athletes to receive compensation for competing in their sport as a studentathlete. That change is instead re$ected in the growing disparity between sports teams — split between those where athletes receive payments and those where athletes receive no compensation, with the revenue-receiving teams receiving more funding. Tijerina said he hasn’t seen a signi!cant increase in student or faculty engagement at athletic events for the track team, which was one of Momentous’ goals. Although Rice Rally brought some increased participation to sporting events with their free giveaways, Tijerina said he thought Rice’s level of academic rigor has continued to deter engagement. However, it may be that the !rst few years of the program have been dedicated to its primary objective: improving undergraduate and graduate education. “At the center of the plan is the Rice Experience, which is our personalized approach to education and our culture of care, including close faculty-student relationships and the residential college system,” MacLeod said. Initiatives such as the Sallyport Fellows Program, which will begin in 2027 and is aimed at helping !rst generation limited income students, and Thrive, a program to help !rst-year doctoral students establish community, are working to achieve this objective, MacLeod said. Although the student experience is a key pillar of the plan, Momentous does lack current student involvement. The sole undergraduate representation

of the 15-person planning committee recently graduated and there has been no replacement. Momentous, only one-!fth of the way through its lifespan, is still in its early phases. As a result of the project’s farreaching expanse, the direct impact the

project has on Rice is ambiguous. “I am a faculty member, so my !rst goal is to prepare students to be critical thinkers and engaged learners who are prepared to go into the world and pursue their dreams,” Yarbrough said. “I hope Momentous helps students to do that.”

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 11

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Psychology department screens Stanford Prison Experiment show LINDSEY RO

FOR THE THRESHER Laughter erupted in a dimly-lit Sewall Hall room as Mike Paramore, a participant in Netflix’s “The New Stanford Prison Experiment,” gave a dire forecast: “Worst case scenario, my inner monster is stronger than I thought it was.” The study, which has haunted the field of psychology since 1971, has been resurrected as reality TV. Last Wednesday, Rice’s psychological sciences department screened the first episode of the series. An after-class conversation between lecturer Kirsten Westmoreland and Kate Read, a Baker College sophomore, inspired the event.

Hearing the audience react and build off each other in this environment showcases the beauty in how social context can guide positive social behaviors and enhance our shared experiences. Kirsten Westmoreland LECTURER

Read had seen a post about the Netflix show the day before and brought it up to Westmoreland. “As a psych major, you hear about the Stanford prison experiment often, and the idea of recreating it was crazy to me,” Read wrote in a message to the Thresher. Westmoreland jokingly suggested a watch party, and Read said she would go. “I guess that was enough because by the next week she had planned it,” Read wrote.

Within 45 minutes of hearing about the show, Westmoreland had texted a few other psychology lecturers about a watch party. Teaching professor Sandy Parsons then copied her in an email to the associate department chair, Philip Kortum, asking what it would take. About 190 people came, filling Sewall 301, with some sitting on the stairs. With Local Foods catering outside the hall and merch from the department, Westmoreland opened with a lecture before the episode, followed by a Q&A panel. “We’d worried it might be too big a venue,” Westmoreland wrote in an email to the Thresher. “Su$ce to say we’re all shocked that it was too small for how many people showed up.” In the original experiment, psychologist Philip Zimbardo assigned 24 college students to play prisoners or guards in a mock prison in a basement at Stanford University to study how authority and social roles shape behavior. Planned for two weeks, it was halted after six days as the guards grew increasingly abusive. It became a lasting warning for research involving human participants. Netflix’s six-episode version puts 30 volunteers in a decommissioned section of a real Georgia jail, where they are assigned as guards or inmates. Unscripted, the show leans into the psychological horror genre as participants form alliances, confront authority and draw lines. Participants took di%erent approaches to the prison environment. One inmate, a history teacher who wanted to set an example for his students back home, adopted a rebellious demeanor and pushed the limits of the study, eventually confronting the guards. Another inmate, who had served jail time, was the first to leave, afraid of returning to a darker time in his life.

COURTESY DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES About 190 students and faculty filled Sewall Hall 301 on Wednesday for a watch party of Netflix’s “The New Stanford Prison Experiment.” The event was hosted by Rice’s psychological sciences department. Professors and students in the room acknowledged his trauma and condemned the lack of empathy from the other inmates. During the Q&A panel, students and professors critiqued the show’s design and its implications, from PTSD to reality TV editing to how the show handled its women participants. “I thought it was interesting how there’s three women, but we never really hear them talk,” McMurtry College freshman Gray Hevle said during the panel. “They didn’t interview any of the women … We just kind of see them following along, but we don’t know if they ever came into it with a di%erent mindset of how they wanted to approach it.” For Westmoreland, watching together changed the experience.

“In a movie theater people usually remain quiet and follow the social norms, but here in a familiar room and where we’re not strangers, I think people feel more freedom to engage with the show as they would if it were their own living room,” Westmoreland wrote. “Hearing the audience react and build o% each other in this environment showcases the beauty in how social context can guide positive social behaviors and enhance our shared experiences.” Westmoreland hopes the watch party is the first of many hosted by the department. “It was so cool seeing how many people showed up and how it inspired actual critical discussion on campus about the history and future of the psych field,” Read wrote.

Nonrequired Reading: Lowande’s 5 books for election season But before all that, Lowande was a child who woke up early to read Roald Dahl and the Harry Potter series. But by middle school, homework had turned reading into a chore, and he abandoned the hobby altogether. He did not return to reading for pleasure until after college. His interest in politics started at age 11, when he watched the second plane hit the World Trade Center and wondered why public opinion of the president shifted so dramatically. Today, Lowande sees reading outside one’s area of expertise as a way to challenge assumptions and make complex ideas accessible. His book recommendations range past political science, but many titles circle questions lingering in many voters’ minds during any election: What does government actually do, what do we want from it and what drives us to pursue it? COURTESY KENNETH LOWANDE Political scientist Kenneth Lowande studies the presidency and the limits of executive power.

VERONICA YANG

THRESHER STAFF

Early voting in Texas ends Friday, and on Tuesday, voters will choose a U.S. senator, a governor and a long list of downballot o$cials. In his research, Kenneth Lowande primarily focuses his attention on what happens after the election. The Rice political scientist studies the presidency and the federal bureaucracy. His 2024 book, “False Front: The Failed Promise of Presidential Power in a Polarized Age,” explores how much of what presidents do is meant to project authority rather than actually exercise power.

Michael Lewis, “The Fifth Risk” “The Fifth Risk” traces the 2016 presidential transition through the people responsible for managing some of the government’s most consequential risks, from public health to nuclear security. Revealing how much of everyday life depends on government functions most people rarely consider, the book hones in on the largely invisible systems and expertise behind agencies such as the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce. “Even smart, successful people go their whole lives totally ignorant about what their government does,” Lowande said. “Let Lewis teach you about the fascinating, terrifying, life-or-death things our democracy leaves in the hands of complete amateurs.”

C.S. Lewis, “Mere Christianity” Adapted from a series of radio broadcasts during World War II, this seminal book looks past denominational divides to explore the foundations of Christian belief, morality and faith. Complex theological ideas are broken down into straightforward, everyday arguments for why Christianity makes sense.

Every adult has a god, something they worship above all else. Kenneth Lowande ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

For Lowande, its appeal extends beyond whether a reader shares its conclusions. “Every adult has a god, something they worship above all else,” Lowande said. “At universities, it is usually status, success and pleasure. But everyone living will eventually tire of those, and wonder what it all means.” He called the book “possibly the best articulation of the answer I find most compelling” and encouraged readers to engage with it even if they disagree. Cormac McCarthy, “Blood Meridian” Set in 1849 and 1850, largely across Texas and the U.S.-Mexico borderlands, “Blood Meridian” follows a teenage runaway known as the kid who falls in with a real historical band of scalp hunters hired by Mexican authorities. The novel is distinguished by its brutal violence and biblical prose, exposing the human cruelty

of American expansion. For Lowande, the book’s appeal is rooted in its prose. “This book is a miracle of the written word,” Lowande said. David Bessis, “Mathematica” “Mathematica” uses mathematics as a starting point to examine ordinary creativity, imagination and inner experience. Rather than treating mathematical ability as an innate gift or a matter of rote memorization, David Bessis argues that mathematical ideas can be visualized and developed, redefining how we grasp complex concepts. “If you’re like me, you spend most of your time at the university thinking you’re the dumbest person in the room,” Lowande said. The book, he said, is “not just about math.” “[It] has changed the way I think about how we learn and who is smart,” Lowande said. Herman Melville, “Moby-Dick” First published in 1851, “Moby-Dick” follows Ishmael, a sailor aboard the Pequod, where Captain Ahab leads a vengeful hunt for the white whale. “Ever wanted something so bad you gave up important things to pursue it?” Lowande said. “Ever felt listless, adrift and frustrated with the world around you?” Though remembered mainly for Ahab’s chase, the novel tests the limits of human knowledge and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. “It’s one of those books everyone knows about, but no one actually reads,” Lowande said. “Strongly encourage you to be the exception.”

12 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

THE RICE THRESHER

As we’re entering the final weeks of this election, I wanted y’all, the next generation of Texas leaders, to be able to hear from me directly. I grew up in Brownsville and went to UT Austin. What I found on campus was Texas itself. Panhandle kids and Houston kids, Valley kids and rural kids, people who had worked their way through school and people who had never worried about money. I learned just how big and complicated this state is, and how much promise it holds. I know you see it too whether you're at Texas A&M or Texas Tech or anything in between. You are about to inherit Texas, and each of you has some idea of the life you want to build here. Maybe you will start a company, teach in a classroom, work in public service, or do something you haven’t quite figured out yet. Whatever your piece of the American Dream looks like, Texas should be the place where you can make it happen. You are doing your part but Texas is not holding up its end. State government is working for insiders and billionaire donors while public schools are starved, costs keep rising, and ordinary Texans pay the Abbott corruption tax. Follow the money and you find the answer to almost every question about why things here are harder than they should be. I have spent my career fighting that. College students across Texas have real power in this election. You will help decide what Texas becomes and who it belongs to. Is this a Texas by and for the people, or is this the billionaires’ world and we just live here? I believe Texas belongs to all of us. That’s why I’m running for governor: to secure the American Dream by saving Texas schools and putting money in your pocket. It’s time for a change, and this election, we’re going to prove it. I’ll see you at the polls, Gina Hinojosa

Candidate for Governor ginafortexas.com PS. You can find your nearest polling place at IWillVote.com/Texas. Make a plan to vote early, October 19–30. Election Day is November 3.

POL. ADV. PAID BY GINA HINOJOSA CAMPAIGN

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Too Big for the Stacks: ktru DJs size up recent concerts album “Pylon” she expands her sound toward ’90s alternative rock with splashes of Midwest emo guitar licks. The album’s core themes are loneliness and isolation, feelings she couldn’t bury while touring. On the road between venues, the most unassuming, repetitive structure brought her comfort: the pylon. She finds solace in sameness, even as she’s always on the move. The stage resembled a rural highway: boulders and tall grass along the side, a roadway rising slightly at center, a rusted pylon in the back and a lamppost with a telephone on the right.

CHLOE DIEHL / THRESHER Foster The People performed in Houston on Oct. 17 as part of their Good Mourning Sunshine Tour.

CHLOE DIEHL & ISRAEL LERMA

FOR THE THRESHER

Bryson Tiller (Oct. 15) The Bryson Tiller concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Oct. 15 was quite an experience. After an hour’s drive from campus, I made my way in — not just as a fan, but as media through ktru. My escort walked me down, and I waited patiently for a cowboy to come out. Lo and behold, Tiller came flashing out in a classy cowboy hat. He opened with “Mini Kelly,” the only song he played from his 2025 album “Solace & The Vices.” He took a slow walkout, letting the suspense build, before introducing himself to an intensely loud crowd.

From there, he swayed into “T R A P S O U L,” the 2015 debut his current The Neo Trapsoul Tour highlights. He played “For However Long,” then followed with his most iconic song, “Don’t.” And man, that song always hits. Hearing the beat drop live is just crazy. He was singing his heart out — this song, of course, is the reason

he’s standing up there. Here’s the sad truth with Tiller, and I have to address it: He’s riding his old music’s hype to sell out these shows. His last two albums just haven’t hit the same. The energy came back when he played the first two songs o% “T R A P S O U L” back to back. Whenever those songs came on, Tiller really tried and the fans came alive, but other than that, it was a snooze fest. Then Tiller went backstage, and special guest Ty Dolla $ign came out and performed one of his own songs. I understand artists get tired and need breaks. But leaving for five minutes, with no explanation, while a guest performs his own song is simply unacceptable. I love Ty, and he did a great job, but it felt wrong, and I couldn’t enjoy it. After that, the show felt sloppy at times, more of a karaoke fest. Tiller would barely sing unless it was easy ad-libs or the iconic parts, mainly on “T R A P S O U L” songs. I’d heard he isn’t the most eager performer, and I could sense it here. Even with a mediocre performance, his catalog excuses him — the sad truth a lot of bigger artists ride. — Israel Lerma beabadoobee (Oct. 16) On Oct. 16, beabadoobee stole the crowd’s hearts at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. On tour for her latest

Wisp opened, shining in an openback dark gray silk dress and a mystical silver crown. Her songs are drenched in distortion, but her ethereal, sweet highpitched vocals cut through the heaviness. Fans erupted as beabadoobee kicked o% her main set with the angsty “Sun Has Set.” The heavy power chords shook the amphitheater, and she sent the crowd into overdrive. Without prompting, their headbanging synced to the downbeats. The new songs opened on math rock licks, with acoustic guitar clashing against distortion. At times, the band got stuck in a heavy jam, the drummer smashing the cymbals, the lead guitarist digging into a solo and the bassist holding down the beat. But beabadoobee’s soft, sweet voice never changed. Though she’s taken a new turn, she swapped the Telecaster for a steel-string acoustic guitar to sprinkle in the bedroom pop songs that first made her name. She played “Co%ee,” the 2017 song that blew up in 2020, swaying along to the chord progression. It brought the same calm it gave me during lockdown as a young teen, unsure of how long I’d be home. Of all the concerts I’ve been to, I’ve never seen a more supportive and loyal fan base. During the show, there was no silence; the crowd either chanted their love for her or belted out her songs. Her set was so electric she carried more voltage than a pylon. Blending emotionally vulnerable songs with angsty, high-energy rock, she had the crowd falling to its knees. — Chloe Diehl

Foster The People (Oct. 17) I’d never fully listened to Foster The People’s discography, but I knew their 2010s Billboard hits, “Pumped Up Kicks” and “Sit Next to Me.” Curious about how these hitmakers had evolved, I went to see them at 713 Music Hall on Oct. 17. Goth Babe opened the evening, a feel-good bedroom pop act that uses its music to raise money for environmental nonprofits such as Protect Our Winters and the Conservation Lands Foundation. The band did a tremendous job engaging the crowd, splitting the audience in half to compete for a signed Ninja blender. The losing side ended up with an overripe banana, a truly quirky slapstick moment. Foster The People opened their set against a backdrop of a slick, contemporary Los Angeles home. The stage incorporated several live video cameras that lead singer Mark Foster would periodically stare into, making him look like Mr. Electric in “The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl.” The tracks were mostly basic 2010s indie pop, with few distinctive moments. Their breakout songs had such a uniqueness, so it was disappointing that the rest of their set was nothing spectacular. A few songs sounded like nondenominational megachurch worship music.

Their imagery and messaging also felt nihilistic, aloof and detached. At one point, the screens showed the house suddenly erupting in flames after getting nuked, with no political message behind the destruction. It was just performative. There’s real irony in a progressive, environmentally conscious act opening for a headliner that shows bombs and fire with no context for why. While I didn’t enjoy the concert, I have to pump the brakes and admit I’m a tough critic. I prefer more eclectic, unconventional artists, and Foster The People simply didn’t hit the mark for me. If you’re a fan, take my perspective with a grain of salt. — Chloe Diehl Too Big for the Stacks is a new column written by DJs at ktru, Rice’s student-run station. It covers concerts by acts that have graduated from the station’s rotation to larger stages. To learn more, visit ktru.org.

Review: 2026’s best horror came from indie and queer filmmakers DOC MOSS

THRESHER STAFF Horror has always been an outsider’s genre, and 2026 has proved it. Studios continue to recycle franchises, churning out sequel after reboot after spino%, but the films that have stuck with audiences the most this year have come from queer filmmakers and independent upstarts working far from the corporate entertainment machine. “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,” “Leviticus” and “Obsession” share next to nothing in tone, yet show the genre being revived by its truest fans, creatives and consumers alike. “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” Jane Schoenbrun’s third feature is surreal and unapologetically queer, a satirical slasher parody that revamps the metahorror genre. Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”) plays Kris, an uptight young director handed the keys to reboot an influential horror franchise of her youth, who tracks down the original film’s final girl Billy Presley, played by the incomparable Gillian Anderson (“The X-Files”). Presley is a recluse living in the abandoned campground where the film

that started the franchise was originally shot, spending her days anticipating the inevitable return of Little Death, the queer-coded slasher of the fictional “Camp Miasma” franchise. The film becomes a metaphor for carving out a home inside a genre that sensationalized your existence, with several references to the oft-criticized “Sleepaway Camp,” a film queer people have reclaimed for its kitschy nature despite its inherent transphobia, much like other camp classics. The killer’s name invites a second reading: It’s a literalization of the phrase “la petite mort,” a French euphemism for orgasms, and Schoenbrun leans into the overlap of desire and violence. Watching Kris wrestle with how to revive and refresh a franchise she loves without sanding o% what made it so strangely lovable gives the film much of its pull, inviting the audience to think of our own childhood staples. Schoenbrun delivers VHS-tinged nostalgia and cinematic excellence in every shot, making “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” a modern staple of queer horror. “Leviticus” Writer-director Adrian Chiarella sets his feature debut in an evangelical town

in Victoria, Australia, where two teenage boys Naim and Ryan, played by Joe Bird (“Talk to Me”) and Stacy Clausen (“Crazy Fun Park”), are brutally hunted by an entity wearing the face of the person each desires most — which is to say, each other. Chiarella draws on his own adolescence, personifying shame as a cruel and violent monster and creating a metaphor for conversion therapy in the process. The ritual that sets the haunting in motion gives self-hatred a body, allowing prejudice to “cleanse” the town of what it sees as infectious perversion. Bird and Clausen carry the film with brilliant emotion and wary tenderness, and Mia Wasikowska brings a seasoned presence to the role of Naim’s mother. At a brisk 88 minutes, the film delivers a punch to the heart at record speed. “Obsession” Arguably the year’s defining horror film, Curry Barker’s theatrical debut is lean, nasty and entirely too e%ective. Michael Johnston (“Teen Wolf”) plays Bear, a man who has long craved the a%ections of his friend Nikki, played by Inde Navarrette (“Superman & Lois”). The movie shows how Bear turns to a mystical wish to take what he wants. The film’s horror is in the helplessness of the

audience as we watch a woman lose her autonomy to a man who insists he never stole it. “Obsession” presents desire as a weapon against someone else’s will. Barker built his audience on a YouTube sketch channel, with no studio pipeline behind him, before making his smash hit for under a million dollars. Focus Features acquired “Obsession” out of the Toronto International Film Festival for a reported $15 million, and today the film holds an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes. The success of the film matters beyond the box o$ce, as it proves audiences will show up for a film that seems sure of itself, making space for stranger, queer-focused indie works like “Miasma” and “Leviticus.” It’s another reminder that horror is a genre never to be underestimated or trivialized. These three films provide a solid foundation for the future of horror as we know it. Even without a shiny franchise title or a major studio behind them, these films have shown that audiences will continue to devour authentic stories from those brave enough to create them. Studios can keep churning out sequels, prequels and requels, but the genre’s pulse has changed as audience sentiments have shifted. If 2026 is any sign, horror is so back.

14 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

THE RICE THRESHER

President’s Cup preview: What to know about this fall’s intramurals PATRICK SHUKIS & ANDERSEN PICKARD

SPORTS EDITORS

With Rice Football almost completely out of bowl game contention at 1-7, it might be worth turning your attention to Rice’s intramural sports as the second half of the semester gets underway. Wiess College looks to defend its 15-point President’s Cup victory from last year, while Duncan College stands out as the early favorite in this year’s race. Here’s what you need to know about every intramural sport competing for the President’s Cup. Freshman Flag With all twelve residential colleges competing, only six remain as the playoff seeding is now set. Baker has locked up the No. 1 seed in its division at 4-0, and they would remain in first place even with a loss against Team Freshman Wiess in the last remaining game of the regular season this Saturday. Baker’s defense has allowed a divisionlow 38 points, while their 72 points scored is second-to-last. “Our defense has led the way for our team so far, but the offense is starting to come along,” senior head coach Aliq Jivani said. “As always, I think we have a good chance of winning the whole thing, but we need to take it one game at a time and just have fun.”

As always, I think we have a good chance of winning the whole thing, but we need to take it one game at a time and just have fun. Aliq Jivani BAKER COLLEGE SENIOR

Baker’s next closest competitor is their division rival, the Duncan Dawgs, who sit at 4-1 and lead all of Freshman Flag in scoring with 110 points. Senior head coach Christian Youst said he is proud of his players’ improvement throughout the season. “The team already had good talent from the start, but everyone’s willingness to work the fundamentals and areas of improvement during our weekly practices has helped keep us all on the same page come game time,” Youst said.

EDITORIAL CARTOON

In the other division, McMurtry College is the team to beat. Murt Flag has the highest score differential in either division at +48 points. This past weekend, McMurtry clinched the No. 1 seed in its division with a 20-0 shutout victory over Sid Richardson College. Martel College, Hanszen College and Chao College round out the field as the league heads into a six-team playoff. Women’s Flag As the regular season wraps up, two undefeated teams emerge as championship favorites. Duncan’s Spice Girls are 5-0 and the only undefeated team in their division. Much like their freshman team, Duncan leads the league in points scored (110), and they haven’t allowed a single point in their last three games. Duncan’s undefeated record has secured a playoff bye, putting them one step closer to repeating their powderpuff title. The biggest game of the season was played this past weekend in the opposite division, a clash between the undefeated Siddy Girls and Will Rice College. Both teams were about even on paper coming into the matchup, boasting point differentials of +62 and +63 points, respectively. What was supposed to be a close-fought match turned into a lopsided victory for the Siddy Girls, who won 38-0. They finished the regular season with 20 points allowed in five games en route to a first-round bye. For head coach and Sid Richardson junior Alejandro Reto, the team’s success comes from their college pride. “Everyone is very dedicated to playing for the team,” Reto said. “Whether that means sitting on the sidelines or getting out of their comfort zone in a position they aren’t used to, they are excited regardless.” Will Rice College is still at 4-1 and headed to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in their division. Head coach and Will Rice junior Suhas Narra believes that his team has what it takes to go all the way. “End of the day, a lot of our players are playing football for the first time, and we’re fortunate to have a group that wants to get better every day,” Narra said. “We’re going to match that resilience, effort, and drive to learn the rest of the way, one game at a time. As long as we can do that, we’re the team to beat.” Softball The regular season is now over for softball, and the playoffs will begin soon. Big Brown College and the Duncan Dawgs are both undefeated as the No. 1 seeds in

“Owl-American”

TOBY NGUYEN / THRESHER “Enjoy the Cup while you still can, Wiess!”

SARAH WANG / THRESHER Duncan College freshman Alexander Piggatt runs toward the 40-yard line during a recent game. Duncan has emerged as an early favorite to dethrone Wiess College in the race for the President’s Cup. their respective divisions. The Duncan Dawgs sit at 2-0 in their three-team pool. Duncan’s season started with a victory via forfeit before beating Hanszen 14-7 to clinch the division. First baseman and Duncan senior Brady Detwiler believes that his team has what it takes to go all the way. “We are gonna win it all,” Detwiler said. “We have an elite power bat/outfielder in Devin Abraham plus solid defense and order around him.” Big Brown College finished the regular season 4-0, scoring a league-high 52 runs while only allowing 17. Brown finished as softball runner-up each of the last two seasons, but they will have a chance to break that streak this year. Pitcher and Brown junior Jojo Cippolino said his team is due for a softball championship. “It has been a while since Brown has won an IM sport,” Cipollino said. “Being the runner-up for softball the past two years has been weighing on my conscience, but I think that changes this year.” Men’s Volleyball Last year, the Graduate Student Association did not place top four in a single intramural sport and scored zero points in the President’s Cup standings. This year, they are the only undefeated team in all of men’s volleyball. At 4-0, the GSA has dropped just one set all season. With one regular season game left, the GSA can win their final match to clinch the division, a playoff bye and their first President’s Cup points in over a year. In the other division, the top spot is locked in a three-way tie between 3-1 teams Duncan, Wiess and defending champions

Will Rice. Hanszen sits just a game behind at 2-2 and can shake up the standings with a win over 0-4 McMurtry on Wednesday. Only three teams from each division can advance to the playoffs, so there is still plenty to play for with just one regular season game remaining.

Everyone is very dedicated to playing for the team. Whether that means sitting on the sidelines or getting out of their comfort zone in a position they aren’t used to, they are excited regardless. Alejandro Reto SID RICHARDSON COLLEGE JUNIOR

Women’s Volleyball Bouncing back after coming in second last year, Wiess is the only undefeated team in their division, and they have yet to drop a set as of Tuesday, Oct. 27. Wiess started the season 3-0 and held a half-game lead over 3-1 Hanszen entering Tuesday’s matches. In the other division, Martel and McMurtry are in the midst of a three-game series to determine the division winner. Game 3 is yet to be played, but Martel has already clinched the division title after winning Games 1 and 2. Editor’s Note: Patrick Shukis is involved with the Brown College softball team. Andersen Pickard wrote the softball section.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026 • 15

SPORTS

Volleyball loses at home, snaps 6-game win streak CALEB CARROLL

THRESHER STAFF

Volleyball snapped a six-game win streak on Sunday after a tight four-set loss to the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane, a match in which each set was decided by a margin of four points or less. Head coach Genny Volpe felt Tulsa was the better team, but she said she was not disheartened by the Owls’ performance. “It was like a boxing match with both teams punching,” Volpe said. “In the end, I think defensively we needed to make a few more plays and it could have been a different outcome.” Rice lost a similarly nail-biting fourset match to Tulsa in last year’s American Conference championship, so there was extra motivation for the returning players like sophomore outside hitter Sydnee Peterson. “You lose to a team in the conference championship game, that’s in the back of your mind,” Peterson said. Peterson believes the team approaches every game with the same attitude, but she said the loss to Tulsa “stings a little more” due to last season’s heartbreak.

While the Owls were unable to get revenge, Peterson scored a team-high 21.5 points on 18 kills and recorded 19 digs. Peterson has now scored 335 points this season, which is third-most in the American Conference and 138 points more than the Owls’ second-highest scorer. However, Peterson said she still believes she can play better to help the Owls claim their first conference title since 2022, when Rice was in Conference USA. “On the defensive side, I could’ve been better,” Peterson said. “I think I made more errors than I usually do.” Volpe also highlighted the offensive performance of graduate transfer Amalia Simmons, who added 12.5 points against Tulsa, and the defensive performance of graduate libero/defensive specialist Jordan Hummel, who recorded 15 digs. “[Jordan] was all over the court, and took a lot of responsibility,” Volpe said. For the second year in a row, the Owls rebounded from a rocky first half of the season with a big win streak as conference play rolled around. Last season, the team started 4-8 before winning 17 games in a row until their

RITU KANDI / THRESHER Senior middle blocker Stephanie Gutierrez prepares to spike the ball during volleyball’s home match against the University of Tulsa. The Owls had won six games straight before dropping a loss to the Tulsa Hurricane on Sunday. championship game loss against Tulsa. This season, the team started 7-8 before their recent six-game win streak. For the Owls to continue their winning ways, Volpe said they need to respond to this loss with the right attitude. “We could be frustrated by this situation, or we can say, ‘Hey, we learned from what happened today, and we’re

going to get more determined to get even better,’” Volpe said. The Owls are now 7-3 in conference play, which is tied for third in the American, and they have six games remaining until the conference tournament. The top eight teams from the American will qualify for the conference tournament.

Swim & dive suffers dual meet loss against Arkansas ZOE WINSTON

THRESHER STAFF

Rice swimming and diving lost to the University of Arkansas at their second home meet of the season. On the first day of the dual meet, the Owls lost 179 to 120, with the team winning only three out of 16 events. Despite the outcome of the meet, the team felt positive about their performance. “I thought it went really well,” sophomore Zara Bolton said. “Everyone was so hyped. We were going up against Arkansas, and everyone was really excited for this meet. It was going to be a challenge, but I think everyone really pulled through.” Junior Ava Portello won the 500-yard and 1,000-yard freestyle. She also placed second in the 200-yard freestyle and swam the third leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that placed second. “Overall, yeah, I’m happy with how we competed today,” head coach Seth Huston said. “Ava Portello, she had to do

a grueling back-to-back race and won the first one, and got second in the next one, the 1,000 free to the 200 free. That’s real badass to do that.”

I thought it was very entertaining having the 50s, which we don’t normally do, and I think it definitely brought out a lot of competition and it brought the best out of both teams. Reese Cole JUNIOR SWIMMER

Sophomore Lily Archibald was named American Conference Swimming Athlete of the Week on Oct. 20. Archibald placed second in the 100-yard butterfly and the 50-yard freestyle. She also swam the third

leg of the second-place 200-yard medley relay team and the fourth leg of the second-place 400-yard freestyle relay. “I liked a lot of what we had,” Hutson said. “Lily Archibald, she was named conference swimmer of the week. She didn’t win any of her races, but she really got up and went after it.” Freshman Lauren Cochran placed third in both the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle. “I think Lauren Cochran really stepped up after her first meet of the season,” Huston said. “She swam well for her first collegiate meet, but she made a big jump at this meet, and you could tell confidencewise she’s just swimming really smart and training really well.” In the diving portion, Rice was led by a second-place finish from senior Antonina Harned and a third-place finish from junior Morgan Robson in the three-meter diving event. The second day of the meet followed a unique format. The meet included six elimination-style events, four 50-yard stroke events, a freestyle distance event

and an individual medley event. Each event was contested in three rounds, with top finishers from each round moving on to the next round. The distance freestyle event was contested in three rounds with distance decreasing between rounds. The first round was 600 yards, the second was 400 and the final was 200. For the individual medley races, the distance increased as the rounds went on from 100 to 200 yards, and then 400 yards for the final. Saturday’s meet did not include any diving events. Arkansas beat Rice with a score of 49-14. “I thought it was very entertaining having the 50s, which we don’t normally do, and I think it definitely brought out a lot of competition and it brought the best out of both teams,” junior Reese Cole said. “It was a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to maybe doing it again sometime.” The team will return to the pool Nov. 6 at the University of Houston. The Owls will compete against UH and Tulane University.

Tennis makes deep runs on home courts at conference championships SHASHANK KAMAL

FOR THE THRESHER

Some of Uma Bakaityte’s advantages at the American Conference Individual Championships could not be seen from the stands. “You know the home court so well, every corner, every line,” Bakaityte said. That familiarity carried the senior to the singles final of the American Conference Individual Championships, which Rice hosted Oct. 22-25. The No. 2 seed won three matches before falling 6-2, 6-1 to Wichita State’s top seed in Sunday’s final. Her run picked up steam in the quarterfinals. Her toughest test came in the quarterfinals, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win over a North Texas opponent she had faced two weeks earlier. Bakaityte said a mental lapse cost her the second set, but she was able to recoup and carry the third set’s focus into the semifinals. “I really put a lot of thought into staying focused and playing every single point separately,” Bakaityte said. She won her semifinal 6-1, 6-2 over a Memphis player. Junior Francesca Maguina, the No. 4 seed, joined Bakaityte in the semifinals before losing to the

eventual champion 6-4, 6-2. Rice was the only school with two semifinalists. “We like to play at home,” women’s head coach Elizabeth Schmidt said. “And we have good depth on our team.” The rest of the roster spent the weekend at the JAE Foundation Invite in Fort Worth, sweeping singles Friday, and

returned in time for the final. “The whole team was here,” Bakaityte said. “I felt very supported.” On the men’s side, senior Petro Kuzmenok, the top seed and reigning conference Player of the Year, reached the semifinals in singles and doubles. He won the second set in a tiebreak before

MUYIWA OGUNSOLA / THRESHER A men’s tennis player bounces the ball during an October match at Rice’s George R. Brown Tennis Center. Rice hosted last weekend’s American Conference championships on their home courts.

falling 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-4 to Tulsa’s No. 4 seed. Kuzmenok and senior Tommy Czaplinski, the top doubles seeds, held a set point in the first set of their semifinal before losing 7-6 (5), 6-2 to the eventual champions from Wichita State. “For me, he’s still the best player in the conference,” men’s head coach Efe Ustundag said. “He was a game or so away from making the finals.” Ustundag said Kuzmenok has played through a groin injury since the summer, and that sophomore Rafael Botran got sick two days before the tournament. Botran, the No. 6 seed, had an early advantage over the eventual champion by a set and a break before losing in three sets. Ustundag said the focus now is getting the roster healthy. Schmidt said Bakaityte has qualified for the ITA sectionals in Fort Worth next week, another step toward an NCAA individual bid. Not everyone watching Sunday’s final was in the stands. A junior clinic was running at the tennis center at the same time. “Those kids get to see Uma playing on TV,” Schmidt said. “I think that’s pretty cool and can hopefully inspire others in our community.”

16 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2026

Recommended costume: An actually talented runner like Caleb Song You saw on everyone’s Instagram last weekend that they showed up to run that half-marathon downtown. Envious, you tried to beat Caleb Song’s time but failed by 2 hours. How little and pathetic you are. (Do you like it when I say that?) You’re going to want to remind yourself that it’s Halloween and think about all of the dubs you’re going to hit later tonight, trick-or-treating as a twenty-two year old.

Recommended costume: Our professor’s Icelandic polycule After the half-marathon that you did not train for, you are probably going to be starving. And let’s be honest, after that pitiful time, you’re going to need to drink to forget. As we all know, there is no better place to do this than Dandelion Cafe. We recommend that you order a pitcher of the strawberry mimosa (cuz it’s red, you know, like blood, cuz it’s Halloween). For sustenance, you’re gonna want Chef JC’s chicken & waffles, which you will finish with an intensity and desperation that will bring a frightened look to your professor hosting office hours beside you. Way to get them in the Halloween spirit!

Recommended costume: Leatherface A big ole gallon of mimosas calls for some foamy fun! You might be short on time during such a jam-packed day, so it’d be great to kill two birds with one stone and turn POST’s Halloween foam party into a haunted house. Just like a real haunted house, nobody will be able to see you, so you’re going to really want to bring your chainsaw. Boozed up, in front of all the kids, it’s going to be a blast.

Recommended costume: Pumpkin pie Continuing the whimsical energy you’ve cultivated at the foam party, go and take a super-cute Instagram photoshoot at a nearby pumpkin patch. Dressed up as a pumpkin pie, you’re so cute people will want to take a bite out of you! When they ask to take a picture with you, tell them you’re looking for some cream to complete your pie. Whipped cream goes really well with pumpkin pie, you explain. But the pumpkins, seeing their mutilated selves in you, will look upon you with horror.

Recommended costume: 14-year old Harry Potter You start hearing whispers. Wsp wsp wsp wsp wsp wsp. The goblet of fire has chosen you, or rather, a hopdoddy goblet marg. You need it so bad, you’re willing to pay the full $14. We recommend ordering the skinny dip marg to get you in the mood to be nude (more on that later). You will likely see many freshmen, attempting to use their costumes as an excuse for looking nothing like their 25-year-old step-sister in the ID they hand the bartender.

Recommended (couple’s) costume: Dirt and worms Cure your hungover’d hunger at . Stop by Dave’s Hot Chicken and enjoy their Dirt and Worms Shake (mmm!) and their Slasher Slusher (yummm!). Now, imagine all of those dirty worms entering your body as you slurp up even more delicious, warm worms. Imagine all of that cream on top coming into you, fulfilling your pumpkin-pie prophecy if you hadn’t earlier. Drizzling, dripping drool everywhere thinking about that Slasher Slusher slashing and slushing up your insides. Yes. ! Yes! In my mouth, ! Use promo code Backpage when placing your order online or in person from now until October 31st to get 5% off your next purchase.

BACKPAGE

Recommended costume: A Crazed, Drunk, Nuisance (You at Pub on Thursday) Now that you’re stuffed to the brim with delicious , consider heading to Skyspace for a quick nap dressed as a crazed, drunk, nuisance (you at Pub on Thursday). Be sure to sleep in the very center of the structure, so all those tourists will wake you just in time for the sunset. Upon waking, release a blood-curdling scream. You’ll surely give all those weirdos a fright!

Recommended costume: Kanye Omari West Pull up to River Oaks mansions unannounced by taking their food, like that one awkward person from freshman year who couldn’t take a hint. Dress up as Ye – short for Kanye, by the way – so that you can remind everyone around you what they’re missing out on (the niche underground concert he’s having tonight). When people answer the door and ask what you’re dressed as, remember to show off your elite EBK (elite ball knowledge) knowledge by saying you’re Ye, not Kanye.

Recommended costume: Naked Santa Claus. Ho ho ho! Once your candy basket is filled with treats, it’s time for the tricks to commence. Once you reach Ted Cruz’s house, yank off your costume to reveal nothing underneath, pull out your can of shaving cream, and get to running! Don’t worry about your legs hurting; your booze- and Slasher Slusher-filled gastrointestinal tract is giving out first. Bonus points if you leave a memorable imprint on the door of that bitch ass house that gave you raisins.

Recommended costume: Sexy Longhorn (innuendo implied but missed by most) Continuing with the theme of FOMO, rally your crew to Austin’s Backyard to LARP being on 6th street. You will navigate through seas of 28-year old white people in bafflingly-basic costumes. You will probably make a few snide comments, like “I hate straight Halloween, because what do you mean you’re Jessica from Love is Blind?!” The music will be mediocre; a convoluted transition from Thriller by Michael Jackson to GDFR by Flo Rida will not be unlikely. When Austin’s closes at the late hour of 2 am, you turn to the person next to you and ask if they want the night to take a freaky turn…

Recommended costume: Bedraggled Sexy Longhorn Your date will be dead-set on watching a brand new movie you haven’t heard of called Primetime. They felt deeply seen by the film, apparently even dressed up as one of its characters. For some reason, the whole living room is wrapped in plastic, but you pay no mind and cozy up. Once you start watching the movie, the date will not shut up about how the protagonist (played by the best live-action Batman to date) is actually the villain of the film. It is incredibly distracting and annoying. You attempt to leave. The date snatches your forearm in ironclad grip, hand all gross and sweaty. “Excuse you?” you say. They whip out a rusted axe – nothing like your chainsaw. You scoff, rip your arm away, and exit the apartment in no real hurry. You slam the door behind you and wedge a stopper against it. The date axes their way through their own door. What an unoriginal and expensive move. At this point, you should maybe start running. You lope all the way back to campus. Good thing you practice your quadrobics, L.O.L.!

The Backpage is the satire section of the Thresher, written this week by Will Howley, Rykelle Sandidge, Max Scholl, Caleb Song and Kyle Chen, and designed by Brandon Nguyen. For comments or questions, please email realricethresherofficial@rice.edu.